Every great designer has a story behind their revered work. And, Greenwich-based Amy Aidinis Hirsch, principal of her eponymous interior design firm, is no exception. The self-described purist creates striking spaces with remarkable materials, artisans, and craftsmanship in mind, elements she learned to value at a young age.
While there are many astute designers working in Fairfield County, Hirsch understands the area and the teamwork grand homes require in an unparalleled way. She’s a fifth-generation Greenwich native who grew up in a family of talented trade professionals. Her father founded Putnam Plumbing and Heating, her mother was a real estate agent, and she had other local relatives ranging from electricians to landscapers. All of this natural exposure to the intricacies of designing and building luxury estates made for an effortless education few can boast.
As a child, Hirsch poured over 20,000-square-foot home blueprints—eagerly reading them as easily as her school books. It was second nature for the family’s dinner conversation to be spent discussing what came in for a project that week and for Hirsch to go on-site at masterpieces under construction. For a moment there, she thought about becoming an architect, but soon honed in on her true calling.
“I felt that, for me, being an architect was not giving me the other part of the tactile creations that you could culminate,” Hirsch reflects. “Being surrounded by my dad and being able to go into these homes, I was really fortunate. I walked homes by really renowned interior designers of that time and was able to see things like reclaimed materials coming out of Spain or Italy. I think the fact that I was able to be in homes of this caliber really is what cemented my epiphany to want to go down this path.”
Hirsch was uncovering what part she wanted to play in creating exceptional residences while cultivating her firm belief that it all hinges on teamwork. “Part of my moment of realizing that I wanted to be an interior designer was because of these incredible craftsmen and architects. I saw how something is built from the ground up and all the pure components within a house. It made me want to be part of that world,” remembers the designer.
From there she set out for a rigorous four-year program at NYC’s Fashion Institute of Technology, where most of her peers were on-track for careers in hospitality or commercial interior design. In fact, they thought she was crazy for dreaming of residential design. A teacher even asked her, “Why would you want to do that?”
They didn’t understand her familiarity and fondness for the homes that bloom in Greenwich. And, while Hirsch valued her formal education greatly, she still believes that interior design is innate and based on gut instinct. Her gut told her: Stick to your guns.
Interning for designer Naomi Leff, who crafted residences for big names in the fashion industry, only reaffirmed her affinity for fashion-forward, luxury home design. And, while her career could have swept her to faraway places, Hirsch had many reasons to return to Greenwich. “I come from a really huge family and we’ve all been here. As I get older, and even when I was younger, I’m definitely a homebody.”
Sadly, a personal tragedy also played a role in her desire to remain in the area long-term. Just five months before marrying her husband, Hirsch’s 22-year-old brother passed away. This shocking loss had a massive impact on Hirsch, and left a lasting mark on how she would approach life and work in the future.
Hirsch founded her firm out of her house shortly after she and her husband welcomed their first child. “I do think it’s one of those things that because of that loss, I honestly went into the grind mode. I built my company in 2007/2008, which was during a recession on top of it,” recalls Hirsch.
For the first four years, she hustled and did it all on her own. The designer warmly recalls a pivotal moment when a couple took a chance on her. “We did one house for the parents, then the children, then the other brother. One of my clients is now with me through her fourth house.” To Hirsch, these multi-generational, long-standing relationships built on trust are a true delight.
Today, 17 years later, Hirsch’s thriving firm is widely known for its unexpected details and creativity. Her Greenwich-based clients often bring her on for their second homes further afield, too. Places like Wyoming, Colorado, South Carolina, the Bahamas, and Florida have been graced with her one-of-a-kind designs. “You get to this point and you can look back and say, ‘You know, I’ve really created an incredible space for all of these clients and they love it and it’s their personality.’ I think that’s what has morphed my career, that it’s not cookie cutter. No house ever looks the same.”
Hirsch has put her heart, soul, and tireless work ethic into building a firm that is consistent, dedicated to listening to clients, and artisan-driven above all else. She has a powerhouse team of eight women who all share her ethos and passion for design. “The people that have been with me the longest have been with me for almost 14 years and it says something because they believe in the same thing; they believe in what we do.”
The loss and legacy of her brother still plays a core role in how Hirsch thinks. She went through something devastating and sudden, which helps her to have perspective when navigating the twists and turns of 10,000-square-foot projects with many moving parts.
“Because of what happened in my past, everything is fixable. I was able to move forward and be able to say, ‘Okay, if something arises, we can adjust, we can pivot,’” Hirsch says. “I think that has also allowed me to grow and to become who I am. For my clients, there’s an honestly and humbleness that is a huge part of this studio.”
The designer always pitches her absolute best ideas and swings for the fences with adventurous, unusual details. That way, clients never need to worry that she left a unique or custom design option off the table. Once the client gives feedback, Hirsch is able to stretch her original vision to fit their wishes and budget. “I’m very much geared to the client’s personality,” Hirsch asserts. “I always say their spirit is what the house should feel like and I’m a purist. I’m a believer in pure products, pure materials, things that take time. I like real things.”
When asked what she would do if given carte blanche on a project, that’s exactly where Hirsch would go wild. Instead of dreaming of certain colors or patterns, the designer would use all of her cherished artisans on a bigger scale. Imagine hand-crafted materials like Caleb Woodward panels, woven leathers, and Alpaca rugs mixing within the mesmerizing architecture of a Greenwich country home. “Would I love to drape all windows in cashmere? Sure, it would be amazing! Do I think you need to? No.”
Hirsch is in her client’s corner and wants their spaces to be a sanctuary, never pushing them towards something that won’t bring them joy. “I want every client to feel like I do at home. My home just feels like a great, big hug.”
Sometimes, that requires “being a detective,” as Hirsch puts it. Her team gives clients a questionnaire to help establish what they like and don’t like early. From there, the design process starts and a master plan is formed. With her keen knowledge of construction and the close teamwork that project success depends on, Hirsch carefully considers the bones and practical aspects of a home all the way through.
If you ever catch the busy designer on the go in her hometown of Greenwich, she could tell you all about how green is a neutral and how you should never compromise on lighting. But, first and foremost, Hirsch might share, as she did with us, her most sage advice: You have to do what you love.
“It always goes back to simplicity,” she says. “I know who I am and what I believe in.” To get in touch with the award-winning designer and see how you can work together on future home projects, visit amyhirsch.com.
