Young Persian Family Creates L.A. Vibe
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
For years I have walked my dog on a lovely Sandy Springs cul-de-sac and noticed a vacant behemoth, overgrown, Alhambra-style house on a marvelous flat lot.
A bulldozer arrived, and 14 months later a modern Mediterranean manse bloomed.
Dr. Farid Toub, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, with his California wife, Hedi Abaei, watched over all the details to produce a 7,400-square-foot, wide-open-space family home. They spent six months getting approval for the title.
Dr. Toub, the chief clinical officer and executive vice president of Georgia Dental Group, tells of meeting his petite wife through mutual Persian friends. Hedi, ever glamorous in her Louboutin heels, eschewed interior decorators and trusted her own ingenuity and style.
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Jaffe: Since you were your own designer, what mood were you trying to create?
Hedi: I wanted a resort, almost hotel feeling in here — open, serene, with a neutral palette. Actually, I would call it a masculine palette with blue accents. I like beige, brown and gray tones with no colored walls. The darker doors are a bold accent to stark white walls, and I love the contrast of the dark brown to chalk white.
We really wanted a Southern Californian vibe. So we chose to go with a contemporary Mediterranean/Spanish build. We also carried out the same concept throughout the house. Farid has a very modern taste, and I am a bit more transitional. … So we really had to work hard to meet in the middle.
Jaffe: How do you use your dining room?
Hedi: Many Shabbat and Passover seders will be enjoyed here. The furniture in here is from Z Gallery. I’m sure everyone recognizes the oil as inspired by Gustav Klimt.
Jaffe: Do Persian rugs have a special place in your décor?
Farid: Yes, some have been in my family for three generations. Our Persian rugs each are from different cities in Iran (Tabriz, Esfahan) and date back from 40 to 70 years ago. They are very sentimental to us, as they have been passed down from our parents and grandparents.
Jaffe: Your kitchen looks very efficient.
Hedi: I am very meticulous about work spaces. The kitchen is Poggenpohl with engineered wood that had to be shipped from Germany. It took forever. The appliances are Wolfe, and the surfaces are quartz. I wanted a simple, clean look.
Farid: She’s a fine cook also. Her best dish is Persian stew ghaimeh with beef shank, yellow lentils and dried lemons with a tomato base. I myself came as a bachelor who can only boil water.
Hedi: But we still like to dine out. Rumi’s Kitchen is our go-to local favorite.
Jaffe: Your lighting is very dramatic.
Hedi: Many of my chandeliers were ordered online. The entrance piece is from Jonathan Adler. I did a lot of research. The tiles and stone throughout are Spanish from Porcelanosa. Our master bedroom chandelier and office piece are from Modani.
Jaffe: I see you wife likes fashionable clothing. What’s the closet situation like?
Farid: Yes, we share this master closet that could be its own cottage, but she has three-fourths of the space. Especially the rows of shoes!
Jaffe: How do you use the privacy of your outdoors?
Hedi: We have a Weber grill in the gazebo adjacent to the pool and love to entertain out here. We also enjoy the walk-out courtyard from the basement. We love to have guests and had a big affair recently for our son’s 1-year-old birthday. We have another 3,500 square feet of unfinished basement next to the gym.
Jaffe (to builder): How would you weigh in?
Jay Eskandari (Tuscany Homes): The Toub home is unique in that the exterior has a Mediterranean aesthetic, but the interior structure and design are a blend of modern and contemporary elements. This allows for a trendy design while maintaining the comfortable feeling of a home. Farid and Hedi were an ideal pair to work with. They knew exactly what they wanted but were easygoing and open to suggestions. When there is trust between a builder and a client, the process of building a home together becomes much easier. What I have always enjoyed is watching someone’s dream home become a reality. There are many fine details that go into building a functioning home. The customizing process really is like creating a work of art.
Jaffe: Hedi, will you admit that you miss Rodeo Drive?
Hedi: L.A. will always be my home, and I truly miss the sunny ocean every day. Atlanta has many great aspects that L.A. does not. It’s a rapidly growing city with innovative ideas, businesses, restaurants and even the evolving culture here. I love how green the city is and how friendly everyone is. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family. Yes, I miss Rodeo and its Urth Caffé!
Photos by Duane Stork
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