Tag: Interior Design

Lancasters Interior Reinvention

Our design inspiration for today comes from The Lancasters-London. The Lancasters is an ultra-prime luxury residential development located in London’s Hyde Park, overlooking Kensington Gardens. The landmark protected historical property underwent a five-year redevelopment by a top team of leading luxury property developers, architects, and interior designers who saved it after a sad period of neglect and decay and turned it into one of the city’s most exclusive addresses.

The property was originally conceived as an elegant Terrace of 15 grand white-stucco faced ambassadorial Classic design town homes in the mid-nineteenth century. 150 years ago, the area was a respectable haven for the wealthy middle class. Since the 1970s though, the property had served as a hotel and the neighborhood had lost some of its luster. The developers Minerva and Northacre saw an opportunity and seized it. The project was not without its challenges but the risk and effort paid off for not only was the immediate block returned to splendor and well beyond, the neighborhood around it has benefited from the redevelopment as well.

The project’s lead architect Klas Nilsson, who is a specialist at turning historic properties into perfected palaces for the wealthy, determined that the properties inner partitioning walls had been too badly damaged for a restoration and the whole place would have to be completely gutted and recreated within the shell of its exterior facade. The architect was able to get the necessary permission to rebuild the interior architecture in its original style and the work proceeded.

The Lancasters was finally completed with a fusion of its classic design architecture and brand new sophisticated design and construction. The property has been reconfigured into 77 luxury homes plus common areas. The new residences have been designed around the original interior architecture and traditional design features of the building. The high ceilings have been maintained and the original 19th century intricate moldings have been restored. Along with the period architecture, modern amenities and luxuries have been seamlessly integrated. Contemporary design kitchens with granite surfaces and appliances from Gaggenau and Miele have been included along with marble bathrooms with designer fixtures. The historic building’s qualities have been sensitively restored and enhanced with the addition of all the latest in technology and the finest of finishes for a true luxury home.

Several high profile interior designers have completed homes within this new development but I can’t show them all here of course. I have selected two apartments completed by two interior design firms who had significant roles in this development. In the photos above, we see the show apartment completed by architecture and interior design specialist Lawson Robb, who won a “Best Residential Property Interior” award for their work here. The completed residence has been much praised for its timeless sophistication and luxurious interiors, which effortlessly combines the classic design of the architecture with contemporary design furnishings and styling. The designers also incorporated cultural references from around the world to create an international style: the intricate inlays of the Middle East, the vibrancy of Southern Asia, American understated Classic design paired with simple lines, the impeccable quality of European design, the structured patterns of the Far East, and the subtle opulence in traditional Russian design. The materials used include walnut woods, silver leaf, lacquer, pyrite, marble, velvet, leather, silk wall coverings, and antiqued mirror.

The following photos show some of the Lancasters’ common areas.

The Lancasters’ common areas have been designed by the interior design group Intarya, a design arm of the developer Northacre. The group has harnessed the skills of fine artists and craftspeople to create completely bespoke design interiors. The designers have created a look that is sensitive and sympathetic to the provenance, architecture and location of The Lancasters.

In addition to the common areas, Intarya also completed multiple show apartments, one of which is shown in the following photos.

The show apartments Intarya designed reference exotic influences. The materials and techniques used here are those found around the world. The very point was to appeal to the well-traveled. The point was to appeal to the largest market of international high net worth buyers as possible. Further details include hand-painted wall-coverings, bespoke design furniture, rich textures from leather to silks, hand-embroidered fabrics, antique mirrors, marble, rich woods, and of course, all being of the highest-quality.

The residents of Lancasters also enjoy the benefits of a 24-hour concierge, housekeeping, personal shopping, and catering. The development also features a communal garden, valet parking in the underground garage, and a fully equipped gym with a pool. There are also other perks like a 24-hr doorman, on staff security, and general assistants to help you with whatever you may need.

It all has been a huge success!

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

LANCASTERS PRESS RELEASE

Developers:

Northacre & Minerva

Chief Architecture: Klas Nilsson

Interior designers:

Lawson Robb

Intarya

Thank you so much for reading along with me today!

December 8, 2015
Design Inspiration For Small Spaces

Can smart design be used to make the most of limited space? Awareness of the role that thoughtful design plays can help you in maximizing your small spaces. For our design inspiration today, we are taking a look at two residences redesigned to make the most of their available square footage. Both homes are in London and completed by the award-winning interior design studio Keir Townsend. The designers creative handling of small interiors, among their many talents, has garnered them international recognition.

London is a city with a growing economy and booming population, but a shortage in housing. High demand has pushed prices through the roof and residents are being more creative with the space they have. This made it the perfect place to look for interior design ideas on making the most of small spaces.

Having limited space does not mean that you must have limited style. The designers at Keir Townsend believe that compromising space doesn’t mean compromising on luxury. Both residences feature bespoke designed interiors with quality finishes and fixtures and even a bit of luxury.

Our first residence is a two-bedroom apartment located within a contemporary residential high rise. The opening photo and the one above shows the home’s living area. The owner, a single guy who uses the apartment as a pied-a-terre, asked the designers to create for him a great contemporary entertaining space. Instead of traditional sofas and chairs, the designers used a set of chaise paired with a custom copper-clad coffee table to form a perfectly chic conversation area. The large Amethyst cluster serves as the focal point of the space and establishes the color palette in the room.

“Our brand stands for quality, timeless elegance and harmony in all aspects of design.” KT

The designers used dark oak, trimmed with the same copper used on the coffee table to form the bookcases and shelving units. Keir Townsend has a retail showroom providing a selection of exclusive furniture, lighting, and accessories sourced from all over the world. Most of the pieces are designed by the studio. The lighting used throughout are examples of the sort you find there.

The partition separating the kitchen and living area was removed to create an open flow and to allow the integration of the kitchen into the entertaining space. The same granite used on the counter-tops and back splashes, forms the bespoke dining table, further linking the zones. The two columns have been faced with antiqued bronze mirrors and the lighting incorporates bronzed diffuser glass. Dimmers allow the lighting to lower, creating a new mood in the space. Two wine refrigerators have been included on the outer side of the kitchen. The dining chairs are dark metal and woven leather by Henge.

In the master bedroom, the designers confidently embraced darker shades in this small area by keeping them all within a narrow range, so it works. Woven grass wallcoverings by Philip Jeffries are used on the walls. The designers used Oak to form the headboard frame, side tables, and wardrobe which also include leather detailing. The headboard is upholstered with velvet, while the bed is dressed in luxury design Italian bed linens from their showroom.

“Our interiors are personalized for every one of our clients and designed to make them feel great about who they are.” KT

The en suite bathroom features a bespoke designed sink created using recycled glass, lit from within with LED lighting, placed upon a lacquered vanity. The chrome and black onyx faucets are also of bespoke design, as is the carved wooden panels on the wall. The shower wall is faced with mosaic tile to complete this bathroom’s sophisticated design.

The guest bedroom is layered in textures and complete with bespoke designed furnishings. The feature wall behind the bed is finished with a straw wallcovering. The bed consists of a velvet headboard, cashmere bedding, and silk pillows. The walnut and leather dressing table includes a pop-up mirror and a matching leather pouf. The modern design leather swing chair with bronze base is from the designer’s showroom.

For the guest bathroom the designers used a more neutral color tone. The sink sits upon a bespoke lacquered vanity with chrome detailing and the exquisite crystal faucets are carved in the shape of seahorses. The wall lights have leather and chrome detailing.

Here we have a one bedroom apartment with only 430 square feet, with every inch cleverly utilized. This residence also functions as a pied-a-terre for its owner. Again, the designers removed all of the partitions to create an open flow living, dining, and kitchen. It’s almost hard to imagine there being room for them to start with. A room this small requires a lighter, neutral color which the designers used throughout. The walls have been finished with polished plaster, which is great for the subtle variations of color, and it adds depth. The plaster reflects light, which is essential for increasing the appearance of size within a space.

The furnishings are all of bespoke design, custom created specifically for the place they occupy. To achieve the best results within a limited area it is very important to use correctly scaled furniture. Keir Townsend doesn’t believe that a smaller room requires fewer pieces. They believe that the more “zones” and features you create within the room, the greater its appearance and function will be. What is most important is the right size furniture, the right fabrics, and the right lighting.

“Our mission is to offer simple, elegant solutions in today’s over-complicated world.” KT

The designers completely bespoke designed everything in the kitchen area. Mirrors are always an excellent way to increase the appearance of a rooms size. Antiqued bronze mirror with a polished edge has been used for the back splash here in the kitchen. The quartz used for the countertops also forms the dining table. The dining chairs have been upholstered with suede. The crystal chandelier above the table adds a bit of drama and glamour.

For the bedroom, the designers created plenty of storage with walls of integrated sleek cabinetry and wardrobes. Avoiding clutter is an absolute must in any small space. Everything should have a place, and everything should be in its place. That is a rule of thumb for any well-kept home regardless of size. The entire room is bespoke with every inch planned and executed for maximum efficiency. The lines are clean, and the colors are neutral, but luxury design has not been forgotten. Padded suede upholsters the wall behind the bed, while the walls feature a Japanese linen by Phillip Jeffries. A de Gournay fabric forms the curtains. The floors are covered with an exceptional shagreen leather that bring the luxury level even higher.

I love this small bathroom which is full of little luxury design touches. The original bathtub was replaced with this walk-in rainfall shower. A variety of tiles create a brilliant effect in here; Emperador ceramic, mosaic, and glass tiles backed with silver and antique gold leaf. The bespoke designed sink was created using recycled bottled glass, lit from within with LED lighting, and placed upon a bespoke cabinet with chrome and leather detailing. Ornate crystal faucets perfectly complete the look.

Who says that small spaces must be short on style or lacking in luxury? These two homes are perfect examples of what can be done in small spaces with a bit of creativity and ideally, an excellent team of skilled artisans who can complete your bespoke design specifications. Every detail shown here is wonderful for our design inspiration today.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more design inspiration for small spaces, be sure to see:

Compact Luxury Design: Taylor Howes

Interior Design for Small Spaces

“Our experience in high-end residential and commercial interior design allows us to deliver a tailored service to each client. No matter how complex the project, we always strive to create environments that combine comfort and practicality with elegance and sophistication. Since each project is tailored to the client’s taste and lifestyle, a Keir Townsend interior is always unique. “Keir Townsend

Keir Townsend is an award-winning interior design company with a retail showroom, based in Mayfair and South Kensington, London. Their international team comes from diverse cultural and creative backgrounds, but what unites them is the drive to deliver aesthetic and inspiring spaces that bring joy into people’s lives.

Keir Townsend interior design studio provides a full scope of services from concept design and branding through to design implementation and turn-key project delivery.

Keir Townsend showroom stays at the forefront of high-end interiors by providing a hand-picked selection of exclusive furniture, flooring and lighting sourced from all over the world.

Interior Design: Keir Townsend Interiors

Photography: Jake Fitzjones Photography

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed and found some creative interior design ideas for your small spaces. Let me hear from you all in the comments.

Have a wonderful day!

December 2, 2015
Beverly Hills Modern

Today’s design inspiration comes from a completely renovated and reimagined 1970’s ranch house transformed into a 10,000 square-foot Beverly Hills Modern home to accommodate a fashionable young couple expanding their family. The residence is expertly redesigned into a luxury home with double-height public spaces, clerestory windows, fine finishes, and custom furnishings. Fresh, light-filled interiors are bespoke designed by acclaimed Los Angeles-based international interior designer Joan Behnke, with Harrison Design completing the home’s architecture.

Outside, to really create the Beverly Hills Modern style, the home’s facade is faced with stucco defining the main rectangular forms. Stacked, 24-inch-thick, natural-edged travertine defines the main vertical lines. The flat roof line, clad in zinc, emphasizes the horizontal planes. The front elevation includes bronze-framed windows and doors with an irregular, Mondrian-like grid design. The lawn’s design seamlessly integrates as part of the completed new look so that the structure appears to be of the site, versus just on the site. Every detail is very sculptural and defined.

“Creating architecture for our clients has never been about a particular style, it is about the best design and best building we can provide based on our clients’ wishes.” William H. Harrison

Once through the massive entry door into the home’s foyer, the stacked travertine continues on the walls, paired with limestone floors. The entrance hall opens to the living areas beyond flowing all the way through to the opposite outer side. Behnke custom designed the wood and bronze console, sconces, and the hammered brass chandelier.

The designer employed a monochromatic color palette throughout the house, keeping the look neutral with minimal use of pattern, using select colors for accent, such as the red used here in the living room. A cotton blend from Sahco through Bergamo forms the curtains. They suspend from the ceiling past the clerestory windows, designed specifically to allow light in, with bespoke designed, bronze chains by Behnke. The designer custom designed most of the furniture in the home, including the two-piece lacquer coffee table in the center here. Sina Pearson mohair covers the sofas. The pendent chandeliers are by John Pomp. A work by Calder hangs on the far wall.

A space for everything. In this little step down lounge area, the designer created little alcoves for displaying the couples growing collection of art and collectibles. She also designed built-in shelving and cabinetry throughout, executed by Silver Strand, and adorned with exquisite custom Pashupatina hardware.

The family room has a more intimate scale designed for casual situations. The space includes a large television, surrounded by plenty of shelves and cabinetry. Fabulous Loro Piana blue corduroy covers the upholstered sofa. The lighting is by Naomi Paul. The furnishings Behnke created all compliment the Beverly Hills modern style.

The home’s formal dining room is a modernist delight. Simple with un-ornamented, clean lines and shapes. Behnke bespoke designed the dining table and buffet. She also designed the bronze wall sconces. Customized Dana Johns chairs provide seating for ten. An abstraction painting by Larry Poons hangs over the buffet. The ceramic vessel on the table is by Pierre Bayle. The branching disc chandelier is by Lindsey Adelman.

The large, spacious kitchen includes a breakfast bar, and a separate dining table and chairs for informal family meals. White oak covers the floors while Antalya Crema marble forms the counter tops, backsplashes, and most of the center island.

Located right off of the foyer and living room is the glass front wine room which elevates the home’s entertaining to a new level. The temperature controlled space is of completely bespoke design and perfectly positioned for display.

The homes study/library features custom cabinetry and sophisticated design details.

The master bedroom suite continues the calm understated styling and bespoke design detailing used in the rest of the house. The Steplight bed is from the designer’s home collection. The bedroom opens to its own outdoor seating area. The master bathroom is a lesson in quiet luxury design and understated elegance. Fine finishes and very simply styled features fill the light and open space. The star design feature in here is the bronze fretwork that Behnke designed and had fabricated by a master metal-smith as a clever reference to the Beverly Hills Modern home’s 1970’s origins. The suite also includes large his and her closets and dressing areas.

The extensive renovation included much reconfiguration to provide for a greatly enhanced indoor-outdoor relationship. Raised Roofs let in light from above while still maintaining the homes modernist lines and planes. Multiple outdoor entertaining spaces lay just beyond the outer walls and doors of glass all along the homes backside, which opens wide to embrace the best of California’s indoor-outdoor living. Two-way fireplaces, patio televisions, and teak furnishings by James Perse comfortably complete these additional living spaces. Light and the laughter of a young family now fill the once dark, low-slung structure. The perfect completion for this Beverly Hills modern luxury home.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see another fabulous residence completed by this designer be sure to see:

Beverly Hills Deco Villa:Joan Behnke

Ambassador’s Mansion: Contemporary International

Beverly Hills Modern Luxury Home

***

Architecture: Harrison Design

Interior Design: Joan Behnke & Associates

Photography: Karyn Millet

Thanks so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed this Beverly Hills modern design renovation and transformation into a luxury home for a fashionable life. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a wonderful day!

November 28, 2015
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
Bespoke Designed Interiors: Avenue Montaigne

Today’s design inspiration comes from a Paris apartment whose bespoke designed interiors are a contemporary interpretation of traditional French style. Located on the Avenue Montaigne, the heart of high fashion and luxury in the city, the residence has been completely redesigned to exacting standards using only the finest materials and finishes.

The 3,500 square-foot apartment serves as a second home for an international family who wanted unique, completely bespoke designed interiors. They requested glamorous interiors that live up to their location, drawing inspiration from French traditional design, but updated for a modern lifestyle with the best tech innovations. The residence was to be completely custom, with no regards for the potential cost or time required to complete. This project is every designer’s dream. The dream was realized by the London based, international interior design firm Louis Henri, who specializes in complete bespoke design.

The designer stripped the original structure down to its bones and rebuilt everything with a close eye on every detail. Everything from the furniture, to the lighting, the carpets, all the way to the door handles, was custom created to suit the space. All in French style, with a contemporary edge. The project took four years to complete and required input from all over the world. The designer made use of the very best of the local craftspeople. The results stand as a masterful rendition of Parisian elegance. The designer’s discerning approach means he only takes on complete projects where he can custom design every single element. With a Louis Henri design, you will have something completely and utterly unique.

The opening photo and the one above shows the homes entrance hall with its abundance of custom interior architecture detailing. Hand polished marble floors with inlaid designs pair with custom wall panels to ensure a stunning entrance. This space includes one of the homes more dramatic features. The peacock feather, stained glass panel serves as both a focal point and as a space divider. The designer spent over a year selecting the glass used.

“I want to create the period pieces of tomorrow” LH

The bespoke designed details continue in the drawing room from the floors to the gilded crown molding. The designer’s brother, a master cabinetmaker in South Africa, created most of the large furniture. Verre eglomise panels enhance the hand-carved walnut bookcases on either side of the fireplace.

The pattern of the silk rug repeats on other details including the wide trim along the fur throw. Louis lavished much detail on the upholstery and draperies creating couture worthy, luxury designs. The chairs have as many as five and six different fabrics on them. The caped sofas and the Linden desk are both variations from the designers made to order furniture collection. Gold leaf shellacked Pelican lamps stand at all four corners of the sofas. Double pocket doors, custom finished with designer details, close to make the space more intimate. The Louis XVI-style silk upholstered chairs by the fireplace are my favorite pieces in this room.

“In my interiors, I want you to feel you are entering a different and better world”. LH

The designer extended the color palette of blues and creams with silvers and golds here in the wood paneled formal dining room. The custom table with mirrored side panels groups with chairs upholstered with contrasting fabric on the fronts and backs. A custom lighting fixture, also with mirrored panels, reinforces the shape of the space from above, while a silk rug defines it below.

Located on the other side of the peacock glass feature in the entry hall is a smaller, more intimate dining space. Hand-painted silk wall-covering lines the walls. Breakfast chairs from the designer’s collection composed of varying fabrics gather around a Deco-style round table whose design reflects on the round rug below. The French Art Deco period, of course, strongly influences the design throughout the apartment.

Here we have the home’s media room. Note the balance and symmetry that flows throughout all of the rooms. Repeating designs keep the spaces cohesive. Leather bound, faux books on the shelves conceal the entertainment equipment while the silk upholstered walls conceal the sound system. Tailored curtains composed of several designer fabrics and trims frame those fabulous French doors which look out onto an inner courtyard. The outer trim along the main curtain panels repeats on the design of the custom silk rug’s outer trim. Louis Henri completed many of the paintings throughout the home himself. He’s good!

Very nicely proportioned spaces including four public reception rooms and four en-suite bedrooms complete the residence. The bedrooms all feature silk wall coverings and tailored curtains and bedding. The custom silk carpets continue in these private spaces, as does the bespoke designed furniture.

The bathrooms display exceptionally exquisite, sophisticated design detailing. Some of the bathrooms took over two months to install due to the intricate detailing, book-matching, and inlaying of the marble. The master bathroom (top photo) lays out as a perfectly symmetrical space with 13 foot-high ceilings. Specially designed edges around the vanity prevent water from getting on the leather-upholstered cabinet fronts beneath them. The hand-embroidered blind across the large central window displays Louis Henri’s trademark tree design.

Every detail was carefully drawn up, planned, and executed by the finest of craftspeople. All the way down to the door handles created in New York over an eight month period. You can see the layers of detailing on the draperies with double sided silk, hand-embroidered, appliqued, and beaded. All of the exquisite designs come together to complete this luxury home as a contemporary expression of the French design we know and love.

“I want my designs to put a smile on your face every time you see them” LH

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see more Deco-inspired, contemporary interiors, be sure to check out:

Beverly Hills Deco Villa: Joan Behnke

Art Deco on Park Avenue: Penny Drue Baird

BESPOKE DESIGNED PARIS INTERIORS

Louis Henri Bührmann is a discerning and established interior designer who has been working in London’s interior design industry for over 15 years. Eight years ago, he broke away to found one of the most exclusive and meticulous design practices operating in London today.

Louis finds inspiration in golden age French art deco designers such as Ruhlmann, and Arbus, Edwardian styling and cutting-edge modernism. His fastidious approach to craftsmanship means he only uses the finest possible materials and the highest craftsmanship. He focuses every effort on the smallest details.

Louis Henri Interiors is an exclusive design practice based in London and operating worldwide. The studio specializes in exceptional residential projects. They custom design every element using the finest craftsmanship and finishes. They pride themselves in lavishing every thought and effort into the smallest details. The studio encompasses interior design, interior architecture, a selection of bespoke limited edition furniture pieces and unique artwork.

Interior Design: Louis Henri Ltd

Photography: Richard Waite

Thanks so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed the bespoke interior design of this fine Parisian luxury residence. Let me hear from you in the comments. I hope you learned plenty and have been inspired.

Have a great day!

November 18, 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
London Georgian Townhouse Renewal

Today’s design inspiration comes from an elegant Georgian townhouse located in the heart of London’s affluent Belgravia district. The five-story historical terrace residence, built circa 1817 by renowned architect Thomas Cubitt, is redeveloped with interiors designed for modern day luxury living. The interior refurbishment included the careful restoration of many of its period interior architectural details, balanced with contemporary interior design that brilliantly integrated the best of modern and luxurious amenities. The home was completed by the London-based luxury developer Residence One, with full bespoke interiors by design firm Laura Hammett.

The well-proportioned 4600 square-foot property includes five bedrooms, gracious formal rooms, staff accommodations, and excellent outdoor spaces. The home’s refurbishment includes the finest materials and finishes as well as the latest technology and home automation, complete with “turn-key” furnishings, interior styling, and bespoke design detailing.

In the opening photos, we see the family/media room down on the lower subterranean level of the home. The developer elected not to expand the space by means of the much debated, controversial basement excavations. Instead of expanding the square footage below, the emphasis is on the super high quality of the interior design and customization of the existing space. The room focuses on a custom wall designed to hold the television and equipment in the center with book/display shelves lit with LED lighting on either side. Bespoke designed furnishings gather on a luxury pile carpet. The paintings are by the artist Ben Lowe, with the contemporary lighting by Bella Figura. At the back, a custom marble staircase with frameless glass balustrade leads up to the kitchen. The bar area includes dual zone wine and drinks refrigerators.

The room opens to an inner courtyard with limestone floors that is open through the floors above to provide natural light and air into this lower back portion of the home. Down on this level, there are also two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms ideally designed for guest and staff accommodations due to the home’s separate entrance location here.

On the ground floor, guests enter the Georgian townhouse through the stately high gloss black front door into the entrance hall which sets the tone well for the style in the rest of the home. Polished ivory marble with Pietra gray borders make up the floors and include integrated lighting that highlights the architectural details. The corridor provides access to the main staircase. The length divides into sections complete with custom consoles and lighting fixtures. In one of the sections, 12ct white gold eglomise bronze beveled mirrors line the walls for a wonderful effect. Note the detail of the moldings.

Also situated on the ground floor level are the homes formal dining room and study. Both rooms include custom chevron parquet oak flooring with brass inlays and integrated LED lighting. Both also have white marble Chesney fireplaces with slate hearths. The exquisite chandelier above the dining table is a custom design from Serip. The pendant light in the office is by Porta Romana. The furnishings in both rooms are of bespoke design. Here we have great examples of Classic Contemporary design: Classic architectural details with Contemporary styling and furnishings.

A contemporary chef’s kitchen and informal dining area complete the ground floor. The kitchen includes dark custom cabinetry and book matched Calacatta Ora marble worktops with gray mirrored backsplashes. The sophisticated design features Gaggenau appliances along with all the amenities required to complete a modern kitchen. The furnishings are bespoke designed as with the rest of the home. The contemporary chandelier suspended above the table is by Baroncelli. The room opens to an outdoor breakfast terrace which fills the room with natural light. A skylight also provides ample natural lighting to flow throughout the home. The floor along the back and side open to the family room below allowing the natural light to flow through down into those spaces.

The home’s formal drawing room is located up on the first floor. The grand, double volume room combines classical elegance and contemporary styling effortlessly. The room allows for entertaining in style. The floors are custom chevron parquet oak with antique brass inlay, and this room includes two white marble Chesney fireplaces. The rock crystal chandeliers and wall lights are Ambika. The room divides into two seating groups composed of custom furnishings of bespoke design arranged on silk rugs.

Beyond the drawing room, one can make their way through the bar area with its bronzed beveled mirrored walls and custom cabinetry with brass inlays. The space includes integrated drinks refrigerators as well as a dumbwaiter down to the kitchen below.

Beyond the bar, the home opens to the rooftop terrace. This outdoor entertaining space includes a conversation and dining area with limestone floors. A computerized irrigation system maintains the plants, shrubs, and olive trees.

The entire second floor of the Georgian townhouse belongs to the master bedroom suite. The spacious suite includes a beveled mirror feature wall, luxury deep pile carpet, and bespoke designed furnishings. In the bathroom, Calacatta Oro marble slabs make up the double sink vanity unit and the wall opposite it. Vein matched Grigio Bellimi marble covers the floors. The bathroom includes a large shower and a soaking tub with a television perfectly placed above it. Designer fixtures and an Ambika rock crystal chandelier take the luxury level even higher. The mirrors include automatic demister functions.

The remaining bedrooms and bathrooms in the home display the continued attention to detail and luxury. Custom furnishings, marble bathrooms, designer fixtures, luxury deep pile carpet, silk wallcoverings, luxury bedding, it is all here.

This photo shows the view from above down through the back open sections of the home. As you can see, the refurbishment has tended to every detail quite well. The redevelopment of this Georgian townhouse was a success and the home sold quickly upon completion as expected.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more from residences completed by this team, be sure to see:

Contemporary Mews House: Belgravia

Classic Contemporary Design: Laura Hammett

GEORGIAN TOWNHOUSE RENEWAL

Residence One is a developer of elegant residences in London’s finest addresses. The developers pride themselves on their attention to the beauty and quality of the smallest detail. They make sure that their flawlessly finished developments showcase the world’s very best material finishes and technology.

Laura Hammett is a London interior design and interior architecture studio. The firm specializing in luxury residential projects for private clients and property developers throughout the UK and abroad. The design firm formed in 2008 and today, husband and wife team Aaron and Laura Hammett direct it. Their projects combine a creative timeless approach with a signature elegant and luxurious style.

Property Development: Residence One

Interior Design: Laura Hammett

Photography: Ray Main

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed the renewal of this classic luxury Georgian townhouse updated for modern day living. Let me hear from you in the comments.

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

November 4, 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
Sao Paulo Artist’s Apartment Reinvention

Today’s design inspiration comes from an artist’s apartment reinvention in the upscale residential neighborhood of Pacaembu in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The residence is reinvented with a fresh, contemporary design by one of Brazil’s most prominent interior architecture and design talents Diego Revollo. The designer clarified the space and rendered it a functional gallery for the displaying of a growing collection of artworks alongside works by the owner.

The project called for the editing and refinement of the formal public spaces. The residence was beginning to feel a little dated for it possessed some features rendering it a bit heavy, such as excess plaster details, moldings, and columns. The renovation included the removal of much of the superficial applications and opening the spaces for a cleaner shell. Some of the apartments original features were preserved, such as the wide trim and high baseboards which maintain the apartment’s air of magnificence. The effortless combining of classic and modern design for results that are timeless and livable is a signature for the designer, and well demonstrated here.

The living room is the home’s main showplace where most of the art displays. The mahogany floors are original to the apartment and were preserved beautifully with a finish highlighting the natural grain. White lacquer finishes the walls with a gallery effect with a back feature wall finished in black to create visual contrast. The furnishings gather on a Tibetan carpet and the windows drape with silk from Emporium Beraldin.

EFFORTLESS COMBINING OF CLASSIC AND MODERN DESIGN

On either side of the fireplace, wooden shelves filled with interesting books and decorative objects display personality. A work by the artist Amilcar de Castro displays above the fireplace. The black chair is from the owner’s original collection, now ebonized and reupholstered with a damask fabric.

A signed piece by artist Luiz Paulo Baravelli hangs over the sofa. On the left, framed geometric images adorn the wall.

A white sofa from Sofa Flexform- Montenapoleone gathers with a cream sofa by Le Corbusier. The neutral colors allow the art to shine.

Diego Revollo designed the glass table in the center of the room, executed by Glass Art. It holds a sculpture by Ascanio Maria Martins Monteiro, along with multiple art books and collectibles which make the room more personal and inviting, and allows the artist to express his interest.

The white swivel chair is by Casa Firma.

All the public rooms arrange around a central open space which remains mostly unfurnished. It’s perfect for gathering a crowd when entertaining. The open area provides passage into the wide entrances of the more formal rooms around it. Diego restored the original mahogany floors in this area and finished the walls with white lacquer. A re-purposed antique wooden dresser from the owner’s original contents now serves as a bar. The designer refinished the piece with black lacquer and completed it with a black marble top. A vignette of assorted art, personal items, and barware gather on the surface. A sculpture created by the homeowner stands to the right of the bar.

DESIGNED FOR ENTERTAINING WITH STYLE

The designer created a lounge from a portion of the home’s spacious outdoor terrace. White marble on the floors pair with walls finished in white lacquer to create a sleek finish. Simple white solar shades cover the windows. Diego took great care not to interrupt the natural light that flows through the space into the apartment. Four custom created settees with an aged silver finish and linen upholstery, gather around a grouping of stainless steel tables by REIA. Missoni fabrics make up the cushions.

The original marble floors in the formal dining room remain, after a little polishing. This is my favorite room. Large pocket doors can close the space when desired. A re-purposed antique desk from the owner’s original collection with a glass top form the dining table. Refinished and reupholstered antique Jansen dining chairs gather around. A pair of candelabra stand on a simple marble sideboard the designer placed in front of the windows. A collection of Fornasetti plates adorns the wall. An antique Empire-style Baccarat chandelier, which the designer restored with minor modifications, sparkles over the room.

The designer’s apartment reinvention created a home-office/television room with this final public space of the artist’s apartment. He removed a corridor wall to open and enlarge the space. Diego finished the walls with white lacquer and covered the floors in marble. A custom sofa of bespoke design created by Micasa positions on an angle in the room, along with a black armchair by Casa Firma forming the seating area on the Tibetan carpet. A desk arranges in the angular space behind the sofa, making the room multi-purpose.

That concludes our design inspiration, my friend.

To see another great home completed by Diego Revollo be sure to see:

Brazilian Fashion Stylist Apartment: Diego Revollo

DIEGO REVOLLO’S APARTMENT REINVENTION

Diego Revollo is one of Brazil’s most prominent interior architects/designers with offices based in Sao Paulo. The award-winning designer works mainly in Brazil but also has numerous projects internationally. He is well known for his effortless combining of classic with contemporary design for interiors that are both timeless and livable.

Interior Architecture & Design: Diego Revollo

Photography provided by Diego Revollo Arquitetura

Thank you so much for reading along with me today! I hope you enjoyed today’s Sao Paulo Artist’s Apartment Reinvention. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

October 26, 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
Hollywood Inspired Interiors: St George’s Hill

Today’s design inspiration comes from a classic-style residence within the prestigious St George’s Hill estate near London with old Hollywood inspired interiors designed for high-style entertaining. This custom 8,000 square-foot residence presents beautifully with well-proportioned rooms spread over two floors. Behind the traditional façade, the home shines like a designer show house with completely bespoke designed interiors by the renowned design firm Hill House Interiors. The luxury home marries contemporary style, and old Hollywood inspired glamour, with modern sophistication and efficiency.

DESIGNED FOR HIGH STYLE ENTERTAINING

The drawing room serves as a center for elegant gatherings with a look of layered luxury. Art Deco lines define the space. Upholstered seating gathers on a custom zebra print rug before the central Deco-style marble fireplace surround and mirror. The styling lets you know that this is about cosmopolitan chic and not tired formality. Luxe fabrics and fur throws elevate the furnishings to posh heights. Stacks of books and collected objects on glossy surfaces make the space personal and inviting.

The composition here gives the room worldly sophistication.

The drawing room opens to a spectacular entertaining space with a well-equipped, fully functioning bar. Let the party begin! Black lizard-embossed leather covers the floors. Faceted mirror panels on the bar give the room a sexy 60’s vibe. The bar includes wine and drinks refrigerators, an ice maker, and a dishwasher, along with 50-inch plasma television. Glass doors across the back stack to the side, opening to the covered terrace for indoor-outdoor entertaining.

The entertaining bar area flows into the formal dining room and gourmet kitchen. We don’t have any photos showing the kitchen area in detail, but the clean lines and glossy finishes continue. Most of the appliances hide behind sliding glass doors. Very sleek and sophisticated, so much so, visiting guests ask, “where’s the kitchen.” For me, this sounds like the ideal kitchen. A second room beyond includes an oven and plenty of space for food preparation before bringing it to the public areas. Pleated velvet upholstered chairs surround the long dining table.

The flow continues into a more relaxed living room area that includes a television mounted above the firebox. Again, the glass doors across the back wall stack to the side, fully merging the indoors and outdoors.

The home’s Hollywood inspired interiors include an impressive cinema room complete with metallic fabric upholstered walls, comfy seating, large Hollywood photos, and dramatic crystal-dripping wall lights.

The bespoke detailing continues into the study/home office. Look at the detail on that partner’s desk.

CHIC & GLAMOROUS

Guests enter the home into the impressive central reception hall with its grand staircase fanning left and right. Marble covers the floors and stairs which include a glass balustrade with a padded leather handrail. A spectacular antique crystal chandelier sparkles above it all. Beneath the staircase, pearlized leather panels conceal doors that open to storage space.

Upstairs, the residence includes a total of five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a gym. The Hollywood inspired interiors continue through the entire home.

“Unparalleled and impeccable attention to detail with a love of luxurious materials and couture furniture”

The large Master bedroom suite totals 1,500 square feet designed especially for relaxation. The designers even brought in a specialized lighting expert to create the perfect lighting situation for every function. The space includes two separate dressing areas. The large Hollywood-glamour master bath features polished marble, glossy black lacquer, mirror panels, and Deco-style Swarovski crystal lighting sconces. The suite opens onto a terrace overlooking the back lawn and gardens.

The home includes a 3-car garage and sits on an elevated south-facing acre of land.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see another St George’s Hill mansion, be sure to see:

Classical Inspired Design: Furze Croft Mansion

Neo-Georgian Style English Estate

GLAMOROUS HOLLYWOOD INSPIRED INTERIORS

Hill House Interiors is an award-winning Design Consultancy with offices based in Weybridge, Surrey, and a Showroom in London. Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves built their award-winning Design Consultancy with their friendly, approachable attitude, enthusiasm, and meticulous attention to detail. They take pride in every commission in the UK or abroad whether the client is a leading developer in the luxury housing sector or a private individual. Impeccable attention to detail and a love for luxurious and innovative materials, combined with couture furniture, have become the signature of Hill House Interior Design.

Interior Design: Hill House Design

Photography: Thierry Cardineau Photography

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed today’s Hollywood inspired interiors. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

October 19, 2015
Modern Classic Design: Golden Mile

Today’s design inspiration comes from a brilliantly renovated 4,000 square-foot historical apartment in Montreal reconfigured for modern luxury living. The residence is within one of the rare remaining structures erected during the cities gilded age in its glittering Golden Square Mile. The modern classic design created here perfectly recaptures the glorious past through restoration and renders it for today through innovation.

The stunning Neoclassical architectural details that defined many of the palatial homes in this once noble area live on here. The old is new again, architecturally speaking at least. The splendor of the Golden Square Mile, whose mansions were built from the mid-nineteenth century until the ending of the 1930s will never be the same. In those days, the Gentry, business titans, bankers, and both the old and newer fortunes resided here. All these holders of significantly concentrated wealth competed to outshine one another which produced grand aesthetic achievements. Some of the greatest moments in design history occurred at such times, think Versailles. The residents dazzled with their audacious ornate residences and decadent living.

In time, changing attitudes swept away the glory. New business models, the war, and the introduction of the income tax broke the hold. The biggest call for the end of the golden mile excesses was the widening social and income inequality gap which reached its natural tipping point as it always has through history, again- think Versailles. By the 1980s, less than 30% of the magnificent mansions remained, and only a small fraction was held by private owners. The neighborhood around is predominantly commercial now with only the occasional reminder. Our residence today happens to be one such reminder.

MODERN CLASSIC DESIGN INSPIRATION

Completed by Interior Designers Jay Britto and David Charette of Britto Charette, with offices in Miami and New York. The designers created a luxury home that embraces the best from the old while infusing the best of contemporary design for a home suitable for its sophisticated and worldly new owner. Careful preservation closely guided every decision. From this exacting labor of love, a beautiful Golden Mile restoration emerged. The completed re-design includes the addition of a formal master suite, a rebuilt foyer, a sweeping staircase, and a sleek new kitchen, to complement the beautiful living spaces. Britto Charette also infused practicality by adding heated walls and floors throughout to ward off the frigid Canadian winter temperatures.

The designers created a luxury home that embraces the best from the old while infusing the best of contemporary design.

In the living room, luxurious Macassar ebony with carved silver detailing forms the bar, humidor, and sleek coffee table. These special pieces were handcrafted in Paris by designer Patrick Baguech. The fabulous graphic rug is by Kyle Bunting. Great lengths were taken to select the perfect marble to go over the fireplace which serves as art itself. The handsome herringbone floors are original to the apartment, as is the molding. When the originals couldn’t be saved, the design duo enlisted a plaster specialist to carefully recast the originals ensuring authenticity.

Julian Opie’s Maria 2 presides over the chess game area located at the rear of the living room. Very elegant indeed! Many of the elegant pieces throughout display a strong Art Deco design inspiration.

The dining room features a brilliant work by Paul Beliveau. A custom dining table from Europe pairs with chairs accented with Missoni upholstery by Reagan Hayes on a custom silk rug. The elaborate plasterwork features stunningly throughout the home.

I love the bright white, the articulated architecture, the beautiful floors, and the french doors which I envision as inspiration – I can’t get enough. In addition to that, there is a story that we can learn that is so relevant today. Plus, I am thrilled that the designers preserved the stunning Neoclassical architectural details. The modern classic renovation didn’t sacrifice any of the home’s grand proportions and maintained the hierarchy of the rooms.

The sleek new eat-in kitchen features glossy black and white cabinets and a lacquered Poggenpohl system. The stainless steel and marble countertops have stone slab backsplash. Stainless steel designer appliances including a glass front wine refrigerator add sophistication. Carrara select marble floors and a mirrored ceiling complete the kitchen with ultimate style.

Christopher Hyland fabric upholsters the bespoke designed curved banquette that defines the breakfast area. The designers raised the banquette so that the radiant heat could flow with ease. As with most homes, this area receives the most activity.

The comfortable enclosed family room also serves as a library with silk upholstered walls, built-in shelves, and bespoke designed furnishings.

No modern classic designed luxury home would be complete without a room for watching television.

Versace’s New York showroom inspired the brilliant chevron marble design surrounded by the mosaic spray on the flooring in the foyer and upper landing. The landing features a glimmering sculpture of a Hermes Bag by Jonathan Seliger, along with Russell Young’s Marilyn Crying, which gives the space a very luxe contemporary vibe.

In the master bedroom suite, Macassar and ebony millwork form the bespoke designed bed structure, giving the room a refined air. At the foot of the bed, a chest holds the pop-up television. A visit to the Tom Ford boutique in Las Vegas served as inspiration for this bedroom.

The master bathroom features Calacatta gold marble on the walls and countertop and includes a free-standing soaking tub. The designers included lots of hidden luxuries throughout the property such as the television hidden within the mirror here. It’s so perfect to have classic-inspired formal rooms and sleek contemporary kitchen and bathrooms. Britto Charette is on point!

One of the bedrooms features silver-leafed walls by de Gournay, painted over in gouache.

The home now has room for noise and play, for watching television and for entertaining, for conversation and for contemplation. A Modern Classic designed home lived in with love in the heart of the Golden Mile.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more fabulous homes by these designers, be sure to see:

Firethorn: Contemporary Mountain Retreat

Marquand: Refined Contemporary Design

Seaside Contemporary Residence: Regalia

BRITTO CHARETTE’S MODERN CLASSIC DESIGN

Britto Charette Interior Design reflects the modern tastes and design demands of today’s discerning global clients. Their bilingual and well-traveled team brings the best in global design innovations to their discerning clients. These include luxurious finishes, cutting-edge trends in color and patterns, and trusted building materials. Offices in Miami and New York City allow them to help clients around the world plan and develop luxurious interiors.

Interior Design: Britto Charette

Photography by David Giral

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed this wonderful home restoration by these talented designers! Let me hear your thoughts in the comments!

Have a wonderful day!

***UPDATE***

Britto Charette is expanding! The design firm unveiled a new room at Casa Cor in Lima, Peru! Great festivities accompanied the reveal after months of planning, designing, and building the incredible dining room for Casa Cor. From October 1st through November 8th, BRITTO CHARETTE celebrated the unveiling of their spectacular dining room. The new room features an all-Peruvian cast of artists and manufacturers. For more info: Britto Charette Casa Cor Lima

October 11, 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
Contemporary Desert Retreat

For our design inspiration today, we have a contemporary desert retreat. This Southwestern home, located in Scottsdale Arizona, beautifully merges the indoors with the outdoors creating a perfect get-away. The residence’s design fully embraces the concept of indoor-outdoor living. It not only brings elements from the outside in, but also extends the indoors out with an extensive series of outdoor living areas.

The owners, a couple from the Midwest, visited the area frequently and loved the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and the peace it provides. They decided to create a permanent place here. The couple wanted to build a vacation home for themselves and their four grown children so they could come and enjoy anytime they wished. More than just a vacation home, they desired a place where they could escape the hectic pace of their lives. This luxury contemporary desert retreat, showcasing natural materials, allows them to connect with and enjoy the beauty and peace of the surroundings.

Noted local architect Bing Hu designed the 7,500 square-foot residence. The home sits high on a hill over-looking the 18^th hole of a golf course with stunning views of the nearby mountains. Stacked stone forms the exterior, a nod to the region’s Indigenous heritage who built their dwellings with it, complete with a copper roof. To perfect the interiors and give the home a sophisticated, contemporary finish incorporating the area’s natural elements, the couple enlisted local interior designer Janet Brooks.

The opening photo shows the homes dramatic foyer. The rounded space echoes the overall circularity of the home and features a unique floor design consisting of a black granite surround and textured glass center under-lit with LED lighting. Special radiused niches in the dark stained, rift-cut oak-paneled walls, here and throughout, display pieces of the owner’s collection of art glass.

Beyond the foyer, the space opens wide to the vast open living area. The glass doors all along the outer walls stack to the side fully opening the space and connecting it with the outdoors. The custom curved sofa anchors the living room, backed with a granite-topped console which mirrors its shape. A custom display, lit from below to show the glass collection, punctuates the end of the console. The owners collect colorful art glass, so the designer used various well-lit pieces to function as visual focal points. African mahogany and Macassar ebony with a frosted glass top form the cocktail table. The side table is also mahogany. The designer created bespoke furnishings in muted, earthy shades, designed just for their place here, to fill the home. The polished granite fireplace surround conceals a pop-up television that lifts when in use. The limestone flooring continues from the foyer extending all the way outside onto the patios. The stacked-stone walls of the exterior facade continue inside here and throughout.

For the dining area, custom granite and fossil-topped dining tables stand on casters. They pull apart for intimate meals or push together for larger gatherings. The tables gather with plump, leather upholstered chairs by Dakota Jackson.

The sleek, contemporary kitchen features custom dark-stained oak cabinets with glass panel inserts, paired with charcoal granite counter-tops. The backsplash provides visual interest with its colors reflecting those around it while its glass components add a little sparkle. The ceilings have been given a special treatment here as well. The stainless cooking appliances are Wolf with refrigeration by Sub-zero. The bar stools are by Berman Rosetti.

The master bedroom is a dreamy sanctuary. The bed tucks into a private cove. Dark oak cabinetry surrounds the leather headboard which continues over the bed creating a solid canopy. The chest at the foot of the bed holds the pop-up television. The room’s warm tones and rich woods make it solid and reassuring. The addition of silk, velvet, and fur make it inviting and luxurious. That shade of blue makes it perfect for me. The area rug reflects all the colors in the room with its smart geometric pattern. The chairs deep seats add to the cocooning effect.

It is perfectly cozy right? Stacked stone continues in here for the fireplace wall with that huge fire blazing in it. Do not worry though, its gas logs. The corner of the room opens fully in both directions with pocket doors. The bedroom merges with the pool and patio area flooding the space with natural light. This is my favorite room in this Contemporary desert retreat.

The master bath really boasts a spa like feel. The oak cabinetry framing the bed continues in here around the granite topped vanities. Separate vanities and dressing rooms on either side of the central bath area give both partners their own space. This, in my opinion, plays a big role in a happy marriage. A stone soaking tub stands in front of the large, glass enclosed, walk-through shower. Edge-set River rock lines the back wall and creates the heated design feature on the floor reflecting the skylight above. The room opens to an outdoor shower area, also accessible from the pool.

The second floor holds the office which includes a private deck overlooking the 18th hole. The desk and credenza are by Dakota Jackson. Black Venetian plaster finishes the walls. Leather tiles cover the ceiling. Paintings by Max Hammond provide color.

And finally, we have the outdoor area. The relaxed ambiance continues outside. An intimate alfresco kitchen sports a two-way fireplace and cozy seating area. Multiple sitting areas arrange out here, some covered and some not. The large serpentine-shape pool features both zero and negative edges, plus a beach entry and a spa. In the center of the pool stands a raised island accessible from the patio by a series of elevated stepping-stones rising above the water. It holds a miniature cactus garden on one side and an agave-shape fire feature on the other.

The effect created is exactly what was hoped for. The transition from inside to outside is a very easy one making it all feel like a great open space. The completed contemporary desert retreat now serves as a dream destination for the whole family to enjoy. Warm and welcoming and truly as one with the spectacular natural vistas that surround it.

“Passionate, detail-oriented design. We’re about luxury living.” JB

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more vacation homes that merge the indoors with outdoors, be sure to see:

Firethorn: Contemporary Mountain Retreat

Contemporary Mountain Retreat

ARIZONA CONTEMPORARY DESERT RETREAT

The Janet Brooks Design team is passionate, organized, and diligent about the interior design process, specializing in the creation of very personal luxury homes in exclusive locations. The interior design team knows that your time and your budget are of utmost importance, and their process is geared to enhance the successful execution of your project within your parameters.

Janet Brooks Design appeals to a clientele that is sophisticated, discerning and has high expectations. They draw inspiration from you, the way you live your life, and the architectural detailing of your home to create spaces that are never duplicated.

Architecture: Bing Hu @ handsinternational.com

Interior Design: Janet Brooks Design

Photography: Mark Boisclair

Phoenix Home & Garden

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed today’s Contemporary desert retreat. The clean lines, nature-based design elements, and bespoke design details of this luxury home serve as wonderful inspiration. Let me hear from you in the comments!

Have a wonderful day!

October 2, 2015
Contemporary Penthouse In A Period Gem

Our design inspiration for today comes from a bold, contemporary penthouse created within a Victorian period building in Kensington, London. The dramatic modernization of this residence within its traditional shell was completed by London based Staffan Tollgard Design Group. The property developers brought the Tollgard Group in to give the penthouse a luxe contemporary finish, the design firm’s specialty. Always respectful of the architectural setting, Tollgard works to bring forth bold, sophisticated interiors. With function at the heart of every design, their homes are eminently livable making them perfect for this project.

As with many of the grand, five-story Victorian structures in historic Palace Gate, the lower floors have higher ceilings and more traditional period details to preserve. Not so much on the upper levels making them well suited for a sleek, contemporary design. This ultimately gave the design team 2,925 square-feet spread over two floors to bring into the 21st century.

KENSINGTON CONTEMPORARY PENTHOUSE

The completed home includes spacious, open living and dining areas. In the opening photo, you see the large skylight above the living room. A grey Flexform sofa anchors the room on a custom rug from Kymo’s NY Loft Collection. A contemporary Nahoor floor lamp gathers with a pair of Mood armchairs flanking the fireplace. The painting above conceals the television. One turns on the TV with the remote, and the abstract art slides to the side to reveal the screen. Bright shades of orange provide zesty punctuation against the neutral pallet throughout the home. The color works well with the warm woods and compliments the clean lines and symmetry.

“We are telling the story of a client through their home, using the language of design. What is the hero piece of each room? How do light and shade work to create atmosphere?” Monique Tollgard

On the other side of the room, a 14 series pendant light from Bocci suspends above the dining table that seats eight. The collection of paintings on the wall behind create a modern focal point. With the client being a developer, the budget wasn’t as expandable as it can be with private clients. Fortunately, all involved agreed that a decent amount would need to be spent on furniture, etc. to show the apartment in its best light.

The home’s private access elevator opens onto the downstairs entry hall. Stone floors and a curved walnut paneled wall make a striking first impression. This space includes a cantilevered staircase leading up to the level above. The design team further enhanced the hall by creating a modern art gallery of it with custom lighting and carefully sourced works of art. This is my favorite space in the home. The details come together to lift what could have been an otherwise bland inner corridor.

Randy Cooper’s exquisite wire sculptures captivate the eye with their simplicity and tease the mind with the subtle details in their shadows.

The curved wall gives access to the home’s media room. A Flexform sofa stands before an upholstered wall that conceals the sound equipment.

The home features a very edited kitchen. Being a high-end project in a prestigious area, the designers only used the best materials. Crisp white combines with distinctive blue in this Schiffini kitchen with custom Corian counter-tops and Gaggenau appliances. The space includes an informal dining area with a modern-style table and seating for six. A black Foscarini pendant light suspends above further enhancing the modern effect.

The gallery treatment on the lower level continues up the stairs. The second-floor landing includes a glass balustrade and a skylight above.

The upper floor contains three bedrooms with en-suite baths. Silk wall covering adds subtle textural interest to the simplicity of the rooms. The clean, simple lines and minimalist design of the low beds by Flexform increase the feeling of space. A pair of Contardi wall lights position on either side of the bed. The master suite includes a dressing area, and it opens onto a terrace overlooking Kensington Palace Gardens. The master bathroom includes an Aquamass soaking tub and vessel bowl sinks from CP Hart.

The apartment includes a home automation system: audio/visual, electric shades and drapes, a comprehensive lighting system, temperature, security, etc. all controlled via touchscreens. Thoughtful design, from the Philippe Starck door, handles to the Gaggenau kitchen appliances, to the bespoke designed cabinetry, all sourced to the highest of specifications complete this contemporary penthouse.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more residences completed by the design group, be sure to see:

Knightsbridge Contemporary Penthouse: Staffan Tollgard

Knightsbridge Townhouse Renovation

STAFFAN TOLLGARD’S CONTEMPORARY PENTHOUSE

Husband-and-wife team, Staffan and Monique Tollgard, manage the design group. Staffan’s design ethos consists of two principles: the search for the Scandinavian notion of the distinctive ‘Red Thread’ or creative DNA in each project, and the commitment to the creation of ‘functional sculpture.’ These twin philosophies culminate in the creation of a home for the best of contemporary design curated from around the world in their London-based Design store.

Staffan primarily focuses on product design for leading international brands, while Monique leads the interior design arm of the company. The group works on a variety of projects for private and developer clients, from large-scale new builds, listed refurbishments to decorative projects around the world.

Interior Design: Staffan Tollgard

architecture: Dominic Warren- Rawspace

Photography: Richard Gooding

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. I hope you enjoyed today’s Contemporary penthouse. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

September 28, 2015
Jamie Drake’s Apartment: West Chelsea

Jamie Drake is one of the brightest lights in the world of interior design today. The New York-based superstar designer believes that the best décor expresses personality and place. He has created some of the country’s most glamorous interiors and has garnered the industry’s highest accolades. With his fresh, inventive style and his attention to detail, the designer creates luxurious interiors that are inviting and livable. For our design inspiration today, we look to Jamie Drake’s apartment in West Chelsea of New York.

Since launching his firm, Drake Design Associates in 1978, he has completed interiors for an impressive roster of high-profile individuals. Notable clients include the iconic Queen of Pop- Madonna, and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Drake designs a range of products for some of the world’s most renowned manufacturers including home furniture, fabrics, rugs, faucets, and fixtures. His latest move saw him forming Drake/Anderson, a successful partnership with Caleb Anderson.

Today we tour his personal 3,000-square-foot Manhattan apartment. The two-bedroom corner unit, with a large open living space, perfectly suits the designer. Located within an unprecedented, stainless steel residential tower, it represents the best in downtown chic. Designed by Selldorf Architects in the heart of the gallery district, the apartment enjoys unobstructed views of the Hudson River. The tower was first to offer an En-Suite-Sky-Garage allowing each owner to park on their floor. An elevator, programmed to recognize your car, takes you up to your private garage.

The sophisticated interiors of Jamie Drake’s apartment include 16-foot ceilings, and full height Wausau windows that completely mute all street noise. The spacious open living area arranges around a central six-and-a-half-foot-square custom cabinet bespoke designed by Drake. The cube divides the space creating two seating zones.

One side of the cabinet holds a television. On this side, a 13-foot-long Jamie Drake sofa upholstered in Schumacher silk pairs with a Milo Baughman lounge chair upholstered in Christopher Hyland Mohair. Thomas Ruff’s Substrat 24 I hangs above the sofa. A pair of club chairs, and a Madame X ottoman, both covered in Rubelli velvet all gather around a marble and granite coffee table by the designer on the Haldis I rug from the Alpha Workshops Collection by Edward Fields.

On the opposite side, the cabinet houses floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. This side is for cocktails and conversation. Drake designed the L-shaped sectional sofa and cocktail table which gather with a 1960’s Hand Chair by Pedro Friedeberg. For fun, the designer mounted a faux antelope head with a bondage-style black leather mask by Michael Combs. Gold leafed floor lamps by the Alpha Workshops illuminate the space. Stacked vibrant photo art by Alexandra Penny bridge the two seating spaces.

Jamie Drake loves to have guests over for cocktails and often entertains large crowds. Generous space to the side of this seating area remains intentionally open. One needs a place for dancing when entertaining a crowd. The area opens out to the loggia, which holds even more guests. Venetian-plaster in a sidewalk gray completes the walls of the living room, with ebonized teak on the floors. Window drapery panels of lamb’s wool satin by Clarence House frame the floor to ceiling views.

A custom two-tiered island, comprising a 22k gold-leafed cabinet that runs parallel to a dark-gray-lacquer appliance wall, and a 17-foot-long white Corian counter with inlaid-gold-leaf-designs, that overlaps it at an angle defines the open kitchen. A pair of pendant lights in hand-blown amber glass and steel frames suspends from above. The second pic shows the view one sees upon entering the apartment. The large, framed portrait is by Chuck Close.

Alpha Workshops, a non-profit organization, completed many of the design details throughout Jamie Drake’s apartment such as the gold-leafing, the plaster finish on the walls, and even various items of furniture. The organization provides training and employment in the decorative arts to people with HIV/AIDS. Drake serves as chairman of the organization’s board.

Leather bar stools from the Bright Group gather around the end of the Corian counter creating an eat-in area. The home does not include a formal dining area or dining table. Drake does not cook and doesn’t entertain that way. The idea behind the kitchen design has it serve more like a glamorous wet bar versus an ordinary utilitarian kitchen. Drake designed the home to reflect himself and his urbane lifestyle. The open living space functions a bit like a chic cocktail lounge.

I must say, concerning the kitchen- this is exactly how I feel as well. I never cook and only use the refrigerator and microwave in my kitchen. Before marriage and my now shared home, I always placed a silver tea set on my range to mask it. My husband does cook and uses the kitchen though (a lot). I still rarely go in there except to get something to drink. Anytime he is gone for any length of time, I edit the counters and put everything away. My ideal kitchen is an unused kitchen with nothing at all on the counters except an occasional decorative item. We compromise on this detail. I totally understand and appreciate Jamie Drake’s apartment kitchen design here.

The master bedroom is the designer’s sexy interpretation of the gentrified neighborhood’s once-gritty streets made glamorous. He lacquered the walls a high gloss gray. Drake had the custom bed upholstered in vibrant coral color, crocodile patterned, hair-on-hide, with coordinating coral color, lacquered nightstands. High above the bed, recessed into a coffer, the ceiling is mirrored. The room includes a custom-colored abstract rug from the Archive Collection by Edward Fields, and plum Linen Cellophane Boucle drapes.

The designer finished the bathroom walls in Perky Peach Venetian plaster. He ebonized the drawer fronts of the vanity. The fixtures are by Boffi. A granite soaking tub completes the bathroom.

And here we have the signature en-suite garage. In Manhattan, a designated parking space is a super luxury. Having one right outside your high floor apartment was unheard of and the news of it created in this building had the city buzzing. Drake decorated the double-height space, installing an aluminum slatted ceiling at an angle. He suspended from it a sculptural chandelier designed by Ted Abramczyk for Ralph Pucci. One can’t park their Rolls Royce just anywhere. When the designer hosts big parties, he parks his car elsewhere and the space serves as a lounge for more guests. Drake entertains 30 to 50 guests several times each month and as many as 250-300 and more on several occasions. Jamie Drake’s apartment suits his entertaining style perfectly.

And last for our tour, the furnished loggia-terrace. The apartment also has another bedroom with an en-suite bath and a guest powder room. A Crestron system fully automates the residence with everything at the touch of a button. The place is brilliant and so personal. The residence fully embraces all that modern design offers and is perfectly gracious and inviting with a style that is witty and engaging.

“There is little that doesn’t inspire me.” JD

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

To see some more vibrant, very personalized interiors, be sure to see:

Eclectic Luxury Design: Lori Morris

Theatrical Design: Manhattan Loft Residence

JAMIE DRAKE’S APARTMENT DESIGN

Jamie Drake is the man behind some of the country’s most distinctive, glamorous, and livable interiors. He is widely regarded as one of the first designers to popularize Modernism in interior design, beginning in the 1980s. The award-winning, famed designer is known for his fearless approach to color as well as his fashion-conscious sensibility. He is a legend in American Interior Design.

Drake/Anderson, led by award-winning designers Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson, creates sophisticated interiors that are luxurious, refined, and always have a touch of the unexpected. Dynamic eclecticism is the hallmark of the New York-based firm, whose work forges a perfect balance between timelessness and today. At the heart of every project is the belief that the best décor expresses personality and place. The resulting environments are inviting, delightful, and above all resolutely livable.

Interior Design: Drake Design Associates, now Drake/Anderson

Photography by Marco Ricca

Architectural Digest

Photos and info courtesy of Jamie Drake (and Whitney)

Thank you so much for reading along with me. I hope you enjoyed today’s inspiring interior design! What do you think of Jamie Drake’s apartment? Let me hear from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

September 25, 2015