Finding Your Own Interior Style: An Interview with Andrea Hecht

Buying a new home or renting a new apartment is incredibly exciting. It’s a new chapter and a chance to start fresh. The not-so-exciting part for some comes from the anxiety of styling one’s home to perfectly reflect your personality. Cultivating a style you truly love can be even more complicated with financial constraints, as furniture can be very expensive. Getting started can be the hardest part, and that’s why we turned to an expert! Andrea Hecht chats with us to give insight into interior design basics and how to make it work for you.

Andrea Hecht

Tell me about your background/passion for interior design!

“I would say my passion for interior design has always been with me. My favorite days as a kid were when my mom would rearrange my room. When I finally committed to going to school I knew I wanted to go into interior design. That is where I developed my skills for drawing construction documents and learning the history of design.

After school, my husband and I moved to New York City to chase my interior design dream. I got a job with an Interior designer, Melanie Foster Interiors. Her boutique firm specializes in Contemporary residential design and that is where I was really able to gain the experience I lacked during school. Being an interior designer in New York City is not for the faint of heart but I learned so much so fast. And most importantly I learned how to work really hard and trust myself along the way. Not to mention l was exposed to all the latest trends and styles all the time. I was lucky enough to shop all the new furniture stores, see the newest fabric lines and work with the best trades.”

Let’s start with the basics. What is the difference between interior design and interior decorating?

“This is a great question and one people tend to use interchangeably. In my opinion, Interior Decorator is someone who specializes in the finishes (paint, tile, flooring) and furnishing. They also are really good at styling a space.

An Interior Designer is someone who has experience and knowledge of construction. They will handle renovations and hire subcontractors for projects. Along with the construction aspect, they will handle all finishes, custom furniture/millwork and styling.”

What are the top five most common styles and what makes them unique?

“Contemporary: These interiors tend to be more of a modern design with the ability to be ahead of the trend. I also think contemporary has a warmer aesthetic than modern. This style isn't as textbook as some of the others. It's really about design at the current moment.

Traditional: A Traditional interior is very textbook and follows a lot of the design principles. The style tends to have a lot more layers and can feel a little more formal. Although they don’t have to be made up of all antiques, they do tend to stay within the same timeless patterns.

Mid-Century Modern: This style is referring to architecture and furniture design from the middle of the century. This style is fun right now because you can buy vintage pieces or new reproduction items. This style tends to lean casual and is more textbook than some of the others. I also think this style can be mixed with a lot of other styles.

Modern Farmhouse: This style is VERY popular and one I am ready to be over. But if you do like this style, try to do your own twist on it. Like European farmhouses, Amber Lewis really turned this style into a timeless aesthetic.

Minimal Design: This is an interchangeable style that can be mixed with a lot of the other styles. Within this style can be Scandinavian design or more of a cooler modern design. This style is all about having highly impactful pieces and limiting all the filler pieces.”

What is the easiest way for an individual to determine what style best speaks to them?

“I believe we all have our own unique style within us, but we have to create more to see more of it. I think Pinterest is a really great tool for organizing your interests.

I would start with gathering all interior images that you gravitate towards. Once you have collected about 50 images, really study them. You want to see a pattern: color schemes or furniture styles repeated. Once you see a pattern, put some of those images and your color scheme on a mood board. Add any adjectives that you want your style to say about your space. This will help create a detailed personal aesthetic. Creating a mood board will help you stay on track while you’re shopping for your home. “

Are there certain pieces one should purchase first when putting an aesthetic together?

“This is tough to answer...

I think accent furniture, lighting and accessories help with the specific aesthetic. When I am sourcing furniture for a client, I try to keep the big pieces (sofas, dining tables) a little more low-key, so maybe more transitional. And then add a cool contemporary accent chair and maybe a “wow” factor light fixture. It’s all about layering your space, which creates balance. This can be tough for people to grasp because they want all their pieces to be a “wow” factor. But just like when putting an outfit together, you need to balance it out with high/low combinations.

Note: Two items that really anchor a space and make it feel complete are rugs and curtains. Both of these need to be sized correctly otherwise you won’t get that polished effect. This is something that will take your space to another level. And when sourcing your items, again try to go a little more complimentary of the aesthetic and not so bold. I prefer patterns that fade away.”

How can I build a room around a beloved piece of artwork?

“In my opinion, your art piece should stand out and be a little unexpected. For example, I love when traditional homes have contemporary art. It takes your space to another level. Don’t get me wrong, your art shouldn’t clash with the space, but I would not try matching your art with decor.

But gallery walls are another great way to incorporate art and personal photos. The key to a great gallery wall is giving it all one common thread. Example: keep all the frames the same color but different sizes. Or have all the photos black and white, but the frames/frame colors are all different.”

Is it okay to have different styles throughout your home? If so, how do I accomplish this?

“100%! If your style is Contemporary, but you also love Mid Century Modern, feel free to mix them together. Add that vintage Mid Century chair with your low minimal Contemporary sofa. They work because they are both in the same modern family style. However, I would dissuade people from creating each room in their house a different style, that doesn't work.

Again I highly recommend mood boards or furniture boards so you can visualize the pieces together. It will be really helpful!”

How can I best balance function in a carefully curated home?

“Your home should be 99% functional. Of course you want the pretty pieces, but if your home isn’t functional then it’s not going to be your own personal sanctuary. Function and design is truly one of my favorite problems to solve. I learned a lot on this topic while designing apartments in NYC, because everything has to be functional in a small space. But functionality doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter or simple. It's just a matter of getting creative.

For example, mixing lower cabinets with floating shelves. This look is very in right now, but having the lower cabinet with doors will hide your not-so-pretty stuff. Unique baskets or decorative boxes are always great places to hide things.

Really organized closets are a must in my book. Spend the money; you won’t regret it.

Entryways are another space that can be an eyesore if it's not organized. So get a cabinet that you can hide your junk in, or put up hooks for your purse and dog leashes. I also love a little bench or stool by your entrance for putting on shoes or dropping a bag on.”

Any places people should look to for inspiration?

“Magazines, Pinterest, Instagram, furniture catalogs, and I love books. I really find a lot of inspiration from museums, nature, traveling and keeping my eyes open. Once you are in the zone looking for your aesthetic you will see inspiration everywhere. You just have to take the time to put your style together.”