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Brittany and Benjamin Hakimfar moved from the West Coast to Philadelphia and reworked their home around family life, entertaining and quieter retreats. Interior designer Brittany Hakimfar said the project focused on making the home’s expansive rooms feel more intimate, using contrasting materials, layered finishes and distinct moods.
Interior designer Brittany Hakimfar and her family renovated their Philadelphia home after moving from the West Coast, reshaping its expansive rooms to support family gatherings, entertaining and quieter activities. In a Livingetc home tour, Hakimfar said the project was guided by a wish to create more intimate spaces while balancing light finishes with darker, more textured rooms.
Hakimfar and her husband, Benjamin, moved from the West Coast to the East Coast, returning to the state where she grew up. The couple’s three children — Liv, nine; Leo, seven; and Lex, three, as listed in the report — are part of the household. Hakimfar, who trained under designer Waldo Fernandez, established the interior design practice Far Studio with her husband.
According to Livingetc, the home needed little structural work, but its large proportions called for a different approach to planning. Hakimfar said the aim was to make the layout encourage gathering and family use, with separate places for entertaining, reading, music and retreat, rather than drawing attention to the size of the rooms.
The renovation combines pale oak and light entry spaces with darker details and rooms. The report describes black zellige tiles, plaid and toile wallpaper, clay and plaster finishes, dramatic stone, and dark-toned rooms including a library and music room and an attic den. The kitchen and family room function as everyday gathering areas; the couple also created a bar near the dining room for entertaining.
How the Rooms Support Family Life
The project shows how the owners adapted a large home to the routines they wanted, rather than treating its scale as the main feature. Different rooms serve different purposes: the kitchen and family room anchor daily life, while the bar and dining-area setting support guests, and the library, music room and attic den provide quieter alternatives.
For readers interested in renovation, the account offers a specific example of how visual contrast can help distinguish spaces without major structural changes. The source describes the use of lighting, finishes and furnishings to create variation, but does not provide costs, measurements or evidence that the approach would suit every home. The practical point is the Hakimfars’ stated design goal: make rooms feel welcoming and useful, not merely impressive in scale.
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From West Coast to Philadelphia
Hakimfar told Livingetc that returning to the state where she grew up was a significant move for the family after she had worked in both New York and Los Angeles. She said a custom steel-and-glass front door was added to bring more light into the home. The tour contrasts that airy entry with rooms that use deeper colors and layered surfaces.
Hakimfar described the original interiors as very dark and said she wanted to change the surfaces throughout. The renovation retained dark moments but paired them with varied textures, including a chocolate velvet sofa, a papered ceiling, fluted cabinetry and hand-finished plaster. The article also reports an all-black bathroom with a steam shower and a converted, previously unfinished attic sitting room.
Some choices were possible because the couple were designing their own home, Hakimfar said. She cited the black-tiled bathroom and moss-green plaster as examples of decisions she did not need to sell to another client. She also said the project took years longer than expected, in part because she redirected carpenters to other jobs.
“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, speaking to Livingetc
Project Costs and Timeline Details
Livingetc’s report does not give the renovation’s total cost, exact duration or completion date. Hakimfar said the work took years longer than expected, but the article does not specify how many years or provide a detailed construction schedule. It also does not identify the home’s size, address or the extent of individual trade work.
The descriptions of the home and the family’s experience come from the owners and the publication’s tour. The report does not include independent assessments of the renovation or information about how the design performs over time. No further changes to the property are announced in the source.
The Home in Everyday Use
The source describes the home as now serving the family’s daily routines as well as entertaining. Hakimfar said she and Benjamin use the attic den to watch shows after their children go to bed, and described the home as a refuge through changing seasons. The report does not announce a next renovation phase or a scheduled follow-up.
For now, the next chapter described is continued use of the finished rooms: family life centered on the kitchen and family room, guests gathering around the bar, and the family retreating to quieter spaces. Any future work, costs or changes remain unreported.
Key Questions
Who renovated the Philadelphia home?
Brittany and Benjamin Hakimfar renovated the home. Brittany is an interior designer and co-founded Far Studio with her husband.
Why did the family move to Philadelphia?
Hakimfar told Livingetc that the family moved from the West Coast to the East Coast and that returning to the state where she grew up was a big deal for them. The report does not give a more detailed reason for the move.
What was the main design goal?
Hakimfar said the goal was to make the home’s expansive rooms feel more intimate and to create spaces for entertaining, family time, reading, music and retreat.
What materials and finishes feature in the renovation?
The Livingetc report describes pale oak, dramatic stone, clay and plaster finishes, black zellige tiles, wallpaper, fluted cabinetry and dark-colored rooms. The design pairs lighter areas with moody, textured spaces.
How much did the renovation cost, and how long did it take?
The source does not report the project’s cost or exact duration. Hakimfar said the work took years longer than expected, but did not specify a number of years.
Source: rss
