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Hilary I. Unger, ASID

School: New York School of Interior Design
Company: Perianth Interior Design
204 West 84th Street
Third Floor
New York, NY 10024-3105 map
Phone: (212) 874-0556
Email: hilary@perianth.com
Website: www.perianth.com

Designer Profile

Perianth Interior Design is the product of Hilary Unger’s passion for design and innate talent for project management. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island and New York School of Interior Design, Hilary, a professional member of ASID, founded her company in 1996 while still attending NYSID, combining a thorough education with proven field experience at various high-profile interior design firms to shape her knowledge, and fuel her expertise.

A master at managing design projects from beginning to end, Hilary integrates spatial and cosmetic design developments through construction and the installation of products and furnishings to create a cohesive and exciting interior environment. Her boutique firm is sought after by residential and commercial clients who often retain her to undertake interior design renovations of any size.

Perianth's mission is to provide clients in the New York Metropolitan area and beyond with superior service, taking into account the best value possible, and strictest adherence to each individual’s personal style and comfort level. Hilary works closely with every client from the start, to establish clear goals, and throughout the design process, so the end result perfectly reflects what you want and who you are.

My philosophy is “my style is you.” She is known for her versatility in applying her flair and polished style of elegance, function, and warmth to each and every project while capturing the essence of the client’s dreams and expectations

Services Offered

Perianth is a full-service residential and commercial New York City–based interior design firm that embraces the sophistication and individuality of each client, and brings to life a collaborative vision that embodies your own personal expression of style.

Awards & Publications

The Wall Street Journal — May 13, 2010
"Room to Grow"

The New York Times — March 11, 2009
"The $300 Makeover: West Village Studio"

When this family decided to purchase the penthouse apartment above them and create a duplex, selecting the finishes and furnishings was an exciting task. Perianth worked closely with the architect to design a new look for the gut-renovated space, to help decide the best placement of skylights and clerestory windows, and to bring to life desired rooms such as a spacious great room and “his” and “hers” studies. Perianth integrated the warm tones that exuded from the teak doors and floors to capture that same feel in the furnishings. Custom door hardware, a bronze railway for the staircase, decorative finishes on the wall to accentuate the client’s collection of Asian silk fans and renowned oil paintings were among the many upscale enhancements.
The challenge presented for this project was to transform a boys’ bedroom in an East Side townhouse into a no-holds-barred dream space. Perianth said goodbye to the racecar beds that once filled the room, and hello to a rock-climbing wall, a punching bag, a mini basketball court, and more. The circular cutouts are backed in Velcro and filled with removable ping-pong balls as part of the loft frames. The room is also designed to contain clutter: Perianth created the loft spaces to include lots of storage for books, trophies and, of course, action figures. There is even built-in storage below the windows and beneath the beds. The parents are thrilled that on rainy days, their sons now have multiple activities to keep them occupied without leaving their room.
At the first meeting, these clients expressed their desire for Caribbean-style colors. Perianth suggested incorporating these vibrant colors into textures, such as decorative painting and grass-cloth wallpaper to achieve an interesting dimensional character for the space. Ultimately, Perianth created a theme using decorative painted panels and nutmeg colored grass cloth along with sisal and woven Tibetan area rugs and rich, warm fabrics for upholstery.
When these clients moved from an Upper West Side apartment to a White Plains house, they wanted to build their dream kitchen. In addition to their desire to have an eat-in area, the main requirement was to create a kosher kitchen. What makes a kosher kitchen different from any other kitchen? The obvious answer is storage. Enough for separate dairy and meat dishes, pots, pans and silverware. But there is more to the details than meets the eye. The ability to put dirty dishes in two different sinks, to have two dishwashers, and to have a warming drawer makes the difference between having a kosher kitchen with basic functions and one that deliberately facilitates the kosher lifestyle and actually makes it an enjoyable experience.
For this young family of four, space for the kids to run, whimsy in fabrics and color sense, and creating a long banquette to double as seating for dining and lounging were the goals. In the dining room, Cherner chairs give curvature to an otherwise linear space. The apple green quilted seat cushions are faux leather for easy cleaning in a kid-friendly environment. Other textural fabrics were used in the living room to tie the two rooms together. The bold jubilee printed curtain fabric gives personality and balance to the master bedroom.
Formal and grand were the requirements for this mature couple. Completed in three months from start to finish, no stone was left unturned. Using the client's existing Rococo furniture as a cue, a few new pieces were added such as the his and hers wood-framed chairs in the living room and the upholstered chairs and trefoil ottoman in the master bedroom. Beautiful draperies of French silk fabrics now grace the windows, while silk velvets and jacquards dress the remaining furniture. The pearlised finish on the decorative painted walls provides the luster and formality that the space needed.
This West Coast producer and his wife wanted a warm, comfortable and plush New York pied-à-terre to live in while shooting episodes for his TV shows. The dining room is wallpapered with grass cloth for warmth, and double-sided portiere curtains of contrasting Donghia fabrics act as a visual divider into the living room. The plush golden velvet sofa and matching upholstered armchairs sit nicely on the Doris Leslie Blau Art Deco rug. Silk curtains with a contrasting band add glamour, and the 1950s woven leather card table and chairs were the linchpin of the scheme, bringing height and texture to the space.
This client wanted to transform her downtown apartment into a newly designed haven with a relaxing yet sophisticated feel. We enhanced the entire look of the home with all new paint colors and furnishings. Horizontal wall coverings and sheer curtains with horizontal ribbons of color were also employed to create a more spacious feel and lead the eye to interesting focal points around the home. We designed and installed the sleek built-in shelving for the television, which followed the flow of the clean, horizontal lines. Simple, stylish, and eclectic furnishings such as a custom-designed metal table, plush blue sofa, and wrought-iron bench with a striped seat covering were selected to further excite the space.
When this young couple moved back from a three-year stint in London, they returned to New York to live in one of Central Park West's exclusive buildings. They purchased a classic-7 apartment with the intention of renovating only the kitchen and decorating the remainder of the home. When it was discovered that the previous owner’s renovation did not comply with building codes, the entire apartment had to be gutted. With only four walls left standing, Perianth re-designed the floor plan to better fit the family's needs. Much of the furniture had been purchased by the client in England and the French countryside. All the new upholstery was custom, except the Crate and Barrel sofa which blends right in and looks great.
This 650-square-foot apartment efficiently uses every inch of space. The apartment was designed with specifically designated living and working areas in mind. Bookcases surround the main room to provide a unified backdrop for the living and dining areas. The furnishings include a Jean-Michelle Frank–style sofa, two restored vintage chairs, c. 1950s black lacquered nesting tables, and a classic bronze ICF pedestal base with a round onyx top. Yayoi Kusama's Infinity hangs above the sofa.
Manhattan Jewish Experience is a cutting-edge program for young Jewish professionals in their twenties and thirties with little or no background in Judaism who are interested in learning and connecting more with their heritage. When MJE leased the tenth floor of the Jewish Center building in New York, they looked to interior designer Hilary, president of Perianth, and architect Michael Hsieh of studio MH to design their space. It was a renovation in which the 1909 smoking room was restored to its original beauty and the multipurpose room was expanded to accommodate large events as well as to have three distinctly separate areas for classrooms and meetings.
When this German-based pharmaceutical processing company opened its New Jersey office, their vision was a modern aesthetic. They wanted simple and classic furniture that fit with the office’s layout. Perianth Interior Design specified Knoll office systems, red and chrome Brno chairs, and a Cedric Hartman end table for a great combination of form and function.