• PARADOX = DESIGN HARMONY

    Paradox is my passion — contrasting modern with traditional, sexy with conventional and subtle with provocative. Introducing incongruity and tension give a room interest and energy. As we designers say, it’s what makes a room “sing”. In the simplest of terms, I like a little rock-n-roll with my ladylike. It’s integral to my designs, my fashion sense and my attitude.              bubble chandelier + oushak  | classical-themed wallpaper + midcentury architecure  |  columnar lamp atop leather-wrapped dresser + modern high-rise apartment      graphic polka dot tank + pink animal-motif shorts + snakeskin heels  |  distressed jeans + damask pattern jacket + large belt buckle      camelback sofa + vintage lamps + saarinen table…

  • The Truth About Romance

    Romance for me is all about atmosphere.  It’s not necessarily defined by luxury and indulgence (although that works too).  It’s more about a warmth that is at once alluring and thoughtful.  And it can be found anywhere … Listening to a sexy mix on Pandora; alone on a cold night next to a roaring fire; at a breathtaking art exhibit; overlooking a misty river; in a tiny shop tucked away in a gritty part of London; or, of course, cozied up with your loved one in a hotel suite for the weekend.  The misconception about romance is that it’s exclusive to those with a black Amex or a wedding band.  It may smack a bit of  “personal…

  • HAPPY 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY HUNTLEY & COMPANY!

    Behind the scenes, spearheading a design firm is not all glamour and bon-bons.  The photos below illustrate how often I shift gears and how drastic those shifts are.  In a single day I may be generating spreadsheets, drawing in Autocad, conferencing with colleagues, hauling furnishings to a job site and attending an industry event in the evening.  9-5 and consistent this job is not.  But it’s always interesting and always challenging.  I exercise both my left brain and right brain on a daily basis (not to mention my biceps, quads and glutes!).  Problem-solving, schlepping, creating, collaborating … it’s all in a day’s work and a gift to those who love to hustle!                        …

  • Thanksgiving and the beauty of home

     Like so many, I love Thanksgiving.  So many wonderful things come together — decorating, family, food! — on one glorious, indulgent day.  I’ve designed quite a few dining rooms for clients throughout the years and it’s always exciting to see these spaces come to life on Thanksgiving.  Décor isn’t the reason for the season, but sharing beauty and joy with loved ones is. Eclectic, tailored and dramatic is just the right vibe in a dining room.      For me, design is about expression.  The dining spaces below are in Maryland, DC, New York and Arizona respectively.  Each is a signature of a particular home, lifestyle and client.          Details are a key part of the…

  • Dark and Inky

    Halloween always inspires me.  I relish the drama and suspense of the holiday, not to mention the excuse to go a little goth and watch scary movies.  It’s always good to embrace one’s darker side, especially if you lean a little type A.  So with all my clean and tailored design tendencies comes a need for what I call “dark and inky”.  If you’ve worked with me or for me, you’ve heard me use this term.  I am always on the quest for the perfect murky green, garnet or ebonized-blue (and of course black).  Whether it’s a lacquered leather chair, a kick-ass pair of aubergine boots or a smokey eye for…

  • mad for plaid

    I was talking with a girlfriend recently about her upcoming wedding.  “I’m thinking about incorporating tartan,” she said.  “I know that’s probably not your thing as a designer.”  Au contraire!  I can’t get enough of checks and plaids.  Everything about them appeals to me — the geometry, the endless color combinations, the nod to Midwest traditionalism.  I have incorporated a check or plaid in nearly every Huntley & Co. project and have plenty of it in my closet as well.   The evidence of my ongoing love affair can be seen below.  You don’t have to be Scottish, traditional, Midwestern or preppy to love these patterns … fall is upon us, so…

  • Shark!

    Sharks are certainly newsworthy these days.  Shark Week is in full swing on Discovery, JAWS  just celebrated the 40th anniversary of its release, and on a less inviting note, Carcharhinus have made the Outer Banks their summer vacation destination.  Yikes!  Surprising as it may seem, I am loving every minute of it.  Despite my lifelong fear of sharks, I am obsessed with the movie Jaws.  I admit this seems a bit odd for a land lover, professional aesthete and enthusiast of all things cute and fuzzy.  First, I love a good thriller.  Second, the cast is perfection.  Third, the cinematography (Spielberg, of course) is inventive yet convincing.  And fourth, the…

  • Time for Reflection

    The end of the year is indeed a time of reflection for many.  But rather than wax poetic about 2014 and all it meant and what we learned (blah, blah, blah), I choose to look back in a more literal and playful manner.  Using mirrors, and the magic of reflection, is one of the most beautiful and effective tools in my designer bag-of-tricks.  Regardless of shape, size, provenance or patina – mirrors bounce light, enlarge a space and add a hint of enchantment to any room.  So let’s say goodbye to 2014 not with regret or melancholy, but with anticipation for the year ahead and all that 2015 has in store…

  • Gifting

    Shopping for Christmas (Hanukkah, etc.) can be a blast when you find just the right gift for your special someone.  I’m sharing some of my best finds for those of you who are still on the hunt.  Happy holidays!  *   Scroll to the bottom for LUXE & LUCID gifts that give back   *   |  FOR THE AESTHETE  | Male or female, the key to buying a gift for this type is finding a functional object that is executed beautifully.  Shagreen matchstriker (L); custom knife from Rockin’ One Knives (C); UrbanEars headphones (R) |  FOR YOUR MAN  | He is no doubt handsome, but with these accessories, he will…

  • Girl Power

    I’ve had too many conversations recently with female friends and colleagues wherein I sensed a lack of self-worth from the smart, beautiful, successful woman across the table (phoneline, email).  I am sure anyone who sees these women on the street would think, “Wow, she’s got it made”.  So what exactly is going on?  There seems to be a confidence crisis among our gender these days — it boggles my mind and breaks my heart.  I am dedicating this post to the women and girls out there who are struggling, sad, lost or just not feeling good enough.  Girlfriends, you are fabulous! – 10 REASONS WOMEN ARE AWESOME – 1.   Love.  It’s not whether…