Design Diary: Fat Orange Cat Studio’s Moody Den by Wolf In Sheep Design

The last time we looked at the genius of Boston interior designer Alina Wolhardt, principal of Wolf In Sheep Design, it was to spotlight Joanne Chang’s Flour Bakery in Harvard Square.

Last year in the Boston Globe column “Room to Love,” I wrote about this moody den that Wolhardt designed for Li Ward, the Boston pet and wedding photographer behind Fat Orange Cat Studio, and her husband Dan, photographed by Joyelle West.

Ward first met Wolhardt when she photographed Wolhardt’s rescue dog for the book Rescue Pets of Boston. Then, she photographed Wolhardt’s other dog at her house, where she had created a cozy man cave in a windowless room. Ward hired Wolhardt to do the same for her—a dark little sanctuary where she and her husband could hang out for  cocktails and an afternoon read. They dubbed it the opium den.

Wolhardt says, “It took a year to complete this small room but we didn’t want to just force pieces purchased online from various mass-merchandise stores. I really wanted each piece was curated very carefully and that most pieces had history. When trying to create an Old World feel, you can’t force it.”

Moody Den by Alina Wolhardt of Wolf In Sheep Design Boston

The dark wall paint color is Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10. Wolhardt says, “We designed their bedroom to be very light and airy so we wanted to create a ying yang type of thing where one side of this floor is white and the other side to be the opposite.”

Wolhardt went monochrome on the ceiling too, but in a wallpaper, ROMO Rocks in Metallic Eggplant, which has some sparkle to it. “It’s dark gray with some gold undertone sheen, so when the surface light is on, it creates a nice glow,” Wolhardt says.

That fabulous  light is the Soleil pendant by Suzanne Kasler forCirca lighting in antique brass, chosen to create a night sky-like feeling. The gold plays off the ornate gilt frames around the space.

“The idea for this room was to create an Old World, almost Victorian feeling with mixed styles, like the room had been curated over years,” Wolhardt says. The blue velvet settee is a Hollywood Regency style, sourced from an Etsy shop. Wolhardt directed the shop owner to refinish the frame in high gloss black. The cat’s name is Bingley.

The coffee table is made from the top of Ward’s childhood desk, trimmed with church railings salvaged by local Boston-based woodworker Nick Doriss of Doriss Design Workshoppe. Doriss also helped them hang a massive live-edge wood headboard that was originally a dining tabletop from Mohr McPherson. They repurposed that table base for the coffee table base here.

The heavy, carved dresser, from Ward’s parents, had been in their bedroom, but when Wolhardt spotted it she immediately asked to move it into the cave. She says, “We didn’t need to do anything to it. Even the mirror on this piece had an antiqued finish to it, which was perfect.”

Moody Den by Alina Wolhardt of Wolf In Sheep Design Boston

The artwork is a mix of pieces Ward already owned (antiquing is a hobby), coupled with pieces they found together at Brimfield. Wolhardt says, “We wanted to arrange the pieces like a gallery wall so that she can continue to add artwork as she finds more pieces down the road.”

The floor lamp base is a vintage piece with a new lacey lampshade made by Vintage Shades.

Moody Den by Alina Wolhardt of Wolf In Sheep Design Boston

They found the marble top of the  side table at Brimfield and purchased the legs from another antique store. “Each piece has a nice little history to it,” Wolhardt says.

To make the room feel nice and cozy brought in many layers and textures. The jewel tone velvets on the upholstered pieces make it feel luxurious. The Cisco chair is custom upholstered in emerald green velvet, a nice contrast to the dark gray walls. Wolhardt says, ”

Wolhardt says, “Our mood board had jewel images as well as mussels. Mussels have dark gray shells in nice blue/green shades. I am always inspired by nature, and try to incorporate that into my designs.”

Layering the rugs adds to the overall womb-like effect. The rug on the bottom is a gold, distressed dyed antique rug and the top is a red and blue antique rug.

A distressed blue and coral vintage rug from Seed to Stem in Worcester is layered atop a large Oriental style rug from Anthropologie.

Moody Den by Alina Wolhardt of Wolf In Sheep Design Boston

The black and white photograph is from homeowner Li Ward’s “Ghost Bride” series. “She did a whole series of this woman in a wedding gown, photographed in a cemetery. When I saw the series on her website, I knew it would be perfect for this room.”

Photos by Joyelle West Photography

Foodie Friday: Joanne Chang’s Flour Bakery in Harvard Square

If you live in Boston you know Flour Bakery. Pastry chef proprietor Joanne Chang (half of the husband/wife duo Myers & Chang in SoWa and James Beard award winner), just opened her fifth and sixth locations, Harvard Square and Cambridgeport (soft opening was yesterday). The next outpost is coming soon to Dalton Street just behind the Pru.

Designer extraordinaire Alina Wolhardt of Wolf In Sheep Design has been collaborating closely with both Joanne Chang and her husband/business partner Christopher Myers on the trio of new cafés, which are being built by Cafco Construction Management (also responsible for Row 34 and other area hotspots).

Last week Alina sent along these photos of Flour Bakery Harvard Square shot by the ever lovely Joyelle West, along with some design notes. Alina says, “We took a slight departure in terms of design but still maintained the integrity of Flour’s handmade feel.” Let’s have a look. 

Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery In Harvard Square

The signature communal table—each Flour Bakery has one— is in the front of the space along the curved window.

Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery In Harvard Square

The communal table was custom fabricated by Boston-based studo FKIA. The walnut tabletop sits on a vintage Eames table base. Eames molded plastic dowel leg side chairs surround the table. The Tam Tam chandelier by Marset is from SoWa furniture showroom Casa Design.

Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery In Harvard Square

The playful hex floor tiles meet the concrete with a jagged edge. Alina says, “They act as sort of a guide for the flow of the queue.” The white small hex mosaic wall tiles are also done with a jagged edge. IC Lights S Pendants by Michael Anastassiades for Flos hang over the counter. Cafe tables (you can see one in the background) have Carrara-like Silestone tops and bistro chairs from Casa Design.

Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery In Harvard Square

The Flour logo cut into the stained, cerused quarter sewn oak millwork of the sandwich counter features an antiqued brass yolk  of Flour logo and have that spilling onto the floor using antiqued brass.

Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery In Harvard Square

The cement floor tiles are Popham by Ann Sacks. Alina loves their patina.

Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery In Harvard Square

Photos by Joyelle West

Flour Bakery, 18 Brattle Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Shop Joanne Chang’s Flour Bakery cookbooks 

Flour Bakery + Cafe Cookbooks By Joanne Chang