Hillary Kaplan and Miriam Silver Verga treasure the individuality of each project they take on. Having now headed their own design firm, Mimi & Hill, for a decade, they have never allowed themselves to fall into a dull pattern, instead finding innovation in collaboration with every client. They value balance in color tones, space, and style – but most of all, the personality of the client and family as reflected in the home. Introducing this week’s Designer Friday, Hillary Kaplan and Miriam Silver Verga.
Mimi & Hill’s design blends neutral tones with sparks of color, blending styles for a distinct space reflective of individual personality.
Andrew Joseph: You’re the newest Crayola color. What color are you and why?
It would be called “Freckle Flush,” and it would be the perfect shade of salmon. I have always been drawn to that color since I was a little girl. Flamingos were my jam in the ’80s. I like that it now feels neutral, but it is a lot more joyful and feminine. As I age, I love being surrounded by more feminine and soft decor. Salmon can even feel hardcore when paired with black.
Andrew: What is the last book you read?
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.
Andrew: What’s your favorite cocktail
I have to say a mojito because it tastes like summer. I love a nod to an herb garden.
Classic and cozy styles merge in the library of the Saunders home, offsetting a rich blue with calming neutrals and pops of orange.
Andrew: What’s your design pet peeve?
Overdone trim work. Let a designer choose your millwork, not your contractor.
Andrew: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
I have four daughters, so I give advice all the time! I would tell my teenage self to stay curious and explore the world. Your passions will be the key to your joy later in life. Also, trust yourself! You are going places, girl.
Andrew: What are three binge-worthy TV shows/movies that you’ve been watching?
Ted Lasso makes me very happy inside! We’ve also been rewatching Mad Men, which has weirdly been fun. And we have been watching many critical race theory documentaries through the lens of BIPOC documentarians like Ana Du Vernay. These have been incredibly eye-opening and informative, especially for your children.
Kaplan and Silver Verga find new styles with each new client, drawing contemporary inspiration with tonal accents in this Druid Hill home.
Andrew: Do you prefer to wear loungewear when doing work-from-home or still prefer jeans and a shirt?
I’m not a casual person! Hillary and I have never been athleisure girls; we dress professionally every day, even over Zoom. We are definitely not Lulu Lemon Ladies!
Andrew: What about your design style has shifted this quarantine?
I think we’ve gotten a lot more confident in designing homes the way they need to be set up, rather than how they are traditionally done. Over quarantine, people spent a lot more time at home, so we now know more about what people need in their homes. This has caused a sort of shift from formal dining rooms to longer kitchen islands and more workspaces than unnecessary rooms.
M&H believe that a home should reflect the diverse individuality that every family has, without comprising cohesion or elegance. It should tell a story—your story—and M&H pride themselves on uncovering the perfect details to create a space expressive of you and your family.
Your home, designed through our eyes, will be classic and at the same time current. Intimate moments are as well thought out and designed as grander spaces for gracious entertaining. The color palette will be clean but rich. Cool colors will adore the balance of their warm counterparts. It will be full of personality but not full of clutter. Stylistically it will be a juxtaposition of modern lines with warm and timeless elements. Most importantly, it will be a reflection of your best self.
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