Ariel Okin
SAMANTHA YANKS: Your new book celebrates the idea of a “happy home.” What does that mean to you?
ARIEL OKIN: To me, a happy home is one that is thoughtfully laid out to facilitate the life you want to live. It showcases your personality; it’s warm, inviting, layered and collected. Most importantly, it’s without pretense and is as functional as it is beautiful.
SY: Your interiors are known for their vibrant color and layered patterns. How do you approach that balance?
AO: I love our homes to feel richly layered and detailed, without feeling too busy or noisy. When you start with the right foundations, beautiful, textured solids, crisply tailored upholstery, brush-painted millwork—the bones are a solid start. From there, you can add and layer without it ever feeling like “too much.”
SY: Can you share a bit about a few New England projects for our readers?
AO: We’re currently working on two different homes in Darien, which we are so excited about. They are both so beautiful. One is a gut renovation of a classic old brick home, and the other is a gut renovation and addition to a historic farmhouse.
SY: Many of the homes in the book feel polished but still livable. How do you achieve that balance?
AO: I have two kids under the age of six and a half, and 99 percent of our clients are families with children and pets. I know firsthand that a beautiful home isn’t worth its salt if it isn’t livable and practical. We sit down with our clients at the outset of every project and really get to the heart of how they want to live in their homes—and where they are in their life stage at that moment. Then we build a plan not just for now, but for how they’ll grow into the space over time. The homes we design are meant to be timeless. We’re trend-agnostic, and focused on creating lasting environments where families can make memories.
SY: What are a few places that you shop locally to find items for your clients?
AO: We love Antique & Artisan in Stamford. Serena & Lily in Westport is another local favorite. We also love Eleish Van Breems and Terrain, there are so many amazing local shops. We’re lucky to be in New England with so many incredible resources right at our doorstep.