“They are two of my favorite people, and this new home represents a way they have never lived before,” Brent says. “They centered their lives around caring for their two daughters, and this project allowed them to design something for themselves. There was a lot of freedom in this exploration.”
Brent’s exploratory approach should be familiar to fans of his work on camera. (He stars in shows like Nate and Jeremiah’s house project With her husband, Nate Berkus.) “I’m exactly who I am on TV: A lot of my process is about the most important moments in a person’s day and the things they need to do to feel connected to the rhythm of life.” says the designer. He adds that earlier in his 11-year tenure running Jeremiah Brent Design, “I was surprised that (private clients) were surprised to have the same experience.”
For the Brentwood project, Brent and the clients first had to imagine a weekend where parenting was no longer a priority. The couple wanted to enjoy each other’s company and reconnect with friends and family. Brent adds that the pair are wine collectors. In response, the designer made a specific (and beloved) social statement at the home’s entry, installing a custom mahogany, bronze, and marble bar at the foot of the stairs.
“You would never think about putting this big architectural moment, a small kitchen, in the space where you walk in the door,” Brent says of the opening gambit he faced with a small pan of furniture to accommodate drinks for two. The pairing of bar and seating also creates a threshold between the entrance and the 10-person dining area inside the home, which Brent explains, “We were challenged to create a space that unfolds even though it’s an open (plan).”
The entertaining vision is evident again and again next, from the sprawling living room to the equally sized guest room that showcases golden daylight streaming through the house. “I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the moments in your home that you can associate with memory,” Brent says of the multiple spaces for fun and togetherness. When asked to choose a space that most clearly represented this framework of deeply personal experience, he chose a more intimate example, in the corner of the master bedroom, which contains the Soriana chair by Avra and Tobai Scarpa: “They both like to be in their place.” Bedroom, to read a book, sit by the moonlight, and talk. So I found this wonderful 17th century alabaster lamp that I hung at a strange height, because it reminded me of the moon. It was a really beautiful moment that they use constantly.