The marble fireplace surround and burl-wood table are grounded by a serene color palette. Wrapped in deep charcoal millwork, this cozy corner proves that a little darkness goes a long way. Cuttings from nature bring the outdoors in.
When designer Brittany Hakimfar’s clients first saw the house they would eventually call home, they didn’t love it—to put it nicely. “Initially, when they saw the home with their Realtors, they did not see the potential in it,” recalls Hakimfar, founder of the firm Far Studio. At the time, the place had wall-to-wall carpet, clunky granite counters, and outdated light fixtures at every turn. “They asked me to come and meet them to walk the space, and I immediately knew that we could make it what they wanted and the home they dreamed of. They listened to me and couldn’t have been happier.”
That’s not to say the process was a total breeze. While the family loved the existing house’s leafy locale, there was plenty to take on. “The home was in serious need of updates and renovations and the interiors were very dated,” says Hakimfar. Overall, the rooms felt too dark and moody, especially for a client who asked for a home that was warm, neutral, and fun. To allow more light to flow free-range, “We decided to remove a very long covered porch at the front of the home, which completely transformed the look and let in a lot more natural light,” says Hakimfar, adding that they also painted the yellow brick exterior a crisp white and the shutters black.
Inside, a serene color palette of earthy neutrals also helped, with lacquer paint on the powder-room walls and the custom, white-oak bookcases in the living room. A smattering of marble finishes and a custom curved iron-and-oak railing gave the home the aura of time. “It was really important to bring in lighter tones to the home,” says Hakimfar. “The house gets so much beautiful natural light, which is even more emphasized by the lighter palette.”
Within those, moments of depth assisted in creating a rich, sumptuous feeling as you wander throughout the house. “I am a huge believer in having a dark room in every home and in this home that was the study,” says Hakimfar. “We painted the millwork, walls, ceilings, and trim in Off-Black by Farrow & Ball, and then accented that with lighter window treatments, a custom brass detailed bar, and walnut millwork. This created the perfect vibe for the space, which was set behind custom steel-and-glass doors.”
Even with such a honed palette, there were plenty of opportunities for aesthetic playfulness. One such spot: the dining room, where these clients host family and friends. “The custom wall mural in the dining room that juxtaposes the more modern Apparatus ‘Lariat’ chandelier was really spectacular,” says Hakimfar. But one of the designer’s favorite elements is actually in a formerly unused space: the basement. Rather than leaving it empty, they transformed it into a full-throttle entertaining hideaway. “The client was really into music and insisted on a fully outfitted ‘tunes room’ or listening room. We did a custom stone fireplace, custom millwork to display his records and books, and clad the walls in acoustic walnut panels. Other spaces in the basement include a gym with a steam and sauna, and a large walk-in wine room for their amazing wine collection that even has a little tasting room.” Taste, indeed.
Detailed muraled walls help the architecture in the dining room recede, creating a dreamy backdrop for modernist brass lighting and a richly grained table. A graceful first impression: sculptural ceramics, layered textures, and quiet elegance everywhere. Touches of beadboard and wood supply interesting texture.
