What House of Hunt Can’t Live Without

Jul 30, 2024 By Vasia Rigou

Three key figures from Chicago design studio House of Hunt share their favorite things

By Vasia Rigou Jul 30, 2024

Published in Articles

(Above image: Holly Hunt’s dining room features chairs designed by Karl Springer. Image courtesy of House of Hunt)

What do lobster rolls, Antoni Gaudí, and a Chinese urn have in common? Chicago design studio House of Hunt! Dive into the personal and professional inspirations of Founder Holly Hunt, Design Director Jim Dynes, and Senior Designer Neesha Reddivari. From cherished design objects and influential collaborations to beloved travel destinations and favorite books and works of art, we uncover the unique elements that shape their creative lives.

Holly Hunt
Founder
House of Hunt

Jim Dynes
Design Director
House of Hunt

Neesha Reddivari
Senior Designer
House of Hunt

A design object of sentimental value:

Holly Hunt (HH): I own a Chinese urn with elongated dragons in glazed ceramic from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that’s 3-feet-high-by-2-feet-wide. When I purchased it from a showroom in The Merchandise Mart [THE MART], one of the sales associates told me I should take it home the same day, otherwise I might never receive it because the owner was in a place of financial hardship. I asked, “You mean, he might want to sell his company?” I immediately spoke to the owner and his partners, bought it, and a year later renamed the company Holly Hunt. I still have the urn, which is symbolic and on display in my living room.

A collaboration that helped shape your career—and why it was so significant:

Jim Dynes (JD): The opportunity to be mentored by Holly for the last 12 years has made a monumental impact on my career. I always knew I wanted to be a designer and started as a receptionist at her company. I supported different departments before I made a connection with the interiors team. From there, I went on to work closely with Holly. Her style of leading involves giving individuals the chance to take full ownership of their work, which taught me the skills I needed to evolve into my current role as design director at House of Hunt.

Jim Dynes and Holly Hunt have worked together for more than a decade. Dynes is design director at Hunt’s boutique interior design studio, House of Hunt.

Photo by House of Hunt

Jim Dynes and Holly Hunt have worked together for more than a decade. Dynes is design director at Hunt’s boutique interior design studio, House of Hunt.

Photo by House of Hunt

A close-up of an antique Chinese urn from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) purchased by Holly Hunt.

Photo by House of Hunt

A close-up of an antique Chinese urn from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) purchased by Holly Hunt.

Photo by House of Hunt

An all-time favorite designer—and why this person inspires you:

Neesha Reddivari (NR): [Spanish architect] Antoni Gaudí. His architecture pulls forms from nature, reads very organic, and aligns with a lot of current design trends. I first learned about him in school, but it was not until I visited his work in Spain that I became influenced by him. It is challenging enough in our current landscape to build organic forms, and he was able to achieve it then with less advanced modalities and technologies than we have today.

A book that had a big influence in your life—and why:

HH: A Soldier of the Great War, [a novel] by Mark Helprin. His recapitulation of [World War 1] was quite good. I connected with his ability to fluidly describe life and death, peace and war, and language and culture.

A color you absolutely need to have in your space:

JD: Black—every room can use a touch of it. It brings contrast and depth, and is timeless.

An art exhibition that you can’t stop thinking about:

HH: Frank Stella’s grand show of his “Moby Dick” large wall sculpture series, which was first shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, in the ’80s and traveled across the U.S. to major museums. I was blown away by the expansive scale and beauty of the pieces all shown together.

A travel destination you’ll never get bored of:

NR: I summer in Newport, Rhode Island, often with my family. One of my favorite activities is the Cliff Walk, where we tour old mansions from the Gilded Age in a variety of architectural styles along the Newport shoreline. I love the laid-back beach culture and seafood. I especially LOVE the lobster.

A way to relax and de-stress:

JD: I love a family walk around our neighborhood with my partner and our French bulldog, stopping for a coffee and a pup cup.

Something that makes your day brighter:

NR: I look forward to cooking. I enjoy finding recipes that sound appealing and then modifying them to make them my own.

Neesha Reddivari, senior designer at House of Hunt, is drawn to the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. On a visit to Spain, she saw Gaudí’s famous Sagrada Família, a Roman Catholic basilica in Barcelona.