After helping a divorced dad set up a stylish and turnkey home in Atlanta, Minhnuyet Hardy felt she had found a special market for her interior design services: men. Now the designer creates spaces for men and others that are as distinctive and memorable as her name, which is pronounced “Min-u-et.”
Background: Born in Vietnam. Growing up as an Army brat, she fell in love with design as she traveled around the country and the world before her family moved to Georgia in 1980. After earning a finance degree at UGA, she started helping friends decorate their homes and decided to make her love of design a business.
The company: Started a decorating business in 2008. Two years ago, she rebranded to what is now Minhnuyet Hardy Interiors LLC, a high-end luxury firm.
Known for: Men's interiors and smart home technology.
As seen in: Atlanta Magazine; Modern Luxury Men's Book; House of Turquoise; Style Blueprint; and Parlore Journal.
First design job: A nursery. The room was magical, a little over the top, but so much fun.
Big break: A client's condo in Midtown Atlanta.
Design pet peeves: Area rugs that are too small. I hate to see a rug floating in the middle of a seating group, such as a dining room. The rug should be large enough to allow guests to slide dining chairs out from the table without falling off the edge of the rug.
Current design obsession(s): Rock crystal. It is a way to add a natural, organic element to a room, plus a little sparkle without being overly flashy or feminine. Both men and women love it, and it comes in different colors.
New (or re-emerging) looks I like: Using natural elements and mixing metals in a design.
… and looks I am glad to see go: Chintz and Pantone's 2015 color of the year: Marsala.
Most unusual request: Transform a boring terrace-level room into a nightclub. Created a bubble wall as a focal point of the bar, lit the liquor bottles from underneath, and added a stainless steel pool table, contemporary furniture and lots of TVs. People can't believe it is in a client's basement.
Every room needs: A little black. Black helps ground a space, and it works as an anchor with almost every color.
Favorites:
- Atlanta-area home stores/showrooms: So many, including Bradley Hughes; City Collection; The Finished Room; City Issue; and Nandina Home.
- Places for expected (or great) finds: The14th Street Antiques Market. Also Etsy.com for handcrafted, inexpensive pieces.
- Magazines: Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Elle Decor, Dwell and House Beautiful.
- On Instagram: The real houses of IG; Waiting on Martha; and Kelly Wearstler.
About me:
My personal style: Eclectic modern. I like things clean and simple but with a twist.
Household issues I am fussy about: Storage. I like everything to have a home.
What I collect: Sand from the places around the world that I have visited. I then display it in antique apothecary bottles. Whenever I look at the bottles and the sand, I'm reminded of my travels.
Latest project: Two teen rooms in Buckhead. The project was challenging because of the unusual shape of the rooms, but I was able to be creative and innovative with the design.
What's new: A nightclub in downtown Atlanta.
Find Minhnuyet Hardy at:
• Website: www.minhnuyethardy.com
• Facebook: minhnuyethardyinteriors
• Instagram: minhnuyethardy
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