Perianth Interior Design Wins at the Interior DesignSociety’s 2025 National Designer of the Year Awards
Honored in the Category of Living Spaces Over $100,000 A Prestigious National Award for Perianth’s Bold Use of Red as the Foundational Element of a Single Room Redesign
A Prestigious National Award for Perianth’s Bold Use
of Red as the Foundational Element of a Single Room
Redesign
Interior Designer Hilary Unger is proud to announce her acclaimed firm Perianth Interior Design has been named a winner at The Interior Design Society National Designer Conference: Designer of the Year for 2025 - in the category of Living Spaces Over $100,000.
This significant acknowledgement is evidence that Unger’s bold decision to use the color red as the foundational element of a recent single room redesign project was indeed an inspired choice - this was a small space that required creativity and problem-solving.
Highlighted by Unger’s confident centerpiece of a red lacquer, full-wall, floor-to-ceiling custom bookcase, the award-winning Manhattan living room project was transformed from nondescript into a classically layered, multifunctional space that blends architectural elegance with everyday livability. Unger’s ‘magic trick’ was to envision deep, layered reds as her “new neutral”. Photos appear within this press release, and a gallery of high-resolution ‘before and after’ images are available here. Unger has crafted a single room, punctuated throughout by her use of the color red, which functions seamlessly as a living room, dining area, library, workspace, and meeting zone.
After decades of work in New York City, Unger has opened new Perianth offices in Emmaus PA as well, bringing her experience to the Lehigh Valley market. With her combination of warmth, integrity and award-winning interior design work, Hilary Unger looks forward to making a positive impact on the regional community.
More information about Perianth’s IDS 2025-Winning Designer of The Year Project:
Highlights Include:
A ventless fireplace with a carved marble surround, integrated into a newly extended wall—designed to feel original to the apartment and to architecturally anchor the space.
Bold red lacquer built-in bookcases that create a second focal point in the room, offering both storage and visual symmetry.
A bespoke dining table with concealed drawers in the apron for storage —serving equally as an elegant dining piece and practical work surface.
Tailored space planning that establishes distinct zones for dining, lounging, reading, working, and entertaining—all within just 300 square feet.
A carefully curated palette of warm tones and classical materials to create character, cohesion, and cozy warmth.
Client Intent & Design Goals: The client sought to elevate their Upper West Side apartment with a space that felt refined yet comfortable—a quiet retreat layered with softness and tailored detail. They wanted a living room that embraced tradition without feeling dated, and Unger designed around that vision—balancing custom millwork, textural contrast, and bespoke furnishings to meet both their aesthetic and functional goals.
Perianth reimagined the layout by:
Removing French doors to the bedroom that interfered with the feeling of intimacy of the room.
Reimagining bookcase placement to optimize both storage and spatial efficiency.
Extending a wall segment to create an architectural niche for the ventless fireplace.
Developing a new furniture plan that defined distinct zones for lounging, dining, reading, working, and entertaining.
These changes brought clarity and cohesion to the room, improved flow, and allowed each area to function with purpose and comfort
When asked what part of the project she is most proud of, Unger responds: “I am most proud of how we transformed the Living Room both architecturally and atmospherically. Extending the wall to accommodate a code-compliant, city- and building-approved ventless fireplace with a carved marble surround completely redefined the interiors - it now feels original to the apartment. The custom dining table with integrated drawers is another standout element, functioning beautifully as both a refectory table and a workspace, all without compromising design integrity. Above all, I’m proud of the full transformation: from an undefined, utilitarian room into one that is classically layered, multifunctional, and deeply considered.”
The result is a richly detailed, multifunctional space that exemplifies Perianth’s signature style: New York sophistication with everyday livability—a design sensibility that’s increasingly sought after across Eastern Pennsylvania, where Unger now resides. With nearly 30 years of experience in high-end residential interiors, Perianth Interior Design serves discerning clients throughout the Lehigh Valley, New York City, and beyond — bringing bespoke, elevated design concepts to homes of all styles and scales.
Resources - Red Room Project:
Contractor - JP Maloney, LLC
Custom Millwork - JP Maloney, LLC
Ventless Fireplace - Hearth Cabinet
Fireplace Mantle & Hearth - Fine's Gallery
Door Hardware - Elegance in Hardware
Custom Dining Table - Adrian Meerman Design
Custom Sofas & Fabric - Ferrell Mittman
Coffee Table - Paynes Gray
Round Table - Bernadette Livingston
Area Rug - Jaipur
Drapery and Drapery Hardware - Restoration Hardware
Drapery Installation - Gilma Jimenez & Co.
Throw Pillows - Oka USA and West Elm
Throw Blanket - West Elm
Floor Lamps - Anthropologie
Wallpaper - Lee Jofa
Wallpaper Installation - Inspired Interiors by Jeovani Alvarez
Picture Framing - Paris Frameworks
Stylist: Fierst Studio
Photographer: Collin Miller Photography
About Hilary Unger and Perianth Interior Design Perianth Interior Design brings over 30 years of experience crafting timeless, refined interiors for discerning clients. With deep roots in Manhattan and a new presence in the Lehigh Valley, the firm offers a sophisticated perspective on spaces that are both luxurious and livable. Led by NCIDQ-certified Principal Designer Hilary Unger, Perianth specializes in full-home transformations—collaborating closely with clients, contractors, builders, architects, and artisans to deliver tailored results in both Eastern Pennsylvania and select New York City projects. The firm’s work spans everything from space planning and millwork to custom furnishings and curated finishes. Perianth has been featured on Good Day New York, and in Elle Decor, The New York Times, The New York Post, and other national and regional publications.
“Your home is not simply a reflection of your taste — it directly inspires your energy, creativity, and productivity.” ~ Hilary Unger