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Kate Hayes and Krista Sharif lucked out: They never had to incessantly FaceTime their contractor to checking in on the progress of their client Kalpana’s Atlanta home. The designers, who together run Hayes Little Studio, could walk right on over; conveniently, they both live just a few blocks away. For Hayes, it’s a familiar feeling: she and the homeowner have been good friends since they were in seventh grade and as adults, have almost always lived near each other.
A lot has changed since the designers last decorated Kalpana’s place. Before, it was just her and her husband, Arun. Now, they were a family of four hoping to put their stamp on a house that was essentially a white box. It had a logical layout going for it, but also modern farmhouse vibes that didn’t fit their vibe. Hayes and Sharif were confident they could keep the project to just cosmetic updates. Drawing on the couple’s Indian heritage and their love of cooking, all things patterned, and Wes Anderson, they employed paint, new light fixtures, and a smidge of millwork to breathe life into the space. Ahead, we asked the designers our most pressing questions about the refresh.
The kitchen is a big moment. How did you arrive at this shade of yellow?
Hayes: It’s delicious. The color is Sudbury Yellow by Farrow & Ball. We very much wanted to use that Jennifer Shorto orange print for the curtains, so we worked backward from that. We knew the dining room was going to be a cooler color, so we wanted the kitchen to feel very friendly and inviting.
The light fixtures over the island almost look like candy.
Hayes: It’s a little unexpected, and also glass is practical; it’s wipeable.
Sharif: The glass has such a soft, beautiful glow. Plus the stripes add a little whimsy for the kids.
You kept the fun going in the bar nook.
Hayes: The bar is between the kitchen and the dining room, across from the pantry. It existed before but we added those tiles, hand-painted by Wayne Pate, and did the cabinets in a deeper color, Arsenic by Farrow & Ball, to give it some jazz.
The pleated living room sofa—did you reupholster an existing piece or buy it new?
Sharif: We went heavy on the yellow, tying it back to the kitchen. This was a new piece that is comfortable for a family, and it’s got indoor-outdoor fabric so they don’t have to worry too much about their kids or beautiful golden retriever on it.
Hayes: The pleating feels British almost, but it’s actually just a Serena & Lily sofa.
Looking back, is there anything you would do differently?
Hayes: We would probably use a different rug in the family room. They have a dog with light-colored hair and the dark navy shows everything. Luckily, the husband loves to vacuum.
Why was carving out a separate breakfast nook essential for this family?
Hayes: They have two little kids and mealtime is such an event, so having a space that isn’t the island or their formal dining room was very important. The little opening was already there (we assume it held a TV originally). We got it into CAD and played around with the layout and we were like, why don’t we just build it out as a nook?
It’s so sweet that the children’s artwork is hanging above it.
Hayes: We wanted it to be a cyclical thing, where new art comes home from school and it can be added for a personal touch. By containing it within that frame, it feels purposeful and not too messy.
How does the family use the pink living room?
Sharif: Kalpana’s office is actually connected to this room, so it’s where she gets a lot of work done (she’s a writer). That sofa, from Verellen, is extremely comfortable and makes it a grown-up space.
Hayes: A lot of the things on the shelves are reminders of who they are—who they were before children, books they’ve collected, pieces of art that mean something to them.
How do you approach styling shelves that are extra big and deep?
Sharif: We are very pro-book. We have a lot of clients who want to do built-ins but don’t have a lot of books, but that’s really important.
Hayes: A lot of the photos are of their family in India and they’re at levels where you can really get in and study them, which I love.
Is this coat rack something they’d had for a long time?
Hayes: We sourced that one vintage for them from the Pierce & Ward shop.
Sharif: We were pretty deceased over that piece!
What was the very first thing you bought for this project?
Hayes: One early thing was the 1970s sconces on the pink bookcase. We bought the cord covers on Chairish, just to have it feel cool since they’re plugged in below. We all fell in love with the Beata Heuman pendant in the dining room early on, too. It added a whole new intimacy to that space.
Sharif: And the tiny rug in the pink room. At first we were like, is it too small for the space? But then we decided it didn’t matter. We love it.
Why did you decide to drench the dining room in this cool green?
Sharif: While there are windows, it’s an internal room between the kitchen and the front entry. And there’s no trim in here. So, it felt very natural to do this darker color everywhere.
Was the daybed in the window something you built from scratch?
Hayes: That’s an Indian charpai. We had actually purchased it for Kalpana’s old house and it fits perfectly in this nook. There used to be a desk here that we ripped out. While this is her writing office, writers also read a ton, so we wanted a cozy nook for her that felt private and dreamy.
Sharif: Their dog always sits there. Sadly, he’s blind now, but he used to love looking out the window. He can still find his way there.
Did you add the fabric skirt in the powder bathroom to an existing sink?
Sharif: Yes. It was a super modern floating sink that felt out of place with where we were going, so we added the skirt. We originally chose a fabric that matched the striped wallpaper, but the company discontinued the textile. We were devastated at first but it was a happy accident because I actually love this fabric more.
Speaking of fabric, what is the story behind the floral panels in the primary bedroom?
Hayes: There are clerestory windows over their bed. It presented a bit of a drapery issue, especially if you are someone who needs it to be dark when you sleep. We decided to swath that whole wall in this gorgeous Pierre Frey print and cover them up entirely (but you can still split them open if you want some light).
The kids’ rooms are full of personality. Did their little ones have any say in how their spaces were decorated?
Hayes: The older son loves stripes and wanted red, so we said, we can do that! We used his existing bed from their last home and it really pops with that wallpaper on the ceiling. For their younger son, stars felt like a very natural fit—Kalpana loves very dreamy, magical things.