With a film degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut and a stint as a fiction editor, Home Studios founder Oliver Haslegrave culls inspiration from his background to tell “new visual stories that combine deep research and diverse influences.” Since founding his Brooklyn-based firm in 2009, Haslegrave has crafted a number of cult neighborhood favorites, like the Spaniard in New York’s West Village, as well as launched furniture and lighting line Homework in 2017. And he’s not slowing down: The studio is currently working on hotels in New York and Los Angeles, as well as new restaurants and bars in Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Madison, Wisconsin. Here, Haslegrave discusses two of the firm’s most recent eateries in New York.
Seamore’s
The latest outpost, located inside multiuse complex Brookfield Place, is the seafood mini-chain’s largest. Incorporating the brand’s signature white, mint, and coral palette, Haslegrave also introduced fresh elements to the design, including a graphic wave motif on the walls and lighting inspired by buoys and fishing bobbers. The standout, a large custom central banquette, introduces soft seating “that would feel both super welcoming, but also fit within the [restaurant’s] laidback and casual vibe.” A slatted wood screen, installed on top of the banquette, creates a sense of intimacy within the expansive space. Ambient café lights strung from the ceiling “bring to mind warm summer evenings spent outside,” says Haslegrave.
Fish imagery and an eye-catching banquette conjure a laidback vibe in Seamore’s.
Fausto
Haslegrave used clean-lined, Art Deco-inspired elements to create an informal yet upscale vibe for Italian eatery Fausto in Brooklyn. Amber-stained wall paneling, vintage cane dining chairs, rattan screens, and camel leather banquettes complement the terrazzo and wood tabletops, while the honed travertine bartop adds a modern edge. The custom patinated brass and satin nickel lights, built using elements from the existing fixtures, are a source of pride for Haslegrave. As he explains, “The new lighting is incredibly simple, but creates a warm, welcoming glow.”
The Art Deco-informed Fausto, marked by a warm, inviting palette.
