Category: Architecture – Residential

Iconic Luxury Design: Ferris Rafauli
Ferris Rafauli is a leading Canadian architectural designer and master builder of exceptional luxury estate homes. His name is synonymous with iconic luxury design. He is responsible for conceiving, designing, and building through to a complete turn-key finish some of the most notable luxurious estates, commercial projects, and lifestyle creations in Canada.

Rafauli’s relentless pursuit of perfection, his passion for flawless design and precision construction, and his absolute commitment to luxury all go into everything he does. Obsessive attention to detail, executed at the highest level and very specific to each project, allows for the ultimate in unique iconic luxury design.

Today, for our design inspiration, we are taking a look at a super luxurious residence located in a Lake Ontario town just outside of Toronto. The multidisciplinary designer created every aspect of this sophisticated 25,000 square-foot timeless mansion, blending contemporary details with classic elements.

ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN: PUBLIC SPACES

Ferris Rafauli both designs and builds his grand estates with absolute precision to provide a 360° turnkey service. Doing so removes any risk of a disconnect between the design and the construction. For each of his projects, Rafauli designs the architecture, interior design, landscape plan, and each piece of beautiful furniture to fill the home. He creates each element to the highest specifications with particular attention given to each detail. The result is a seamless process and a pure vision from start to finish creating his iconic luxury design.

Rafauli allows the design of the architecture to flow seamlessly from the landscaping, exterior elevations, and on throughout the interiors.

Every aspect of his highly detailed iconic luxury design work is specified according to the client’s lifestyle. Everything from the architectural elevations and floor plans to the endless list of custom details;
- unique wall treatments and ceiling designs
- exotic flooring and fireplace designs
- lavish theaters
- indoor pools and home spas
- indoor basketball courts and bowling alleys
- wine cellars
- professional grade kitchens
- custom closet/dressing rooms
- specialized luxury garages for collectors
- sprawling master bedroom suites
Every detail allows for the ultimate in comfort and enjoyment. Nothing is too extravagant, and no request denied.

Ferris Rafauli has built some of the largest and most sophisticated homes in Canada, mastering the perfect blend of the art and the science of building. His clients benefit from his experience and can rest assured that their home’s design is the highest level of precision and excellence.

ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN: PRIVATE QUARTERS

Rafauli’s work is sometimes described as “big and bold”, “fast and fearless.” It has been said that it is precisely his innate desire to build “out loud” that has projected him into being one of the leading, and certainly one of the youngest architectural designers that Canada has seen in a little while. He possesses a passion that allows him to push past architectural boundaries and elevate design.

The luxury specialist is a born builder who rejects trends along with bland vanilla and cookie-cutter designs. His high standing in the luxury market is only natural. You can quickly see how talented and passionate he is about his work. It is easy for people to trust someone with such vision and confidence.

Ferris Rafauli is indeed known for the grand scale and scope of the homes he creates, but he is probably best known for his attention to detail. His portfolio of distinctive homes and super-luxury lifestyle creations made him a favorite among the elite. His firm takes on a careful amount of projects every year to make sure that each gets the disciplined and seamless design carried through from start to finish. The firm also has a waiting list

FERRIS RAFAULI: RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE FACILITIES

Rafauli prides himself on being recognized for his iconic luxury design. He was asked how he came to be the entertainer Drake’s preferred designer. His response noted that his firm handles what he refers to as a black card market. How does he define their taste? They prefer things low-key, but very extravagant. Sounds exciting!

That concludes our design inspiration, my friend.

For more fabulous luxurious Canadian homes, be sure to see:

Eclectic Luxury Design: Lori Morris

Modern Classic Design: Golden Mile

FERRIS RAFAULI’S ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN CONCLUSION

The clientele for his luxury homes is naturally those with the means to obtain them. As he has grown in experience, so has his demand. Over the years, the size of the houses has gradually increased. Ferris Rafauli has always designed the interior, exterior, and landscaping of his homes. In time, he added the custom furniture designing, and now his firm handles every detail. He sources the entire planet for the best materials and finishes. Those used are always as luxurious as the appearance of the home suggests.

Ferris Rafauli- Iconic Designer & Master Builder

Photography: Brandon Barre

Architectural Digest

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. Be sure to let me know what you think of Iconic Luxury Design: Ferris Rafauli in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great day!
December 21, 2016
Villa del Lago: Tuscan Inspired Luxury Estate

Today for our design inspiration, we are taking a look at a grand Old World Tuscan inspired estate designed for modern day luxury living. Villa del Lago is set within a dramatic rural setting overlooking a beautiful lake in Southern California. The 23,000 square-foot residence is designed by Los Angeles-based architect Richard Landry in a style that is reminiscent of the rural villas on the hillsides of Tuscany.

Villa del Lago is situated on four acres on a private bluff with gated access points. The Tuscan inspired estate nestles against an Oak studded hillside overlooking Lake Sherwood in Thousand Oaks. A linear floor plan allows for views of either the lake or the Santa Monica Mountains from every room. The architect collaborated with Los Angeles-based interior designer Joan Behnke to create interiors that are warm, inviting and personally scaled within the large magnificent space. The home is finished to the highest of standards with most furnishings and finishes being either custom created or imported from Europe for authenticity.

VILLA DEL LAGO DESIGN INSPIRATION

A rustic stone façade combines with reclaimed wooden beams and a roof covered in Coppi tiles handmade over a century ago in Italy. These carefully sourced elements create a time earned patina of age and imbue the structure with old world charm. Italian cypress and olive trees placed along meandering ponds and waterfalls complete the setting.

The stone walls continue inside Villa del Lago here in the 28-foot-high Tuscan inspired entrance hall. Natural light floods the giant room through the massive skylight created above it, from which Behnke has suspended a large hand-forged chandelier by Gregorius Pineo. Several lighting sconces obtained from Paris during shopping trips for the house also line the walls. The entrance hall functions ideally for receiving guest when entertaining large crowds, a priority for the homeowners.

The entrance hall leads into the soaring double-height great room. The vast open chamber provides a series of intimate seating areas which you can see in the opening photo. The photo above focuses in on the sitting area gathered around the antique fireplace surround. The painting displayed on the wood paneled walls above the mantel is by Ned Evans. A custom rug from Martin Patrick Evan defines the conversation area, while a custom iron chandelier by Paul Ferrante illuminates the room from above.  Suzani by Donghia draperies frame the tall windows and doors which provide the room’s best feature, the beautiful views.

Here we have the spacious covered loggia and the family room. Landry designed the rooms so that they all flow one into the other. Instead of using real walls to separate and define each room, glass accordion doors serve in their place. These glass walls fold and stack to the side removing all barriers to open the rooms completely, creating one continuous flow of space throughout. A space that opens entirely to the outdoors. The forever-old reclaimed antique wood beams and ceiling planks came from Europe. Also, the 17th century Dalle de Bourgogne stone flooring came from an abandoned chateau in France.

The formal dining room features a barrel vaulted ceiling created with bricks recovered from historic buildings on Chicago’s South Side. The wooden columns were handmade by local artisans in Southern California. On the side of the dining room are a wine room and a Tequila bar. Every room in Villa del Lago has a story.

Part of Behnke’s design process for her very wealthy clients is not to just fill their homes with the finest things from around the world. She insists on taking them with her on the shopping excursions so that they can personally experience the process and have a first-hand awareness of each item’s provenance. Along the way, the clients get to create beautiful memories and form emotional experiences to attach to each piece. Also, the trips provide hours of conversation with which to entertain guests.

The family room flows into the large kitchen which includes a La Cornue range. The homeowner’s wife said that she just really wanted one, even though she doesn’t cook much. Here in the kitchen, the details that are most impressive are those that you don’t notice right away; the surface of the drawers, the edges of the counters and the hidden conveniences.

The home theater is located right on the main floor near the master bedroom suite per the homeowner’s request. Landry created a sense of motion with the distinctive design of the backlit onyx-and-walnut ceiling. The walls are upholstered in a fabric by Larsen with the draperies in Clarence House. The sconces are from Porta Romana.

The master bedroom’s placement ensures prime views of the lake, and it opens onto the rear terrace. Bergamo draperies frame the windows and canopy bed. All the window treatments throughout are of bespoke design by Behnke. Hand embroidered bedding dresses the bed. A custom leather cabinet with nail-head trim at the foot of the bed holds a pop-up television. The antique crystal chandelier came from Paris, obtained on one of the shopping trips. On either side of the bed, individual floor sensors trigger low-level lighting that leads to the bathroom

The master bathroom features bespoke designed cabinetry by Behnke. A free-standing Devon & Devon bathtub is positioned so that the views can be enjoyed while soaking. The chandeliers and sconces are from Paul Ferrante.

In addition to the guest rooms in the main house, there is also a 2,000 square-foot guest house with additional accommodations.

Landry designed the stone-walled stairwell which spans all three floors, completing it with a domed ceiling and a custom hammered-wrought-iron banister. A spiral chandelier by Paul Ferrante suspends down from the top while sconces by Gregorius Pineo line the walls along the way.

The homeowner is a car enthusiast and an avid collector. For his new home, he wanted a proper place to hold and display his sizable collection. A 7,500 square foot subterranean garage in the basement level of the home serves this purpose well. Bricks recovered from historic buildings and reset in place by hand line the ceiling and columns. Car-friendly tile from Ann Sacks covers the floors. Behnke brought in chandeliers and sconces by Paul Ferrante. The garage opens through a pair of barn-style doors onto the driveway.

Here we have the dramatic view of the rear facade. The Tuscan inspired architectural details continue in the stone tower with the ocular window, design elements found in traditional Tuscan villages. Landry also spanned a series of Italian inspired arches from the loggia down to the guest house. An expansive rear terrace stretches nearly the full width of the house providing plenty of outdoor living space. The design of the infinity edge pool reflects the shape of the ocular window. The terrace leads out to the open lawns created as part of the landscape design. The outdoor furnishings are from Janus et Cie.

Here we can see another outdoor living space created around the fire pit before the guesthouse.

Here we have a beautiful view of the house from the lake. Villa del Lago isn’t just charming to behold. It is also conscientious. The Tuscan inspired estate incorporates several environmentally friendly elements. Solar panels provide energy for the home. An on-site water well, recirculated water systems, gray water reclamation, LED lighting fixtures throughout, and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems are just some of the many efforts in place here. The stone used for the facade was all locally cut, and much of the design includes reclaimed elements.

The result is a home that is comfortable to live in and easy to maintain. One that blends beautifully with its surroundings and promises to age well. Villa del Lago is ultimately timeless in its blending of old with the cutting-edge new.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

Be sure to check out my other articles on collaborations between the architect Richard Landry and interior designer Joan Behnke:

Beverly Park Chateau

Beverly Hills Deco Villa: Joan Behnke

VILLA DEL LAGO LUXURY DESIGN

Architecture: Landry Design Group

Interior Design: Joan Behnke and Associates

Photography: Erhard Pfeiffer

Robb Report’s Ultimate Home of the Year Award winner!

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed this lovely Tuscan inspired estate. What do you think of Villa del Lago? I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

August 25, 2016
Classic Mediterranean Style In Arizona

Our design inspiration for today comes from a 23,000 square-foot classic Mediterranean style estate located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The impressive residence, with its lushly landscaped grounds, is positions grandly in the natural desert surroundings overlooking a golf course. The stately mansion, designed by the luxury residential architectural firm Candelaria Design Associates with interior design by Kimberly Colletti, features many old-world inspired architectural elements and elegant design details to create a rich and formal home.

The opening photo shows the regal living room. The polished marble floors, decorative ceilings, and ornately carved, honed limestone fireplace feature here and throughout the entire Mediterranean style home. Interior arches line up with exterior arching windows and French doors which welcome the view of the gardens. The size and style of the windows play an important role in every room. They are integral architectural components necessary to create the desired dramatic effect. Gilded framed mirrors hang over a pair of marquetry chests on either side of the fireplace. A custom silk upholstered sofa anchors the sitting area on the traditional rug while a large crystal chandelier sparkles above.

CLASSIC MEDITERRANEAN STYLE INSPIRATION

The formal dining room features hand-painted coffered ceilings and wainscoting highlighted with white gold. The full height limestone fireplace gives the room an air of dignity. A Regency-style walnut dining table surrounded by painted and distressed silk upholstered dining chairs gather on a traditional design rug. A grand crystal chandelier suspends above. Elegant silk window treatments with stacked passementerie trim and double tassel tie-backs dress the windows. The colors throughout the home remain soft and subtle creating a perfect backdrop for the fine antiques, some dating to the 16th century.

The very handsome library features solid walnut floors with an inlaid brass perimeter while walnut paneling lines the walls. The soaring vaulted ceilings display hand-painted, gold accented design details. A series of grand traditional design chandeliers suspend through the room. The rich wood tones and gold accents create a sense of warmth. A 17th-century Italian rectory table commands the center of the library on an antique rug. Bronze figures, bust, and Neoclassical design details accent the room with a noble feel, while a pair of simple chenille club chairs placed before the fireplace eases the formality and provide a place for some real comfort.

“The estate presents beautifully while remaining livable and inviting.”

The gracious entrance hall features two bisecting galleries crowned by an exquisite domed ceiling. One enters the home into a light-filled gallery that crosses at its center. The hall continues forward leading all the way through to the other side and out onto the series of outdoor living spaces. The long passages also extend both left and right running the full length of the estate giving access to the home’s rooms and courtyards which all comprise on a single floor. The gleaming marble floors continue in all directions as does the repeated arches and French doors. The groin vault ceilings feature highly decorative hand-painted designs in 23-karat gold. A Palladian sense of balance and symmetry throughout is in keeping with its formal Mediterranean style. The mathematical repetition creates a sense of rhythm and order.

“The estate is a visual feast for the eyes.”

The polished marble floors continue in the kitchen. Perimeter counters are topped with marble, while a dark textured granite tops the center island. The classical architectural elements continue here in the kitchen, including niches where life-size hand-carved statues reside. Velvet upholstered barstools create an elegant eat-in breakfast area. Two large crystal chandeliers sparkle above. Of course, this grand kitchen has only the best commercial grade, high-end appliances, many faced to blend with the surrounding cabinetry. A cooking area created just outside the kitchen allows for additional outdoor entertaining as well.

Stained and glazed alder wood completely envelopes the home office. The antique burl wood desk includes an inlaid leather top, and the antique chairs still have their original upholstery. The French doors open the office onto a garden graced with fountains. Sounds like a wonderful place to get some work done.

The master bedroom is full of grace and charm though this photo only shows this one perspective. The silk upholstered headboard and bed frame, dressed in elegant custom silk bed linens, serve as the focal point here. On either side of the bed, a pair of matching chests, each with a large framed antique painting hanging above it, perfectly establishes balance and symmetry. The room, of course, is crowned with a glamorous gilt and crystal chandelier.

The tinted plaster walls and glazed woodwork glisten softly in the natural light that washes over the master bathroom. Polished marble covers the floors, counter-tops, and the tub surround in the bathing niche. Mosaic mother-of-pearl sinks pair with crystal handle faucets. Crystal chandeliers feature in here too, along with crystal-dripping wall sconces. Custom silk draperies dress the windows.

In true Mediterranean style, arches and stone columns frame the loggia located off the living room and entry. All-weather furnishings provide year-round comfort for the multiple outdoor entertaining spaces. Statues, fountains, and planters punctuate the gardens creating focal points in every direction. The view is very “man has mastered nature” with all this lush greenery and abundance of water in the middle of the Arizona desert.

The red clay tile roof and stucco exterior are signatures of classic formal Mediterranean style. The estate is a visual feast for the eyes. That is apparent the moment you enter the carved limestone and iron gates. Hand-carved statuary from Italy greet you when entering the auto court.

Though the home is grand in volume and square footage, it still maintains a comfortable level of intimacy. The estate presents beautifully while remaining livable and inviting.

That concludes our design inspiration for today.

For more beautiful residences, be sure to see:

California Mediterranean: Enchanted Oaks

Montecito Italian Palazzo: SFA Design

MEDITERRANEAN STYLE IN ARIZONA

Candelaria Design Associates is a premier architecture and interior design firm committed to enhancing the way people live through the design of beautiful, luxury living, entertainment and work environments. The firm was founded in 1999 by architect Mark Candelaria, who currently works with a team of architects and designers creating high-end, award-winning custom homes throughout Arizona and the Southwest.

Architecture: Candelaria Design Associates

Interior Design: Kimberly Colletti

Builder: Schultz Development

Landscape Architect: Berghoff Design

Photography: Werner Segarra

Additional: Tuscan Style-Summer 2015

Thanks so much for reading along with me! I hope you enjoyed this formal Mediterranean style estate in the Arizona desert, and you have found much inspiration in its delightful design.

Have a great day!

June 11, 2016
Beverly Park Chateau

Today’s design inspiration comes from a grand French chateau-inspired residence located within the exclusive guard-gated community of Beverly Park in the lush hills overlooking Los Angeles. The architectural design captures the essence of the fine country estates once owned by the ancient nobility in France. The newly built 40,000 square-foot mansion, designed by architect Richard Landry, interprets the classic European style for contemporary living appropriate to Southern California. The modern layout observes human proportions, with interior design by Joan Behnke, and offers up a restrained sense of luxury. This Beverly Park Chateau was not created to be a show house, but is show-worthy. Let’s take a look!

The home sits back on its lot and spreads out across the width almost entirely. Custom entry gates located on one end of the property open to reveal the residence hidden beyond them. A cobblestone driveway winds across the lawn to the centrally located motor court created before the main entrance. The drive then proceeds, running along the front of the property and either around to the garages situated along the side, or else out to the exit gates located on the opposite end. The estate appears as though it has existed here for centuries.

Great efforts went into creating the time-worn variation and texture for a genuinely old-world finish. Salvaged rubble stone covers the exterior facade with distressed limestone forming the door and window surrounds. Blue slate covers the massive Mansard roof, punctuated with dormer windows and roof spires. Weathered pavers form the path from the motor court, through the formal parterre garden, up to the front entrance creating a scenic procession.

GRAND BEVERLY PARK CHATEAU

The grand double-height entrance foyer, crowned with a glass dome above, ensures a definite sense of arrival and makes a lasting first impression. The vast light-filled, open space gives way in all directions. Visitors pass through a pair of massive wrought-iron doors backed with glass Behnke found in a French antique shop. A 19th-century hanging lantern suspends beneath the dome. Two glass-topped tables with 18th-century French bases arranged on a contemporary silk rug display a pair of vases by Hervé van der Straeten and a Bernar Venet sculpture. Classic and Contemporary designs combine effortlessly for a timeless appeal.

To make the large home more inviting, the architect divided the floor plan into clusters of rooms arranged around their function. The first group off the foyer are rooms for entertaining including the living room, the formal dining room, and the library.

The gracious formal living room features loads of charm and character. The design evokes the style and spirit of an elegant Parisian apartment. A custom created antiqued-furniture finish gives the wood-paneled walls their French gray-green color. The reclaimed antique limestone fireplace came from an old European estate. A notable contemporary painting hangs over the mantle for balance. Antique furnishings and decorative objects spanning centuries gather with new custom pieces bespoke designed by Behnke creating the impression of being accumulated over time. Rich colors and a variety of textured fabrics further enrich the senses. The room arranges on a custom contemporary silk rug. There is a worldly sophistication without being overly formal or stiff as one often finds in large homes. Along the back of the room, multiple sets of French doors flood the room with natural light and open onto a garden terrace.

The formal dining room features layers of rich wood trim and hand-laid herringbone floors composed of reclaimed antique French oak. The rich, saturated colors and contemporary interpretation of traditional design elements remind me of the French Quarter in New Orleans. The wrought-iron doors provide passage to a spiral staircase leading down to the wine cellar. The home includes a specific professional grade catering kitchen to allow the owners to serve any number of guests with ease. The design of this Beverly Park Chateau gives itself to entertaining with style on a large scale.

The library embraces a “gentlemen’s club” version of traditional design with its polished wood-paneled walls, intricate Oriental rug, and navy blue with gold accents. An artist custom created the ceiling designs by applying hand-painted canvases between the coffers. French antiques alongside new bespoke furnishings maintain the warm and intimate atmosphere while remaining completely functional. You are sure to be offered a Brandy, perhaps a Louis XIII Remy Cognac. A contemporary painting by Guy Diehl hangs above the Belgian marble fireplace.

No French country estate would be complete without a loggia with a fireplace. This one has glass walls that slide away to open two of its outer walls to the outdoors. The loggia embraces the best of Southern California’s indoor-outdoor living and gives way to the outer entertaining areas. The multi-purpose family gathering place located off the living room and library has comfortable all-weather wicker furniture. This arrangement of the rooms provides an excellent flow for guests when entertaining.

On the opposite end of the first floor, another cluster of rooms exists for the family and private living. These rooms have a far more casual French Country style. Here we have the family room with rough reclaimed wood beamed ceilings and a warmer color palette. Less formal traditional furnishings give the room the feel of a relaxed country home. It’s a luxe take on rustic!

The formal dining room we saw above and the catering kitchen mentioned are really used for formal entertaining purposes mainly. The home also includes this less formal, open flow family living-dining-kitchen area. This kitchen is where the family prepares their regular meals. The comfortable living area includes a large screen TV where the family really kicks back, and this more intimate, relaxed dining area is the one the family uses normally. The warm French Country vibe created in the adjacent family room carries into this area as well. The kitchen features a large center island topped with striking white-and-gray marble and is complete with a breakfast bar. The appliances are arranged around the island for easy access. The dining table is actually placed in a space that arches out and is lined with large windows which look out onto the back lawn.

The wine storage room on the basement level can be accessed directly from the dining room or from the home’s lower-level entertaining area. The room holds approximately 2,600 bottles of wine perfectly displayed in custom cases. The space includes an inner sitting area separated from the actual wine-storage by glass walls which allow for dual climate zones. This design team leaves no detail untouched. The rough-hewn timber and brick barrel vaulted ceilings paired with the weathered and aged floors give the space the look of an authentic forever old wine cellar whose wines have aged for years.

The home includes a basement level cluster of rooms designed for informal entertaining. The lower subterranean level entertaining area includes a circular sitting lounge with a big-screen television, along with a series of billiards/casino-style spaces complete with a pool table, card playing tables, and other games tables, as well as a full bar. The entire lower level expresses an Art Deco theme which unifies the spaces and gives it an air of refinement.

Also located down on this level is the home’s superb custom theater. The room includes custom mohair upholstered furnishings, silk draperies, and luxe finishes to complement the latest visual and sound equipment. The custom mill-work is all mahogany.

The second floor of the home holds a fully equipped private gym, a home office, and most of the bedrooms suites including (shown here) the expansive master bedroom suite. The master suite includes a sitting room, a generously scaled bedroom with another sitting area, and his-and-her bathrooms and closets. The walls are fabric upholstered and the floors are covered with custom silk carpet. The focal point in the room is the canopy bed with hand embroidery on the headboard and canopy drapes composed of four layers of sheer panels. A cabinet behind the sofa holds a pop-up television to watch from bed.

His bathroom impresses with dark walnut paneled walls and polished golden marble. Her spacious marble and paneled bathroom calms with pale shades of creams and pink. Both feature classic design detailing and both are quite grand and perfect in this home.

Here we see the homeowner’s private terrace overlooking the back lawn. It can only be accessed from the master bathroom making it the perfect place to escape.

These meandering cobblestone paths running between the stone structures of the main residence, guest house, and other outlying buildings appear as though they are part of an old European village and are very charming. Can you imagine? Don’t you agree? The entire Beverly Park Chateau is a wonderful work of art and craftsmanship. Most importantly, it evokes a light heart, cheer, and amusement. The whole point is to not take any of it too seriously. That is the most brilliant point in these details!

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more projects from these great talents, be sure to see:

Beverly Hills Deco Villa: Joan Behnke

Villa del Lago: Tuscan Inspired Estate

BEVERLY PARK CHATEAU DESIGN INSPIRATION

Designing projects all over the globe, Landry Design Group strives to raise the international standards in custom residential architecture. The award-winning design studio was founded in 1987 by Richard Landry. Recognized for designs in a wide range of architectural styles, the team of service-oriented experts collaborate to create residences spanning from classical estates to rural villas and cutting-edge contemporary structures.

Richard Landry has multiple beautiful Architectural Design Books that showcase many of the extraordinary homes created by his firm. If you love exceptional architecture, you must be sure to see these.

***

Founded in 1999, Joan Behnke & Associates, Inc. is rooted in the deep belief of interior design as both a fine art and a profound opportunity for self-expression. The firm, now grown to an internationally acclaimed design practice, thrives on working intimately with their clients to transform the spaces they inhabit and infuse them with a deeper kind of beauty that transcends the imagination and continues to flourish and inspire for a lifetime.

Architecture: Landry Design Group

Interior Design: Joan Behnke

Photography: Erhard Pfeiffer

This home was named Robb Report Ultimate Home

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this lovely estate. Let me hear from you in the comments! What do you think of Beverly Park Chateau?

Have a great day!!

February 19, 2016
Modernist Inspired Lakefront Residence

For today’s design inspiration, we have a modernist inspired lakefront residence with crisp contemporary interiors. The residence, located on a wooded property on Chicago’s North Shore, features walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, a neutral and nature-based color palette, and clean contemporary furnishings.

The owners of this home were empty nesters looking to downsize and simplify their lives. They decided to sell their sprawling 1930s Colonial family home and build a smaller, smarter, and more streamlined home nearby. A scenic 90-foot-wide lot right on the waters of Lake Michigan with trees to flank the future home like sculpture proved a perfect site.

To create this new home for the next chapter of their lives, the couple enlisted Ernest A. Grunsfeld III of Evanston based Grunsfeld Shafer Architects, whose modern design inspired works they really liked and wanted for themselves. For the interiors, they enlisted Steve Kadlec of Chicago based Kadlec Architecture + Design. Kadlec specializes mainly in residential interiors and they admired his work, noted for its simple yet sophisticated design.

For their new lakefront residence, the couple did not want what had become the norm for lake homes of late, such as what they perceived to be, the grand statement-making exteriors and overly made-up interiors. On the contrary, they didn’t want a house that would attract excessive attention from the street at all and didn’t want huge rooms that they didn’t need and wouldn’t use. They wanted nothing fussy, over-sized, or too involved and that is exactly what they got.

Grunsfeld shaped the 5,000 square-foot home into a modified H configuration to give it the maximum amount of exterior wall space. The shape provides lakeside views from everywhere possible, which was the owner’s biggest request. The configuration also organizes the home into three zones: public spaces in the middle, mainly the living areas; private spaces to the north, including a study and master bedroom; utility spaces to the south, mainly the kitchen and garage. The architect topped the center of the H with a second level home gym and two guest bedrooms. This configuration allows the main living area, master suite, kitchen, gym, and a guest bedroom all to face the lake. These room’s walls of floor-to-ceiling glass, from the outside, create a fabulous two-story rear elevation.

The three photos above show the homes primary open living space which Kadlec quietly perfected while making the lake views the focal point. The room includes multiple seating zones arranged on area rugs. The dining area features a rift white oak table that seats sixteen normally and thirty when split and enlarged with leaves. White limestone floors flow here and throughout the entire ground floor and continue up to create the fireplace surrounds.

Kadlec granted the home owner’s request for sleek, contemporary interior pieces as well. Many of the items used throughout the home are his bespoke designs. The color palette inside draws from the same colors that you see in the views outside, further embracing and enhancing the homes natural surroundings.

In the master bedroom, Kadlec hid the huge walk-in closets behind cream-colored lacquered panels and had the bed custom created to float in front of the doors. There need be nothing to interrupt the peace and flow in the space. Bespoke designed custom furnishings create a calm low-profile sitting area.

Outside, Scott Byron of Lake Bluff-based Scott Byron Landscape architecture designed the lawns. In an eco-friendly move designed to conserve the bluff, Byron created wide ledges that terrace down to the lake. He employed clean, disciplined designs close to the home while maintaining the look of the natural surroundings further out.

This is, in all of its very refined simplicity, a Modernist inspired contemporary luxury lakefront residence. This is how the homeowners define luxury. Clean lines and open spaces, natural elements, beautiful views of the outdoors, sleek minimalist design fixtures, and custom-created, contemporary furnishings. It’s calm. It’s easy. I must agree. This is luxury for modern day life.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more residences with crisp, contemporary interiors, be sure to see:

Modern Deco Interior Design: Chicago

Modern LA Residence: Minimalist Interior Design

LAKEFRONT RESIDENCE DESIGN

Kadlec Architecture + Design is a collaborative studio bringing together inspired design and management skills with over 25 years of experience in the practice of residential architecture and interior design as well as corporate and retail design.

Founded in 2004 by Steve Kadlec, Kadlec Architecture + Design provides thoughtful problem solving and exceptional design to residential, specialty corporate, and retail projects. The firm believes that successful design synthesizes the clients’ functional and budgetary requirements within a solution that reflects their style and personality. The firm’s work is simple, classic, and sophisticated focusing on usable and functional spaces.

Architecture: Ernest A. Grunsfeld III with Grunsfeld Shafer Architects

Interior Design: Steve Kadlec with Kadlec Architecture + Design

photographer: Tony Soluri Photography

Luxe/Chicago/Smooth Moves

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this lakefront residence’s contemporary interiors with its clean lines, open spaces, and nature-based neutral colors. It certainly looks to be an oasis of peace and calm, and really, is there much luxury greater than that? Be sure to let me hear from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

November 20, 2015
Southern Classic Mansion: Historic Charleston

Today’s design inspiration comes from a superbly renovated and well-preserved ornate Italian Renaissance-style Southern Classic mansion in Charleston, South Carolina. The residence, whose main house dates to the 1850s, is one of the city’s grandest and most impressive houses in the Italianate style of the mid-19th century and is included on the Charleston Registry of Historic Homes. The 9,700 square-foot, three and one-half story, seven-bedroom home is an elegant rendition of the regional-style Charleston single house. The home’s design departs from the traditional plan with the addition of a northside wing, which balances the piazza on the opposite side. The residence is locally known as the Patrick O’Donnell House, named after the Irish immigrant who built it.

Through the years, the various owners of the Southern Classic mansion have continually restored and enhanced the structure. They added plenty of modern luxury design amenities as well. The property has benefited from the addition of a separate guesthouse, which added 1,100 square feet, a three-car, climate-controlled garage, and a heated pool. The extensive renovation, restoration, and enhancement efforts have elevated this home to one of the finest in the city.

The current owners initially purchased the Southern Classic mansion to serve as a vacation home. A few years later, they found themselves spending more and more time at the property and so decided that it needed to be a bit more personal. It needed to function more like their primary residences, and less trophy pied-a-terre. Of course, they wanted to maintain all the period classical design details for which they purchased the home. They wanted to keep everything as historically correct as possible, without feeling stuffy. The desire was to create a sense of history, personal history as though the family had lived there for generations and pieces had been gradually added along the way to the present day. It needed to be in the style that O’Donnell envisioned, only adjusted for their modern life

To fine-tune the home’s interiors, the owners called on their trusted designer with whom they already collaborated on over a dozen projects, Susanne Lichten Csongor, the principal of the Massachusetts firm SLC Interiors. The designer was to complete the house with a design that could equally exist today and years ago. They had complete confidence in her, and she has brilliantly created for them what they most wanted of their historic mansion, a charming and inviting home that can be shared with family and friends.

The interior architecture includes layers of design details that have been painstakingly restored and cared for over the years. This latest interior design makes them the prize of the palace with everything else meant to complement and emphasize them, rather than compete. The home includes a double parlor located off the entrance hall where the details really shine; lavish crown moldings, stacked cornices, ceiling friezes, marble fireplaces, and baseboards. Here and throughout, the designer used a mostly neutral color palette to temper the grandeur of the interior architecture and a mix of period art and antiques along with some more classic contemporary pieces for a perfect balance.

In the front parlor, gathered on an antique carpet, the designer placed a custom scroll-arm sofa with a Rose Tarlow coffee table and a pair of Nancy Corzine chairs. To balance the fireplace on the opposite wall, she selected a fine Empire-style chest and placed an 18th-century portrait painting above both.

This view shows through to the rear parlor. The chandeliers in both rooms came with the house and so remained. The furnishings gather on another fabulous antique rug. A daybed upholstered in a Clarence House silk anchors the back with a mid-19th century Continental Neoclassical console behind it and a coffee table from Nancy Corzine before it. A pair of custom lounge chairs complete the arrangement.

The formal dining room was allowed a bit more drama as dining rooms often are. For this room, the designer had a custom wallcovering created depicting life in Charleston at the time the home was originally built. She orchestrated the ideas and handed them over to the artist at Gracie studio along with the elevations and the scenes were hand-painted onto the wallcoverings. The custom Regency dining table pairs with chairs from Nancy Corzine. A fabulous Napoleon III gilded mirror from East & Orient Company in Dallas hangs over the marble fireplace. The crystal chandelier came with the home. The owners frequently host elegant dinners for ten when in town.

The brick chef’s kitchen includes custom cabinetry and an island topped with locally sourced marble, along with a pressed tin ceiling. The appliances are commercial grade. The framed harbor scene Passage des Detroits, is from Gracie, while the leather-covered bar stools are from Minton-Spidell.

Powder rooms should always be this way! Grand and theatrical. This is my favorite room in the home. Being from the South originally myself, and loving southern classic style, this entire home speaks to me, but this powder room is everything! The wallcovering in here is from Cowtan & Tout. The Verde marble top vanity includes a hand-painted under-mount sink complete with gold-plated swan faucets by P.E. Guerin. A 19th century English portrait reflects in the giltwood Louis XVI mirror flanked by a pair of French gilt-bronze sconces.

Here in the billiards room, the traditional design styling continues. The pair of tufted leather wing chairs are circa 1930. The room is very English. Very handsome.

The wood-paneled walls, gilded framed portrait, and that exquisite fireplace screen create an old-world sophisticated atmosphere in the Southern Classic mansion library.

The designer used a natural Merida Agave runner on the stairs to allow the magnificent architecture to shine, including the turned and fluted balusters, a coffin corner niche, and the spiraling moldings overhead, while also keeping it all grounded. In addition to the grand staircase, there is also an antique elevator that leads up to all floors.

The master bedroom suite is actually quite timeless for a Southern Classic mansion. This all feels so familiar to me, with exception of the master bathroom. I love the mirrors suspended in front of the windows with the crystal chandeliers suspended above each of them. Linens from Sferra dress the bed, a reproduction of an early 1800s sea captain’s bed. Antique fabrics form the accent pillows. The sitting area includes a Regency style mahogany Recamier- circa 1825-35, a 19th-century Continental sewing table, and an 18th-century portrait.

Today the home’s multiple bedrooms frequently fill with guests who travel down with the owners to enjoy all the city has to offer, and for a good dose of Southern charm.

The deep porches shield the interiors from the sun and are a classic design feature in Southern architecture. You can also see the home’s carriage house there.

This is a view of the piazza side of the southern classic mansion from the front. Each level has a different entablature on fluted Doric Columns. The wide verandas open all three floors to the outdoors. There is also a rooftop deck. The exterior of the residential architecture includes vermiculated quoins and an elaborate cornice with both dentils and modillions.

Designer Susanne Lichten Csongor and her team at SLC Interiors have wonderfully executed the desires of the homeowners. The completed design perfectly respects and enhances the home’s period details while also making the home warm and welcoming and adapted to modern life.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see another gracious Southern mansion, be sure to see:

French Chateau in Texas: Kara Childress

Contemporary Traditional Design: Southern Mansion

SOUTHERN CLASSIC MANSION DESIGN

Susanne Lichten Csongor, founder of SLC Interiors, Inc. has over twenty years of extensive experience in high-end residential design with offices in Boston and Hamilton, Massachusetts. Whether you are renovating a turn of the century equestrian estate or building new construction on Nantucket, they have the decades of experience, the studied taste, and the exclusive sources to turn your house into your dream home. The firm’s residential practice includes a private family compound in Nantucket featuring a spa, tennis, and an equestrian facility, residences at The Setai Hotel overlooking Miami Beach, and a Pied a Terre overlooking Boston’s Public Garden.

The company includes a retail store, Blue Peacock Home, in South Hamilton, MA. Susanne searched the world for designers, artisans, and manufacturers who could produce the exquisite quality and eye-catching designs she and her clients demanded, but at pleasing prices. You can shop online or visit the showroom.

Interior design: SLC Interiors-Massachusetts

photography: Durston Saylor

Traditional Home

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed today’s Southern Classic Mansion. There is no shortage of interior design lessons and inspiration here for fans of traditional design. Let me hear from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

November 9, 2015
Contemporary Hillside Luxury Estate: Bel Air

Today’s design inspiration comes from a Contemporary hillside luxury estate in Bel Air, an affluent residential neighborhood in Los Angeles. The custom-built compound consists of several buildings including the main house and separate quarters for guest, staff, and entertaining, with most being joined together by a footbridge. The property is built into the hilltop and situated on multiple levels and has a total of 40,000 square-feet. The estate includes 28-bedrooms, a home spa, a roof-top terrace, a terraced orchard, a 24-car underground garage, and plenty of space for entertaining.

Towers clad in rough-faced sandstone punctuate the contemporary home’s smooth stucco facade. It’s stepped positioning along the hilltop gives it the appearance of being a modern fortress. The elevated position provides the home with extraordinary city and ocean views. The photo above shows the side entrance into the parking area.

This exceptional hillside luxury estate, of course, is another award-winning mega home by the Los Angeles based architect Richard Landry of Landry Design Group. His superb super-mansions are favored by those seeking the best things in life. The architect collaborated with interior designer David Phoenix on the interior design, who gave the interiors a bit of his signature “California elegant” styling. The above photo shows the footbridge suspended over the motor court with the home’s entry on the left and parking garage below.

HILLSIDE LUXURY ESTATE

The rough-faced sandstone used to clad the tower’s exteriors continues inside here in the entrance foyer and pairs with Portuguese limestone floors. Landry also continued the ceiling trellis from the exterior entryway, which is separated only by a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass, into here, pairing it with glass ceilings to unify the indoor and outdoor spaces. He suspended a footbridge through the foyer to mirror those which connects the various structures outdoors. Phoenix softened the vast, double height space a bit by gathering a rosewood table from Jean de Merry with bronze stools from Holly Hunt on a custom silk-and-wool rug from Tai Ping.

Pocket doors separate the formal living room and the more relaxed parlor room. In both areas, the fireplace serves as the focal point with specially treated surrounds. Slabs of book-matched onyx surround the fireplace in the formal living room (top picture). A mosaic of onyx tile forms the surround in the parlor. A design idea for living rooms to note: Landry allowed the ceilings to stop short of reaching the walls, and installed cove lighting in the space to illuminate it from within, creating an understated glow. This design detail features throughout the home in various rooms to great effect.

In the formal dining room, a 3,000-pound zebrawood-and-bronze table from David Sutherland seats 14 comfortably beneath a fabulous Moura Starr chandelier. A 2007 chromogenic print, Frigid Ferragosto 2, by Massimo Vitali and an untitled 1964 oil by Lorser Feitelson adorn the walls.

Zebrawood paneling lines the walls of the library and continues onto the ceilings. Italian-glass mosaic tiles form the fireplace surround. I particularly like the Michael Berman club chairs gathered around a table by Donghia. The sophisticated design of this room is really appealing.

In the casual games room, the rough-faced sandstone walls continue. A cozy sunken conversation area gathers before the fireplace, while a generously scaled games table covered in leather serves as the heart of the room.

The Landry designed, completely freestanding staircase spans the full height of the main house, four-floors from the garage below, all the way up to the roof terrace, not touching the walls at any point. Phoenix added his touch by including nickel-plated rock-crystal sconces of his own design and selected the crowning chandelier from Moura Starr.

“The possibilities are limitless; they can only be restrained by the imagination.” Richard Landry

The master bedroom suite features rich contemporary design details. Bleached zebrawood paneling lines the walls, highlighted from above by the ceiling’s cove lighting. Back-lit honey onyx that glows at night forms the fireplace surround. The upholstered bed and zebrawood bedside chests and television cabinet at the end of the bed were bespoke designed just for this bedroom.

In the master bathroom, Phoenix also used zebrawood for the vanity and mirrors. White onyx covers the walls and floors, including some backlit around the large tub.

Downstairs, adjacent the fully equipped gym, the home’s spa features plenty luxury design details. Landry designed a Venetian-plastered elliptical soffit for the ceiling to maintain a light ambiance. The list of special interior architectural details is practically endless. White marble and Bisazza tiles cover the walls and floors. The space includes a pair of private massage rooms, wet and dry saunas, and a special cold/hot whirlpool bath that Landry designed with Chroma therapy lights.

The hillside luxury estate includes multiple outdoor lounging and entertaining areas. The space in the top photo stands just outside the gym and spa. It features teak ceilings and teak furniture from David Sutherland. The owner can continue along the path from there down the stairs to his private terraced orchard where he picks his fruit fresh each morning. The second photo shows the heated loggia adjacent to the living room that serves for open air living.

The rooftop terrace overlooks the pool and barbecue terrace. The lower terrace includes an outdoor kitchen where the owner likes to host close family and friends. The zero-edge pool flows into a tiled area fitted with fiber-optic up-lights programmable to change color.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

“Your home should reflect a combination of memories, aspirations and a lifetime of unique experiences. By being sensitive to your vision and desires, together we can craft a home that truly responds to your lifetstyle.” Landry Design Group

For more mega-mansions completed by this star architect, be sure to see:

Villa del Lago: Tuscan Inspired Luxury Estate

Beverly Park Chateau

BEL AIR HILLSIDE LUXURY ESTATE

Designing projects all over the globe, Landry Design Group strives to raise the international standards in custom residential architecture. The award-winning design studio was founded in 1987 by Richard Landry. Recognized for designs in a wide range of architectural styles, the team of service-oriented experts collaborate to create residences spanning from classical estates to rural villas and cutting-edge contemporary structures. The studio’s current work continues to be as diverse as their clients, many of whom have returned to collaborate on subsequent projects. Every new endeavor is embraced as an opportunity to challenge the imagination and explore innovation.

Richard Landry has multiple beautiful Architectural Design Books that showcase many of the extraordinary homes created by his firm. The New York Times dubbed him “King of the Mega-Mansions”. If you love exceptional architecture, you must be sure to take a look at these.

Architecture: Richard Landry- Landry Design Group

Interior Design: David Phoenix

Photography by Erhard Pfeiffer

This residence was named Robb Report’s Ultimate Home

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this extraordinary Hillside Luxury Estate. Let me hear from you guys in the comments!

Have a great day!

October 30, 2015
Ambassador’s Mansion: Contemporary International

Today’s design inspiration comes from a diplomatic ambassador’s mansion overlooking the Potomac River in McLean, Virginia. The 20,000 square-foot wooded, hillside residence underwent a comprehensive renovation which included the altering and customization of nearly every floor, wall, and ceiling within. The personalized, art-filled contemporary home brilliantly mixes elegant internationalism with comfort.

Built into the hill and organized over four floors, the home serves for both private casual family living, as well as for public entertaining on a grand scale with separate spaces dedicated for each. Throughout, the mood is light with an open and airy flow and a warm, neutral color palette. The extraordinary level of customization and the quite sophisticated design details are where the ambassador’s mansion shines.

The renovation centered around the transformation of the interiors. The interior design primarily informed the resulting architecture. Los Angeles-based interior designer Joan Behnke came in to realize the owner’s vision with her signature level of understated elegance. David Cooper, principal of ACG Architects in McLean completed the architectural work, with BOWA, a McLean area contractor organizing and facilitating the project.

The opening photo shows the entrance foyer with its barrel ceiling and custom-finished walls. The entrance hall includes a Eurofase chandelier with cascading glass bubbles, along with an eclectic mix of art and custom furnishings.

AMBASSADORS MANSION RENOVATION

In the living room, four Ingo Maurer pendant light installations inject a contemporary feel in an otherwise traditional room. Behnke assembled a collection of furnishings, objects, and art that reflects the Ambassador’s youth, sophistication, and worldliness. The design’s mostly neutral palette of golds, creams, and coppers complement the dark, cerused oak floors. The furnishings gather on a rug by Tai Ping, here and in the adjoining room below.

Custom furnishings with clean lines are both contemporary and comfortable. Behnke designed and placed these throughout the public and private spaces. A pair of Pendant lights by Satori Light Sculptures illuminate the room. All the lighting fixtures throughout the home display a sculptural quality and function like jewelry. Each of the rooms designed for public entertaining has its own character yet flows together seamlessly.

The ambassador uses this stately dining room to host formal dinners. Behnke upholstered the walls with luxurious Alpaca wool from Peru. The cabinets feature a washi paper hand-made in Japan inserted into the face and lighted from behind.

A custom table and chairs furnish the formal breakfast room included in the renovation. In every case available, the architect created floor-to-ceiling windows as well as lift and slide doors with the ability to slide and stack to the side to take advantage of the natural views and open the interiors fully to the outdoors.

The media room includes a 108-inch television within a custom millwork surround, finished with eight coats of enamel. The designer furnished the room with a custom sofa and ottomans along with a sculptural iron table by Philip Norman. I love the trio of pendant lights of various styles.

The adjacent billiards room features a custom two-ton aquarium within a lacquered millwork surround echoed in the media room. A crane hoisted the tank over the house and lowered it in through the side. It is supported by a structural beam and maintained by equipment housed below in a separate 10-by-20-foot room. The colorful tank mirrors the habitat of a saltwater reef with lights that simulate sunrise, daylight, and sundown. The room also features a pool table custom created in Spain.

The home has a service kitchen for entertaining and catering purposes equipped with multiple stainless refrigerators, dishwashers, and cooking appliances as well as ample preparation space.

The ambassador also has a private kitchen located off the media room designed for casual meals and hanging out with personal friends. This kitchen features Caesarstone countertops and a custom eat-in dining bar.

The home office occupies the entire top level of the residence. It features a barrel ceiling and walnut built-ins polished to a furniture-grade finish. The floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors frame a perfect view of the Potomac.

The master bedroom is a haven of calm with access to the outdoor terrace. Behnke furnished the room with contemporary furnishings with clean lines and simplicity of form, custom-created to meet the owner’s taste and needs. Custom and bespoke designed furniture require more time and effort, but it is worth it to get what you want. Don’t you agree?

The master bathroom is the contribution of the second interior designer involved with the project, Tony Chi & Associates. It features Italian glass mosaic tile floors, limestone walls, and shagreen-covered vanities imported from France. Custom Verre eglomise designs in platinum leaf enhance the glass walls along the center leading to a sculptural limestone tub from Mexico. An open shower with both rain and waterfall fixtures connects to a traditional Hinoki wood Asian sauna. The designer took his design inspiration from the many luxury hotels that the ambassador has stayed around the world.

The owner frequently entertains his friends down on the lower level in the pool cabana space which opens to the pool and outdoor entertaining areas. The cabana includes a charming and relaxed lounge and dining area as well as a cloistered wine storage and tasting room.

A new glass balustrade system from Scandinavia envelopes the expanded pool terrace. A new wet-edge pool with three successive infinity edges and eight laminar jets shooting water across the surface replaced a standard version. The outdoor entertaining areas include an alfresco kitchen with a dining area and a fire pit with a seating area. The terrace appears suspended in the air along the treetops. It is a favored gathering place for visiting friends. The ambassador accommodates his guests in a self-contained, fully functional guest house.

The ambassador’s mansion exudes a delightful mix of contemporary international flavor. Most of the transformation was able to be completed in less than a year with the work occurring in three phases. In addition to the architect, contractor, and two interior designers noted, there were also subcontractors, craftspeople from all over Europe and the United States, art consultants, lighting consultants, civil and electrical engineers, and on and on. This completed home renovation is the product of well-executed collaborative design involving a team of professionals at the very top of their fields.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more design inspiration from the principal interior designer involved with this project, be sure to see:

Beverly Hills Deco Villa: Joan Behnke

Beverly Hills Modern

AMBASSADOR’S MANSION ON THE POTOMAC

Architecture: ACG Architects

Contractor: BOWA

Principle Interior Design: Joan Behnke

additional Interior Design: Toni Chi & Associates

photography: James Tetro Photography

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this mansion renovation and found it educational and inspiring. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

October 23, 2015
California Modern Design: Sunset Plaza

Today for our design inspiration, we have a California Modern luxury resort-like residential compound located along the Sunset Strip, near West Hollywood. The exceptional property boasts sweeping panoramic views of the city, made possible by an endless number of vantage points created throughout the estate. This sophisticated 13,000 square-foot dream home spreads over two levels and three structures, with eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms. Designed by highly acclaimed Hagy Belzberg Architects, the residence radiates an unmistakable sense of strength, volume, and boldness.

To be clear, by California Modern I mean that the design is mid-century modern inspired. It makes use of lots of natural elements; stone, raw woods, and such. The residence fully embraces indoor-outdoor living. Endless floor to ceiling windows roll away completely opening the space to the outdoors. The large and sophisticated home remains warm and inviting in that west coast casual sort of way.

Built on a hillside, combining existing sloped terrain with flat, terraced areas, the luxury compound provides expansive views out while prohibiting views in. A highly sought-after quality in the Los Angeles hills naturally. The property is walled, gated, and lined with landscaping trees and shrubs ensuring privacy.

Guest entering the home through the glass double doors immediately get a sense of the home’s vast openness. Just a few steps in and the entry hall opens to double heights with glass ceilings. The space flows all the way through to the glass door leading out to the back. This central passageway serves to delineate the public and private spaces.

To the right, the formal dining room opens onto a spacious family room which opens to the home’s theater.

To the left, an open plan combines the living room and spacious kitchen with a breakfast bar. On the way in, one passes the glass-fronted wine storage room and access to the various other functioning rooms.

The large open kitchen includes two islands, a breakfast bar, marble counter-tops, and Miele appliances. Perfectly equipped for serving large gatherings and designed with entertaining in mind. This ultimate entertainment compound can accommodate over one thousand of your chosen friends, while the drive and parking areas hold thirty of their cars.

The wine storage room holds Eight-hundred-and-fifty bottles of your favorite spirits! The entire estate is fully automated, of course. Every detail, including the temperature control of the wine room, adjusts with your touchscreen.

The stairs lead up to an upper floor library established in the center with the master suite on one side and the remaining bedrooms located on the other.

The very spacious master bedroom suite includes a large sitting room that opens to a deck overlooking the back. The sitting room leads to the actual bedroom which also has a sitting area within it and opens to a balcony overlooking the front.

Pocket doors open to the master bath designed for two people. Both have their separate spaces on either end, joined in the middle with the steam/rain shower.

The luxury home lays out so that all eight bedrooms have an en-suite bath, spacious closets, a balcony, and breathtaking views. This photo shows the view from the balcony of a bedroom overlooking the front lawn with large infinity edge pool and spa and the city beyond.

The home includes an attached two-car garage on the backside as well as an additional detached two-story, three-car garage with the entire 2nd floor devoted to the home’s fully equipped gym (wellness center).

The guest house completes the estate, situated higher up on the hill. The two-story contemporary structure comprises a living area, an eat-in kitchen, and two bedrooms with en-suite baths, along with courtyards, balconies, and views.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see another residence by this architect, be sure to see:

Modern LA Residence: Minimalist Interior Design

CALIFORNIA MODERN DESIGN INSPIRATION

Belzberg Architects is an architecture and interior design firm located in the City of Santa Monica, California founded by Hagy Belzberg in 1997. The firm has fostered a reputation for creating beautiful and functional architecture and interiors by exploring unconventional methodologies. Their design approach is holistic; while they nurture a collective curiosity and dissect critical issues, their solutions consider the realities of construction. This ethos has resulted in a diverse portfolio of award-winning, built work.

The firm has earned over 48 national and local design awards including over 20 from the American Institute of Architects. Other exceptional works include: Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, Conga Room at LA Live, Bar Toscana, works within the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s lobby, and many other notable projects.

Architecture: Hagy Belzberg – Belzberg Architecture

Photography by: Jim Bartsch Photography & Taiyo Watanabe

Archello

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this California Modern design and architecture.

Have a great day!

October 16, 2015
Modern LA Residence: Minimalist Interior Design

For our design inspiration today, we have a modern Los Angeles residence perched in the Hollywood Hills with sweeping canyon views and minimalist interior design. All white and bathed in natural light, the home features open spaces and floor to ceiling windows and doors that create a strong connection with the outdoors. A strip of stainless-steel wraps around the house, crowning the walls of glass that allow views into nearly every room.

What started out as a renovation, ultimately became a complete reconfiguration and expansion designed to meet the needs of a sophisticated young couple with a child and a growing art collection. Architect Hagy Belzberg, in collaboration with interior designer Ryan Jackson, created for the couple a home that elegantly mixes work with play. The minimalist interior design acts as a deferential backdrop to the life and surroundings of the home. The sublimely edited interiors provide constant visual and physical access to the outdoors.

One enters the property through a gate into the front garden. The visually impressive garden, though designed to be relatively low maintenance, provides the perfect prelude to what’s inside the house. The expertly planned lawn consists of walkways surrounded by rocks, palm trees and narrow pools of water leading up to the glass front door.

The architect added a glass two-story wing on either end of the original single-story structure. The central space now holds the home’s common living rooms. The front facade’s floor-to-ceiling windows look through to the 55-foot expanse of glass doors across the back. A wall in the front foyer, used to display the owner’s art collection, provides the only exception. This isn’t a house for everyone, but it is the perfect home for the owners who stated that they wanted to create a mini-museum. An outer wall at ground level surrounds the property, so privacy isn’t altogether abandoned.

The open kitchen, dining, and living areas seamlessly integrate on a single plane. White-and-gray terrazzo flooring and white walls with just a touch of gray added to soften the effect on the eyes, define the entire expanse. To create a brighter effect in areas, gleaming slabs of Nano glass cover the walls, which gives the clearest, clean form of white.

Jackson continued the gray tones in the contemporary furnishings, including clean-lined upholstered pieces, many of his design, and silk rugs. He incorporated wood pieces with raw edges to add a bit of warmth and texture. There are no inessential items, and the home is purposely void of interior decorating. The only thing “displayed” is the owner’s collection of modern art.

The kitchen and breakfast area include lacquered cabinetry, white Caesarstone counter-tops, and stainless designer appliances. Black oak counter stools with upholstered leather seats offer visual contrast. Note the skylight above and throughout the rooms.

Belzberg designed the house very much for indoor-outdoor living. Across the back, multi-track, bronze-framed glass doors slide away, removing any barrier between the interior spaces and the back courtyard and pool area.

In the east wing, the master bedroom looks out onto the pool area and the lush hillside, while an adjacent room size closet looks out onto the enclosed garden. The west wing holds the guest bedrooms and bathrooms to ensure privacy. The upper floor of each wing holds private workspaces. His office in one wing, and her art studio in the other, both feature floor-to-ceiling windows for unframed views of the hillside. A small home theater is the only enclosed, cocooned place in the home.

The master bedroom suite includes a sitting area and a large master bath. Jackson designed the platform bed and upholstered it with leather and waxed linen and placed a pop-up television at the end. Halila stone forms the bathroom’s interior walls, flooring, and sunken tub. A rift-cut walnut vanity provides warmth. The entire space opens to connect with the outdoors.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see another modern home by this architect, be sure to see:

California Modern Design: Sunset Strip

MINIMALIST INTERIOR DESIGN

Belzberg Architects is an architecture and interior design firm located in the City of Santa Monica, California founded by Hagy Belzberg in 1997.

Belzberg Architects has fostered a reputation for creating beautiful and functional architecture and interiors by exploring unconventional methodologies. Their design approach is holistic; while they nurture a collective curiosity and dissect critical issues, their solutions consider the realities of construction. This ethos has resulted in a diverse portfolio of award-winning, built work. The firm’s portfolio is not defined by typologies, scale, or geography, but rather they are driven by a desire to explore the design potential of a given project. Their clients include large institutions, commercial businesses, consortia, and private individuals, and the diversity of their collaborators continues to grow.

Studio Jackson Inc, a Los Angeles based full-service interior design consultancy provides their client’s design related services from concepting their custom designed project to placing the perfect accent piece. Studio Jackson is led by principal designer Ryan Gordon Jackson, who brings to his projects a passion for the designed environment.

Architect: Hagy Belzberg – Belzberg Architecture

Interior Design: Ryan Gordan Jackson – Studio Jackson

photography: Taiyo Watanabe

Luxe Interiors

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed this LA home and its minimalist interior design.

Have a great day!

October 5, 2015
Modern Deco Interior Design: Chicago

Our design inspiration today comes from a chic city apartment located within Chicago’s prestigious historic landmark Palmolive building. Inspired by the building’s Art Deco design, Kadlec Architecture + Design completed the interiors with a sophisticated Modern Deco style. This highly customized 4,000 square-foot, two-bedroom residence serves as a pied-a-terre for the owners. The polished bespoke interiors include soaring twelve-foot ceilings and stunning panoramic views of Lake Michigan.

The owners, a couple with a primary home in the suburbs, were initially looking for a convenient rental apartment in the city. They got word that one of Chicago’s most esteemed landmarks, the Palmolive Building, was being converted into residences, and their plans became a lot more ambitious. The renovation was just starting on the architectural gem and the spaces were still raw. The couple recognized the perfect opportunity to custom create what they wanted in the most ideal of locations.

Completed in 1929 to house the Colgate-Palmolive Company, the 37-story structure is world-renowned for its dynamic stepped design. The building lists among the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the world. Its location along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile establishes it at the heart of the city’s greatest residential, entertainment, and business district. Today it reigns as one of the city’s most exclusive luxury residential addresses.

Though not a penthouse, the apartment sits high enough to clear the neighboring buildings and provides a spectacular view over everything. The couple desired a customized space completely different from the other units and called on Steve Kadlec and his firm to handle the interior architecture and décor.

MODERN DECO DESIGN INSPIRATION

Guided by the building’s design and the couple’s desire to keep the space open, Kadlec created a Modern Deco interior style. The architect-designed an updated French 1920s style and a floor plan arranged with rooms en suite. Each room opens onto the other in a constant progression eliminating hallways. Pairs of custom eleven-foot high, bronze and glass, French doors connect the formal rooms. The perfectly aligned passages create a long, light-filled vista of enfiladed rooms through the apartment.

The sleek Walnut burl paneled foyer opens to the living room where the formal procession begins. The high ceilings and smooth, flush-mounted walnut wall panels direct the eye to the gorgeous lake views. The windows could not alter for obvious reasons. The designer placed silver-leafed eglomise mirror panels above them to create faux transoms. This design trick gives the illusion that the windows continue up to accentuate the verticality of the rooms. A Chai Ming Studios sofa covered in Cowtan & Tout silk velvet pairs with a coffee table from Dessin Fournir. The couple worked with an art consultant to choose smart contemporary works to highlight the rooms. The horse is by Deborah Butterfield.

Slender rift white oak flooring, much more narrow than the building’s standard 2.5 inches, covers the floors. Bespoke designed furniture with profiles that echo the period, but edited to their contemporary essence complete the rooms. In the dining room, a cabinet for tableware along one wall features wood-framed doors encasing creamy quilted leather panels. Such luxury design details continue throughout to conceal functional items and utilize available space. Matching Paris chandeliers from Holly Hunt suspend above an RB Gorman quarter-sawn ebony wood table, surrounded by Christian Liaigre Barbuda chairs. The painting is by Bob Nugent.

The contemporary kitchen features white oak cabinetry from Poliform, with stainless-steel counters and back-splashes, along with commercial-grade appliances. Calacatta gold marble forms the center island which took two years to find. The couple was tenacious in their pursuit of quality. Promemoria’s Caffe stools provide seating for the bar. Custom shades accentuate the window height in this room. Lacquer cabinets along the outer walls provide extra storage. A Christian Liaigre table with Promemoria’s Caffe chairs gathers in front of the window for taking in the view with breakfast.

Rich, dark wall-covering from Knoll Textiles covers the walls here in the handsome media/family room. A plush linen rug from Bartholomeus covers the floor. Rift oak pocket doors conceal the television and audiovisual equipment. Dark shades on the windows lower as needed. A custom sofa from Estudio Furnishings upholstered in Holly Hunt suede gathers with a lounge chair and black sculptural tables by Christian Liaigre.

For the master bedroom, Kadlec bespoke designed a wood-and-bronze-mesh screen which you see placed behind the Anees bed upholstered in J. Robert Scott suede leather. A Promemoria bench stands at the end. The art above the bed is by Janis Pozzi-Johnson.

The sitting area includes a Christian Liaigre Opium daybed, and a pair of Snooze chairs from Ochre gathered around the Xilos Simplice coffee table from Maxalto. The rug is from Fort Street Studio. The master bedroom and guest bedroom are positioned on opposite ends of the apartment for optimal privacy.

Even the master bedroom closet has a fabulous view. The private quarters edit the design creating a crisp, contemporary mood for modern living. The master bathroom features a clean and simple, minimalist design with loads of natural light.

The guest bathroom has the same no-nonsense minimalist design with clean contemporary shapes and sleek designer fixtures. Gotta love that soaking tub! The building includes a state-of-the-art fitness room, spa, sauna, and steam room.

The spacious guest bedroom is a dream with warm colors and soft fabrics, including imported designer linens on the bed. The copper silk draperies draw closed when desired.

A wall of bespoke walnut cabinetry created on one wall of the guest bedroom allows it to double as a study. This last detail completes the apartment giving it everything the couple wants for their pied-a-terre. In addition to the beautiful, sophisticated interiors, the couple enjoys all the gracious conveniences and amenities provided by the building. Kadlec Architecture + Design completed this Modern Deco-inspired residence with signature elegant simplicity.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

“We believe design should elevate everyday life and be grounded firmly in place. It should speak softly and resonate deeply.”

For more residences with Deco-inspired contemporary interiors be sure to see:

Art Deco on Park Avenue: Penny Drue Baird

Beverly Hills Deco Villa: Joan Behnke

MODERN DECO DESIGN

The collaborative studio of Kadlec Architecture + Design brings together inspiring interior design and management skills with over 25 years of experience in the practice of residential architecture and design, as well as corporate and retail design. Their simple, classic, and sophisticated work focuses on usable and functional spaces. The Studio is disciplined in pursuit of the personal. Their design philosophy is reflected in who they are. Quietly confident, enduringly accessible, casual, yet thoughtfully considered.

Interior Architecture and design: Steve Kadlec, Kadlec Architecture + Design

Photography: Tony Soluri

Luxe Magazine

Thanks so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed these Modern Deco-inspired contemporary interiors within the historic Palmolive building. What do you think of this Chicago residence? Let me hear from you in the comments!

Have a wonderful day!

August 19, 2015
French Chateau in Texas: Kara Childress

Our interior design inspiration for today comes from a beautifully restored and modernized 1930’s Louis XV-style, French chateau located in Houston’s exclusive River Oaks neighborhood. This grand 30,000 square foot limestone mansion once again shines in all its original glory and more. The elegant interiors are the work of interior designer Kara Childress whose timeless style marries old-world European with modern conveniences for a contemporary luxury lifestyle.

The French Chateau was originally designed by noted architect John F. Staub for J. Robert Neal of the Maxwell House Coffee fortune, a serious Francophile. The mansion later served as home to Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and his wife, Tammy Jo Dewhurst. By the time the new owners obtained the property, it had been long vacant and fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair. The residence was relatively unaltered by the previous owners and therefore was now in need of everything. The home was a product of its time and not quite in line with the needs for contemporary luxury living.

The new owners would eventually decide they wanted a full restoration, with some carefully considered adjustments and enhancements. To get things started, they enlisted local interior designer Kara Childress to oversee the home’s interiors. Childress recommended bringing in local architecture firm Newberry Campa Architects, who joined the project mid-renovation. The necessary updates ultimately led to the grander vision that continued to unfold over the next decade. Staying true to the spirit of Staub’s initial design was a top priority for this restoration.

FRENCH CHATEAU DESIGN INSPIRATION

The owner’s commitment to authenticity was passionate, with the results being breathtaking. So much so, the restored luxury home has been featured on the cover of Architectural Digest. Childress shopped for furnishings with the couple in New York, Los Angeles, and Paris. The feeling created within the rooms is elegant and opulent, yet they remain comfortably livable and very contemporary in their functioning, which is a trademark of the designer.

The former ballroom now serves as the family’s double-volume formal living room. Kara preserved the room’s original Louis XV-style boiserie and the grand chandeliers. She embraced the traditional design, mixing both period antiques and contemporary pieces seamlessly. The large carpet is an antique Aubusson which was the perfect find for this room. Clarence House velvet covers the bespoke designed club chairs which group with a mirrored cocktail table by Elloise Abbott. A fun leopard print covers a pair of Louis XVI chairs in the second grouping to keep things from getting too serious. The glamorous formal living room also includes a pair of Empire fauteuils, a 19th-century writing desk, and a pair of 19th-century giltwood candelabra along with many other antique treasures!

The traditional styling continues here in the music room with soft, delicate colors. Fortuny pillows accent a pair of sofas upholstered in a cotton-silk from Lee Jofa with ornate braid trim which group together with four French shield back chairs before the fireplace. The decorative details featured throughout provide a visual feast, along with loads of design inspiration. Note the silk draperies with the double-layered tassel fringe trim framing the French doors beyond the piano leading out to the terrace. The crystal-dripping chandeliers and the glorious antique mirrors used in this room and through the entire French Chateau are breathtaking. Kara Childress has the best sources for exceptional French antiques.

I love this formal dining room! The chandelier is original to the house. The room is very European without being at all stiff. Look at the marble floors and detailing on the walls, and the gorgeous draperies with trimmings and tiebacks. Nancy Corzine velvet covers the Georgian chairs surrounding the table. The gilded mirror over the marble-topped buffet is everything. The home allows for entertaining with grand style while remaining completely comfortable and warm. Note in every room simple elements combine with the excellent pieces to balance the grandeur.

The comfortable family room and a magnificent conservatory were added with such care and sensitivity that Staub himself certainly applauded. Also added were all of the modern amenities necessary for a contemporary French Chateau with luxurious interiors. The newly added family room maintains the home’s refined charm yet with a much more relaxed mood for informal family gatherings. It’s a generous and multi-purpose space that is very comfortable and inviting.

The newly added conservatory features an Italian Empire-style chandelier and a 19th-century Italian marble pedestal table. Every room in the French chateau correctly observes scale and proportion, and this one is no exception. The interior design is quiet to give the view over to the outdoors.

In the Library, 16th century Italian painted canvas panels cover the ceilings from which a bronze-and-tole chandelier once owned by Napoleon III suspends. Rubelli velvet covers the sofa. The draperies framing the French doors are in Fortuny cotton with custom tassel fringe trim. An 18th-century Italian mirror centers the space behind the sofa, while a pair of French Bergeres dating from around 1780 flank it on either side.

In the Master bedroom, the bespoke designed headboard incorporates a fragment of a 19th-century Venetian boiserie. Old World Weavers velvet from Stark covers the antique giltwood settee cushion. The painting above the bed is a 19th-century French painting of Putti.

In the Master Bedroom sitting area, the draperies are silk while an embroidered fabric covers the ottoman. The antiqued finish on the paneled walls is just perfection.

An antique stone chapel imported from France by Chateau Domingue adds a special finishing touch.

The music room terrace looks out across a narrow lawn to an 18th-century French stone fountain by Chateau Domingue. The grounds and gardens of the French chateau are expertly designed and maintained.

With this project, as with all her projects, Kara worked closely with all the new architects, builders, and vendors involved for perfect harmony. This ability to collaborate and coordinate well is one of the many reasons that Kara Childress, Inc. is a master in high-end residential interior design. Once a homeowner works with Kara, they continue with Kara for all future projects. Her expertise and professionalism are as well-known as her superior taste.

The grounds once again shine in their former glory and more. Never realized elements from the original plans now are. These include a motor court with cobblestones imported from France, along with multiple other enhancements.

That concludes our design inspiration for today.

To see another Grand French-inspired estate, be sure to see my post:

18th-Century French Design: Atlanta

Beverly Park Chateau

KARA CHILDRESS REDESIGNS A FRENCH CHATEAU

Kara Childress, Inc., established in 1984 and led by Principal Designer Kara Childress, is an internationally recognized, Houston-based interior design firm. Kara and her team exude ardent and timeless style, marrying Old World European with fresh compositions of modern and livable design for her clients across the high-end residential and commercial/hospitality spectrum. Kara and her team work closely with top architects, builders, and vendors across the country in all aspects and phases of her design creations.

Interior design by Kara Childress, Inc.

Architecture by Newberry Campa Architects

Landscape design by Susan Turner Associates

Photography by Terry Vine Photography

This home was also featured in Architectural Digest!

I look forward to reading all of your thoughts in the comments!!

Have a great day, my friend!

July 20, 2015