Where Classical Elegance Meets Modernity — This Red Brick Home Was Transformed Into an Airy and Elegant Southern-Style Delight

This is the transformation of a red-brick home into a Southern charm — transcending airy textures, subtle tones, and mesmerizing accents that truly take you to a space filled with utter peace and serenity.

Silka Ariel, designer at Alma Workshop, wanted to create a sensory experience for her client. A home that embodies being different, while also keeping a classy, yet timeless feel to it.

The construction of the house began towards the end of 2019, and building work continued during the global pandemic (when lockdowns started to ease), which made things quite challenging at the time. Although it took three years to complete the project, the designer is reminded of how significant this project was to her at the time. "In a way, COVID allowed us the opportunity to be intentional, and it was exciting when we began building again after lockdowns," Silka shares.

Breaking the boundaries of interior design trends, the make-up of this home blends classical charm with modern features through the use of certain textures and materials that beautifully encapsulate different rooms within the home.

Silka Ariel

I'm Silka, the person behind Alma Workshop. In 2007, a few months after completing a degree in Accounting, I decided to embrace my creativity and pursue a career in design. Design has been a passion of mine since childhood — designing rooms in my house, being drawn to estate sales and antique shops and enjoying fashion and graphics. After graduating from New York School of Interior Design and working for multiple firms, I began my own design company called Silka Weiss Design. I built up my portfolio designing luxury spaces, custom renovations and projects around the tristate area. Throughout my years working on creative projects of every kind, including residential, hospitality, retail and commercial, I’ve developed a unique process to design from an intuitive space. While my designs range in styles, they are consistent in being warm, soulful and inviting. I absolutely love what I do and invite you to explore my work. 

Behind the Design

There's always a story behind every home.

Silka tells me that her goal was to help her client feel at one with the home and to reflect their unique qualities through interior design.

"At one of our earlier meetings, my client told me her astrological sign, which is a Taurus, and her love for a sensory experience," says Silka. "People who have planetary placements in Taurus want their senses to be wowed with different textures, colors, and design elements. My client desired that full experience but in a cohesive way."

The intention behind the home? For Silka, it was about creating a sense of flow for her client, and that's exactly what she did.

Room Highlights: A Showstopping Kitchen

A modern kitchen that embraces elegance and grace, the designer opted for texture, refined color, and openness through the use of contrasting materials in this area of the home. She wanted to capture a design that the client truly admired.

"Funny or not, both my client and I love the designer Ulla Johnson — her fabric, cut of her clothing, and embroidery usage. Her Brooklyn home was designed by Elizabeth Roberts, and we both fell in love with her kitchen. We tweaked it a lot, used black mullions for the windows, where Ulla has white, less bohemian accents. But we sought after the textured cabinets with edge pulls, we did concrete, and the showstopper Calcatta Vagli from ABC Stone."

Silka continues, "A lot of clients are scared to use wood flooring in the kitchen, but we wanted to juxtapose the concrete and stone with the warmth of the wood chevron. We chose a rift cut oak that would not show much character, just a refined canvas."

As for the kitchen hardware, the designer says, "The brass pendants by Currey and Co. were a favorite, because you can practically see through them. I think one of the brilliance behind the kitchen is the layout, which was created by Lux Kitchens."

Dinner With a Touch of Elegance

But that's not all. The dining room is where the magic comes to life.

Through the use of hand-painted murals, Silka was able to create a space that is just as enchanting and alluring as the rest of the home.

"We loved Susan Harter's hand-painted murals from the get-go," Silka tells me. "This was in the earlier stages of the mural wallpaper obsession, and hers continue to be the most special I've witnessed."

The statement dining table, crafted from travertine stone and constructed inside the house by Royal Marble, beautifully complements the greens, nudes, and taupes, which Silka says "are a complement to the living room colors, which are reds and taupes."

A living room that certainly adds character, color and flair to the space.

A Serene Slumber

Bringing the client's bedroom ideas to life, the designer wanted to create a calming atmosphere that would grant an easy night's slumber.

"The Master bedroom and bathroom both started with limewash paint by Portola. My client loved the coziness of the material. In the bedroom, we custom-made a concrete fireplace surround with Arc stone concepts," explains Silka.

She continues, "I loved the chocolate brown velvet fabric we chose for the bed, which is so rich against the wall. We used the same fabric to fabricate the bolster pillows."

As for the furnishings, "The drapery by Modern Decor, is a sheer with a beautiful textured blackout shade on top. There's a small seating area for drinking tea in front of the fire, or playing cards, or reading a book. The room is zen, it's very clean on the eyes, and it's easy to fall into a relaxed state inside."

The Master Bathroom

Drawing in a spa-bathroom feel, Silka says, "The master bath has the same high ceilings as the bedroom. We took advantage and designed a huge shower."

"We focused the design on the shower by cladding the walls in a marble sourced from Nash Stone called Fantastico Arni," says Silka. "We created a matchbook pattern for the walls, which carries the same effect in the corners. We installed the shower controls right by the door so that my client can turn it on from the outside without getting wet or waiting for hot water."

The bathroom certainly has a soothing presence to it and captures the overall mood and soul of the home.

The Outdoors

The exterior of the home, including the front yard, carries its own charm and elegance.

"For the exterior of the home, we wanted a Southern vibe," Silka tells me. "The house was originally a red brick; we added the left wing as an extension with an interesting swoop for the roof, and then painted all the brick a warm white. We chose a light grey for the accent colors, which complements the soft energy."

As for those landscaping ideas, Silka says, "I hired Ashley Aaron, who was just starting her own landscaping architect company. We all saw purple florals outside, and a neat Mediterranean vibe."

The designer aimed to create a mix of neat and wild layers. "We placed the trees in front so it would frame the house, without being symmetrical," says Silka. "We designed the custom iron entry gate. We used travertine for all the outdoor paving, even though Ashley insisted that travertine is not a New York type of stone."

A home that embodies grace and timelessness — as well as nature in all its glory, what's not to love?

Feel Inspired By the Home

If you're looking for a darker, yet sophisticated touch and want to feel inspired, then be sure to read my take on Jobe Burns' 300-year-old farmhouse tour. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.