In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
Holly Hunt needs no introduction. The Chicago-based interior designer has built a big-name business using her keen eye for innovative furniture and textiles. “After decades of working in the design industry, I know what I like and more importantly, what a space needs to be its most beautiful,” she tells Business of Home.
True to form, she fashioned her current mood board with the future in mind. Though the palette is grounded in neutral tones and classic finishes, Hunt incorporated an assortment of ultra-contemporary pieces—think sculptural wormed bronze chandeliers and an undulating ebonized wood mirror—to ensure the flat lay was equal parts elegant and forward-thinking. “Our aesthetic [at House of Hunt] is timeless yet modern,” says the designer. “We’re always looking for what’s next in design—and, moreover, endeavoring to create it.”
A well-blended mix of highly touchable materials draws the design together, while the occasional zip of a graphic motif or saturated hue adds contrast and interest to the scheme. “Layering metals and stones with softer textures like velvet, mohair and vintage fur creates a space that excites all the senses, while being incredibly comfortable and livable,” she says.
Here, the designer breaks down the details, from a baroque-style white bronze coffee table to a hand-made plaster wallcovering.
1. CUSTOM RUG BY TAI PING
“We work very closely with Tai Ping and often design our own custom rugs for the brand to fabricate. For this design, we wanted to create a neutral landscape that would add texture and dimension, while allowing the room’s other design elements to stand out.”
2. WORMED BRONZE 5-ARM CHANDELIER BY MARKUS HAASE AT TODD MERRILL STUDIO
“Todd Merrill Studio is a unique vendor with some incredible, one-of-a-kind lighting designs that are truly works of art. We’ve used his fixtures in a previous project, and this beautifully sculpted bronze piece is a current favorite.”
3. ALEXANDRA SOFA BY CHARLES ZANA AT INVISIBLE COLLECTION
“I’ve been wanting to use this Charles Zana sofa for a while now. We just presented it for a project, and I’m hoping the homeowners fall in love with it as much as I have.”
4. DC1715 COFFEE TABLE BY VINCENZO DE COTIIS AT CARPENTER WORKSHOP GALLERY
“Vincenzo De Cotiis is one of my all-time favorite artists and designers. I recently purchased his beautiful table from Carpenters Workshop, and this coffee table—which he created as an ode to the Italian Baroque art movement—might have to find its way into my home as well.”
5. METALLIC DREAM COW LEATHER IN LONDON FOG BY EDELMAN
“At House of Hunt, mixing textures and materials is incredibly important to the success of our projects. Edelman is one of our go-to leather vendors, and this extra-special hide has a touch of shimmer while being incredibly durable. I call that a win-win.”
6. PER INCISO FABRIC IN POUDRÉ BY DEDAR
“I love Dedar’s rich fabrics. Their saturated velvets are perennial favorites, but this cotton chenille boucle is a recent standout. I love how the metallic accents create a delicate abstract pattern and add luminosity to the matte fabric.”
7. GREAT PLAINS CLOUD NINE FABRIC IN COGNAC BY HOLLY HUNT
“This performance polyester velvet has the look and feel of silk, making it both luxurious and practical.”
8. PERSONAL PYRITE CRYSTAL
“Pyrite is a stone of luck, [said] to attract abundance, prosperity and wealth. It also happens to be one of my favorite metallic tones, which you’ll see in our designs.”
9. DEPENDENCY MIRROR BY TIARRA BELL AT CARPENTERS WORKSHOP GALLERY
“I’m constantly inspired by the new class of young designers, and Tiarra Bell’s Dependency mirror is a perfect example. The artist has said her mirrors function as tools of introspection, rather than for vain or superficial concerns—a beautiful sentiment to bring into any home.”
10. PETRA FABRIC IN DORATO BY DEDAR
“Dedar always offers something different, and this textured open weave—which includes metallic threads intertwined with cotton yarn—feels both elevated and interesting.”
11. MORANDI WALLCOVERING IN NATURA BY GREGORIUS PINEO
“I’ve used Gregorius Pineo’s hand-made plaster wallcovering in multiple projects, and it adds incredible tone, texture and modernity to any interior space.”
12. CUSTOM RIFT SAWN WHITE OAK FLOORING BY CARLISLE WIDE PLANK FLOORS
“Carlisle is our current top choice for quality wood flooring at House of Hunt—classic yet modern.”
13. CUSTOM ROMA IMPERIALE MARBLE BY MARMI STONE
“Roma Imperiale marble [from Marmi Stone] happens to naturally include my current favorite color palette. Brown and rust veins shoot through a cream and beige background.”
14. CUSTOM CAST BRONZE SAMPLE
“It’s always nice to add a touch of black for contrast, and a touch of cast bronze for richness, to a room. Metals add interest and a feel of quality to furniture and interior architecture, and this custom sample—which we considered when designing the HH40 furniture collection with Holly Hunt—is simply stunning.”
15. ANTIQUE TRE PEZZI ARMCHAIR BY FRANCO ALBINI IN VINTAGE WHITE WOOL FOR POGGI PAVIA AT CASSINA
“The Tre Pezzi armchair, designed for Poggi in the 1950s and re-created by Cassina, continues to prove that what’s classic can always look new again. The black enameled steel-tube structure juxtaposed with the white Mongolian goat wool is timelessly chic.”
