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Interior designer Brittany Hakimfar and her husband, Benjamin, reworked their Philadelphia home after moving from the West Coast to her home state. The renovation focused less on structural changes than on making the expansive rooms feel intimate, with distinct spaces for family life, entertaining and retreat.
Interior designer Brittany Hakimfar and her husband, Benjamin, renovated their Philadelphia home after moving from the West Coast to the state where Brittany grew up, reshaping its expansive rooms to support family life, entertaining and quieter retreats. In a home tour published by Livingetc, Hakimfar said the project involved little structural work; its main challenge was making the large interior feel more intimate.
Hakimfar, who trained under designer Waldo Fernandez before co-founding Far Studio with Benjamin, described the move east as a major change for the family. The house’s design draws on finishes associated with the couple’s time in Los Angeles, including white oak and plaster, while adding darker elements such as black zellige tile, plaid wallpaper and rich wood. A custom steel-and-glass front door was added to bring more light into the entry.
Rather than organize the interior around its scale, Hakimfar said she wanted the layout to encourage people to gather. The home includes areas for entertaining, family time, reading, music and quiet retreat. The kitchen and family room function as everyday hubs for the couple and their three children, while a library and music room and an attic den offer more enclosed, moodier settings.
Other design choices combine visual contrast with practical use. A bar beside the dining room was designed to make hosting easier, and a compact room pairs bucolic wallpaper with a dramatic marble basin. The couple also converted an unfinished attic into a sitting room and added an all-black bathroom with a steam shower. The source describes the project as an interior renovation, not a major structural overhaul.
Designing Large Rooms for Gathering
The project illustrates a specific renovation challenge: a house can have ample space yet still feel less suited to everyday life if rooms are not arranged around how residents use them. Hakimfar’s approach was to create distinct settings within the home, rather than make every room emphasize the building’s size. That choice also let the family accommodate different needs, from shared meals and entertaining to reading or watching television after the children go to bed.
The account may be useful to readers planning updates to a large home because it distinguishes between changing a floor plan and changing how rooms feel. In this case, the designer said the work focused on finishes, furnishings and atmosphere, with light and dark palettes used to give rooms different identities. The article does not provide renovation costs, measurements or an evaluation of the home’s resale value.
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From West Coast to Philadelphia
The Livingetc report frames the renovation around the family’s move from the West Coast to Philadelphia, near the state where Hakimfar grew up. She said the move mattered to the couple after she had worked in both New York and Los Angeles. The new home’s palette balances bright, pale finishes with materials and colors that give some rooms a more enclosed feel.
Hakimfar characterized the original interiors as very dark and said she wanted to change every surface. Heavy window treatments and monotone finishes were replaced by a broader mix that includes clay-colored walls, patterned wallpaper, plasterwork and fluted cabinetry. She also said the project took longer than expected because she sometimes redirected carpenters to other jobs. The report does not give a full construction timeline.
“Moving back to the state where I grew up, having worked both in New York and LA, was a big deal for us.”
— Brittany Hakimfar, owner and designer
Costs and Timeline Not Reported
Livingetc’s home tour does not state when the renovation began or ended, how much it cost, or how long the work took beyond Hakimfar’s description that it took years longer to finish. It also provides no floor-area figures, detailed construction schedule or independent assessment of the completed work. The account is based on the homeowner and designer’s description of the project.
No Further Project Update Given
The source reports the completed home as it stands and does not announce additional renovation work or a forthcoming milestone. Hakimfar said the house now serves as a family home and a refuge through changing seasons. Any later plans for the property, or further details about the renovation’s budget and schedule, have not been reported.
Key Questions
Who owns and designed the Philadelphia home?
Brittany and Benjamin Hakimfar own the home. Brittany is an interior designer and co-founded Far Studio with Benjamin.
What was the main goal of the renovation?
Hakimfar said the goal was to make the home’s large rooms feel more intimate and to create settings for gathering, family activities and retreat.
Did the project involve major structural work?
The Livingetc report says the home required little structural work. It focuses mainly on the interior layout, finishes and room atmosphere.
What design features stand out?
The home pairs light finishes such as white oak with darker details including black tile, patterned wallpaper, rich woods and clay-colored walls. It also includes a bar and a dark attic bathroom with a steam shower.
How much did the renovation cost, and how long did it take?
The report gives no budget or precise timeline. Hakimfar said the project took years longer than expected, but did not provide dates.
Source: rss
