How Hadley Wiggins Designed an NYC Apartment Fit for an Artist

Rip & Tan: The interiors world is absolutely buzzing with talk of your recent projects and debuts—what have these past few years, even months, felt like? 

Hadley Wiggins: I am so proud to share the results of our hard work! A bit more exposure has led to an exciting selection of project opportunities. I am super excited for what’s to come!

Rip & Tan: How have your interior sensibilities evolved? Was there a point where you felt like you’d truly fallen into your groove? 

Hadley Wiggins: Every project is different and from the beginning, my only filter has been to stay true to the home and the homeowner. We are trying to create environments that aren’t of any one style or era, they are undefined and timeless. I’m always evolving and finding more and more that I find beautiful in the world.

Rip & Tan: In your own words, what are some of the telltale characteristics of a Hadley Wiggins interior? 

Hadley Wiggins: Eclectic harmony, unexpected and timeless.

Rip & Tan: Walk us through this incredible home—what were some of the client’s primary desires?

Hadley Wiggins: Serenity and the incredibly subtle use of layering tonal elements with a very measured use of contrast and patina. This homeowner has an incredible color sense and derives real joy from the subtly and light play that is seen throughout the home’s quite “thirsty” architectural finishes. Architect Anderson Kenny and Color Consultant Eve Ashcraft were vital collaborators in the effort to reach these goals.

Rip & Tan: You’re well known for your use of color and pattern. What tips do you have for breaking the neutral barrier in a way that feels timeless?

Hadley Wiggins: Pay attention to the undertones and “weight” of your base palette. If your foundation is warm, washed out and desaturated, color accents should be as well, for example, a beige sofa with rusty, dusty red pillows. If your base is cool and crisp, you have more room to add sharp, saturated tones on top, for example, a light grey sofa with a cobalt blue side table.

Rip & Tan: In your eyes, what are the non-negotiables in a warm, inviting interior? 

Hadley Wiggins: Livable furnishings, surfaces that get better with time and wear, goods that are styled to accept the presence of real life—a child’s mess, pillows left un-primped, clothes strewn across the bedroom chair. If you have to keep the space looking like a showroom to feel beautiful you’ve gone too precious.

Rip & Tan: Whether we’re talking interiors or creativity in a broader sense, what inspires you?

Hadley Wiggins: Nature, nature, nature.

Rip & Tan: What’s one new take on interior design that you’re loving lately?

Hadley Wiggins: I love that the pandemic supply chain issues invigorated the antiques market and how I see more people mixing authentic, patinated furnishings with quality, foundational goods.

Rip & Tan: Can you share a few of your go-to sources for materials, furniture, and décor?

Hadley Wiggins: 1stdibs and Chairish (duh). Howe, Rose Uniacke, Holland and Sherry, Rose Tarlow….

Rip & Tan: Whether it’s a wall treatment or vintage furniture find, what’s one of your favorite details from this project?

Hadley Wiggins: There is a Victorian iron bench in the primary bedroom placed under a large Gubi mirror, recovered in a Holland and Sherry herringbone. The way these two items work together, each from completely different traditions and eras is a pretty perfect example of the juxtaposition and subtle harmony I find most interesting to achieve.

Rip & Tan: Do you tend to follow a general creative process? Where do you prefer to begin?

Hadley Wiggins: I want to know everything about the inhabitants. How do they live, what kind of travel they are drawn to, what items have they saved from relatives, brought from house to house, and so on. I want their home to be personal to them—being beautiful is one thing but the feeling of familiarity is an equal goal.