Favoring clean lines and shapes, Nicole Hirsch’s home in Cape Cod is contemporary and timeless.
Nicole, did you have an influence in your youth that shaped your career path?
Growing up, my mom was an interior designer, so I was always surrounded by the business and got to learn from her, firsthand. The industry was very different back then, with frequent trips to the design center in Boston since sourcing online wasn’t a thing yet. I was always inspired by beautiful homes and knew one day I wanted to pursue it as a career path.
Please tell us more about your home.
This is a home we recently bought and renovated in Cape Cod which is a popular summer destination for people who live in and around Boston. It has four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms across 2 floors. This was our third summer in this home. The bones and location of the home were gorgeous but everything was very dated, so we came in and overhauled a vast majority of the home. Everything from floors to walls to millwork, doors, and lighting. After a substantial renovation throughout, I fully furnished every room.
You have your own boutique design firm. Did you opt to do your home’s own interior design?
Yes, I did all the design work throughout the home myself. I worked with Kevin Smith of LDS Construction to help bring my vision for our oceanfront home to life.
How would you best describe your design style?
My design style is contemporary with a timeless, neutral sensibility. I am not so modern that it feels cold or edgy. Everything I design has a certain warmth via texture and finish details, but I also lean towards very clean lines and shapes. I like to call it livable luxury.
Where / what / who inspires your design style?
There are so many incredible designers throughout Europe Canada and the US – I love following their work and seeing what boundaries they are pushing. But at the end of the day, a lot of what we create for our clients is truly customized by us for them and their homes and lifestyles. We are often told that our designs have a really unique, recognizable aesthetic that is truly representative of our brand, which we are very proud of. We also let our amazing fabric and bespoke millwork vendors inspire us with their gorgeous designs to create showstopping pieces.
How do you keep things fresh and new in terms of decorating?
Every house truly invites its own unique aesthetic. Sometimes we are working on a historic brownstone in Beacon Hill or the South End and sometimes we are working on a large, new contemporary build in the suburbs. Each new job we embark upon needs to marry with the aesthetic and layout of the home. As we start to source the floorplan and design for each project, there are certain attributes that we lean towards so it works with the vibe of that particular house. We always let the architecture of the house guide us down a unique design path for each project.
Is there a specific color you are drawn to in interior design?
We are shamelessly invested in neutrals. We always tell our clients that we like to create homes that feel timeless and we find the best way to achieve that is to stick with calm, neutral shades that stand the test of time. We are big fans of White Dove by Benjamin Moore and Swiss Coffee also by Benjamin Moore. These are both incredible shades of white that have a little warmth but go with anything. We typically use this as the blank canvas that we take throughout the home and of course, pair it with unique wallpapers and wood stains/finishes in select spaces to give the home warmth and character.
Do you believe in repurposing?
We absolutely believe in repurposing if the scale of the piece still works in the space. Our clients often come to us with gorgeous pieces that we love to pepper into a room. We frequently will reupholster a gorgeous lounge chair or re-stain a table to give the piece new life, but if the dimensions fit within the space, it’s wonderful to be able to retain some pieces in a client’s existing collection.
Do you have any special heirloom pieces?
My favorite heirloom pieces are most definitely pieces of art. My parents love art and I have definitely removed some pieces from their walls over the years to use in my own home. The piece we have in our bedroom in this house is a special piece my parents purchased decades ago on a trip to visit me in New Orleans when I was living there for college. It feels like it was made for the space and has special memories around it.
Which part of your home is your favorite?
My favorite part of the home is the patio/pool area. When we purchased the house, it had a very small backyard that was overgrown with bushes and grass. We knew before we purchased the house that we wanted to clear out the whole space and build a gorgeous pool and patio to entertain and our kids could have friends over. I worked with Shoreline Pools to create an outdoor space that not only took advantage of the ocean view but had every finish and detail that I was hoping for. Being out on the back patio, relaxing in the pool or jacuzzi, sunset cocktails … is truly my happy place.
In which part of your home do you spend the most time?
If we are not outside by the pool, I love the cozy sanctuary that is our primary bedroom. The high ceilings, light oak furniture pieces, and glass doors looking out to the ocean are such a soothing place to relax. At night we often open the glass sliders and listen to the ocean as we are falling asleep. It’s pretty awesome.
May I please ask who you share your home with? As an expert in your field, were/are you open to design suggestions from them, especially your child(ren)?
My husband and I have three children (15, 13, and 9) who also love spending time on the Cape in the summer. We most certainly designed the house to accommodate the needs of our large family. Each of our children had their own room with space for friends to come stay over, which was very important to us. Although I got some input on décor decisions from each child for their rooms, they are typically always happy with my design aesthetic and trust the process.
Parting thoughts?
After working on many client projects, this was such a wonderful process to get to create an entire home for myself and my family. As a designer, it means so much to have a space that you created that you can entertain and show people what your design aesthetic looks like. We host so many dinners and get-togethers at this home. I love filling it with fresh, summer flowers and hosting large, delicious BBQs in our outdoor kitchen. It truly is a special place where our family will be spending time for years and years to come.
