Hi cuties! I am oh-so-excited to share our latest Trade Member Spotlight with you on this lovely summer day: Meet Dan Mazzarini, the Principal and Creative Director of BHDM Design and ARCHIVE by Dan Mazzarini and prepare to be inspired on a whole new level when you take a peek at his gorgeous interior design work.
Since 2012, BHDM has been working with both residential and commercial clients worldwide, with a high concentration of projects in New York and California. Dan has been working wit the KKH Trade Program for five years now and we love seeing our pieces fit perfectly into his elevated neutral looks, many of which are inspired by Dan’s passion for movies and film set decor.
“We love Kathy Kuo’s curation of brands! Everything is the look that we love for our clients, and she does it all, from furniture to rugs, tabletop, and styling. It’s a great ‘one stop shop’ for us.” –Dan Mazzarini
Like yours truly, Dan finds peace, joy, and inspiration on the East End of Long Island: “We’re lucky enough to have a place on the North Fork—where the farms and boats seem to do a New England mash up,” he says. “We love entertaining and hosting, and especially cooking and grilling in the summer. Relaxing seems to be the opposite of work, so maybe that’s a new hobby?” I wholeheartedly agree—and as you read through our Q&A with Dan, you’ll see how many of the aesthetic qualities of the North Fork find their into his swoon-worthy work.
Inn on the Lakes, Sebring, Florida; photo by Adam Kane Macchia
Greenport, NY home; photo by Reid Rolls
Shop the Look
Tell our readers about your business—what are your specialties and core offerings?
Our goal at BHDM Design is to create spaces that people want to be in, stay in, celebrate in, and live in. We always strive to create awe for the audience and garner a “how smart is that” reaction from the detail.
Since launching BHDM in 2012, we have parlayed our craft of storytelling through the built environment to a multitude of project types, including hotels, restaurants, food halls, start-ups, corporate interiors, showrooms, pop-ups, and single and multi-family residential. We have worked in historic spaces like Grand Central Terminal and the Harvard Club of New York and helped to create new concepts for Google, One Medical, Hilton Hotels and Resorts and JDV by Hyatt Hotels.
“Our “hospitality-forward” approach creates compelling, unique and applicable narratives with embedded elements of surprise to bring delight throughout the user experience. We intentionally cross-pollinate our multifaceted work experience to create new typologies and unexpected solutions.”
Earlier this year, I launched ARCHIVE by Dan Mazzarini to bring my designs and ideas directly to the homes of my clients and fellow design aficionados. ARCHIVE provides a curated selection of home and lifestyle products, shopped from all of my favorite resources, to help people achieve luxury for everyday living. People’s homes will always be an important expression of who they are, so I’m excited to share my design ideas and guidance with a broad audience who want to be inspired about how to make their lives more beautiful with space-improving details.
Greenwich, CT home; photo by Reid Rolls
East Hampton, NY study; photo by Reid Rolls
Shop the Look
Do you have a favorite interior design style to work with on projects? And on a similar note, how would you describe the style of your own home?
My work tends to be crisp, classic, and neutral—I always love some #BlackAndWhite. My apartment in Greenwich Village is “laid back Gotham”—pre-war details meet a mix of art, old and new.
I like to mix vintage pieces with contemporary pieces for a more custom and curated look. A few favorite pieces are a table from my Ralph Lauren days, a pair of tubular metal vintage chairs I reupholstered in pony hide, and artwork from my friend Michael McGuire.
Speaking to fellow design pros: What advice do you have about working a challenging client?
Challenging clients require clarity, and a firm hand. “Firm but fair,” is my mantra, especially around deliverables, number of options, and overall timeline.
Photo by Adam Kane Macchia
San Francisco, CA; photo by Adam Kane Macchia
Shop the Look
Tell us about a notable project from the past few years.
We recently completed the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, a three year, $80 million renovation. It was our largest hotel project to date. We reimagined the property as a more luminous, light and bright space, with an indoor/outdoor feel. Part of the space is lacking windows, so we made an effort to make it feel intentionally brighter. The location is set in the arts district of San Francisco, which inspired our design.
“Rather than address the space as a gallery, we looked to the mediums of different artists—ceramics, sculpture, textiles, and digital—to inspire different parts of the space.”
The result is a textured and layered project, based in classic neutral colors and accented with biophilic colors of greenery and terra cotta. And in a fun accent, we worked with the Academy of Art University to curate a scholarship program, where we selected over 15 alumni and students of the program to create custom art throughout the property.
Austin, TX home; photo by Adam Kane Macchia
Orient, NY home; photo by Reid Rolls
Shop the Look
What have been some of the biggest joys and challenges you’ve faced in your career in the design industry?
The joys have been to build such an amazing team, and to watch them grow into even greater designers. I have such a dedicated “can do” team, which our clients are so grateful for. The biggest challenge has been being a designer, trying to be a business person: they really don’t teach you that part in design school.
“I’ve been the lucky recipient of lots of helpful tips and support through the years, from friends, colleagues, and advisors, and the challenge of being a business person has turned into one of my favorite parts of my job.”
Are there any design trends you see on the horizon this season? Any trends on their way out?
If the recent Louis Vuitton Men’s show is any indication, I hope we’ll see more pixelated patterns, and patterns that blend modern looks with old world technique. Think fabrics and wall-coverings that feel both fresh and familiar…understated but inspired.
I hope some of the retro pastel color palettes and soft blobby furnishings are on the way out, but I think we may have a few more seasons with them. Call me a traditionalist, but I’m ready for a reinvigoration of classic, heritage pieces in everyday living. Not formal, but layered and a blend of old and new.
Austin, TX home; photo by Adam Kane Macchia
Orient, NY home; photo by Reid Rolls
Shop the Look
What advice would you give someone who wants to work with an interior designer on their home, but they feel intimidated or hesitant?
The process should be inclusive and educational—for me, it’s about building trust with someone, to eventually push them a little bit further than they would be comfortable on their own. For homeowners looking to hire a designer, make sure it’s both a good style and personality match—these relationships last a long time, and you get to know each other very well.
“Above all else, working with a designer should be fun! I mean, that’s why I got into the business 20 years ago: I get to help people build their actual dream homes… There are so many options out there and our approach is to help streamline the process and bring professional tips to take out the guesswork.”
If you’ve never worked with a designer before, there are lots of ways, price points, and interactions available to you. Highest investment: you can hire a designer, for a room, particular scope, or entire home. Everyone prices and works differently (hourly, monthly, set fee, and markup), and now, with platforms like The Expert and Intro, you can hire top designers for their advice on an hourly basis. While this won’t get you to the finish line, it will help jumpstart creative ideas for your projects, and build confidence in your selections.
Lastly: There are designers like me who are curating their own selections of products, and giving helpful tips through websites, blogs, and online marketplaces. I started Archive by Dan Mazzarini to help bring my expertise and pre-approved selections for your home directly to my audience. Everyone always asks “what’s your favorite paint,” “Where can I find great sconces?” “What should I do with my guest room?”—so I decided to answer the call with this site, which includes beautiful, shoppable products that I’ve curated from Kathy Kuo.
Are there any exciting updates with your business in the year to come that you’d like our readers to know about?
We’re so happy with the launch of Archive by Dan Mazzarini, our new DTC shoppable platform. We’re revisiting some of our old projects (from the Archive…get it?!) and making the looks shoppable, directly to our audience. We’re also bringing round ups of our favorite trends, categories, and design tips, which of course include beautiful items from Kathy Kuo.
The Kathy Kuo Home Trade Program
Feeling inspired by Dan Mazzarini? If you’re an interior designer or architect you can apply to our Trade Program to enjoy a wide array of professional benefits, as well as access to a thriving community of interior design pros. You can learn all about it HERE, but in brief, KKH Trade members receive: Competitive Trade Pricing, Low Storage Fees, Dedicated Trade Specialist to Coordinate Orders from Start to Finish, and More.
