Category: Featured

Contemporary Classic Fusion: Louise Bradley

Louise Bradley is a London-based interior designer, internationally known for her elegant Contemporary Classic Fusion. Her distinctive style of combining classic influences with a contemporary edge has secured her position as one of the UK’s leading interior designers. Louise’s name is synonymous with bespoke luxury interior design worldwide, for she has designed significant homes across the globe. For more than twenty-five years now, Louise has been creating luxurious residences for an international clientele. Her design work reflects a broad appreciation for different styles and cultures.

For our design inspiration today, we are looking at a stunning Swiss Chalet completed in the picturesque mountains of Switzerland. Louise Bradley and her design studio provided a total refurbishment of the property along with full turn-key design services. The team was responsible for the full interior architecture, bespoke joinery, and soft furnishings created throughout the residence. The chalet transitioned perfectly from traditional to contemporary, providing a home that perfectly fit the client’s lifestyle and exceeded all expectations.

Swiss Chalet: Contemporary Classic Fusion

The six-bedroom chalet spreads over five floors with scenic mountain views. The designer’s Contemporary Classic fusion balances her signature clean lines, muted color palette and rich fabrics with spontaneous, organic shapes and luxurious bespoke detailing. The tranquil, supremely comfortable, and harmonious interiors effortlessly combine custom-made furniture and accessories, unique finishes, and state-of-the-art technology.

“Ultimately it is all in the detail. I am a self-confessed perfectionist, although, I do think it is this attention to detail that makes any interior stand out.” Louise Bradley

This Swiss chalet features fully bespoke designed furniture, soft furnishings, and accessories from The Louise Bradley furniture collection exemplifying her Contemporary Classic Fusion.

Louise Bradley’s love of design led her to start her business in 1991 with a small retail showroom. The company grew through the years to include the design studio and multiple showrooms. In the beginning, the designer bought items for the projects she worked on. Over time, she began designing bespoke furniture for each project. The demand for the custom furniture and accessories inspired her to develop her own line.

The designer’s passion for design is evident in the way she manages each project. She has the utmost respect for form and function and injects an infectious enthusiasm combined with an efficient, detail-led approach. Her attention to detail means she will never compromise on quality, always aiming to surpass expectations.

“I have a passion for accessorizing, adding beautiful objects as the finishing touch to any room. This extra layer of detail transforms a space and adds personality, interest, and warmth.” Louise Bradley

“I am always inspired to create beautiful, yet functional spaces that embrace all the desires you dream of.” … “A space must be beautiful yet answer the specific needs of each client.” Louise Bradley

That concludes our design inspiration for today my friend.

For more fabulous London projects like this one, be sure to see:

Tailored Interiors: Katharine Pooley

Knightsbridge Contemporary Penthouse: Staffan Tollgard

CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC FUSION CONCLUSION

The Louise Bradley Interior Design & Interior Architecture Studio is comprised of an impressive Design Studio and flagship Showroom in Knightsbridge. The Design Studio offers an exclusive, yet very personal service to all clients offering a seamless design journey. The practice combines exacting standards with warmth and informality that makes the entire process enjoyable and rewarding. The flagship showroom displays an extensive collection of Louise Bradley furniture, accessories, and fabrics. Offering bespoke and luxury design, the Collection is designed with Louise’s signature style combining classic influences with a contemporary edge.

Also be sure to check out the designers book Interior: Louise Bradley. This beautiful new book celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Louise Bradley Design Studio and Showroom. It provides a fascinating insight into the creative thinking and design processes behind some of the spectacular projects that have won the studio international recognition.

Interior Design: Louise Bradley

Photography: Ray Main

Interior Design Yearbook

Thank you so much for reading along with me, my friend. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments. Let me know what you think of Louise Bradley’s Contemporary Classic Fusion in this Swiss chalet.

Have a great day!

July 16, 2018
Contemporary Traditional Design: Southern Mansion

For our design inspiration today, we have an extraordinary, Federal-style mansion newly built in Houston’s exclusive River Oaks neighborhood. The design of the home reflects the city’s historical heritage as well as its location in the South. The residence, with its American classical architecture, appears as though it has always been there. The home’s contemporary Traditional interiors, created by Elissa Cullman of Cullman & Kravis, set the standard for Traditional Design created for contemporary life.

It is a very grand and proper house with airy, light, and cheerful interiors created with soft colors and materials that respond well to heat and sunshine. The owners wanted to walk in and feel cool relief from the Houston climate. This was accomplished by keeping the color palette in shades of white, off-white, and refreshing sherbet tones. The minimal palette also helps maintain a good balance between the formal classical architecture, gardens, traditional furniture and modern art.

The home includes quiet areas for the family with plenty of rooms for guests. A succession of formal spaces on the main floor with multiple French doors opening to gardens and terraces provide for entertaining both inside and out. Custom-made furnishings combine with a range of nineteenth and early twentieth-century English, Continental, and American furniture and objects. Straight-lined pieces with a strong silhouette, imposing in their size and scale, have a linear quality that keeps the interiors fresh.

CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL DESIGN INSPIRATION

The living room organizes into three seating areas. In the opening photo, traditional furnishings gather on an antique pale blue, chocolate brown and beige Tabriz rug before one of two custom marble fireplace mantles. A pair of gilded Empire chandeliers illuminates the spaces along with a set of four twentieth-century bronze sconces.

A Hans Hoffman hangs over each of the custom mantles designed by Jamb in London with inlaid Emperador stone. Two Anthony Lawrence-Belfair sofas upholstered in Pollack silk gather with circa-1780 French fauteuils.

The owners burgeoning collection of Abstract Expressionist and contemporary paintings, collages and drawings provide bursts of color throughout the residence.

An octagonal apse at the garden end of the living room serves as a perfect place for afternoon tea. An unusual set of Biedermeier chairs surround a table with a strongly patterned specimen marble top. A Gerhard Richter work displays on the wall. Appliqued and embroidered curtains frame the windows.

In the entry, Picasso ceramics display on a Regency center table arranged with Biedermeier chairs beneath an Empire chandelier. A Richard Serra drawing hangs above a William IV cabinet.

The reception hall left of the entry provides an additional path of circulation. A nineteenth-century Italian painted-and-gilded table stands in the center. A 1970s abstract painting by the French artist Simon Hantai hangs on the wall.

Rose-gold glazed walls shimmer in the formal dining room. The Regency mahogany table and circa-1880 Chippendale-style chairs stand beneath a nineteenth-century empire ormolu and cut-glass chandelier. A large work by Lee Krasner hangs over the fireplace. A painting by Richard Pousette-Dart hangs over the sideboard.

In the Oak paneled library, the cabinet beneath the Hans Hoffman holds the concealed television. The painting carefully slides down, and the television pops up.

Holophane pendant lights suspend from the elaborate honeycomb patterned ceiling moldings in the kitchen. At the far end, an octagonal apse holds the breakfast room beneath a three-tiered chandelier.

Gracie chinoiserie wall-covering in cool silver and warm beige lines the powder room walls. A retrofitted Directoire commode with onyx top serves as the vanity.

The architect punctuated the bedroom hall with a circular space defined by an overhead cupola, and an inlaid compass rose on the floor. Chris Ofili collages display on the far wall of the upper hall with Paul Ferrante lanterns.

For the master bedroom, the designer custom created a mahogany framed, Kravet upholstered bed and bench in an antique style with gilded accents. A Joan Mitchell painting hangs above the bed with a rug by Beauvais Carpets beneath. Lee Jofa silk forms the curtains, with bed linens by Matouk.

A white stone grid floor design unites the his-and-her bathrooms. The accent stone changes from blue celeste in hers to green onyx in his.

That concludes our American contemporary Traditional design inspiration, my friend. Architect Allan Greenberg and the Cullman & Kravis design team spent over three years designing and building this Southern mansion.

For more elegant residences completed by Cullman & Kravis be sure to see:

Fifth Avenue Classical Design

Georgian Modern Traditional Elegance

Venetian Waterfront Residence: Cullman & Kravis

Transitional Design Update: Park Avenue

HOUSTON CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL DESIGN

This home is featured on the cover of Elissa Cullman and senior designer Tracey Pruzan’s latest book From Classic to Contemporary – Decorating with Cullman & Kravis. The book presents fabulous interiors by Cullman & Kravis that convey their new take on design. The book shows how the firm embraces modernism to add a new and welcome tension to their classic work while showing how the classic principles of design guide their modern work. Beautiful photography and engaging text make it a MUST READ! Be sure to check out the other lavish books by this renowned Interior Design firm as well.

Architecture: Allan Greenberg

Interior Design: Cullman & Kravis

Photography: Bjorn Wallander

Thank you so much for reading along with me today! I look forward to hearing from you in the comments. Let me know what you think.

Have a great day!

March 14, 2018
Eclectic Luxury Design: Lori Morris
Interior designer Lori Morris is the Canadian-based reigning queen of glamorous and eclectic luxury design. Her creative work is a masterful balance of elegance and opulence. The designer doesn’t believe in rules and never limits herself to using traditional colors, textures, or any one style. To see her designs is a pure sensory delight. It’s not that she completely abandons traditional ideas. For this visionary designer, “traditional” is without boundaries, and beauty and luxury go hand in hand.

Backed by her “House of LMD” team of more than thirty creatives, Morris cleverly merges periods and effortlessly mixes styles in a way that has become a signature. She forms sophisticated layers, creating multifaceted expressions with an avant-garde edge that combines different surfaces, shades, and attitudes. With nearly thirty years of experience in the industry, the designer knows how to transform her clients’ lifestyle dreams into reality. Her primary objective is to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind, bespoke environments that reflect the client’s ideas.

The House of LMD strives to deliver a luxury experience with an emphasis on every detail. Morris identifies as a creative artist who uses furnishings and architecture to communicate a story, to reflect a vision, and to interpret feelings. Right in the beginning, the designer meets with her clients to establish the feel they want for their lifestyle. She asks what feeling they want to achieve when the house is done. From there she provides inspiration and focus. The style that results is inspired by what the client wants and will enjoy. Whether it is contemporary or classical, her approach to any design project is the same “do it in detail.”

Russell Hill Eclectic Luxury Design

Realizing the client’s vision, Morris delivers original designs that interpret and express that vision. It is never about color or a set style; it’s about creating a feeling and managing what you experience in each space. She very carefully selects your finishes, colors, furniture, fabrics, and design details. House of LMB custom designs everything: furniture, mill-work, and draperies. Her approach is to choose everything for you so that it perfectly reflects you and your interests. She approaches a home like an artist approaches a painting. She balances the proportions and infuses key details, and ultimately the space comes together like magic.

The two photos above demonstrate the designer’s eclectic luxury design. Morris layered Deco, Modern, and Traditional French elements in this Toronto apartment, balancing the black-and-white palette with unexpected touches for added interest. A black marble fireplace surround contrasts with the white wall. On either side of the fireplace, she created recessed seating with antique black mirroring, suede upholstered cushions, and vintage lighting. Brass accents tone down the sharp contrast.

In the kitchen, ornate French-inspired white armoires flank the sleek black cabinetry. At the breakfast bar, the stools, with brass frames and whimsical butterfly-designed backs tone down the seriousness of the design.

Castle For One

Next, we have a custom residence created for a client who wanted a home that inspired and empowered her, leading to the idea of a castle. Here in this view of the foyer, we see the reclaimed entrance doors sourced from a centuries-old chateau in France. The grand scale and aged, intricate detail create a feeling of significance and nobility the moment you enter. Stepping into a Lori Morris masterpiece can instantly transport you to another world of your choosing.
- Soaring double-height ceilings
- Carved and embellished archways
- Highlighted rich wood grain floors
- Massive floor to ceiling fireplace
- Seating niches backed with high arching mirrors
- Massive old-world-style chandelier
- Warm glow of golds
Every bespoke designed detail fulfills the home owner’s desire for a home that inspires and empowers her. It’s a majestic rendering of Baroque style for modern-day luxury living.

In the kitchen and dining areas, the designer used black with gold detailing to create intrigue. Michelangelo marble on the island and smooth white marble beyond create a powerful contrast that makes the vibrant red stove an even louder statement piece. As an artist, Morris sees her clients as her muses, and through her artistry, their vision comes to life. She helps them see what can be when they open themselves up to the possibility. They trust her to evoke the emotion they seek to achieve in their home.

The master bedroom is pure storybook romance. The designer used layers of material and texture to create a highly sensual experience. The domed ceiling, which crowns the room with dignity, and the grand bespoke headboard all elevate the inhabitant to a place of exalted splendor. The pale blue palette and the feather dome light provide a soft balance to temper the design. The House of LMD makes dreams come true.

English Manor

These final photos come from an English-manor-style house in Toronto. This home is a fusion of classical architecture with Morris’ modern edge resulting in a detail-rich eclectic luxury design. The above photo shows the entry hall. Marble and black onyx make up the art deco-inspired floor design. A pair of 1940s Murano-glass sconces hang over a pair of 1950s black lacquer consoles. Brass fretwork frames the doors and doorways throughout.

I’m just focusing on the details now. Here we have the family room’s double-height walnut fireplace with gilded decorative panels. A pair of seating niches with built-in shelves flank the fireplace with gilded trim and decorative ovals above them. The room indulges in richly executed bespoke designed details.

The dining room features layers of traditional design elements tailored in a finely tuned sophisticated contemporary tone. The French-style paneled walls include inset Christian Lacroix wall-covering. Ornate plaster-work decorates the ceilings from which a circa-1900 Louis XVI-style gilt bronze chandelier suspends. A contemporary cut-pile carpet covers the floor. Embroidered Damask upholstery and cream lacquer cover the dining chairs. Morris designed this room for entertaining a crowd comfortably. Custom seating arranges before the large windows framed in oversized Greek key. Dramatic details continually unveil themselves as every look reveals something new and imaginative.

This final room is awe-inspiring. Black suede with chocolate brown suede strap detailing cover the walls of the library/lounge. Michelangelo marble pairs with white marble to form the double-sided fireplace. A group of four armless chairs upholstered in striped velvet gathers around a gold-leafed organic cocktail table on one side. Mid-20th-century Italian lighting pendants hang from the fretwork-designed ceilings above. A large desk and velvet upholstered sofa occupy the opposite side.

Four Seasons Residences

I would feel like I was only showing a particular side of the designer’s eclectic luxury design work if I stopped here. So, I include a few more pics from her Four Seasons Residences project that show a little more of her huge style vocabulary though without going into detail which maybe we can do in another post.

What sets LMD’s eclectic luxury design apart is its distinctiveness. The designer goes beyond expectations and creates entire custom spaces for her clients. There are no rules, only imagination. Her style always delivers unique and luxurious spaces. She doesn’t follow trends. Her designs are based on the personality of the homeowner, so they are sure to stand the test of time.

Lori Morris’ Eclectic Luxury Design Conclusion

Luxury is different for everyone. To Lori Morris, it’s about being surrounded by beautiful things. It’s in a place that is extravagant and extremely comfortable, as well as sophisticated and sexy. I must say that this certainly makes my list too!

To see another fabulous post on a beautiful Canadian residence, check out:

Modern Classic Design: Golden Mile by Britto Charette.

Contemporary Penthouse Design: Studio Munge

Iconic Luxury Design: Ferris Rafauli

That concludes our design inspiration, my friend. Thank you so much for reading along with me today.

Interior Design: Lori Morris

Photography: Brandon Barre

One of the homes featured today, the English manor-style house, was honored by being named Robb Reports 2016 Ultimate Home. Congrats!!

What did you think of Eclectic Luxury Design: Lori Morris? I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a great day!
June 20, 2017
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
Contemporary Lakeside Villa: Eric Kuster

This sophisticated contemporary lakeside villa is located within Domaine du Lac, on the banks of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The high-style villa serves as a family residence created with sleek and comforting interiors by the Netherlands-based, international interior designer and luxury lifestyle purveyor Eric Kuster. The home is custom finished to the highest of standards, with over 10,000 square feet spread over three levels.

The owners of this villa are repeat clients of Eric Kuster, who designed another home for them nearby. The luxury lifestyle provided by the villa, with its five bedrooms, generous entertaining space, extensive leisure facilities and additional space for domestic help is superior even to a five-star hotel.

CONTEMPORARY LAKESIDE VILLA DESIGN

Large floor-to-ceiling windows and high ceilings merge the indoors with the outdoors, bathing the interiors with natural sunlight and providing unending views of the lake. The emphasis in the design of this contemporary lakeside villa was comfort combined with high energy. Every element considers the preferences of the owner with the finest details personalized to create an exact fit for the family. Kuster consistently exceeds the expectations of his clients. He succeeds by ensuring that individual elements are as impeccable as the whole. From every textile to each piece of furniture, and each artwork to every color combination, absolutely nothing is left to chance.

The designer’s signature laid-back luxurious design elements soften the architecture’s straight lines and acute angles.

“The best design is both serene and stimulating.” EK

To emphasize the villa’s beautiful location right on the waterfront, Eric Kuster used a lot of natural materials and a neutral palette throughout to help bring the outdoors in. The designer seamlessly combines and contrasts the earthy and glossy, raw, and refined, sober and sexy.

“Practical spaces can function effectively and look sensational- its not about style over substance, but style with substance.” EK

The lakeside villa features only the most elegant and sophisticated materials, highest quality fixtures and fittings, superior electronics, and intelligent technology. The ability to always find the perfect balance between classic and modern is a design cornerstone for Eric Kuster.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW WILL ALWAYS CALM THE SOUL

A palette of metallic grays and golds bring the luster of the lake indoors through the full height, slide away wall of windows.

Soft, luxurious textures applied to the walls, floors, and furniture enhance the comfort throughout the contemporary lakeside villa. Eric Kuster understands the importance of fabrics and materials. He layers various textiles that demand to be touched. Naturally, all are from his Metropolitan Luxury Collection which captures a contemporary style that expresses itself in glamor, luxury, and sensuality.

REFINED OPULENCE WHISPERS AND NEVER SHOUTS

The basement level holds the home’s entire leisure area. The spa, fitness center, pool, private cinema, and temperature controlled wine storage all share the space down here. Also, some of the biggest design statements are down on this level.

In the hammam, an onyx wall combines with rich gold and bronze mosaic tiles to create an exotic feel. The sauna combines an onyx wall with a mix of woods to create the sense of a Swiss mountain retreat.

Kuster’s guiding principles, as his work testifies, mean that he only works on that which he feels passionate.

“In the end, it’s all about quality and detail – and for my clients and me, only the superlative is acceptable.”

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see more fabulous homes completed by Eric Kuster, be sure to see my post:

Sexy Bachelor Pad Luxury Design

Contemporary Design: Eric Kuster

Eric Kuster Contemporary Lakeside Villa

For over a decade, Eric Kuster Interior Design Studio has proven to be highly successful. Eric Kuster develops and delivers luxurious turnkey interior design projects worldwide for high-profile clients. The studio has the skills, suppliers, and connections to execute these projects with speed and precision.

The designer’s extensive travels around the world inspire the Eric Kuster Metropolitan Luxury Collections. His craftsmanship, eye for beauty and creative vision combine to create dynamic pieces of furniture, luxury home accessories, and beautiful textiles. Each Metropolitan Luxury interior design collection conjures up the warm embrace of a high-end hotel room. They invite everyone who experiences them to indulge in the most pleasurable aspects of life.

Today’s Contemporary Lakeside Villa is featured in the designer’s book Eric Kuster Interior Design. In addition to exclusive residences from Curacao to London, his projects also include yachts and hotels, as well as commercial projects, ranging from legendary Amsterdam club Jimmy Woo to Barcelona’s Camp Nou Stadium. Indulge in this beautiful book to experience Kuster’s sumptuous environments for yourself and discover unique interior design inspiration.

Interior design: Eric Kuster

Photography: Paul Barbera

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments. I hope enjoyed this inspiring Contemporary lakeside villa and its fabulous interiors.

Have a great day!

November 4, 2016
Glamorous Luxury Design: Elicyon

This spectacular residence, a five-bedroom apartment located within the prestigious One Hyde Park building, situated in the heart of cosmopolitan Knightsbridge, has been completed by the luxury interior design studio Elicyon. The flawless contemporary luxury design has been executed with opulent materials and exquisite bespoke craftsmanship to create a remarkable city residence.

The homeowners, an international family, use the apartment for special occasions when they are in the city and want it to be a grand showstopper when they entertain. This unique property is an example of the ultimate in glamorous luxury design, and that is what makes it our design inspiration for today. Take a look!

LONDON LUXURY DESIGN

The homeowners are Baccarat crystal enthusiasts with quite an extensive collection of vases and lighting which Elicyon incorporated into the home’s interior design. Marble, mirrors, fine crystal, and exquisite finishes abound. It’s pure glamorous luxury design! Contemporary lines and symmetry define the home’s lavish interiors and the specialty pieces created to complete them. Every angle and detail are carefully considered and executed.

“We create tailored environments crafted with precision and care, that capture the vision of our clients.” Charu Gandhi/Elicyon

The double-volume formal living room holds two seating areas, each crowned with a grandly scaled glamorous Baccarat chandelier, created to mirror each other. Silver leaf finished ceilings softly scatter the light above, while high-contrast Italian marble floors reflect the room from below. Sculpted Lalique crystal tiles, inlaid and under-lit, further enhance the beauty of the floors. Custom furnishings of bespoke design complement the owners existing pieces to perfect the space they occupy. Every detail displays exquisite luxury design. Elicyon knows this is a must when creating homes for some of the world’s most discerning clients.

Elicyon brought in the specialty firm Interior ID, to create the joinery throughout the entire property to the highest specifications using incredible materials and featuring beautiful details. Interior ID, from its Notting Hill studio, controls each project from the first commission stages, through the creative design process and project management to delivery and installation. The firm has its workshop in Austria. With its extensive in-house facilities, they bring together traditional craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology to create unrivaled bespoke cabinetry and fitted interiors. Renowned for their excellence, the company produces complex projects in many exceptional materials and finishes; wood, glass, metal, stone, leather, and textiles. Interior ID actively collaborates with many of the top names involved in the creation of luxury properties.

For the highly-specialized upholstery work, Elicyon brought in Aiveen Daly. Note the fabulous work done on the backs of the dining chairs, along with all the detail displayed throughout the home. Elicyon also included the beautiful couture artistry of Beaumont and Fletcher. I cannot begin to say enough about the extraordinary level of refined beauty this company creates.

Aiveen Daly’s couture-inspired work with furnishings and accessories feature in high-end interiors all around the world. Her studio uses luxurious embellishment and artful fabric manipulation techniques to adorn furniture and surfaces. Her work includes exquisite detailing such as delicate beading, pleating, and stitching executed on fine fabrics and supple leathers. Daly is one of London’s top go-to insiders for the most beautiful bespoke luxury design with home upholstery. She regularly collaborates with top interior designers, design studios, architects and other purveyors of luxury goods around the globe.

Beaumont and Fletcher provides the design industry with rare and beautifully designed textiles of unequaled quality. Their couture collection of extraordinarily luxurious fabrics feature flawlessly executed hand-embroidery on fine silks and velvet, with gold and silver threads. Some embellished with pearls and crystals, others inlaid with semi-precious stones, but each a true work of art. They also create fine furniture and accessories with meticulous attention to detail rendered with traditional craftsmanship in uncompromising quality. You really should take a moment and look at their website if you love exquisite beauty.

The beautifully created master bedroom displays intelligent design and bespoke detailing. Quilted satin covers the mirror framed, upholstered headboard. The custom bed coverings feature exquisite specialty detailing; intricate raised embroidery, hand beading, and tassels. It is so rare to find this level of couture finishing on home goods. The bedside tables have mirrored fronts, polished Port Laurent marble tops, patinated brass trim and shimmering gloss finish. Across from the bed, a floating marble vanity anchors the mirrored wall. The Baccarat chandelier and lamps complete the room with a jewel box perfection.

Above and in the photos below, we see two of the guest bedrooms. Both include a pair of twin beds united beneath a framed headboard in a specialist resin finish. Mirrors span the walls to the side to encompass the width of the bedside tables. The ceiling above stops just before meeting the wall to allow for soft lighting to glow from within. The bedside tables and other pieces about the rooms shine in polished high gloss lacquer. Some pieces have marble tops, with either patinated brass or polished nickel trim and handles. Each of the fully upholstered beds has integrated storage beneath them. Both rooms, as well as the other bedrooms, have their bespoke detailing for a luxury design.

That concludes our very glamorous luxury design inspiration for today, my friend. I hope you enjoyed the fine contemporary design of this home located within one of London’s most exclusive addresses. This residence was shortlisted for The Design Society’s International Interior Design & Architecture Awards 2016.

To see another fabulous residence completed by Elicyon, be sure to see:

Contemporary Luxury Design: Hyde Park

To see more glamorous interior design, you must check out:

Eclectic Luxury Design: Lori Morris

Iconic Luxury Design: Ferris Rafauli

ELICYON’S LUXURY DESIGN CONCLUSION

Elicyon is a Chelsea, London based luxury design studio. The award-winning firm creates tailored environments, crafted with precision, care and meticulous attention to detail in some of the most desirable, prominent locations in the UK and internationally. As a multidisciplinary studio, featuring highly professional Designers, Architects, and Project Managers, they provide a comprehensive, diverse, and extensive service that allows them to fulfill their client’s dreams and expectations.

Interior Design: Elicyon

Photography: Elicyon

Thanks so much for reading along with me today. What do you all think of Glamorous Luxury Design: Elicyon? I look forward to hearing from you in the comments!

Have a great day!

September 6, 2016
Luxury Interior Design: Mayfair

This elegant residence, finished in marble and gold leaf, set a new standard for luxury interior design in London’s Mayfair district. The exceptionally refurbished apartment is located on the city’s largest and oldest garden Square, Grosvenor Square.

Grosvenor Square is the centerpiece of the Mayfair property developed by the Duke of Westminster in the 1700’s. The area was designed to serve as residences for the fashionable elite of its time. Today, with three centuries of distinguished aristocratic history behind it, Grosvenor Square remains synonymous with style and luxury design.

This apartment is the creation of super-prime developer AION who brought in luxury interior design specialists 1508 London and Taylor Howes to complete the interior design and specification. It is ideally situated on the fourth floor with expansive views overlooking the garden. The 3,500 square-foot home features bespoke designs of the highest quality and fine attention to detail. The interiors combine clean, contemporary design with an understated classical elegance for a timeless mix of exquisite detailing and modern sophistication.

LUXURY INTERIOR DESIGN INSPIRATION

The home’s double volume reception room spans 42 feet wide and boasts five south facing windows providing panoramic views. Here and throughout all the principal rooms, the white wall paneling and moldings feature hand-gilding with a gold leaf. A herringbone pattern completes the hand-laid solid oak floors. A full-height polished marble fireplace punctuates the room at both ends for balance. The spacious room holds both the formal living and dining spaces. A bespoke designed rosewood partition with antiqued bronze trim separates the two. On the living room side, leather inserts create bookshelves. Contemporary furnishings, upholstered in soft, neutral shades gather symmetrically on the custom silk and wool rug for a serene setting. I like this look a lot.

The formal dining area includes a bespoke dining table that seats 10-12 comfortably with plush upholstered chairs arranged on a pale, cream-colored custom rug. On this side of the rosewood partition, antiqued mirror backing, and lower cabinets create a full bar feature wall.

The entrance hall’s luxury interior design provides a stunning first impression for visitors. The spacious passageway radiates out from a central bespoke cube which the design team had entirely clad in antiqued mirror; laser etched with a diamond pattern for added interest. The mirrored cube captures and reflects the natural light from the reception room throughout the center of the home. The coffered ceilings, here and in all the principal rooms, glow from within with bespoke LED lighting features. Low-level runway lighting creates a dramatic effect as it shines across the honed marble Serpeggiante floors. Gilded French salon chairs pair with an ebony console to emphasize the timeless appeal. The look is high gloss and glamorous.

The residence features a very sleek, custom-designed Modulnova kitchen with an eat-in breakfast area. Naturally, only the best-integrated appliances from Gaggenau and Miele complete this kitchen including a wine refrigerator, plate and food warming drawers, and soft touch controls. The marble floors continue from the hall in here with Silestone Quartz on the counter tops and backsplash. Without a doubt, this is a seriously stylish kitchen.

The 19-foot-long master bedroom suite includes a large bedroom, a dressing room with floor-to-ceiling, hand-crafted, leather fronted wardrobes and the master bathroom. The entire suite features classical proportions complete with specialist materials of the finest quality and a bespoke lighting scheme. The same serene color palette established in the formal reception room continues in here. Of course, the upholstered walls and deep pile carpet render the suite a tranquil cocoon.

The spacious master bathroom’s luxury interior design features book-matched, polished statuary marble on the floors and the full height of the walls. The bespoke designed marble double vanity unit with high gloss oak fronting includes THG faucets. Very handsome indeed!

The residence includes four bedrooms, each with an en-suite marble bath and custom created dressing areas. Our last photo shows one of the guest suites with its bespoke headboard reaching the full height of the room. All of the bedrooms are supremely comfortable due to their customization and expert space planning.

The apartment also includes a private screening room. A secluded little pocket theater, located adjacent to the reception room and kitchen area, provides a comfy spot just for relaxing and catching up on the latest shows.

Once on the market with its record-breaking asking price, the agents described it as a “jewel box” of perfection and luxury interior design. This description found agreement, as did the price, for the home quickly sold.

That concludes our design inspiration for today.

I hope you enjoyed the luxury interior design details of this apartment on one of London’s finest garden squares in Mayfair. Be inspired by the incredible transformation of this historic apartment into a sleek contemporary-classic home. One perfectly equipped with the best for today’s modern luxury lifestyle.

For another inspiring Mayfair Luxury estate, be sure to see:

Classic Mayfair Penthouse: Oro Bianco

Alexander McQueen Penthouse: Style Homage

Mayfair Luxury Interior Design

Residential Development: AION

Interior Design:

1508 London

Taylor Howes

Thank you so much for reading along with me. Let me hear from you in the comments. What do you think of today’s Luxury Interior Design in Mayfair?

Have a wonderful day!

June 25, 2016
Boscolo: Contemporary Luxury Design

Boscolo is a multiple award-winning, high-end interior design and architectural practice based in London. For our design inspiration today, we are taking a look at the firm’s stunning Contemporary Luxury Design work. The design firm only recently came to my attention, and I am in love with what I see. It’s like sexy tailored menswear: clean lines, classical architecture, sophisticated use of a limited range of color, sumptuous fabrics, and luxurious finishes.

The company provides a complete, tailored service covering every aspect of the project. The design firm prides itself on its ability to create successful and impressive homes through their critical attention to detail, an empathetic understanding of their clients’ tastes and ambitions, and a precise awareness of timescale and budget.

I’ve put together a selection of rooms from four different residences for you to see. You are sure to be inspired!

Knightsbridge Contemporary Luxury Design

First we have Boscolo’s sexy, bachelor-style apartment located in the center of London’s prestigious Knightsbridge. The design team fully renovated the two-bedroom residence and completed it with a contemporary luxury design for a culinary client. The large, open plan spaces give themselves effortlessly to the regular entertaining of guests. Boscolo finished the home with a muted color palette that emphasizes black, gray, and antique bronze with finishes inspired by Japanese design. The sleek, contemporary kitchen serves as a key focal point in this residence. It functions perfectly for both live display cooking and prepping for dinner parties. The hip and urbane composition provides an ideal backdrop for an exciting lifestyle.

“At Boscolo we are committed to developing luxurious spaces that complement our client’s dreams and desires. We believe that every inch of a property is precious and needs to be treated with a deft touch to best reflect this.”

Ferncroft Avenue, Hampstead Apartment

Next, we have the Ferncroft Avenue first-floor apartment in a grand Victorian townhouse in charming Hampstead. A luxury development company commissioned Boscolo to completely refurbish the three-bedroom property for the purpose of increasing the net value. The design team architecturally restructured the property to adapt the spaces for modern life. While retaining as many of the original features as possible, the design group completed the home with a contemporary luxury design that would appeal to the international market. Sticking to a smart color scheme of whites, blacks, and metals ensured a polished feel in every room. Luxurious finishes and beautiful furnishings create a tangible luxury that transcends cultures and has a global appeal.

“Over the years, our multi-award-winning interior design team have worked across a wide variety of prestigious projects, from luxurious apartments and heritage buildings in some of London’s most sought-after postcodes.”

Hampstead Private Residence

“The serenity and stillness of this home were the perfect backdrops for works embodying humanity and vitality. Here you see hanging on the wall a piece which carries motion and grace within it; for us, it is reminiscent of dance. Complementing it is the sculpture on the cabinet, which materializes gravitas and austerity”

Here we have a large private family residence located in a private gated community in the heart of Hampstead. The home features classic clean lines which Boscolo accentuated to create a contemporary luxury design. Every setting throughout observes symmetry to create balance. To keep the space from looking too predictable, the designers used texture and pattern: luxurious rugs made of natural hides, velvet and silk pillows, marble side tables, metallic forms and lamps with sculptural metal bases.

“Grey is an incredibly exquisite, attenuated shade. Neutral, yet one with depth and softness; it adds subtlety anywhere you may choose to use it.”

Upper Park Family Residence

“We created a bespoke piece of artwork as a focal point for the dining area. Depicting a stark and barren landscape with intercrossing roads, it represents the journey of life and the choices one must make, whilst also delivering a sense of peace and calm.”

For our final residence, we have a five-bedroom, detached house located in Upper Park, just outside of London. The owners are followers of a spiritual movement with which came certain strictures. Boscolo created a home which exudes contemporary luxury design and a sense of zen, without any degree of ostentation. Beautiful and harmonious shades of white and gray complete the serene interiors with an elegant finish. The bespoke designed furniture and the quality finishes create the luxurious feel, without being too showy.

That completes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more contemporary luxury design, be sure to see:

Timeless Interior Design: Boscolo.

Contemporary Luxury Design: Hyde Park

Boscolo’s Contemporary Luxury Design Inspiration

UPDATE: Boscolo is now Bailey London Interior Design

Bailey is a London based interior architecture and luxury interior design studio specializing in delivering meticulously tailored residential and commercial projects. The studio’s high-end design services are tailored to meet each client’s needs that encompass total turnkey solutions for their client’s homes, delivering singular and distinctive designs which reflect their values of thoughtful design.

Contemporary Luxury Design: Boscolo – Bailey London

Photography: Christina Bull

Thank you so much for reading along with me! I hope you found today’s post educational and inspirational. Be sure to let me hear from you in the comments. What did you think of Boscolo’s Contemporary Luxury design?

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

May 20, 2016
Contemporary Luxury Design: Hyde Park

The exquisite tailoring of this chic London apartment is a testimony to contemporary luxury design in the historic city. The residence is set within a grand, iconic mansion block in Bayswater with beautiful views over Hyde Park. Chelsea-based luxury interior design studio Elicyon has transformed this four-bedroom residence into an exceptional home finished to superlative standards.

The design studio restored many of the home’s original architectural features while completing it with a polished contemporary luxury design for elegant modern living. Renowned for their turnkey lifestyle design, Elicyon expertly managed the entire process from conception through to completion. The results are quite remarkable. Come see for yourself!

BAYWATERS MANSION CONTEMPORARY LUXURY

The living room features a sophisticated neutral color palette of creams and grays, highlighted with a layering of metallic hues. Two gray sofas and a pair of quilted armchairs anchor the furniture arrangement around a two-stepped coffee table on a graphically carved silk rug, all from the iconic luxury brand Fendi Casa. The entire home has a sophisticated air with contemporary glamorous interiors.

A large bespoke artwork by the art studio Based Upon, acts as the room’s focal point with its prominent position located above the center sofa. On either side of the bronze-and-brass work is a custom display cabinet. The home’s design notes every detail. Almond cream leather with brass trim fronts the cabinets and drawers beneath the display shelves complete with lacquered inner sides. A structured tiered chandelier echoes the design of the room perfectly. Silk draperies and luxurious cushions in an array of shimmering and textured silk, satin, velvet, and suede create a soft balance for this very luxe rendition of an inspired industrial space.

The elegant and refined entrance hall welcomes visitors with soft pleasing colors, clean lines, and an array of rich touchable textures. The far feature wall functions as a complete work of art. A pair of basket-weave lighting sconces flank the bronze antiqued diamond-pattern mirrors with bronze framing. A sculpture by Lorenzo Quin, Give and Take III centers the scene.

A custom rug runs the length of the hall, while a custom Murano glass chandelier illuminates the space from above. A crocodile leather Fendi Casa console and mirror position across from a contemporary luxury low-profile sofa layered with indulgently soft, silk cushions. The designers had the oil painting above the sofa, like all of the paintings throughout the residence, custom created specifically to complement the color palette around it.

The formal dining room is gracious and glamorous. A custom dining table composed of a walnut tabletop on a brass sled base groups with ten button-tufted velvet dining chairs gathered on a custom silk rug with another structured faceted crystal chandelier sparkling above. Sleek walnut side pieces with brass detailing echo the table’s design creating an Art Deco feel. A pair of brass sculptural light sconces flanks an octagonal shagreen mirror above the buffet.

The look is both classic in its design and very now. The room’s location right beyond the living room makes for an easy flow when entertaining. The luxurious, sophisticated design of this entire apartment demands the return of the “cocktail hour” before dinner. How would you like your drink tonight dear?

The master bedroom features a custom silk-upholstered and grid-designed mirror headboard. Golden yellow accents kick up the soft glistening color palette. Custom upholstered chairs fit into and soften the corners of the room. Crown molding along the ceiling line conceals the window drapery panel’s fittings for a smooth, flawless finish. The beautiful fabrics here and throughout the apartment are sublime in their design simplicity, yet rich in texture and supreme softness. Nothing is plain and ordinary. The combination of the finest materials and iconic luxury brand furnishings mixed with bespoke pieces creates an entirely contemporary and custom luxury experience without being loud or showy. The effect is smart, serene, and very inviting.

The following photos show the remaining bedroom’s rich features. The same level of detail and care used in the rest of the house continue throughout.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend. I hope you enjoyed this exquisitely tailored London apartment and its contemporary luxury design. Bespoke cabinetry, Fendi Casa, crystal-dripping chandeliers, luxurious fabrics, and plenty of mirrors; This is an exciting interior design that I applaud! Let’s amp up the glamour in our homes today!

To see another fabulous residence completed by this award-winning design studio, be sure to see:

Glamorous Luxury Design: Elicyon

To see more contemporary Luxury, be sure to see:

Bespoke Design: Contemporary Luxury

Manhattan Contemporary Luxury Apartment

ELICYON’S CONTEMPORARY LUXURY DESIGN

Elicyon is a luxury design studio based in Chelsea, London. The studio creates unique and exclusive environments, tailored with precision, care, and meticulous attention to detail. The professional and sophisticated design team at Elicyon discover and bring to fruition the vision of their clients. The design team ensures that every project is perfectly tailored to the client’s needs, personal taste, and lifestyle.

Interior Design: Elicyon

Photography: Elicyon

Thanks so much for reading along with me today! Let me hear from you. Please share in the comments some ways you create glamour in your home. We want to share the experience with you.

Have a great day!

May 13, 2016
Fifth Avenue Classical Design

For our design inspiration today, we are taking a look at an elegant Fifth Avenue apartment located within a handsome prewar residential co-op building on New York’s Upper East Side. This residence serves as a pied-a-terre for a couple who wished to create for themselves a very special luxury home in the city. Their appreciation for classical design elements allowed for the creation of a home rich with architectural ornamentation and exquisite detail. These classical-inspired features include highly articulated ceilings and decorative wall treatments forming rooms with ordered and balanced compositions rendered in a subdued but sophisticated color palette. Bespoke designed custom furnishings and an array of period antiques combine with the owner’s significant collection of modern art in a seamless fusion of refined luxury.

New York-based architect John Murray, a noted master of the classical design tradition, created the three-bedroom residence by combining two original one-bedroom units. The relatively small 2,500 square-foot pied-a-terre doesn’t have the requirements of a year-round home, so space gave itself to design. The public rooms arrange as a series of enfilades with each room opening to one another creating a formal sense of progression. Ornate crown moldings designed as part of the paneled walls make the ceilings appear higher. Tall baseboards and chair rails placed low on the walls make the rooms seem proportionally taller. These and other such principles carry throughout the apartment expanding the volumes to their best proportions.

INSPIRING CLASSICAL DESIGN

New York-based interior design firm Cullman & Kravis brought together the homes furnishings and decorating details. In all their projects, the firm embraces a modern traditional design aesthetic.

By artfully mixing antiques of all periods and origins alongside contemporary works and bespoke designs, the results are always timeless and comfortable, just as they are here.

The living room’s paneling includes curved corners and other effects to create a graceful line around the room, as well as for the practical purpose of concealing various structural components. The design includes a highly stylized custom acanthus leaf molding that lines the room beneath the plaster cornice.

The fireplace features custom bronze work cast by P. E. Guerin. Its design has been integrated into the paneling of the south wall to create the rooms focal point. Note the gator leather with tack trim on the Klismos chairs. Hand painted and beaded silk forms the window draperies. Art by noted contemporary masters displays on the walls.

For the grand entrance into the apartment, a rotunda-shaped entry vestibule was created. The dome ceiling, highlighted with a stylized Greek key in gold, creates the perception of greater height. This space gives way to a rectangular gallery to one side and to a vaulted gallery down the center of the apartment leading to bedrooms.

A group of graphite drawings by Alan McCollum, 1989-1990 hang in a modern grid as per the artist’s instructions. To prevent any early notions that the place is period or overly formal, the design team installed simple art lighting in the vaulted ceiling.

Painted wood with leather panel insets ornamented with bronze stud work dress the library’s walls. The articulated ceiling incorporates a layering of banding that serves as a decorative organizer for the lighting. Corner details enhance the form of the cove ceiling.

How exquisite is this powder room? These are really quite glamorous interiors!

Here in the master bedroom, the custom plaster cornice features a repeated geometric design. Various geometric designs incorporate around the room; in the carpet, the glass panels of the very fabulous closet doors, and as trim along the bedding and draperies. The overall impression of the apartment is that it has always been here, and yet it is still very current. It is timeless. It is just as the couple wanted for their pied-a-terre.

That concludes our classical design inspiration for today, my friend. I hope you enjoyed Fifth Avenue Classical Design.

To see other homes complete by Cullman & Kravis be sure to see:

Venetian Waterfront Residence: Cullman & Kravis

Georgian Modern Traditional Elegance

Contemporary Traditional Design: Southern Mansion

Transitional Design Update: Park Avenue

Classical Design Inspiration

This residence is one of the beautiful projects featured in designer Elissa Cullman’s book The Detailed Interior: Decorating Up Close with Cullman & Kravis. Cullman & Kravis has a remarkable ability to see the whole picture and, at the same time, appreciate the smallest of its pieces and intricacies. Each of their rooms is a magnificent and elaborate tapestry—step back, and a stunning image emerges; look up close, and every stitch is perfectly aligned with its neighbor, every thread a mirror of a larger pattern. This focus on detail subtly influences every component of the residences they design, so that every room harmonizes with the architecture, the setting, the furniture, and the artwork. Hand-carved moldings subtly reflect the embroidery of a throw pillow. The form of an antique chandelier echoes the drape of the silk curtains. Complementary colors emerge in the needlework of a rug, the brushstroke of an abstract painting, the fresh flowers on a table. Each room appears as the quintessence of effortless grace and balance, while only the designers know the meticulous research and extraordinary passion that went into creating such a perfectly harmonious space. The Detailed Interior: Decorating Up Close with Cullman & Kravis reveals how the firm achieves this effect, and how readers can employ these details to endow their rooms with the same sense of elegance and poise.

Architecture: John B. Murray Architect

Interior Design: Cullman & Kravis

Photography: Durston Saylor

Thank you so much for reading along! Let me hear from you in the comments! What did you think of Classical Design in this Fifth Avenue pied-a-terre?

Have a great day!

December 30, 2015
Beverly Hills Deco Villa: Joan Behnke

Our design inspiration for today comes from a grand Deco Villa in Beverly Hills, an Italian-style villa with Art Deco-inspired interiors. This award-winning, 22,000 square-foot luxury home, designed by renowned architect Richard Landry, with interiors by legendary interior designer Joan Behnke, certainly deserves our attention.

The facade forms with carved limestone sourced in Dijon, France. The design includes classic Italian features such as Doric columns, hand-carved outriggers under the eaves, and a roof covered in reclaimed clay tiles sourced in Italy. There are numerous recessed balconies, highlighted with stone tracery, and large open windows framed in Bronze. The homeowners desired a home with a formal Italian style exterior, for the neighborhood’s style guidelines dictated an approved Italianate look. Inside, they wanted interiors with more of an Art Deco inspiration.

A Seamless Fusion of Classic Italian Inspired Architecture with Art Deco Inspired Interior Design.

The New York Times describes Richard Landry as “one of the most sought-after high-end architects” and dubbed him “King of the Mega-Mansions.” He is indeed a clear favorite of the wealthy and famous seeking statement homes.

Joan Behnke’s work adorns the homes of some of the world’s wealthiest people. Forbes Magazine dubbed her “The Billionaire Whisperer,” due to her client roster that reads like a Forbes list. Her pure pursuit of the finest, the rarest, and the most fitting goes unquestioned. Her worldwide network of sources is every designer’s dream.

The moment you enter the home, the Art Deco notes shine clear. There was no strict style adherence inside or out, but the design inspiration is very evident. For the double-height entry foyer, Behnke envisioned custom hand-scalloped plaster wall treatments, actualized by Foster Reeve. The design details of the iron entry doors repeat on the balustrade and windows. They model on a beautiful Deco design discovered in Paris on one of the many research and buying trips the designer and the couple took while the house came together. Dale Chihuly’s Green Glass Reeds rise high next to the sweeping staircase. A 7-foot-tall, 400-pound bronze chandelier by Herve van der Straeten suspends from a large wrought iron skylight that crowns the entry.

DECO VILLA DESIGN INSPIRATION

For the living room, Behnke bespoke designed contemporary furnishings in delicious colors and wonderful fabrics and arranged them on a Tai Ping silk rug. An oil painting by Hans Hoffman hangs above the marble Art Deco fireplace surround, flanked by two pendant lamps by Herve van der Straeten. Along the room’s back wall, accordion doors open wide to the loggia. Here, and throughout, Behnke custom designed all window draperies.

Lacewood paneling and shelves line the walls of the home’s spacious library, filled with the owner’s extensive and cherished collections. Hanging above the marble fireplace is a 1960’s oil on Canvas by Mordecai Ardon while hanging in the nearby recess is Marc Chagall’s circa-1980 Moise et le Veau d’Or. Hand-painted canvas murals adorn the ceiling between the beams.

The family room is rich with Art Deco details and fine finishes. To relax the mood and make the space more inviting, Behnke used comfortable, casual furniture pieces of her design, and included a bar in the corner. The room features a 1,000-gallon saltwater aquarium filled with colorful coral set within the dark oak panels.

The glamorous formal dining room gives itself to entertaining with great style. A bronze and lacquered wood chandelier by Herve van der Straeten suspends from the stepped Deco inspired ceiling. Moise Kisling’s 1942 Grand Bouquet de Mimosas hangs between a pair of large antique wall sconces from Craig Van Den Brulle on the fabric upholstered walls with lacewood paneled corners. Behnke bespoke designed the racetrack table and two host’s chairs surrounded by Therien chairs upholstered in Jerry Pair leather.

The commercial style, chef’s kitchen is any cooks dream. This room includes a Landry designed stainless-steel, barrel-vaulted ceiling. Mahogany cabinetry with kosher granite counter-tops sourced in Italy make up the room. The spacious layout provides for multiple preparation areas, and the abundant stainless designer appliances make this kitchen perfectly able to serve a feast for a crowd and ideal for entertaining.

The breakfast room positions on the garden side of the kitchen and looks out on the back lawn, pool, and water features. A chandelier from Jean de Merry hangs above another Behnke-designed dining table surrounded by Michael Berman dining chairs. The draperies are Pierre Frey, with motorized shades from Conrad.

Upstairs in the Deco villa, Landry designed the second-floor hall with an Italian style groin-vaulted ceiling and wrapped it around an inner courtyard that brings in natural light. The detailing of the steel doors and windows echo the groin vault. Behnke placed wool-and-silk runners in gray and silver by Martin Patrick Evan on the floors to balance the space with a bit of modern design.

The second-floor courtyard provides an inner open-air sanctuary. A water feature adds to the relaxing ambiance.

The master bedroom and its adjoining sitting room both have barrel-vaulted ceilings with the same scallop finish found on the walls of the foyer. Mirrored panels front the fireplace surround. Behnke custom designed the iron fire screen. She filled the sitting room with pieces obtained from the Paris trips including; the rosewood desk, the antique burled-walnut side tables, and the amber glass vases on the mantle.

Large pocket doors join or separate the master bedroom and sitting room as desired. Both rooms include two sets of French doors that open onto a trellised terrace overlooking the back lawn. Formal full-height drapery panels made with Schumacher fabric and Bergamo wide trim frame the terrace doors. Behnke custom designed the Rose Tarlow leather upholstered headboard, as well as the lounge chairs, bedside chest, and pop-up television cabinet at the end of the bed.

Her bathroom is a harmony of luminous tones and mirrors. The Art Deco style continues in this room with the scallop finish around the tub and vanity. The stone-and-Italian-glass mosaic designs on the floor and in the shower also reflect the style.

Mahogany with inlaid lacewood diamond accents envelops his bathroom. Gray marble sourced in Italy forms the counter-tops and covers the floor. The room includes custom bronze fixtures from Compas and an antique Lalique chandelier.

Down on the basement level of the Deco villa, the home includes a theater with a 170-inch-wide, curved Stewart screen, and a custom shallow speaker system. Donghia fabric-paneled walls conceal the technical equipment, speakers, and acoustic panels. The round designs on the fabric echo those in the ceiling’s mahogany design. Behnke bespoke designed the cabinets behind the leather seats with Macassar ebony and mahogany, fronted with ultra-suede panels with nailhead trim.

Biometrically controlled glass doors open to the home’s spa, which includes an Endless exercise pool and a hot tub with a waterfall. Ann Sacks blue tiles line the barrel-vaulted ceiling above the pool. Travertine marble covers the floor and frames the room’s architectural details. Beyond the doors adorned with the convex mirrors, there is a salon, a massage room, and a steam room.

The stone-paved loggia, located off the living room, is a perfect example of the homes indoor/outdoor living design. The limestone mantelpiece is from Paris, and the furniture, here and all outdoors, is from Janus et Cie.

In this rear view of the home, you see the exceptional architectural highlights. You see the crescent curve of the breakfast room on the right, and the loggia on the left with all the articulated details. A pergola on the path between the house and pool includes a partial kitchen and grill for outdoor entertaining.

The guest pavilion has an intentional different character from the main house to create a visual story. Rough, rustic stone with an aged appearance forms the façade to imply that it was there long before the Deco villa. The design takes inspiration from the Italian countryside.

The guest pavilion’s open fire-pit completes our tour of the Deco villa. Two years of planning, construction, and European buying trips went into the creation of this luxury home with classic Italian façade and Deco-influenced interiors. Was it worth it? Of course, the owner views it as a masterpiece, and we agree!

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

If you would like to see more fabulous residences created by Joan Behnke, be sure to see:

Villa del Lago: Tuscan Inspired Luxury Estate

Beverly Park Chateau

Beverly Hills Modern

Ambassador’s Potomac Mansion Renovation

Joan Behnke’s Deco Villa

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. This intimate, meticulous and dedicated process is one that Joan personally carries through each project as well as in the selection and training of every member of her team.

Interior Design: Joan Behnke & Associates

Architecture: Landry Design Group

Photography: Erhard Pfeiffer

This residence was named Robb Report’s Ultimate Home.

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed this beautiful home with its rich layers of exquisite custom detailing. Let me hear from you all in the comments.

Have a great day!

August 20, 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