Hilary London, an East Hanover company, heats up the home market

By Ashley Nichols
Photography by Jim Ong

Hilary Foster sees life through specially tinted lenses. She'll gaze off a boat at the many blue hues in the wake and ask herself, "How can I translate that in glass?"

And good thing she does. Her lovely glass-handled barware and her other vibrant products are livening up the home.

It all started with her artistic jewelry designs. Foster named her company Hilary London, which is now in its 10th year. Although she incorporated in 1996, after years working for other design companies, she spent her first solo year exploring and deciding how to build her own brand. She found her answer in Italy.

Intrigued with Murano glass and its influence in Europe, Hilary decided to use local glassmakers to create the jewelry designs -- big, colorful, beaded pieces -- she began selling in 1997. Four years later, she added the HL Home line, featuring housewares pieces such as the speckled barware pictured here.

Hilary, who works in East Hanover, makes several trips to Italy each year to visit the factories in Venice, where glass workers do everything by hand and are challenged to keep everything uniform. While there, she does her own negotiations (in Italian) and enjoys the Old-World charm. She devotes some time to walking around Venice, soaking up inspiration from the vivid colors she finds.

The Hilary London brand wholesales to more than 600 retailers, including Shop NBC, Neiman Marcus catalog, select museums, and gift shops.

At Your Service Add style to your bar with HL Home’s Pastel Confetti ice scoop, bottle opener, stopper, and corkscrew, ($22 to $55), and glassware. Where to find it: Journey Through Italy Smithville 609.652.8882 Tuscan Hills Princeton 609.921.9015 Magnolia Stone Harbor (open seasonally) 609.368.3505 Stella e Luna Point Pleasant Beach 732.714.2221