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Brittany and Benjamin Hakimfar renovated their Philadelphia home after moving from the West Coast to the state where Brittany grew up. As described in Livingetc, the project focused less on structural changes and more on making the large house feel intimate through distinct rooms, layered finishes and practical spaces for family life and entertaining.
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, shaping its expansive rooms into more intimate spaces for family life and entertaining. In a report by Livingetc, Hakimfar said the house required little structural work; the main challenge was making its scale feel welcoming while balancing light finishes with darker, textured materials.
The home’s design brings together pale oak, rich woods, dramatically veined stone and clay-toned walls. Hakimfar, who trained under designer Waldo Fernandez before co-founding Far Studio with Benjamin, said the interiors combine elements associated with her time in Los Angeles with a moodier palette suited to her return to the East Coast. A custom steel-and-glass front door was added to bring more light into the entry.
Rather than treating the house’s generous proportions as the defining feature, the renovation aimed to create places for different activities. Hakimfar described wanting rooms for gathering, entertaining, family time, reading, music and quiet retreat. The kitchen and family room function as everyday hubs for the couple and their three children, Liv, nine, Leo, seven, and Lex, three, according to Livingetc.
The rooms use varied finishes and moods. A library and music room has gray-blue tones, while the attic den uses charcoal walls; other areas rely on coffee-and-cream neutrals or a brighter entry. The report also describes a bar designed for entertaining, an all-black bathroom with a steam shower, and an attic area converted from unfinished space into a place for the couple to relax.
Making a Large House Feel Intimate
The project illustrates a renovation strategy focused on how rooms work and feel, rather than on major structural changes. In a home with expansive proportions, the Hakimfars used furnishings, finishes and room-specific palettes to make spaces feel suited to particular routines, from hosting guests to spending time together as a family.
The choices also reflect the demands of a home that serves several purposes. The entertaining area is designed to make hosting easier, while the kitchen and family room support everyday family life. More secluded spaces, including the attic den, offer a different atmosphere. The approach shows how scale, light and material choices can shape a home’s experience without changing its basic layout, though the source does not give renovation costs, a completion date or measured outcomes.
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From West Coast to Philadelphia
The move was personally significant for Hakimfar, who said she had worked in both New York and Los Angeles before returning to the state where she grew up with her family. She told Livingetc: “Moving back to the state where I grew up, having worked both in New York and LA, was a big deal for us.”
According to the report, the home’s original interiors were extremely dark, with heavy window treatments and a largely monotone look. Hakimfar said she wanted to change every surface, replacing that scheme with a mix of lighter and darker finishes. The resulting design keeps some dramatic dark areas while adding texture through plaid and tonal wallpaper, plasterwork, fluted cabinetry and velvet.
Hakimfar and Benjamin founded Far Studio, and she designed the home as its owner as well as its designer. She told Livingetc that making choices for her own household allowed her to pursue features she might otherwise have needed to sell to a client, including an all-black zellige-tiled bathroom and moss-green plastered walls. She also said the project took years longer than expected, partly 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, as quoted by Livingetc
Project Costs and Timeline Remain Unreported
Livingetc’s report does not state the renovation’s total cost, exact timeline, or completion date. Hakimfar said the work took years longer than expected, but the report does not specify how many years or when the family moved into the finished home. It also does not give technical details about the building work, the property’s location within Philadelphia, or any measured effects of the design changes.
The account is based on the designer-owner’s descriptions and the publication’s home tour. It does not include an independent assessment of the renovation or comments from contractors. The source therefore establishes the design choices and Hakimfar’s stated aims, but not whether those choices changed the home’s value or performance.
The Family Continues Living in the Home
The source describes the family’s present use of the house but does not announce another renovation phase, a sale, or a future design project tied to this property. Hakimfar said the couple enjoys the changing seasons in the neighborhood and uses the attic den to relax after the children have gone to bed.
For readers following the project, the next developments are not specified. No further construction milestones or planned changes are identified in the Livingetc report, so the renovation stands as a completed home profile rather than an announced ongoing project.
Key Questions
Who renovated the Philadelphia home?
Brittany Hakimfar, an interior designer and co-founder of Far Studio, designed the renovation with her husband, Benjamin, as the homeowners.
What was the main goal of the renovation?
Hakimfar said the aim was to make the house’s expansive proportions feel more intimate and create areas for entertaining, family life, reading, music and retreat.
Did the project involve major structural work?
According to Livingetc, the home required little structural work. The changes described focus mainly on interiors, finishes and how spaces are used.
What design features distinguish the home?
The report highlights a mix of light oak, dark woods, stone, clay finishes and patterned wallpaper, alongside spaces such as a bar, an all-black bathroom and a converted attic den.
How much did the renovation cost, and when was it completed?
The source does not report the cost or a completion date. Hakimfar said the work took years longer than expected but did not give a specific duration.
Source: rss
