Interviews
Studio Hour with Augusta Hoffman
In this edition of Studio Hour, we speak with New York-based interior designer Augusta Hoffman, whose work blends timeless architecture with modern romance. Known for her quietly refined spaces and tactile minimalism, Hoffman brings the same sensibility to her debut lighting collection for Hudson Valley Lighting.
Q: How would you define your design style, and how has it evolved?
My design style is rooted in a quiet elegance—refined minimalism layered with soulful detail. I’m drawn to pieces that feel timeless but lived-in, silhouettes that are sculptural yet understated, and materials that suggest a story. Over time, I’ve learned to trust restraint. I love the tension between softness and structure, vintage and contemporary, natural and polished. That layered simplicity has become the through-line in all of my work.
Q: Tell us about your lighting collection with Hudson Valley Lighting, what inspired it, and how did it come together?
This collection began with a love for iconic vintage lighting and a desire to reinterpret it through a quieter, more modern lens. I was inspired by the textured bronze of Giacometti, the ethereal glow of Noguchi’s paper lights, the whipstitched leather of mid-century pieces, and the gathered silks often seen in Swedish antiques.
We started with materials, twisted braided cords, hand-stitched details, shirred silks, and paper-inspired forms. Every element was chosen to bring warmth, tactility, and depth. The finishes are intentionally soft: aged brass, plastered whites, linen tones. We wanted each piece to patina gently over time and feel like it had always belonged in a space.
Each fixture is named after an artist who resonates with me, Celmins for Vija Celmins, whose textural restraint I’ve long admired. These names are personal homages to the creative voices that have shaped my own.
Q: What do you hope people feel when they experience this collection?
I hope the collection feels soulful and quietly transformative, like something you didn’t know your space needed until it was there. These aren’t loud pieces. They’re meant to ground a space, add character and softness, and create atmosphere. I want people to feel a sense of calm and intention when they see the light cast from these forms. Something sculptural, beautiful, and deeply considered.
Q: In your view, what role does lighting play in a well-designed interior?
Lighting is one of the most powerful, poetic tools a designer has. It defines mood and rhythm. It can soften architecture, shift scale, or add a tactile moment to an otherwise clean-lined space. I love using lighting to break up a palette or introduce contrast—something unexpected and layered. When thoughtfully placed, a fixture does more than light a room. It brings it to life—even when it's turned off.
Q: How would you style the families in this collection?
Celmins is perfect in cozy, textural spaces like bedrooms or reading nooks. The whip-stitched details add just enough to feel intentional, without overpowering. Beautiful lined down a hallway or stairwell. Claude & Brice cn be sculptural punctuation on a console, flanking a bed, or as bookends to a vignette. Claude feels especially chic on a masculine desk or a chinoiserie sofa table. Elsworth & Gerhard: More architectural—suited to entryways or dining rooms. Elsworth is lovely above a pedestal sink; Gerhard adds softness when suspended over a freestanding tub. Cornell & Elaine are ideal for transitional moments—hallways, flanking a mirror, or as a refined picture light. Cy is a sculptural floor lamp that brings quiet presence. Pair it with a vintage screen and petite side table for a considered vignette. Tailored and geometric, Henri is a flush mount that elevates hallways or smaller spaces with lower ceilings. Delicate and vertical Louise is stunning in multiples over a kitchen island or beside a bed. I also love it in a tall-ceilinged entryway for a romantic moment.
Across the board, I always recommend pairing lighting with natural textures—linen, worn wood, aged metal. Let the light become part of the composition, not just a utility.
Explore Augusta Hoffman’s collection here.
Brice Table Lamp, Cornell Wall Sconce, Ellsworth Pendant