HOLLY DAY Design diva Nisi Berryman oversees the vision of Holly Hunt in Miami By Daniela Schimmel Photographs by Eric Laignel An assemblage by Lisa Ariotti using pigment and ink, mounted on wooden blocks, and a Lorin Sofa by Christian Liaigre illustrate the ability of modern art to expand space. Design snobs looking for the latest and greatest in home furnishings no longer need to hop a jet to New York or London. Over the past two years, more than 50 stores have opened in Miami's Design District, so décor divas on a quest for that jenesaisquoi can simply head downtown. And with the addition of Holly Hunt's spectacular show room to the area, even the most upturned noses are impressed. Hunt's sleek two-story decorating wonderland offers a variety of sought-after furniture lines as well as its own important namesake collection, not only quenching the thirst of finicky South Floridians but attracting architects and buyers from around the world. At the helm of the loftlike space is Nisi Berryman, who, like so many of our favorite locals, is a New York transplant. She made her mark on the ultracool Dakota Jackson before bringing her sophisticated style to sunny Miami. A steel and glass staircase under the skylight in the Holly Hunt show room illustrates the power of light, creating an airy, tropical feeling. Fabrics are shown upstairs in the luxury of natural daylight. The sleek, chic show room was designed by Alison Spear. For those who may not be familiar with the name Holly Hunt, how would you classify the style of furniture available in her show rooms? Sophisticated and comfortable. Tell us about Holly the person. Why is she regarded so highly in the design community? Holly is a totally dynamic businesswoman, but also has a great sense of creativity. She has an amazing eye. She likes to call herself an editor. She is just very strong in knowing what works. When she started her business in the '80s she was in a small show room in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Her idea was to change the display of furniture. She wanted to alter the way people experience shopping when they go to a trade show room. She paid attention to how things look, how people feel when they walk in the room, how materials are presented to the customer. She didn't make any furniture at that point. She only represented other designers, and made sure the companies she represented looked great. It was all done with such style. The design scene is always in transition. How has it changed since the '80s? Design went through a rough period when there was just way too much bad stuff. People latched on to a very traditional look that can easily bejunked up. Classic styles can be surprisingly hard to pull off. Now we're seeing this nice refreshing movement away from all that to really simple spaces that are more nurturing to your spirit. They are not cluttered, fussy or ostentatious. The modern space is clean and feels good to be in. These days it's not about showing how much money you have. It's about personal style. In terms of sophistication, how does Miami compare with other cities? Miami is just totally unedited. It's not refined. You can find amazing style here and also the trashiest style. You see all of it, but that kind of makes it Miami. Nisi Berryman, the general manager of the Holly Hunt show room, is seated on a Chamane Chair. Where are you from? I grew up in Mississippi, but after school at Louisiana State University, I went to New York and worked in Manhattan for some galleries. Eventually, I got into furniture and ended up working for Dakota Jackson for six years. He was just moving from being a one-man operation to having a Manhattan show room, and then to others around the country. It was an exciting time, and design was the hot topic. Since a sense of style cannot be taught, how do women like Holly become so cool? Speaking for Holly, she draws a lot from art. She collects modern art. Anybody in design typically gets inspiration from diverse things like the edge of a napkin or the corner of a building. Holly also gets a lot of inspiration from architecture. With five show rooms open all over the country, what's next? She is opening a second store in Manhattan on the street and Christian Liaigre is doing the interior. This is going to be a real departure because, apart from Miami, all her show rooms are in design centers. What is the first purchase for someone who wants to upgrade their space? A dining table. Sofas are also very important. The good thing about sofas is that the really high-quality ones last 50 years. How have pop culture and magazines like Wallpaper contributed to making design more accessible to the general public? Design really is everywhere. It affects everything you do every day. Everything you touch or look at-if it's not part of the natural landscape-was designed by somebody, and you know if it's not working. A bad town layout, a bad building design, a bad cabinet design affects the whole area and your perceptions. The more people pay attention and learn about design, the more it benefits everyone. People find their lives are enhanced by living with design, and that's really what this whole boom is about. Would you say the trend right now is more eclectic and diverse? Sure, because the more people are educated, the more confident they are about the pieces they pick. I enjoy seeing the juxtaposition of styles in one room. But you have to be careful. You have to edit. One style can't overpower the other. You have to pick pieces that really live well together. What is the most common decorating mistake? People don't pay enough attention to lighting. They spend a lot of time working out details, finding the right pillows, and then stick a halogen lamp in the corner and call it done. Good lighting can really make all the difference. The Muse Table with a removable tray, Mousson Sofa and Charpentier Coffee Table.