DM for Design

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The constraints of Zoom proved no match for the exuberance of House of Honey’s talents inside this Santa Barbara home

A dark charcoal plaster finish on the fireplace, courtesy of Kamp Studios, tangos with House of Hackney’s Artemis, a dense floral wallpaper. The Halo Circle Pendant light is by Roll & Hill. Photos by Jason Rick.
The neon cross from the couple’s wedding in Italy hangs over a credenza from ReGeneration Furniture in the dining room. Photos by Jason Rick.

While a good party should feel effortless, its success demands the careful orchestration of a thousand small details that ensure the comfort and happiness of its guests. House of Honey, the all-woman design collective helmed by Tamara Kaye-Honey, understands this paradox. Their forte in creating spaces where life is celebrated made their firm the perfect choice for a young tech couple who’d relocated to Santa Barbara during the pandemic. With only three months until their move-in date—oh, and their wedding—they scoured Instagram for a local designer and slipped into House of Honey’s DMs with the hopes of meeting their approaching deadline. “The timeline definitely streamlined our options,” says Kaye-Honey.

The living room’s sculptural furniture—two Marenco sofas from The Future Perfect, a pair of vintage Pierre Paulin chairs and Greenapple’s Bordeira coffee table, both found on 1stdibs—are welcoming and easy to move when dance fever strikes. The playful Codex-Cypher sconces are by Jason Koharik. Kamp Studios provided the fireplace’s plaster finish. Photos by Jason Rick.

With pandemic protocols and time constraints in place, House of Honey took on the task of designing the project completely remotely. “By the time we started working with our clients, we’d become comfortable collaborating over Zoom,” Kaye-Honey shares. “Establishing trust was our first objective.” Weekly Zoom calls and regular packages that shared fabrics, materials and finishes accomplished that, keeping the lines of communication open and the project on track.

Chris Wolston’s jaunty Nalgona chair salutes a Codex-Cypher sconce by Jason Koharik. Photos by Jason Rick.

Originally from the Bay Area, the couple had fallen in love with the beauty and community of the Central Coast. Their previous home, while elegant, had been spare and gray. They wanted their new space to reflect their personalities and embrace their frequent parties as they embarked on a new life together. The groom’s laid-back, casual vibe proved—in the House of Honey’s skillful interpretation—to be the perfect foil for his bride’s feminine, fashion-forward, rock-and-roll style. “For the most part, he deferred to her when it came to the design decisions,” Kaye-Honey recalls. “It was lovely to see how in love they were and how often he encouraged her to go with what she loved. In return, she kept his comfort top of mind.” Apart from a few caveats, the main request was to incorporate their growing art collection, including a neon cross and Fresh ’Til Death signage they’d commissioned for their wedding in Italy. Otherwise, the couple gave House of Honey free reign. “We honored their minimal aesthetic while creating warm and inviting spaces that sparked conversation,” says Kaye-Honey.

The custom U-shaped sectional from Voila! Creative Studio welcomes a crowd. The coffee table was sourced through Burke Decor. The side table is from France & Son. Photos by Jason Rick.

Witness the dining room, where a dark charcoal plaster finish on the fireplace—courtesy of Kamp Studios—tangos with House of Hackney’s Artemis dense floral wallpaper. “The pattern, which has become iconic at this point, evokes their playful yet edgy side,” says Kaye-Honey. “Our client was thrilled to include it.” Its vibrancy is enhanced by a set of Gubi’s Beetle chairs, upholstered in a rainbow of rich velvets that respond to the wallpaper’s colorful flowers. To balance this riot of hue and pattern, House of Honey employed the minimalist Roll & Hill Halo Circle Pendant light.

A custom bed by Voila! Creative Studio, wrapped in a green fabric from Kravet that nods to the rich landscape, is paired with Trueing’s Cerine sconce, with its hand-formed glass chain links, and Miniform’s blown-glass Soda table in Petrol Green. Photos by Jason Rick.

Kamp Studios’ plasterwork also decorates the family and living rooms. In the former, its soft finish underlines the welcome telegraphed by the expansive U-shaped sectional, ideal for the crowd that gathers here on sports days and movie nights. In the open-plan living room, it amplifies the appeal of the sculptural, oversize pieces, including the Marenco sofa discovered at The Future Perfect and
a pair of vintage Pierre Paulin chairs from 1stdibs that ground the room’s carefree spirit. “This is the spot for the occasional impromptu dance party,” laughs Kaye-Honey. Jason Koharik’s sinuous Codex-Cypher sconces confirm the room’s playful energy.

A vintage accent chair in the style of Pedro Friedeberg and a rug found at Clic in Montecito layer the primary bathroom with a hint of whimsy. Photos by Jason Rick.

The couple’s personalities also shine through in the private rooms. In the primary bedroom soft materials, soothing greens and strong, simple shapes, like Miniform’s blown-glass Soda table, align with the husband’s taste while Trueing’s Cerine sconce and the iconic Etcetera chair showcase the wife’s more avant-garde leanings. “Despite working remotely, we quickly zeroed in on our clients’ personalities and what made them tick,” says Kaye-Honey. “We turned the house into the perfect backdrop for the next exciting chapter of their lives.” Party on, people!