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Brittany and Benjamin Hakimfar renovated their Philadelphia home after moving from California to the state where Brittany grew up. The project focused less on structural changes than on making expansive rooms feel intimate, with contrasting materials and spaces for family life, entertaining and retreat.
Interior designer Brittany Hakimfar and her family reworked their Philadelphia home after moving from the West Coast to the state where she grew up, using a mix of light and dark finishes and more intimate room layouts to adapt the large house to daily family life. In a Livingetc profile, Hakimfar said the property needed little structural work, but its expansive proportions called for a design focused on gathering, entertaining and quiet spaces.
Hakimfar, who trained with designer Waldo Fernandez before establishing Far Studio with her husband, Benjamin, described the move back to Pennsylvania as a major change for the family. The renovation brought together elements she associated with her time in Los Angeles, including white oak and plaster, with darker materials and more expressive patterns. A custom steel-and-glass front door was added to bring more light into the home.
The design uses different moods for different rooms. The library and music room feature gray-blue tones, while the attic den has charcoal walls. Lighter coffee-and-cream shades appear in the sitting room, and the entry is kept airy. The kitchen and family room function as central spaces for the family, which includes children Liv, nine, Leo, seven, and Lex, three, according to the report.
Among the details Hakimfar described are black zellige tile in a bathroom, moss-green plaster, plaid and toile wallpapers, fluted cabinetry and a bar built for entertaining. In an unfinished attic, the couple created a retreat with a moody palette and a steam shower. The report identifies the homeowners as the clients and Hakimfar as the designer; it does not provide a project budget or a full construction timeline.
A Large House Made for Gathering
The renovation offers a specific example of how a home’s scale can shape a design brief even when major structural changes are not required. Hakimfar said the goal was to make the rooms feel more intimate rather than emphasize their size. That approach is reflected in designated spaces for family time, reading, music, entertaining and retreat.
The project also shows how contrasting finishes can distinguish rooms without making them feel disconnected. Its mix of pale oak, dark tile, patterned wall coverings and textured plaster is presented as a way to balance a welcoming family home with the owners’ preference for more dramatic interiors. Those outcomes are the designer’s account of the project, not an independent assessment of how the home performs.
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From California Back to Pennsylvania
The family moved from the West Coast to Philadelphia, where Brittany Hakimfar grew up. She said she had worked in both New York and Los Angeles before returning to Pennsylvania with her family. The profile frames the move as a personal turning point and the renovation as an effort to reflect that shift in the home’s atmosphere.
Hakimfar described the original interiors as very dark and said she wanted to change every surface. The project retained dramatic dark moments but added lighter finishes, varied textures and new patterns. The source says the house required little structural work, distinguishing the redesign from a major rebuild.
“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, homeowner and Far Studio designer
Project Costs and Timeline Not Given
The Livingetc report does not state when the renovation began or finished, how much it cost, or which contractors completed the work. It also does not give a detailed account of the construction sequence or identify any specific building approvals. Hakimfar said the project took years longer to finish, but the article does not specify the length of the delay or give a completion date.
The design goals and descriptions of the home come from Hakimfar and the magazine’s profile. No independent evaluation, measurements or before-and-after performance data are provided, so the article does not establish how the changes affected the property’s value or energy use.
No Further Project Milestone Reported
The source presents the home as a completed renovation and does not announce another phase or a forthcoming project milestone. Hakimfar said the family now uses the house as both a place to welcome guests and a refuge, and described the changing seasons in the neighborhood as part of its appeal.
Readers seeking more on the project can consult the Livingetc feature and its credited photography. The report does not say whether the owners or Far Studio plan additional work on the property.
Key Questions
Who renovated the Philadelphia home?
Brittany Hakimfar, a designer at Far Studio, designed the renovation of the home she shares with her husband, Benjamin, according to Livingetc.
Why did the family move to Philadelphia?
Hakimfar said the family moved from the West Coast to the state where she grew up. The source does not give a more specific reason for the move.
Did the renovation involve major structural changes?
The report says the home required little structural work. The main design challenge was making its expansive rooms feel more intimate and useful for family life.
What design features stand out in the home?
Reported features include a steel-and-glass front door, dark zellige tile, patterned wallpaper, textured plaster, a bar for entertaining and a converted attic den with a steam shower.
How long did the renovation take, and what did it cost?
Neither the total duration nor the cost is provided. Hakimfar said the work took years longer than expected, but the profile gives no dates or budget.
Source: rss
