Welcome to Talking Top 10, a recurring series in which we feature the founders, CEOs, creators, and leaders who are shaking up their industries. Ahead, read our Q&A with Hilary Matt, and keep scrolling to shop her Top 10 must-haves.
Hilary Matt is an interior designer based in New York City. Hilary Matt Interiors specializes in residential and commercial interiors. Hilary works with a team that caters to each project and leads its clients through the design process seamlessly. Function and comfort are the most important things to Hilary when designing a space, as well as timeless design. She believes in creating a space that will last a lifetime.
Hilary’s current and past projects include homes in New York City, the Hamptons, Los Angeles, Miami, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Hilary’s work has recently been featured in Architectural Digest June 2019.
For more on Hilary and some swoon-worthy interior inspo, be sure to follow Hilary Matt Interiors on Instagram.
August 24, 2020
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R&S
Tell us a little bit about your journey as an interior designer. How did you get where you are now?
Hilary
I worked in the fashion industry when I first finished college and didn’t love it. On a whim, I started to work for an interior designer and was with her for eight years, and that launched my love for the industry and job. I then started my own company after having my first son, and I am lucky enough to still be doing it today.
R&S
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in building your business into the successful one that it is today? How did you overcome them?
Hilary
Making my clients happy is what is most important to me, and it's also one of the hardest jobs sometimes. A majority of things in this business are out of my hands, which isn’t always the easiest to control. One thing I can control is that I pride myself on being honest and real, which I think has helped to build my company into what it is today.
View Hilary's Essentials
R&S
What does a day-in-the-work-life of Hilary Matt look like?
Hilary
Every day is completely different! Some days we are meeting with clients all day long, and others we are outsourcing for presentations in different showrooms and stores. That is one of the things that I find so fun about this job—every day is a different adventure.
R&S
Where do you find inspiration?
Hilary
Instagram has played a big part in finding inspiration for me. It has introduced me to so many cool accounts that provide endless inspiration images. I also love Pinterest and all the decor magazines. I am constantly looking for new inspiration.
R&S
Tell us about an all-time favorite project you’ve worked on.
Hilary
My favorite project was a home on Long Island where my client wasn’t afraid to use color and do some out-of-the-box things. It's an older home that we completely transformed into the perfect fit for our clients, and the house looks completely different from when they first purchased it.
R&S
What interior design mistakes do you spot the most and how would you fix them?
Hilary
Scale being off in a room is a big mistake I see all the time. Scale and measurements are so so important when designing a space. When the scale is off, the whole room looks wrong.
R&S
If you had to pick a favorite room in your home, which would it be and why?
Hilary
My family room, because it's the spot my whole family hangs out together. It feels so warm and cozy. It's the perfect spot for me to sit and relax after a long day of work.
R&S
What words of wisdom would you give to someone who’s decorating their home without the help of a professional?
Hilary
Follow your gut and only pick out things that make you happy to look at. Don’t focus on the trends—decorate with items that are going to last you a long time!
R&S
As a full-time businesswoman and new mama (Congrats!), what does work-life balance look like for you?
Hilary
I feel like there is not much work-life balance these days (haha). I have become pretty good at multitasking. There is a lot of feeding the baby a bottle with one hand and texting with a client on the other. I think the balance just happens over time when you start to figure out the new normal.
R&S
What’s next for Hilary Matt Interiors?
Hilary
I hope a lot of collaborations and more inspiring jobs that push my creativity and ideas!
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