More Than Words

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Amy Sklar Design enhances the charming home of a multi-talented, creative family.

A sofa from Restoration Hardware is brightened by walls painted in Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore. Photo by Amy Bartlam.

When meeting Karen Harryman, the critically acclaimed author of Auto Mechanic’s Daughter and her Emmy award-winning writer husband who penned shows including Family Guy and The Cleveland Show, Amy Sklar was inspired immediately. They wanted to expand and refresh their 2,000 square foot home while maintaining the authentic character. “It was important for the home to feel updated, but not too modern,” says Sklar. “There’s a fairy tale cottage feel to the house that we wanted to uphold by making sure the materials had a handmade feel to them.”

Swivel chairs from Room & Board offer the perfect seats for sharing tunes in the music room. Photo by Amy Bartlam.

The clients wanted more space for themselves and their two young daughters in addition to a new look and feel. Avid entertainers who love to play music, Sklar envisioned beautiful dinner parties and sing alongs when crafting the new design. She created unique spaces to showcase the wife’s rare collection of Jade ware and tea sets in the dining area, while putting the families array of instruments on display in the new music room

Sklar created a strong visual showcase of the client’s Jade ware collection.
Photo by Amy Bartlam.

Sklar began by enclosing an exterior side yard to make room for the new master suite. She recalls, “Previously the clients had a toilet that was in a closet, no joke!”

A vintage dining table and chairs enhance the home’s charm.
Photo by Amy Bartlam.
Sklar installed backsplash tile from Zellige Gallery and a stove by Jade Range in the new kitchen. Photo by Amy Bartlam.

The team then enlarged the once pass-through kitchen to a fully expanded, eat-in family area, installing new appliances and custom cabinets.

A new eat-in/homework area was created in the kitchen with stools from Dekor LA. Photo by Amy Bartlam.
Photo by Amy Bartlam.

The clients gained a new walk-in closet and a beautiful bathroom with a soaking tub, creating an all-encompassing master bedroom suite.

Window coverings in fabric by Mark Alexander and nightstands from Pottery Barn were brought in to the new master bedroom. 
Photo by Amy Bartlam.
A bold tile from Country Floors runs across the master bathroom floor.
Photo by Amy Bartlam.
Sklar installed a matte black tub filler from California Faucets with the new soaking tub. Photo by Amy Bartlam.
The matte black faucets continue over the vanity.
Photo by Amy Bartlam.

“This project was enjoyable because the clients were so delightful to work with, and they had the most incredible collections (jadeite, hand thrown tea pots, musical instruments) so we made sure we kept ways to display all their magical items,” says Sklar. “This was such an incredible transformation, in terms of what we were able to add to the house with a minimal amount of square footage.”

Photo by Amy Bartlam.

The clients were so pleased with round one of renovations, they tasked Sklar and her team with the design of the other guest quarters in addition to the converting a sun porch into a game room. “This renovation has allowed them to open up their house to friends and family in a way that they were not able to before,” says Sklar on how happy the family is with their new home.