SHOOTING RANGE

From directing music videos to designing graphics, Eric De Fino’s badass style jumps off the screen and into his studio

Produced, written and styled by Brian Patrick Flynn with interior design by Michael Habachy and photography by Sarah Dorio

Dudes and guns usually bore the hell out of me but in Eric De Fino’s case, packing heat is kinda awesome [think Dragon-Con not Goodfellas]. Raygun, Eric’s full service production company, gets its moniker courtesy of the director’s affinity for the laser yielding weapon. De Fino’s beautifully dark on-air promotions range from tattoo-focused Miami Ink [TLC], TCM collections such as Leading Ladies and The Detectives to a promotional poster campaign for HBO’s polygamist powerhouse, Big Love.

His well-edited approach isn’t limited to pixels and raw footage. From its street level entryway to its penthouse editing lounge, Raygun’s three-story studio is masculine, urban and chic — the result of a collaboration with interior designer Michael Habachy. With a modest budget, the duo juxtaposed Eric’s masculine raw edge with Michael’s tailored architectural drama. The result? A four star dramedy.

American graffiti

Once you open the door to Raygun, an aesthetic shootout ensues. A graffiti wall featuring Eric’s weapon of choice was created by a local Atlanta artist. De Fino and Habachy decked out the first floor in tones of espresso, white and a swank pea green circa 1974. Habachy armed himself with Benjamin Moore’s Black Bean Soup — the perfect shade of espresso with which to attack drywall. Custom welcome benches fabricated by metalsmith Brion Fitzpatrick were constructed from tubular steel treated with a clear-coated brushed finish. Michael added his designer touch via pea green stitched vinyl upholstery. Similar benches can be custom-made through Habachy Designs for roughly $1500.

Industrial light and magic

George Lucas doesn’t have a monopoly on the above mentioned term. The overall aesthetic of the first level combines industrial lighting with the magic of movies and music. Eric’s love of cinema and song are evident through dozens of framed prints such as a trio including old school Bob Dylan, Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds and a recent Kings of Leon tour poster. Habachy designed an ebony-stained wood accent wall aesthetically electrified with a pea green nubby wool area rug from Delos Rugs.

Branded identity

The brand of Raygun is evident everywhere you look. Eric’s reception area touts a layered rust finish inset with his company’s logo. Habachy designed it to illuminate with the flick of a switch.

Classic black and white

The stairwell creates a transition from black and white to color at each of the three floors’ landings. Walls of tin tile were given a coat of matte white paint for a bold contrast from the espresso-stained floors.

Edit sweet

Eric’s top floor edit suite is an award-worthy creation in itself. Habachy chose a neutral brown backdrop allowing accent colors to be switched up over the years. As of now, the hue is paired with burnt orange and Mediterranean blues. West Elm was the source for the lacquered rust-tone nesting tables. Both clients and cronies lounge on a custom ultrasuede sofa upholstered just a few shades darker than the brown walls and millwork. The 50 inch flat panel serves double duty both as a means to digitally display graffiti art and for Eric to view his work full-scale via a view from his desk opposite the lounge area.

Happy feet

Habachy pulled the 1970′s-centric burnt orange tone under foot via a super plush foot-pleasing Viscose area rug from Delos Rugs. What the f$@% is Viscose? Habachy adds “A more posh word for Rayon. It’s a man-made fiber that provides a luxe look at a fraction of the price of silk”.

Awards seasoned

De Fino has taken home both the gold and the silver for his editing work. The statuettes are the perfect accent both in tone and finish for this heavily masculine space.

Finders keepers

Eric spotted an abandoned pair of Milo Baughman style armchairs along the side of the road. Soon after loading them up, a quick consult with Habachy resulted in an affordable update via burnt orange diamond-tufted vinyl upholstery.

Inflated ego

Like any video star, the room’s taxidermy has a big inflated head. This more humane alternative to game hunting involves no weapons but rather basic CPR to breathe life into your new plastic pal. The PETA-friendly inflatable moose head is also cost-effective at only $20.

Supporting characters

Graphic accessories aid in breaking up the solid brown lounge. Jonathan Adler’s alpaca throw blanket rests on the vinyl armchair while a trio of pillows in prints from Kelly Wearstler, Trina Turk and Schumacher carries the full palette onto the sofa. All accessories were snagged at pieces, inc.