A robust Instagram presence led to a big-deal commission for New York City designer Augusta Hoffman, principal of Augusta Hoffman Studio. Jesse, the 24-year-old daughter of TV nutrition expert Joy Bauer, found Hoffman’s page and liked what she saw. Joy was looking for an up-and-coming designer to create a laid-back, sophisticated aesthetic for their family’s dream home in Westchester, New York—a five-bedroom, nearly 8,000-square-foot house for Joy, her husband, and their three adult children. It would also be used as a studio for shooting television segments. Finding Joy was kismet.
As the house had good bones, most of Hoffman’s transformation was done using paint and wallpaper. The biggest interventions were updating two fireplaces and the kitchen counters and fixtures—the latter being crticial for Joy, considering her profession. Hoffman also had to get creative with some made-for-TV details, just as a pendant light on a pulley system above the kitchen island so it can be lowered or raised depending on camera angles.
“This was their first time working with a designer,” says Hoffman, “so they were incredibly excited about the entire process… It was a great experience to collaborate with them, because while Joy was the primary client, Jesse spearheaded the design decisions. It is a space that absolutely reflects the love of their entire family.”
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Living Room
Dining Room
"The Bauers wanted a home that felt elegant but super practical and fun," Hoffman explains. "They are constantly entertaining and asked for a space to comfortably host large gatherings. The table in the dining room expands to seat 25 people."
Music Lounge
In addition to being such a fabulous cook, Joy (and her son Cole) are both "talented musicians," Hoffman reports. "Most people don’t know that I used to play keyboards in a rock band before my nutrition career," Bauer reveals. "Cole is a singer-songwriter and fills the house with beautiful music. I love to entertain—holidays, weekends, a random Tuesday or Wednesday night—and after every delicious meal, we all grab instruments and gather in the music lounge.
So instead of a formal family room, Hoffman was tasked with creating a music lounge. "We’ve had so many amazing moments in this room," Bauer says.
Kitchen
"Joy films for the Today show right from her kitchen," says Hoffman. "One of the continued topics of conversation throughout the design process was how everything would look on camera." A clean neutral palette allows a few extra stylish elements, like the statement range hood that Hoffman DIY'd, to shine.
To give it that patinated finish, Hoffman "used a special wrought-iron-finish paint from Portola that at first is flat black and then, once an acid formula is applied, slowly begins to mimic the look of iron," Hoffman explains. "This was a really cost-effective way of modernizing the kitchen while creating a textural focal point."
"By focusing on replacing generic items with more organic and layered pieces, we got a lot of bang for our buck," the designer explains.
"My kitchen is the heartbeat of my house," says Bauer. "It’s my office, my hangout, and my laboratory. It allows me enough room to move comfortably, and it’s TV-filming-friendly for remote spots, with high ceilings and an open design." One of her favorite details is the Lapitec counters: "They are crisp, low-maintenance, and basically indestructible."
Situated between this room and the family room was a breakfast bar, which Hoffman dropped to counter height "to allow for more natural light and a consistent view from the camera."
Breakfast Room
Q&A
House Beautiful: How does the space represent your clients’ personality?
Augusta Hoffman: Joy referenced the set design of Nancy Meyers since she was looking for a cozy family home. Jesse is a bit edgier and was sending inspiration images of 1970s Italy, midcentury Scandinavia and casual California chic. I think we were able to achieve a cool balance of both personalities resulting in a very wholesome space for a charming family with a few unexpected details.
HB: What surprised you the most about this project?
Joy Bauer: That less is more. I’ve learned how a simple touch can create a special moment. Our marble table in the breakfast nook comes from an antique shop—it was actually a resting spot for small treasures, but we fell madly in love with it and made the store owner an offer. The distressed hood in the kitchen is such a unique focal point and guests are always asking about it. The refurbished European brown suede chairs in the living room are so stunning and cozy. I love how the two velvet colors in the music room, the green couch and golden brown chairs, complement each other. And the subtle yet snazzy silver textured wallpaper on the ceiling in the dining room really makes that room shimmer.
HB: How did you make pre-existing pieces work with the new design direction?
AH: The Bauers wanted this home to feel like a completely fresh chapter and did not use many existing pieces. This allowed us to really curate individual spaces in the home and achieve a consistent design. However, we were really cognizant of adding elements with warmth and patina to make the home feel layered with history. We mixed in a few special family heirlooms such as Joy’s grandfather’s old Cinzano ashtray in the bar and her vintage Fender Rhodes piano from her days as a musician.
HB: What’s your favorite thing about the finished space?
AH: I love getting to see the Bauers enjoying this space as a family. Between Joy’s instagram and the Today show, I often get a little peek into how they are living in the home we designed together. This is rare in my work, and it fills my studio with happiness and motivation. This is the reason we put so much time and passion into our client’s homes.
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