A native of Connecticut, Linherr Hollingsworth grew up in Weston in a cosmopolitan home surrounded with artifacts from travels around the world. After studying at Fairfield University, she moved to New York to work in fashion until raising a family drew her back. “I had a child and was missing precious time with my family,” Hollingsworth notes. “We began renovating our home, and I found myself approaching architecture, construction and design with the same curiosity I had always brought to fashion.
Creating environments that enrich people’s lives allowed me to combine creativity with problem-solving while building a business that offered both professional fulfillment and time with my family.” Now known for designing interiors with simplicity and an edge, Hollingsworth also creates carpeting, lighting, hardware, textiles, trim and wallcoverings, and is launching her third collection with Kravet. Titled “Artistry” its bold wallpaper patterns combine classic couture sensibilities with a touch of “hippie-like” charm. Still residing in the Sears catalog four-square farmhouse where she and her husband raised their three children, she operates her firm out of a restored shovel factory in Norwalk.
How did you learn interior design?
Interiors felt like a natural extension of fashion. Both disciplines are about proportion, balance, texture and storytelling. Silhouette is architecture; hardware is jewelry. The difference is that instead of dressing a person, you’re shaping the experience of a space.
How did clients requesting a “refresh without a whole redo” lead you to wallpaper design?
Unable to find wallcoverings I wanted, I started designing patterns I’d want to use. I studied printing techniques, substrates, textures, scale and developed a collection of patterns that reflected the design language of our firm—large-scale, handcrafted, perfectly imperfect, and grounded in timeless color palettes.
What led to the collaboration with Kravet?
They connected with our point of view. What began as conversations where we were finishing each other’s sentences evolved into a partnership built on creativity, innovation and shared values, allowing us to push creative boundaries while bringing meaningful new ideas to the marketplace.
Why should walls be living canvases?
Often treated as an afterthought, the largest uninterrupted surface in a room should actively contribute to the story of a space—evoking emotion, inspiring conversation, or transporting us somewhere else just as art does. Walls establish mood, create rhythm, and shape how we experience an environment.
Can’t the big patterns be overwhelming?
Bold patterns create identity. Thoughtfully executed, large-scale patterns can actually simplify a room by providing focus and clarity. They establish the emotional tone of a space and give it a distinct point of view. The goal isn’t to overwhelm a space—it’s to give it character and confidence. A pattern can take on an entirely different personality depending on the material that it’s printed on.
How and why do you re-create classic patterns?
I’m not re-creating, but reinterpreting—honoring the timeless qualities that have made certain patterns endure—while creating something that feels fresh and relevant. The goal is never nostalgia. Our Arreaza pattern is inspired by the architectural rhythm of the elegant Greek key but establishes a language uniquely our own. It’s evolution.
Why do you strive for simplicity with an edge?
Simplicity creates clarity, while the edge introduces personality and intrigue. A space should feel effortless and never predictable. It’s often a subtle detail, an unexpected scale or an unconventional material that transforms something beautiful into something memorable.
How do you make the spirited refined?
Refined design is about discipline. You can introduce bold ideas, expressive patterns and unexpected moments, but they must be balanced with restraint. The magic happens when energy and creativity coexist. It’s the ability to create something exciting without sacrificing elegance.
Why make a strong point in every room?
Every room should have a purpose, a point of view, and a feeling. A strong point provides clarity, establishes identity and creates an emotional connection to the space. Whether a remarkable wallcovering, piece of art or architectural detail, it gives the eye somewhere to land and the room something to say. It helps transform a room from functional to unforgettable.
Why do you try to place an Asian piece in every room?
For serenity. A space should feel effortless and never predictable. Asian art and objects often embody elements that encourage reflection, balance and calm, introducing a sense of quiet restraint and timelessness that helps anchor a room. In today’s world, creating moments of serenity feels more important than ever.
You’ve created such a range of products. What triggers your imagination?
The possibility of it all. My imagination is sparked by identifying opportunities to improve, innovate or solve a problem in a new way. I’ve never been particularly interested in re-creating what already exists. What excites me is asking, “What if?”
