5 min read
There’s something fascinating about watching a designer turn their expert lens inward. While every pro throws their all into helping their clients, a certain alchemy is achieved when they begin to craft a deeply personal blueprint for their own way of living. For Brittany Hakimfar, founder and creative director of Far Studio, that vision unfolded in her family’s Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania home, a seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom (plus two powder rooms) residence that she describes as “a labor of love.”
From the outset, this was never going to be a surface-level refresh. Hakimfar and her husband purchased the property with experimentation in mind and soon set out to rework the entire home from top to bottom. “We did a full gut renovation, touching every part of the house,” Hakimfar explains. She focused first on reworking the layout, reimagining every room to suit her family’s needs, then layered in materials like marble, plaster, and richly grained wood to create a home that felt lived-in. “We truly invested in this home so that every space feels warm, layered, textured, and inviting.”
While the project marks her evolution as a designer, the four-year renovation also tracked closely with the evolution of her own family. “When we initially purchased the home, we had only two kids, and now we have three,” she adds. “The house evolved as our family grew.” That sense of movement—of a home responding to life in real time—is infused in every corner, from the expansive kitchen where the family congregates to the cozy living room where they unwind together.
Because this is our personal home, we took more chances and were really able to lean into things that we love.
As both designer and client, Hakimfar allowed herself the rare freedom to experiment fully, her curiosity taking form in a moody attic lounge swathed in Sherwin-Williams’ Iron Ore and a Gucci-clad powder room that feels like you’re stepping into the wardrobe to Narnia. “Because this is our personal home, we took more chances and were really able to lean into things that we love,” she says, pointing to her signature palette of “saturated earthy tones with some unexpected pops.”
If there was ever a living, breathing calling card for Hakimfar’s design work, the resulting home is it. Despite its size, it feels intimate, a place designed not just to be admired, but to be lived in, layered over time with stories, memories, and the rhythms of everyday family life. “We look at this house as our forever home,” she adds, “and we were really able to pour all of our design wishes into it.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Brittany Hakimfar, Far Studio
Styling:Kristi Hunter
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
The Space: A seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom, two-half-bathroom home across 9,000 square feet
MEDIA ROOMAn unfinished attic turns into a moody, family-friendly escape.
Brian Wetzel
Couch: Crate and Barrel. Paint: Iron Ore, Sherwin-Williams.
Taking the home down to the studs allowed Hakimfar to rethink every inch, including the formerly unfinished attic, which now lives large as a rich but surprisingly airy lounge and media room. “My husband and I love to hang out here at night and watch a show once we’ve put the kids to bed,” she adds. The ceiling boasts reclaimed pine beams original to the home, and the wall features integrated niches perfect for displaying artifacts and art.
FAMILY ROOMGauzy drapery filters light beautifully and lends an ethereal feel.
Brian Wetzel
Wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore. Rug: Surya. Sectional: Maiden Home. Coffee table: Four Hands. Drapery: Mainline Window Decor. Pendant: Atelier Vime.
Located right off the kitchen, this sun-drenched space is ground zero for family time and, thus, had to hold its own against all the happy chaos kids can bring. “We get a ton of natural light in the room from the high ceilings and large windows, and we wanted to tie the green pieces in with the lush greenery that you see outdoors,” Hakimfar adds of the room’s verdant color scheme.
KITCHENA curved plaster hood houses hidden storage on either side for oils and spices.
Brian Wetzel
Flooring: Francois and Co. Stone: Calacatta Vagli marble, Stone Tech Fabrication. Sconces: Blueprint Lighting. Pendant lights: Urban Electric Co. Cabinet hardware: Montana Labelle. Stools: Four Hands.
The kitchen’s facelift was possibly the most impactful—not only did the footprint expand, but it received a hefty dose of functionality via a new back pantry and concealed coffee station. Custom white oak cabinetry combines with Belgian bluestone floors and marble surfaces for a timeless yet modern look.
WET BARQuick access to the dining room makes this the ideal accompaniment to entertaining.
Brian Wetzel
Cabinet paint: Off Black, Farrow & Ball. Sink fixtures: Brizo. Stool: vintage. Point lights: Long Made Co.
Tucked alongside the dining room, this marble-clad wet bar offers a stunning spot to mix up a signature cocktail or uncork a bottle of champagne. “We designed this space to really wow with the marble, but it’s also functional,” adds Hakimfar.
DINING ROOMThe wallpaper is part of Far Studio’s collaboration with Chasing Paper.
ANNA SPALLER
Drapery: custom, in Pindler fabric. Chairs: Cassina. Pendant: Ochre.
Moody and atmospheric, the dining room plays host to dinner parties and a standout signature design element: Far Studio’s wallpaper collaboration with Chasing Paper on both the walls and ceiling. A custom limestone table gives the room weight and a sense of patina.
POWDER ROOMA custom floating marble vanity seems to defy gravity.
Brian Wetzel
Mirror: vintage. Stone: Calacatta Monet.
Clad in a luxe Gucci wallpaper, this jewelbox powder room has become a destination all its own. “This powder room is so special,” says Hakimfar. “We love when guests come in and get a pop of pattern in the space—it’s a bit unexpected.”
PRIMARY BEDROOMAn oversized Noguchi lantern brings attention to the vaulted ceilings.
Brian Wetzel
Bedding: Parachute. Nightstand: RH. Table lamp: Lawson Fenning. Couch: vintage. Drapery: Main Line Window Decor.
Hakimfar refers to the primary suite as her “sauctuary,” and it’s clear to see why. Kept intentionally minimal, it’s drenched in a muddy olive-brown hue, hand-painted in a custom plaster by artist Katie Dubree.
BATHROOMAn inky palette coordinates with the neighboring lounge.
Brian Wetzel
Tile: Zia Tile.
Brian Wetzel
Attached to the attic lounge, this full bathroom is covered in zellige tiles, which make the most of an inky black palette by bouncing light around the room. The Brizo steam shower acts as an at-home spa moment.
SON’S ROOMPlaid wallpaper brings a Ralph Lauren edge.
Brian Wetzel
Wallpaper: Chasing Paper. Drapery: custom, in Kravet fabric. Dresser: Anthropologie. Lamp: Victoria Morris Pottery. Side table: Zara Home. Light fixture: Serge Moulle.
When it came to designing her youngest son Lex’s room, Hakimfar looked to classic patterns and a refined palette to ensure it would grow alongside him. A custom nubby brown rocking chair offers a comfortable spot for late-night cuddles.
BOY’S BATHROOMA separate shower space keeps the room functional for multiple littles.
ANNA SPALLER
Mirror, sconce: RH.
The boys’ bathroom, shared by Hakimfar’s two sons, features another wallpaper designed in collaboration with Chasing Paper. Durable details, like white subway tile walls and a basketweave floor from Emser Tile, ensure the space is nearly indestructible.
PLAYROOMThere’s room for pretend play—and plenty of organization—in this imaginative zone.
ANNA SPALLER
Tent, play table: Etsy.
Located alongside the kids’ bedrooms, this cheerful play space is where childhood magic happens. Cleverly installed wallpaper (Bazi Stripe from Far Studio x Chasing Paper) disguises a quirky ceiling line.
BACKYARDMicro-zones help the backyard meet every whim.
Brian Wetzel
Furniture: Brown Jordan.
Finished in the final phase of renovations, the backyard was the last piece of the puzzle that truly helped the house feel like home for Hakimfar and her family. “The backyard was really important to us,” she says of the multi-zoned space, which includes areas for dining, conversing, and lounging. “I love that the kids can swim during the warmer months.”
About the Designer
Brittany Hakimfar is the founder and creative director of Far Studio, a Philadelphia-based interior design and lifestyle studio recognized for its thoughtful, materially driven approach to residential design. Her work centers on creating interiors that feel enduring and grounded, defined by a careful balance of natural materials, rich textures, and a restrained, nuanced palette.