Tag: Luxury design

Vesta Interior Design Launch Announcement

A new interior design firm specializing in luxury property has launched in London. Vesta Interior Design, a boutique design house, brings the efficiencies of high volume projects to the bespoke market both in the UK and internationally. The highly creative company provides exceptional interiors for private clients and property developers.

Vesta Interior Design was established by Chris Dale, who serves as Chief Executive Officer. The company has experienced exceptional growth and demand for its services, which is contributed to the company delivering dedicated customer service and unrivaled expertise to each of its clients.

Since its inception 12 months ago, the team has grown to 17 strong. The team is a collaboration of creative minds and property experts with over three decades of combined experience. They have completed over 400 projects across the capital for high profile developers as well as private residences. Completed projects include Fitzroy Gate, Legacy Wharf in Stratford, Royal Wharf, Discovery Tower, Holland Green, Chelsea Waterfront and more.

Vesta provides a seamless and innovative design service across luxury developments and private residences. The designers blend originality with functionality to create interiors that complement the lifestyle of each client.

“Having spent 10 years working for the largest investment furnishing provider to the industry, I watched it grow from a boutique operation to a large-scale corporation and from this experience I learnt the importance of the highest levels of customer service and quality, enabling me to create a design firm with the ethos of understanding what the client needs, and bringing the efficiencies of mass combined with the service of bespoke.” Chris Dale

“Whether a client is a large-scale developer seeking a new show home, a private client who wishes to renovate their family home or a luxury penthouse in need of the highest, most exclusive bespoke finishes, our design team will create an exclusive interior of timeless luxury and style. Vesta Interior Design is led by a team of people who are outstanding in their profession and together we have built a company which has filled a much-needed gap in the market.” Chris Dale

Vesta Interior Design works with private clients and property developers to create interiors which are beautiful, functional and practical. From grand family homes to city penthouses, and investment properties to private rentals, the Vesta team, has a solid understanding of the markets in which they work, and the needs of the clients.

The company also specializes in assisting with development launches and sales across Asia, showcasing their product and services to a range of clientele. The highly experienced team utilizes their local market knowledge – whether that’s in the UK or internationally – to deliver a project that is going to be attractive to the end user.

Chris personally selected the team at Vesta. All have vast experience working on projects across the world. They possess the ability to provide a seamless and innovative design service to both luxury developers and private clients.

The company’s international offering enables clients to complete their project via a team they can trust. This has proven to be a vital service for international clients.

With a hands-on interior design team offering in-depth knowledge of how to design a home to sell, many of the developers Vesta have worked with have achieved increased inquiries and sales. As a result, Vesta has gained recognition from key sales agents in the both South East Asia and the Middle East.

“We’re proud of our extensive knowledge of the London property market when representing clients in the UK and overseas. Our understanding of what people desire from a living space enables us to provide homes which we are confident will be functional for the end user.” Chris Dale

“Flexibility and creativity are the cornerstones of every project we undertake. From the initial consultation to the extensive property survey, rigorous attention is given to the finer details, and every aspect professionally managed.” Chris Dale

“Our team has an enviable depth of experience working on the best developments in the property market – and as such we guarantee exceptional results. We also take great pride in our track record of delivering projects efficiently, reliably and to strict deadlines. We can meet to highest expectations.” Chris Dale

Providing outstanding customer care is a key tenant of the Vesta Interior Design business. From the start to completion of a project, one of the directors of the design firm handles each customer, acting as their daily account handler and liaison person. In addition, the directors will travel to their client’s homes, offices or wherever they are in the world to provide them with updates on the interior design of their home.

Vesta Interior Design for Luxury Market

For further information about Vesta Interior Design, please contact- 0800 135 7888 or visit:

http://vesta-london.co.uk/

photography: Veronica Rodriguez

Press Announcement-ElevatePR

More to read:

Park Crescent Luxury Homes

Alexander McQueen Penthouse: Style Homage

Thank you so much for reading along with me today!

Have a great day!

July 2, 2018
Luxury Bespoke Design: Brummell Penthouse

For our design inspiration today, we have the Brummell Penthouse at Beau House completed by Oliver Burns. Beau House is a new luxury development located on Jermyn Street in London’s exclusive St. James neighborhood. The residence takes its name from the iconic Regency era arbiter of men’s fashion, Beau Brummell. The interiors pay homage to the location, best known for bespoke tailoring and fine gentlemen’s attire. This one-of-a-kind penthouse marries British tradition with contemporary styling to create the best in luxury bespoke design.

The 4,000 square-foot penthouse spans the top three floors and includes a roof terrace and outdoor space on every level. Designed for 21st-century luxury living, the home features bespoke designed furnishings, luxe finishes, and state-of-the-art technology. Oliver Burns infused their signature thoughtful luxury into every detail.

LUXURY BESPOKE DESIGN INSPIRATION

The penthouse arranges top down to make the best use of the space, with the bedrooms on the fifth floor, and the public rooms on the sixth. The roof terrace spans the full width of the seventh floor.

The sixth-floor reception space includes the open plan living, kitchen and dining areas. The room lays out with distinct zones, each with its unique style. A color palette of gray and navy blue, accented with orange and green reflects those used in traditional tailoring. These pair with dark stained oak floors in a herringbone pattern.

The living room area gathers before the bespoke media unit that conceals the television when not in use. A button-tufted sofa upholstered in gray with contrast piping groups with velvet covered occasional chairs with bronze stud detailing. The arrangement sits beneath a gilded ceiling coffer holding a sparkling custom, contemporary crystal chandelier. A hand-knotted Tibetan wool-and-silk rug defines the space from below. Side tables with an antique nickel frame and smoked oak top pair with a Macassar ebony sofa table with bronze dividers.

The dining area gathers beneath another custom, contemporary crystal chandelier. A bespoke table in sycamore stone with ebonized detailing pairs with eight upholstered dining chairs by Aiveen Daly.

The contemporary kitchen includes cabinetry by Boffi finished in graphite gray oak with Quartzite Calacatta counter-tops and back-splash. The space integrates appliances from Gaggenau: ovens, microwave, warming drawers, refrigerator and wine cooler, with a Boffi hob cook-top and Miele dishwasher. Velvet upholstered bar stools by Brabbu with walnut legs and brass detailing, form a breakfast bar beneath pendant lights by Lee Broom.

The polished white Namibia marble staircase with bespoke glass balustrade and bronze handrail provides passage between the floors. A bespoke sculptural plaster wall in a geometrically patterned relief lit with concealed LED lighting stands behind the stairs. A velvet upholstered bench groups with metal nesting tables with bronze glass tops.

Dark stained oak doors, detailed with inlaid bronze metal profiles open to the master bedroom. The console table is bespoke designed by Oliver Burns.

The master bedroom includes a wall of full-height windows. Oliver Burns designed the custom bed with upholstered head and footboard standing before the bespoke fretwork headboard, as well as the side tables. The bedside lamps are by Porta Romana. A bespoke built-in dressing table with leather lined internal compartments, and polished nickel drawer pulls stands beneath Tigermoth pendant lights. A sofa by Larforma stands at the foot of the bed before a bespoke rug laid on the bamboo carpet. The leather upholstered ottoman incorporates side tables.

Sliding doors open to the en-suite master bathroom, which is flooded with natural light. Polished aqua Bianca marble covers the floor and walls. The shower includes a book matched polished Arabescato marble feature wall. A floating vanity unit finished in high-gloss sycamore with silver leaf drawer pulls holds a Blue De Savoie marble top. Above it, backlit beveled mirrors reflect the bespoke crystal chandelier. Before the terrace windows, a soaking tub with faucets by THG Paris stands before a 27” Aquavision TV for long enjoyable baths.

The door by the bed leads to the master bedroom dressing area with leather lined, bespoke cabinetry finished in dark oak with high gloss tabu edges.

In a second bedroom, the bed integrates with a bespoke upholstered headboard tailored with stitching details and bronze stud work. Bespoke bedside tables with leather inlaid tops and nickel drawer pulls stand on either side. A flush mounted contemporary crystal chandelier sparkles above.

In the second bedroom’s en-suite bathroom, polished Carrara Joia marble covers the walls and floors. A bespoke vanity combines mirrored drawers with basins carved in Marmara marble with polished chrome faucets by THG Paris. The shower holds a feature wall in Marmara marble laid vertically and a 27” Aquavision TV. A crystal pendant light by Spina punctuates the contemporary glamour.

In a third bedroom, the bespoke upholstered headboard includes bedside lights by Heathfield & Co., with tassels by Wendy Cushing. Bespoke Mahogany bedside tables stand beneath custom mirrors with antique silver frames. Pinstripe fabric wallcovering by Brian Yates lines the walls. A sofa by Brabbu with chrome detailing stands at the foot of the bed. The white sateen upholstered, tufted ottoman stands on a bespoke geometric rug. A Lexington ceiling pendant by Heathfield & Co shines above it all.

The third bedroom’s en-suite bathroom includes polished Statuario marble covered walls and floors. Book-matched polished grey Marquino marble forms a feature wall in the shower. A bespoke vanity combines mirrored drawers with a gray Marquino top. Statuario marble encases the bath surround which includes a 27” Aquavision TV. The Lalique faucets are designed by Jamie Drake in chrome with crystal inserts.

The roof-top terrace, a super luxury for central London, provides another level of luxury bespoke design. The outdoor space includes purpose zoned areas; living, dining, and kitchen. Gray porcelain tile with an anti-skip finish covers the floor. The outdoor kitchen features granite counter-tops and stainless-steel cabinets, integrated with a grill, refrigerator, and wine cooler. The dining area, with seating for eight, stands on a bespoke herringbone grille providing underfloor heating. George Smith all-weather furnishings form a living space before a 42” Aqualite outdoor TV. A glass balustrade extends across the front of the building. This is a fabulous place for outdoor entertaining with style.

That concludes our luxury bespoke design inspiration for today.

For more exceptional London penthouses, be sure to see:

CLASSIC MAYFAIR PENTHOUSE: ORO BIANCO

KNIGHTSBRIDGE CONTEMPORARY PENTHOUSE: STAFFAN TOLLGARD

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN PENTHOUSE: STYLE HOMAGE

Oliver Burns: Luxury Bespoke Design

Oliver Burns is a luxury architectural interior design studio that thoughtfully designs the world’s finest homes. Working across an exclusive portfolio of some of the world’s best international turnkey projects, their multi-disciplinary team has a world-class reputation for bespoke private commissions, super-prime developments and elegant spaces that are synonymous with a luxury lifestyle.

Interior Design: Oliver Burns

Property Development: Beau House – London

Thank you so much for reading along with me today my friend. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments. What do you think of this St. James penthouse?

Have a great day!

April 9, 2018
Contemporary Traditional Design: Southern Mansion

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

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

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

CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL DESIGN INSPIRATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fifth Avenue Classical Design

Georgian Modern Traditional Elegance

Venetian Waterfront Residence: Cullman & Kravis

Transitional Design Update: Park Avenue

HOUSTON CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONAL DESIGN

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

Architecture: Allan Greenberg

Interior Design: Cullman & Kravis

Photography: Bjorn Wallander

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

Have a great day!

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

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

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

Russell Hill Eclectic Luxury Design

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

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

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

Castle For One

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

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

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

English Manor

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

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

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

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

Four Seasons Residences

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

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

Lori Morris’ Eclectic Luxury Design Conclusion

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

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

Modern Classic Design: Golden Mile by Britto Charette.

Contemporary Penthouse Design: Studio Munge

Iconic Luxury Design: Ferris Rafauli

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

Interior Design: Lori Morris

Photography: Brandon Barre

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

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

Have a great day!
June 20, 2017
Classic Contemporary Design: Laura Hammett

Laura Hammett is a London-based interior design and interior architecture practice specializing in high-end, luxury residential projects. The multi-award-winning firm, formed in 2008 and now ran by husband-and-wife team Aaron and Laura Hammett, has quickly become an industry highlight offering highly personalized bespoke design services for developers and private clients. The firm’s work combines a meticulously detailed approach with their signature timeless classic contemporary design style tailored to meet the individual needs of each client.

For our design inspiration today, we are looking at some of the best from multiple completed projects starting with one of their latest. The first residence is a redeveloped historic Belgravia townhouse with connected mews property completed with property developers Residence One. This 7,100-square foot home includes beautiful entertaining rooms, five-bedroom suites, staff accommodations, and an indoor leisure complex with spa, pool, and gym. Laura Hammett completed this residence with over £1 million of bespoke designed furniture, fittings, and specially curated works of art presented as a “turnkey” luxury home. The Chester Square residence is the epitome of fashionable luxury London living.

Signature Classic Contemporary Design

The opening photo shows the grand first-floor drawing room with its full height French doors swagged in elegant draperies. Architectural moldings and millwork respect the structure’s Georgian history while also emphasizing its ideal proportions. A restored original fireplace surround and mantel with a gilded mirror above serves as the room’s focal point. The room’s classic features combine with bespoke designed contemporary furnishings. Silk and suede upholstered sofas pair with damask-covered modern chairs on a custom silk rug with a Bella Figura chandelier suspended above to form the conversation area.

The formal dining room is another expression of the designer’s timeless classic contemporary design style. Another original fireplace surround mounted with a gilded mirror centers the room. On either side of the fireplace stands a bespoke designed dark oak cabinet with laser cut leather upholstered doors. Each cabinet conceals a Gaggenau wine fridge inside which is just brilliant. A bespoke contemporary lighting fixture suspends above the dining table.

The sophisticated study includes herringbone oak floors with antique brass trim. Bespoke oak and suede cabinetry provide plenty of space for public display and concealed storage.

The master bedroom suite is a decadent delight that commands the entire second floor with the bedroom, dressing room, two bathrooms, and a private terrace. Silk upholstered walls and plush, deep pile carpet envelope the room with textured luxury. A freestanding silk button-tufted headboard forms a partition that brings the room forward to create more intimate scale. The space behind it creates more dressing area before the wall of glass door closets that leads to a dedicated side dressing room. Silk draperies frame the windows and silk velvet covers the seat at the end of the bed dressed in custom luxurious linens.

Emperador marble covers the bathroom wall and floors. Bespoke vanity and dressing tables line the generously scaled room. The rear holds the walk-through shower while a freestanding soaking tub is in the center. The antique gold faucets and fixtures are by Samuel Health. The mirrors include automatic demisters and LED lighting. The room completes with a limestone fireplace mounted with an antique mirror that conceals the television within.

The home delivers a seamlessly flowing living environment, enriched with thoughtful functionality, elegance, and classic contemporary design style.

Our next residence is another refurbished historic Belgravia townhouse completed with developers Residence One. This one is a bit smaller with 4,600 square feet over five floors. The refurbishment included the restoration of many period features balanced with the best for a contemporary luxury lifestyle. Laura Hammett designed the interior architectural details and finishes with full turnkey furnishings and their signature classic contemporary design styling. I covered this entire project at length in my post: London Georgian Townhouse Renewal. It is fabulous!

Above, we see the first floor, formal drawing room. The double-volume room is designed for entertaining with style. It arranges into two seating areas each gathered on a silk rug before a white marble fireplace, beneath a sparkling Ambika rock crystal chandelier.

The ground floor of this magnificent home holds both the formal dining room and the study with similar looks. The rooms have custom chevron oak flooring with brass inlays and integrated LED lighting. Both rooms feature silk-covered walls and classic architectural details, and both have white marble fireplaces. The furnishings for each of these rooms are bespoke designed. The chandelier in the dining room is by Serip, while the pendant in the office is a Porta Romana.

Laura Hammett completed the design with an understated elegance that would complement, rather than compete with the classic architecture.

Our next residence is a redeveloped mews house located in the heart of Belgravia. This house is a little smaller and a bit more contemporary but still respectful of its historical origins. The 2,200 square-foot home arranges over three floors. Laura Hammett designed the architectural details and interior finishes. They also bespoke designed every piece of furniture in their classic contemporary design style. I covered this project in its entirety, which you can see in my post: Contemporary Mews House: Belgravia.

The above photo shows the ground floor entrance hall with its inlaid marble floors. The entrance hall gives access to the bespoke helical staircase with marble steps and recessed LED lighting. The stairway, which leads to the upper floor and the basement level below includes beveled mirrored walls along the back extending all three levels. A 23-foot bespoke designed Serip chandelier suspends down through the center to all floors. The mirrors reflect the natural light that comes in from the upper floors and distributes it through to the lower level. It is an extremely attractive and statement-making feature that also serves multiple practical purposes.

The living room is just off the entrance hall. In this chic space, the ceiling shines with a specialized high-gloss finish which mirrors the polished marble floors below. These design details also help to reflect light through the home. A television integrated into the wall above a bronze-framed firebox serves as the room’s focal point. On either side of it, custom fumed eucalyptus shelves with mirrored backing create a visual display and storage. A pair of facing sofas centered by a pair of cocktail tables gather on a custom graphic rug to form the conversation area.

The marble floors and high-gloss ceilings continue here in the sleek custom kitchen. Handmade, high-polished bronze cabinets with walnut interiors pair with Carrera marble counter-tops with mirrored back-splashes. The appliances are by Gaggenau. Laura Hammett’s use of bespoke luxury details significantly increases the appeal of this home’s limited space.

Our final residence is a 2,200-square foot apartment set within a historic Georgian townhouse in Marylebone. The design team thoughtfully balanced features that reference the homes Georgian heritage with furniture and finishes that make it a home for contemporary life.

Here in the living room, the design team kept everything light and simple. A large cream sofa gathers with bespoke eglomise and bronze tables and accent chairs on a carved, polished rug to create a serene backdrop for the owner’s collection of Tibetan art.

The luxurious master bedroom is a dream. It looks so inviting and comforting with the upholstered headboard, deep pile carpet, and the dense layers of window draperies. The pearly whites and silvery shades of gray make it even more calming and gorgeous.

The courtyard beyond is central to the home and accessible from all the main rooms making it excellent for extending entertaining outdoors.

The perfect finale for this showcase apartment is the custom dressing room. Pearlescent walls, polished carpet, endless mirrors, glass-fronted closets, and display lighting. Just add some seating against the open wall, and many fashionistas would seldom care ever to leave.

Laura Hammett’s designs respond to the architectural vernacular of each property, contextual and geographical cues and the individual culture, lifestyle, and taste of each client. Bespoke design is integral to the Laura Hammett approach and every facet of a project is meticulously designed, ensuring that each home is just as practical as it is beautiful.

That concludes our design inspiration, my friend.

CLASSIC CONTEMPORARY DESIGN INSPIRATION

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 completed property developments showcase the world’s very best material finishes and technology.

Interior Design & Interior Architecture: Laura Hammett

Property Development: Residence One

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. What do you think of Laura Hammett’s signature Classic Contemporary Design styling? I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a wonderful day!

June 12, 2017
Bespoke Luxury Design: Chester Square

Today’s residence is a newly redeveloped 19th-century, seven-story townhouse in the prestigious Belgravia district in London. This property was given an entirely bespoke luxury design by twin brothers Will & Ben Samuels of the boutique property development company Wilben. Every new feature is custom designed specifically for this home and finished to the highest specifications. Due to its historical and architectural significance, the brothers maintained and carefully restored many of the original period features. The results are a mix of contemporary and British heritage that perfectly captures the heart of high-end British interior design today.

The home is in affluent Chester Square, one of the most highly regarded garden squares in the city. Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher lived here after her tenure until she passed in 2013. It is the largest of the family townhomes that make up the imposing white stucco fronted terraces overlooking the private garden which is open only to residents of the square. This home uniquely benefits from a double mansard roof, allowing for additional bedrooms upstairs, and an unusually large mews house at the rear. The completed residence now totals over 8,000 square feet spread over seven floors with an elevator to reach each. Continue reading for more details.

The first photos show the first-floor formal living room. Wilben maintained the room’s original proportions and restored some of the original features such as the cornices and the beautiful marble fireplace. Wainscoting and additional architectural detailing emphasize the dimensions while honoring the structure’s history. Silk wall-coverings line the upper portions of the walls adding a bit of luxe. The floors are handset, stained and lacquered oak. Bespoke, satin lacquer finished oak cabinetry includes integrated LED lighting and hand stitched padded panels. A custom commissioned crystal chandelier from Italy sparkles over the central seating area. Bespoke furnishings with tailored cushions and cashmere throws group into zoned conversation areas on custom wool/silk area rugs. Tailored window dressings in wonderful fabrics frame the windows that look out over the garden. The entire home is turn-key finished in anticipation of the lifestyle of those who will occupy it.

To increase the available living space, Wilben connected the main property to the mews house at the rear. The original mews was rebuilt with a basement excavation that extends it down two levels to line up with the main house and the two merge to provide over 1,000 additional square-feet.

The living room opens onto a private open-air terrace leading to the family media room (above) created on the first floor of the mews. Accordion glass doors across the front fold completely to the side. A rear staircase provides direct access to the kitchen below. The room features a large skylight above complete with integrated electric blinds. The oak flooring and bespoke cabinetry in the front living area continue back here. Bespoke furnishings gather before the large television centered in the cabinetry.

The main entrance hall on the ground level includes inlaid marble floors to create a more formal welcome. The restored original staircase shows beautifully with the silk carpet runner.

The formal dining room positions at the front on the ground level. The room centers with an original marble fireplace flanked with bespoke oak cabinetry with antiqued mirror backing and padded paneled doors. Applied moldings inset with fabric wallpaper cover the walls. A contemporary-style silk and crystal chandelier suspends above an oval table surrounded by chairs upholstered with different but complimentary fronts and backs. Wilben created the room for formal entertaining with a bespoke luxury design that balances Georgian heritage and contemporary living.

A handsome study situates on the ground floor beyond the dining room. Stained oak floors in a chevron design and paneled walls create a smart home office that is both elegant and practical.

The kitchen and family dining area complete the ground floor, spanning the width across the rear. The bespoke Hacker kitchen features Quartz worktops with smoked glass back-splash and professional grade Gaggenau appliances. Italian marble clads the back wall and forms the breakfast bar. The thoughtfully designed space is suitable for both family use and grand scale entertaining.

The lower ground floor holds the home theater. A super-high definition projector displays onto a 108” acoustically transparent fixed screen. Stained timber inset with padded upholstered panels cover the walls. A back-lit, specialist finished coffered ceiling crowns the room. Deep, comfortable seating custom created for this space continues the bespoke luxury design that defines this home.

The lower floor includes a wine storage area designed with stained and lacquered oak flooring and shelving.

A twenty-five-foot-high light well, formed in the center runs through the core from the basement up through to the first floor. A skylight at the top, forming part of the terrace floor, shines natural light through to interior windows and on down here to the lowest level. The space features a wall covered with green ivy to bring a sense of the outdoors into the rooms that open to it. The area at the bottom of the light well serves as the home gym/yoga room.

Two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms down here bring the total to eight. The designers included these to serve as staff quarters along with a separate staff kitchen and a convenient side entrance. Here, one of the bedrooms serves as a spa treatment room.

The home’s configuration allows for two spacious full-floor master bedroom suites up on the second and third floor. Both bedrooms lead through bespoke dressing areas to large marble bathrooms. The home’s bespoke luxury design is very apparent in the bedrooms. The bed’s design integrates with the entire wall it extends from with upholstered and mirrored walls, built-in side cabinetry and side closets with upholstered doors. Across the room, more upholstered closets flank a central integrated writing or dressing nook. The beds finish with custom bedding and automated tailored draperies open and close at the touch of a button.

Four additional bedrooms each with en-suite bathrooms make up the fourth and fifth floors with luxury and style. The home also includes a two-car rear loading garage created on the ground level of the mews house.

That concludes our design inspiration for today. To see more bespoke luxury design in London be sure to check out:

Bespoke Design: Contemporary Luxury

Luxury Interior Design: Mayfair

Glamorous Luxury Design: Elicyon

Wilben’s Bespoke Luxury Design Listing

This turnkey residence complete with its bespoke luxury design is available for immediate occupation through agents Savills and Strutt & Parker.

Established in 2009, Wilben’s philosophy is simple: create the most desirable homes within London’s most desirable addresses. The company prides itself on its holistic private service which provides clients with both interior design and architectural services that are second-to-none. They only work with known and trusted teams of contractors and specialists who commit to the extremely high standards they demand. Wilben’s design team combines creativity and excellence to deliver interiors of the highest specifications where quality is apparent in every detail. The company offers a complete, professional and bespoke property development service, from acquisition to completion.

Property Development and Design: Wilben

Thanks so much for reading along with me, my friend. Be sure to let me know what you think of Bespoke Luxury Design: Chester Square. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.

Have a great day!

May 29, 2017
Modern Luxury Design: Greenwich Estate

For our design inspiration today, we have North Court, a stately 1906 Tudor-style mansion on 3.75 gated, park-like acres in prime mid-country Greenwich, Connecticut. The 15,500 square-foot brick and limestone manor’s interiors have been extensively renovated and redesigned for a modern luxury lifestyle. New York-based interior designer Mark Cunningham has rendered the Greenwich estate an idyllic family home, as well as a showplace for the owner’s impressive collection of contemporary art and significant mid-century modern luxury furnishings.

The two-and-a-half-year renovation included the sensitive preservation and restoration of the many of the home’s original details. The alterations made were done in the spirit of the original. The moldings and plaster work, like those here in the opening photos of the living room, were salvaged to maintain the home’s authenticity and charm. The living room includes custom-created cream upholstered sofas and a pair of Jacques Quinet armchairs. Several works of art display prominently including a spot painting by Damien Hirst and a portrait by Andy Warhol to name just a couple.

The foyer features two Andy Warhol portraits and one of his Brillo box sculptures. A work by Jean-Michel Basquiat displays above a 1970s gilded-iron sofa across from a work by John Baldessari. A 1950s chandelier by Jean Royere suspends above a center table mounted with a bronze apple sculpture by Claude Lalanne.

The family room’s built-in bookshelves and coffered ceilings create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The fireplace with the Marilyn Monroe print by Andy Warhol serves as the focal point of this sitting area formed by a pair of custom-created chaise lounges upholstered in a gray alpaca-linen tweed.

A more dramatic tone defines the adjoining dining and media room, with their walls covered in a deep blue paint by Fine Paints of Europe. In the dining room, a vintage table and chairs custom designed by Mark Cunningham gather on a custom carpet by the Mitchell Denburg Collection. A bronze chandelier by Achille Salvagni hangs above. A flower painting by Andy Warhol presides above the mantle, flanked by a pair of Jean Royere sconces.

A Restoration Hardware sectional sofa provides plenty of comfortable seating in the media room. There is also a 1950s Pierre Guariche armchair and a 1930s André Sornay stool.

The master bedroom and sitting area are a serene dream in pale creams and white. Rogers & Goffigon sheers drape the Mark Cunningham designed canopy bed. Lamps by Roberto Giulio Rida top the 1970s Karl Springer nightstands. A pair of vintage Lucite benches stands at the end of the bed. An early-20th-century club chair by Jules Leleu pairs with an Aurélien Gallet bronze side table. The photograph is by Elmgreen & Dragset.

The Greenwich Estate includes a total of seven bedrooms with en suite baths. This guest room tucks in under the eaves.

In the playroom created for the owner’s young son, blue paint from Farrow & Ball covers the walls while a custom carpet by Merida covers the floor. A wraparound banquet provides ample seating for grownups. A teak play table pairs with Verner Panton chairs from Vitra. Even in here, the art continues with a Marilyn portrait by Andy Warhol.

The greatest changes brought about with the renovation occurred down on the lowest level. What was once just a series of unutilized small rooms with thick walls and metal doors transformed to create an additional 3,000 square-feet to hold the extra amenities every modern luxury home must have. The wine cellar/tasting room includes limestone floor tiles in a herringbone pattern and century-old subway lighting. In addition, the lower space now holds a home theater, a yoga and massage room, and a sauna.

The Greenwich estate also includes several freestanding structures which feature more modern luxury including a two-bedroom guesthouse, an Equinox equipped gym and even an enchanting tea house. There is also a covered loggia with a fireplace for outdoor entertaining, an expansive terrace, lighted tennis courts, and a pool. The meticulously landscaped grounds include formal gardens, a courtyard with a fountain, and mature trees. Stately wrought iron gates give access beyond the stone wall that surrounds the property. The entire place looks and sounds utterly charming.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more modern luxury residences, be sure to see:

Manhattan Contemporary Luxury Apartment

Biscayne Bay Waterfront Mansion Redesign

Modern Luxury in a Historic Greenwich Estate

A little more about the interior designer Mark Cunningham. He spent over fifteen years as a Creative Executive at Ralph Lauren, before starting his design firm. Mark Cunningham Inc. works on a broad range of diverse projects on every scale, from residential interiors to hotel design as well as architectural consultation and retail concepts. Serving a variety of clients worldwide, the designer is renowned for his singular interior compositions. Each of his projects is unique, an individual expression of his clients’ lives and lifestyles. To learn more about this designer and to see more of his incredible work, be sure to check out his website.

Interior Design: Mark Cunningham

Photography: Richard Powers

Architectural Digest

Thank you so much for reading along with me today. Be sure to let me know what you think of today’s post in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great day.

April 7, 2017
Contemporary Classical Interiors: San Francisco

Our design inspiration for today comes from an elegant contemporary classical apartment located in one of San Francisco’s most desirable residential addresses. Architect Andrew Skurman and interior designer Suzanne Tucker transformed a full floor, 6,000-square-foot apartment into a contemporary home rich with classical architectural details and modern luxury. The residence is within an exclusive 1924 Beaux-Arts luxury co-op apartment building often called the “crown jewel” of prestigious Pacific Heights. It is set among a beautifully landscaped garden and positioned to provide stunning unobstructed views of the city and San Francisco Bay.

The apartment was a dream find for the new owners, a married couple who were long-time clients of the designer, though the 1970s-interior design was not. The architect reconfigured the floor plan to provide a more open, circular flow ideal for elegant entertaining and comfortable modern day city living. He gutted the original five-bedroom space and created a single master bedroom suite complete with separate his-and-her studies, bathrooms, and dressing rooms.

The well-proportioned public rooms feature high ceilings, beautiful Parquet de Versailles floors, and Neoclassical-style architectural details including deep crown molding, fluted pilasters, and Doric columns. The classical elements combine with an edited curation of English furnishings, European antiques, new bespoke pieces, and contemporary art. The results are highly personal, richly layered, luxurious contemporary classical interiors designed for the owner’s lifestyle.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL DESIGN INSPIRATION

In the opening photo, we see the living room where linen damask by Rose Tarlow Melrose House adds a soft, subtle texture to the walls. Nathan Oliveira’s Stele/Head painting hangs above a custom cinnamon-colored, silk velvet upholstered sofa. The table lamp is a re-purposed Han-dynasty jar. The designer artfully mixes antiques from all periods alongside contemporary works creating a look that is timeless and original.

An 18th-century Spanish mirror hangs above a Louis XV marble fireplace mantle, while a pair of Napoleon III side tables sits on either side. A custom ottoman inset with an 18th-century Italian textile centers the room which gathers on a 19th-century Oushak rug. Brunschwig and Fils velvet on the tub chairs adds a bit of edge to the setting.

David Hockney’s Table Flowable hangs above an antique French commode. Juan Hamilton’s For Annie sculpture stands to the side.

Richard Diebenkorn’s Blue injects a bit of color above a 19th-century English desk and armchair. The gourd lamp is vintage by Robert Kuo.

Robert Motherwell’s Africa Suite #6 creates a worldly sophistication paired with an 18th-century Chinoiserie cabinet holding an antique bronze Buddha head.

A sumptuously decorated, window framed alcove provides scenic views of the San Francisco Bay. The decadent alcove, highlighted with a stately pair of Doric columns, also gives access to the terrace. A custom sofa upholstered in a Clarence House fabric and a pair of silk damask upholstered Michael Taylor “frog” chairs gather on an antique Khotan rug.

A domed ceiling crowns the statement-making oval entrance hallabove, while a dramatic inlaid Belgian marble floor completes it below creating an exemplary contemporary classical scene. A pair of George III mirrors and Demilune tables flank the entry to the living room.

The formal dining room includes the only details that remain from the previous design; etched mirror moldings, inlays and door panels. A Directoire dining table groups with a suite of Queen Anne-style armchairs by Gregorius Pineo beneath a Biedermeier chandelier from Therien & Co. The drawing is by Richard Serra.

The spacious kitchen includes bleached white oak cabinetry, cafe au lait marble counter-tops, honey oak floors, glass-fronted china cabinets, and Viking appliances.

In the walnut-paneled library, custom embroidered citron-hued draperies frame the windows. A 19th-century English center table from Florian Papp groups with chairs by Soane Britain upholstered in chartreuse calfskin. Frank Stella’s Study for New York Interpreted centers the room.

Traditional elegance defines the soothing master bedroom which serves as a true sanctuary for the owners. A recessed oval dome illuminated by a rock crystal chandelier continues the contemporary classical styling. Layers of textured fabric create the feeling of being ensconced in a cocoon. Strie silk upholstered walls set the luxurious tone. Embroidered fabric from Colefax and Fowler make up the window and outer bed draperies. Schumacher silk makes the bed skirt and lines the inner side of the bed drapes. A Chippendale Secretary anchors the wall between the windows. On another wall leading into the wife’s study, an antique English giltwood mirror hangs above an 18th-century Italian Chinoiserie commode.

In the wife’s dressing room, a custom created tiger-patterned wool and silk carpet covers the floor. An Ironies light fixture sparkles above. Christopher Hyland silk velvet covers the chaise giving the room a glamorous appeal.

Her bathroom includes a custom vanity in a white gold finish faced with antiqued mirror and restoration glass. A tortoiseshell mirror and a pair of rock crystal lamps create an ideal dressing table. An inlaid mosaic design on the floor traces the perimeter of the room highlighting the soft apricot marble surfaces. Stained walnut envelops his bathroom which completes with cocoa marble surfaces. The lighting pendant is from Marvin Alexander.

The husband’s study is paneled in rift-sawn oak. Draperies made with a fabric by Cowtan & Tout dress the windows while a vintage Khotan rug covers the floor. The desk is a custom design in the style of Andre Arbus.

That concludes our design inspiration, my friend.

For more projects completed by this designer, be sure to see:

Relaxed Traditional Style: Pacific Heights

California Mediterranean: Enchanted Oaks

SUZANNE TUCKER’S CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL INTERIOR DESIGN

Suzanne Tucker, based in San Francisco, is one of the country’s leading interior designers. She is a founding partner at the design firm Tucker & Marks, which has long been considered one of the most respected and successful interior design companies in the country. The designer has an extraordinary line of beautiful home furnishings, an exquisite fabric collection, a collection of dinnerware, and more.

Tucker has published two books, Rooms to Remember: The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker and Suzanne Tucker Interiors – The Romance of Design. This project is featured in the second. Be sure to check out both Interior Design Books. They are truly inspiring.

Suzanne Tucker interprets her clients’ dreams of home and translates them into lavishly decorated rooms, perfectly tailored to their interests, passions, and personalities. She marries each of her designs to the tastes and sensibilities of her clients while always honoring classic design principles. The result is exquisitely polished interiors that blend timeless Old-World elegance with modern luxury and spirit.

Architecture: Andrew Skurman

Interior Design: Tucker & Marks Design

Photography: Matthew Millman

Additional: AD Magazine

What do you all think of today’s Contemporary Classical Interiors in San Francisco? Let me hear from you in the comments.

Thanks so much for reading along with me!

Have a great day!

March 11, 2017
Iconic Luxury Design: Ferris Rafauli
Ferris Rafauli is a leading Canadian architectural designer and master builder of exceptional luxury estate homes. His name is synonymous with iconic luxury design. He is responsible for conceiving, designing, and building through to a complete turn-key finish some of the most notable luxurious estates, commercial projects, and lifestyle creations in Canada.

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

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

ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN: PUBLIC SPACES

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

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

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

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

ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN: PRIVATE QUARTERS

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

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

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

FERRIS RAFAULI: RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE FACILITIES

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

That concludes our design inspiration, my friend.

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

Eclectic Luxury Design: Lori Morris

Modern Classic Design: Golden Mile

FERRIS RAFAULI’S ICONIC LUXURY DESIGN CONCLUSION

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

Ferris Rafauli- Iconic Designer & Master Builder

Photography: Brandon Barre

Architectural Digest

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

Have a great day!
December 21, 2016
Contemporary Lakeside Villa: Eric Kuster

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

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

CONTEMPORARY LAKESIDE VILLA DESIGN

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

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

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

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

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

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

A ROOM WITH A VIEW WILL ALWAYS CALM THE SOUL

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

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

REFINED OPULENCE WHISPERS AND NEVER SHOUTS

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

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

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

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

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

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

Sexy Bachelor Pad Luxury Design

Contemporary Design: Eric Kuster

Eric Kuster Contemporary Lakeside Villa

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

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

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

Interior design: Eric Kuster

Photography: Paul Barbera

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

Have a great day!

November 4, 2016
Luxury Upholstery: Aiveen Daly

Aiveen Daly is a luxury upholstery specialist who, along with her team of highly skilled artisans at her London studio, create some of the finest upholstery work I have ever seen. Her intricate couture level work features hand-beading, stitching, and fabric manipulation techniques using the finest fabrics and leathers for which she has become known.

Aiveen’s exquisite embellishment and expert tailoring of home goods over the last ten years have made her the most in-demand luxury upholstery specialist in the UK. A global clientele allows her to practice her craft at the highest levels. The studio is constantly innovating to create beautiful bespoke furnishings and interior surfaces and regularly collaborates with the world’s top interior designers and architects.

Her work has shown here on this site in multiple projects we have featured on London designers. We have received loads of questions and feedback. In response, we decided to focus today’s design inspiration solely on the luxury upholstery of Aiveen Daly.

LUXURY UPHOLSTERY DESIGN INSPIRATION

Inspired by the world of fashion’s haute couture, Aiveen’s hand-upholstered pieces combine meticulous attention to detail and flawless execution applying many of the rules of couturiers. Her artisan team creates everything in the studio and completes each work with acute precision using specialist instruments to position buttons, fabrics, and beads one-tenth of a millimeter in place. The quality is of the highest unquestionable caliber. This precise detail is what sets the work of Aiveen Daly apart from the mass-produced goods on offer today.

Let’s take a look at some of her items!

The Flourish chair is a majestic high backed chair with pearl & bronze floral beadwork applied by hand. The design takes inspiration from the exquisite Lesage embroidery of the 1940’s. It’s here with black gloss legs though other finishes are available. Aiveen works with clients to create bespoke luxury upholstery commissions, all produced in a range of color palettes.

The Paradise chair takes inspiration from the vibrantly embroidered creations of Gucci’s design director, Alessandro Michele. Striking emerald green Tabularasa by Dedar and a pleated gloss satin upholster the chair. The contrasting fabrics are stitched on the bias, and the gliding bird is beaded and embroidered entirely by hand with tiny bronze, black and gold beads, and gold thread. It is shown here with lacquered black gloss legs with bespoke brass sabots. Many other finishes are available on request. The chair requires seven specialist craftspeople four months to finish by hand.

The Swathe Stiletto chair is shown first in a formal dining room completed by London luxury developer Oliver Burns. The feminine silhouette is swathed in suede or satin meticulously upholstered by hand with skinny tapered legs. It is shown here with a Spina pearl and crystal tassel. The chair was also used by luxury design firm Elicyon in the dining room with additional hand-beading and embroidery applied. You can see it featured in Glamorous Luxury Design here.

The Concertina bench is upholstered in smooth Dedar Tabularasa 100% cotton satin and Italian lambskin leather. The leather is twisted and woven to create wonderful concertina folds. The Bolsters are decorated with hand stitched leather tabs and nestled into the upholstery. They rest perfectly on the carved dark oak satin-stained plinths. Custom sizes and finishes as always are available.

Inspired by the iconic Chanel handbag, the Ice Diamond Bench comprises over 250 symmetrical and meticulously placed hand-quilted diamonds in the softest leathers. The process requires time and absolute precision. Here it stands on gray gloss legs but comes in a variety of finishes for the legs and fabric or leathers for the luxury upholstery.

The Electra Chair functions as a dressing or dining chair. It shows here in silver satin with weighty metal belt detail across the back. The belt comes in silver or gold metal finish. I think it would be fabulous in suede or a supple leather. Do you love these details? I would love many items in my house complete with such thought. Aiveen also does upholstered doors, wall panels, headboards, and full canopy beds.

The art deco-inspired Liberty Stiletto chair includes hand-embroidered crystal and metallic beads on meticulously pleated satin. Bejeweled glamor is everything!

Here we have the hand sculpted and fluted Olympus chair in a dark pink satin with pleated details and a silver metal knot design. Also available in gold metal finish.

The Agave Stiletto chair’s design is painstakingly beaded by hand with antique bronze, silver, and pearlescent beads. It is meticulously upholstered in cream cotton satin on glossy black legs.

The Chevron chair, inspired by the work of Azzedine Alaia, is a stunning dressing or dining chair shown in deep blue metallic vinyl with precision cut and stitched seams upholstered by hand.

“Every day I am inspired by couture, jewel settings, and other haute crafts which become so personal to their owner. I have tried to relay that with upholstery at the centerpiece as it has a very tactile and aesthetic quality. I hope the craftsmanship in each piece will sing out to match the technical ingenuity and conjure up a genuine sense of delight.” Aiveen Daly

Aiveen sees her work as the couture of the upholstery design industry, and she uses many of the same suppliers as the fashion houses. For that reason, her work tends to follow fashion trends more than interior decorating ones. Her pieces have increasingly come to be viewed as art.

The business is not without its challenges. Because everything is unique, it’s tough to plan a timetable because you just don’t know how long things will take. Often, the studio has to have several attempts at something before it is perfect. Aiveen admits that this can be incredibly frustrating but the reactions of her clients when they see the result is worth it.

For the most part, Aiveen works with interior designers on behalf of high net-worth individuals rather than the clients themselves. One of the things asked for most is dining chairs. The dining room is one of the most important rooms in the house for many of her clients. Glamourous entertaining is essential. Statement dining chairs are extremely popular.

I’ll wrap up this post with a collection of Aiveen Daly’s very popular couture cushions.

Dip-dyed feather cushion, Feather golden-tip cushion, Speckled flower feather cushion, and Feather flower pink cushion.

Various takes on her Empress cushion.

Crystal drop cushion, Silver bow cushion, Embroidered chevron cushion, and Silver belt cushion.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

I have such huge respect and admiration for the talented craftspeople who uphold the standards of quality in hand-created goods. It is so important that we support them and keep these traditional methods alive and relevant in these fast times. We must celebrate creative artistry. We cannot allow traditional forms of craftsmanship to fade away.

AIVEEN DALY’S LUXURY UPHOLSTERY

On her website, Aiveen also has a small collection of some of her most popular cushion designs available immediately, including some shown here. You definitely want to check it out!

Aiveen Daly

Photos and info via, courtesy of, and with special thanks to Aiveen Daly.

Thank you so much for reading along with me. Let me hear from you in the comments! What did you all think of today’s Luxury Upholstery by Aiveen Daly?

Have a great day my friend!

October 15, 2016
Georgian Modern Traditional Elegance

This gracious Georgian-style mansion, situated on 100 rolling acres in New Jersey’s horse country, features richly detailed modern traditional interiors. It is newly built but designed to feel like it has been around forever, yet perfectly equipped for modern life. Architect Allan Greenberg designed the 16,000 square-foot home with its twenty-five well-proportioned, generously scaled rooms with interiors by interior designer Elissa Cullman of Cullman and Kravis.

The owners desired a home with the precise composition of Georgian architecture, which led them to Greenberg. The architect has been creating stately classical residential and public buildings for over 40 years. He is considered one of the leading classical architects of the 21st century.

To give their new home the warmth and comforts of modern traditional design, they knew they could count on Cullman and her senior designer Jenny Fischbach, who had completed two other residences for them. The design firm has been doing interiors for 30 years and is one of the leading proponents of modern traditional design. Their fresh and clarified take on traditionally designed spaces, which is ideally suited for contemporary life, was what this home needed.

MODERN TRADITIONAL DESIGN INSPIRATION

A grand scale house needs an equally grand entrance. Greenberg created a sequence of three rooms for the greatest statement-making entrance. Sharp geometry is a fundamental element in the home’s design. Each of the three rooms has a different shape. A square foyer at the front door gives way to a larger elliptical reception hall and then on to a long stair hall. The flow is perfect when entertaining larger groups of guests.

In keeping with the Georgian ideas, the architect used a variety of geometric shapes and volumes to create a natural circulation that flows from room to room throughout the home. The elliptical room sets a very classic, formal tone with its domed ceiling and Ionic columns.

Porto Beige and Lagos Azul limestone make up the floor’s intricate designs. The twisting shapes in the bronze sculpture by Tony Cragg echo those of the elegant winding staircase above it.

Frank Stella’s Opposites Attract painting from the 1960s hangs over a George III settee upholstered in ribbed silk.

An oversize console is appropriate for the grand scale of the spaces. Above it, an antique gilded mirror reflects a modern painting by Kenneth Noland hung across the way.

The main living room access is on the entrance pathway. Antique leaded-glass over-door windows give the interiors a sense of age. A 1965 painting by Joan Mitchell hangs over the sofa upholstered in Lee Jofa fabric inside the room.

The gracious living room is a comforting space divided into two full seating areas, with a Regency center table placed between them. A 19th-century red-ground Sultana rug sets the palette for the entire residence. The toasty beige Venetian plaster finished walls provide a neutral base for the contemporary art.

A contemporary blue painting by Robert Motherwell hangs over an antique bookcase.

A pair of antique gilded Chippendale mirrors flanks the fireplace, which has a contemporary work above it.

The Octagonal sitting room is a less formal living area, though still quite elegant and designed in the modern traditional style. The beautiful Cinnabar walls give the room an exotic energy. A comfy custom sofa upholstered in a Gray Watkins fabric anchors the room before the window. A pair of converted Japanese Meiji period bronze trumpet vases form the lamps. The coffee table is composed of a specimen marble top on a carved mahogany base. The silk striped draperies pull together all of the colors in the room and had the tassels worked in beautifully too. The works on either side of the windows are by Stuart Davis.

The wood-paneled library, located across the way from the living room, offers a soothing palette of blues. The traditional rug establishes the color which repeats around the room; silk draperies, pillows, art, accents, and in the blue-and-white Chinese porcelain on the shelves.

A rare 18th-century hand-painted wallcovering from Gracie covers the walls in the elegant formal dining room. It is among the best examples of its kind, with every bird and leaf painted differently. A pair of consoles gilded in white and yellow gold flank the opening from the hall. A pair of gilt-framed mirrors with both plate and convex glass hangs above them. The five-foot-tall ormolu-and-cut-glass Empire chandelier from 1815 is the centerpiece of the room. The beautiful light sparkles above the table from the fluted ceiling medallion, whose form echoes the shape of the drapery heading.

The home includes a china hall. The design team finished the wood floors with a stenciled design instead of a rug.

A second, smaller modern traditional dining room created for more intimate gatherings features a double-height gilded dome ceiling. The embossed leather chairs shimmer with gold designs. Beautiful iridescent striped silk drapes frame the windows. Contemporary art adorns the walls.

The kitchen’s modern traditional architectural features include intricate cabinetry design paired with layered plaster ceiling moldings. It’s a very modern rendering of a traditional style kitchen. Simple, understated Roman shades dress the windows. The kitchen is rather large, and this photo only shows the semi-circle end, which looks out over the cutting garden.

A third dining room looks out over the back lawns. The restrained décor allows the view to take center stage. Simple full-length draperies styled to match those in the kitchen flank the large French doors that open onto the lawn. The unadorned design of the silvered-bronze chandelier perfectly reflects that of the room, while its subtle curves mimic the embroidered details on the draperies.

The richly layered master bedroom is a sumptuous delight. The custom wool carpet’s delicate designs balance the elaborate plasterwork detailing on the ceiling. Antiques reside side-by-side with contemporary pieces in perfect modern traditional harmony. Saturated yellow Venetian plaster walls subdue the formality of the refined millwork. The beauty is in the mix. The colors are fresh and alive, yet still subtle to render this bedroom calm and serene.

This pic only hints at the many beautiful details that make up the master bathroom. The sublime space features a gilded barrel vaulted ceiling, slab onyx floors, and gilt bronze chandeliers and hardware. The spacious layout includes all of the necessities for a luxurious contemporary bathroom in the modern traditional style.

The dressing room located beyond the master bathroom is almost poetic in its effect. A gilded dome ceiling crowns the light-filled space, and the custom cabinetry includes Verre églomisé panels. A peaceful haven to both begin and end the day.

“We like to say inspired rooms are more than just pretty—they have an underlying logic and layering of information. Whether it’s the inclusion of a motif that relates to geographical location, a connection we make between a client’s beloved collection and a fabric scheme, or simply an emotion that the room itself evokes, the details create a more wholly integrated environment—rich with meaning, full of sparkle and life.” – Cullman & Kravis

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend!

To see more wonderful interiors completed by Cullman & Kravis, be sure to see:

Venetian Waterfront Residence: Cullman & Kravis

Fifth Avenue Classical Design.

Contemporary Traditional Design: Southern Mansion

Transitional Design Update: Park Avenue

MODERN TRADITIONAL ELEGANCE

This residence is one of the beautiful projects featured in designer Elissa Cullman’s book The Detailed Interior: Decorating Up Close with Cullman & Kravis, which is fabulous and you should check it out. I have enjoyed my signed copy very much I must say!

Architecture: Allan Greenberg

Interior Design: Cullman & Kravis

Photography: Eric Piasecki

All photos and info courtesy of Cullman & Kravis!! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much for reading along with me, my friend. I hope you enjoyed the modern traditional designs created within this lovely Georgian Mansion. Be sure to let me hear from you all in the comments!!

Have a great day!

October 8, 2016
Bespoke Design: Contemporary Luxury

Bespoke design has become the fundamental ingredient in the creation of the finest luxury interiors for contemporary living. This residence is a perfect example of carefully considered and uncompromising luxurious bespoke design. For our design inspiration today, we look to London’s ultra-exclusive One Hyde Park development in Knightsbridge. This 4,500 square foot residence has been completed by the award-winning luxury interior design firm Casa Forma to serve as a comfortable holiday home for an international family.

Bespoke Design is the last word in contemporary luxury!

Casa Forma’s designs were inspired by and are synergistic with the buildings Modernist and Art Deco-inspired architecture. Their primary focus was on practicality and ease of function, resulting in a smart and sophisticated contemporary design. At the same time, the design team focused on creating a timeless style and a unique living experience with the incorporation of the best of luxury bespoke design. This isn’t just any apartment after all. These are among the most expensive apartments in the world, and it was very necessary to create ultra-special interiors that reflect that. The interiors realized here are a product of the design team being enabled to fully develop each detail with ultimate precision using the finest materials, finishes, and processes to their exacting bespoke standards.

BESPOKE DESIGN INSPIRATION

Upon entering the home, one steps into a long central corridor that extends through the apartment, connecting to the main living area at the far end. This corridor is the primary passage route from which all the other rooms flow. Casa Forma developed two types of bespoke designed paneling features to highlight this main hall. On one side, high-gloss sycamore panels with an Ombre color gradient add light and subtlety. On the opposite, an Art Deco-inspired map of Hyde Park’s pathways simplified into geometric shapes, creates an abstract design that serves as the focus. The map combines metalized panels with multi-tone resin fill and bronze trims connected by bronzed mirror panels with triple bevel edges.

The interior design in the main living area focuses on maximizing the incredible open views over Hyde Park. Floor-to-ceiling, triple-glazed glass windows and doors make up the three outer walls. The double-volume living room divides into two seating areas with the furniture layout arranged to best take in the light and view. The designers completed the interior wall with sliding panels made of dyed goat skin tiles set in rosewood interspaced with mirrored panels with Deco-style beveled glass relief.

The entertainment system tucks away out of view behind the sliding wall panels. A novel turntable resides in a unique niche concealed by a commissioned eglomise painting. A deluxe bar with LED lighting details also hides behind the panels. The rooms mood and use can change completely by adjusting the panels.

The formal dining room’s luxurious design includes a feature wall created with silver and gold leaf panels. The opposite wall features bronze and glass cabinetry framed with a back-lit mosaic of tortoiseshell and tiger eye. How is that for your original bespoke design details? Above the table, a grouping of blown glass lighting pendants provides the room with a warm amber glow. You can imagine just how extraordinary this must look with the lights low for dinner.

The spacious contemporary kitchen is Baulthaup designed and equipped with Gaggenau appliances.

One of the original four bedrooms now serves as a sexy study that doubles as a games room. The room has a sleek, contemporary finish. Casa Forma bespoke designed the magnificent units lining the walls which were then made by skilled craftsmen in Italy. The designers used stained solid Indian Rosewood with a piano high-gloss finish complete with bronze trim. The room can still act as a guestroom for the kidskin leather sofa converts into a bed.

The designers reconfigured the en-suite bathroom linked to the study to include a Swedish dry sauna. This detail proved to be the biggest challenge of the entire project. The smartly designed building has the latest heat and moisture detectors which presented a problem. Casa Forma ultimately perfected the design, and the small yet complex feature is a hugely successful addition.

The home’s guest powder room features a unique bespoke created wall finish. Silver and gold leaf gesso, treated with an acid wash to render a distressed look covers the walls creating depth and texture.

Casa Forma completed the bedrooms with designs that embrace both style and elegance to provide the ultimate in comfort. The bespoke designed wall units continue in here with their rich high gloss finish and Art Deco-inspired shapes. Luxurious hand painted silk covers the walls accented with beveled glass finished mirror panels. The neutral color palette used throughout the rest of the home continues in the bedrooms. Each bedroom has its own spacious en-suite marble bathroom.

Custom rugs, sumptuous fabrics, expert lighting, bespoke furnishings and a state-of-the-art home automation system complete the home with a smart, absolutely original luxurious design. Such attention to detail is typical for a residence within One Hyde Park. As residents, the owners also have access to the development’s multiple world-class high-end facilities.

Designed by Lord Rogers, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect, One Hyde Park is the first Residences at Mandarin Oriental in Europe. When originally built, the press proclaimed that it was one of London’s most prestigious residential addresses. With striking design, exemplary service, luxurious facilities, and impenetrable security ensuring privacy, the homes within One Hyde Park tend to be the preference of a certain discerning international high-net-worth audience.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

If you would like to see more fabulous London residences that feature spectacular bespoke design details, be sure to see my articles:

Glamorous Luxury Design: Elicyon

Timeless Interior Design: Boscolo

Casa Forma’s Luxurious Bespoke Design

The award-winning luxury interior design firm Casa Forma provides a comprehensive interior and architectural design service. Headquartered in London, their experienced team of interior designers is world-class experts from the fields of decorative and structural design. They place importance on understanding the needs of their clients for a personalized service delivered to an uncompromising standard.

Interior Design: Casa Forma: Luxury Interior Designers London

Photography: James Balston

Thank you for reading along with me today. I trust you enjoyed and found some inspiration in the gorgeous bespoke design details used to create this unique family residence by Casa Forma. Be sure to let me hear from you in the comments.

Have a great day!!

September 24, 2016
Glamorous Luxury Design: Elicyon

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

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

LONDON LUXURY DESIGN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contemporary Luxury Design: Hyde Park

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

Eclectic Luxury Design: Lori Morris

Iconic Luxury Design: Ferris Rafauli

ELICYON’S LUXURY DESIGN CONCLUSION

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

Interior Design: Elicyon

Photography: Elicyon

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

Have a great day!

September 6, 2016
Villa del Lago: Tuscan Inspired Luxury Estate

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

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

VILLA DEL LAGO DESIGN INSPIRATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

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

Beverly Park Chateau

Beverly Hills Deco Villa: Joan Behnke

VILLA DEL LAGO LUXURY DESIGN

Architecture: Landry Design Group

Interior Design: Joan Behnke and Associates

Photography: Erhard Pfeiffer

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

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

Have a great day!

August 25, 2016
Contemporary Classic Design: Sophie Paterson

Today we are taking a look at the Contemporary Classic designs of the London-based interior design director Sophie Paterson. Sophie established her interiors company, Sophie Paterson Interiors, in 2008 at the age of 23 with no formal training but with plenty of good taste to spare. She got her start in the design business when she had a developer over at her home to look at some plans she was considering. He liked her decorating style so much that he asked her to do some work for him on his latest project. She ultimately was given full design direction without any budget constraints and allowed to design the interiors of a large townhouse renovation with a basement extension. Through working hands-on with the developer and his team of engineers, carpenters, and builders she was launched.

Since that time, Sophie has developed her company into one of the UK’s most successful interior design studios working on high-end projects in both the commercial and residential sectors across Britain and Europe. She even published a book, Style & Glamour, which is filled with images from her projects that not only acts as a portfolio but also provides information and inspiration on how to create her signature Contemporary Classic interiors. Together with her experienced team of talented design professionals, Sophie provides a personalized, relaxed design service. She plans each project herself and gives it over to her design team who manage it. Her style is both timeless and contemporary, with an expert use of color and texture and an innovative eye for design and approachable luxury.

For our design inspiration today, we are taking a look at a spacious five-story classic townhouse redesigned for contemporary life.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC DESIGN INSPIRATION

Sophie spent two years immersed in the transformation of this five-story Chelsea townhouse that once belonged to David Bowie in the 1970s. She completely reconfigured the 1860s residence working closely with the owners to create a unique and glamorous home that reflects their very particular taste.

A mix of antiques and contemporary furnishings fill the first-floor formal living room. The owners wanted a design that appeared as though it had been collected over time and not necessarily by a professional designer. The light-filled room features warm colors, rich textures, and luxe finishes. Silk lines the walls to add a bit of luxury. Geometric shapes emphasize the lines of the period architecture. The mirrored, antique brass and ebony cabinets on either side of the fireplace are from Birgit Israel. The leather furnishings are from Poltrono Frau.

On the ground level, guests enter the home here in the grand entrance hall with its high ceilings and period detailing. The generous space allowed for the modern pendant chandeliers from Jamb. The designer sourced the antique mirror from a favored local antique shop which she placed above a newer Macassar ebony console. This is a perfect example of combining the best of classic design with elements of contemporary design for a space ideally suited for today’s lifestyles. That is the key to creating Contemporary Classic designs. The hall leads into the very glamorous kitchen and dining room which spans the entire floor.

The kitchen is of complete bespoke design by Sophie Paterson Interiors. The Macassar ebony, Arabescato marble, and smoked mirror kitchen take inspiration from the Tom Ford makeup boutique in Selfridges. Gaggenau appliances blend harmoniously with the bespoke cabinetry. Low-level lighting complements the sophisticated design. An eat-in bar separates the kitchen and dining area. The dining area includes a blue faux shagreen feature wall. The dining table came with the house, left by the previous owners. Both the new owners and the designer loved it and decided to keep it. Beyond the kitchen, a small sitting area with French doors opens onto a paved garden with raised flower beds.

On the lower basement level, there is a guest bedroom with bath, a utility room, and a cozy home cinema.

The master bedroom suite is on the next level. The look is very Ralph Lauren with a Ralph Lauren Home oversized four-poster bed serving as the focal point. The room includes a Poltrona Frau leather armchair and a Macassar ebony dressing table, all gathered on an antique rug. Taupe leather upholstered wardrobe doors with bronze handles create another layer of texture and luxury. The mood in the bedroom continues into the bath with Zoffany damask-covered walls and bronze Heathfield lamps.

Guest bedrooms make up the remaining top floors. The soft neutral colors and textures continue. Here we see more bedding from Ralph Lauren Home paired with zebra print Andrew Martin cushions. The bedside tables and lamps are from Porta Romana. At the foot is one of several antique collectible Louis Vuitton travel trunks placed throughout the home. The trunks are an ideal touch to imbue a contemporary room with classic style and elegance.

The house completes with a rooftop terrace with Alexander Rose furnishings. The outdoor space provides a quiet get-away along with views across London.

That concludes our design inspiration for today, my friend.

For more Contemporary Classic design, be sure to see:

Contemporary Classic Design: Laura Hammett

Contemporary Classic Fusion: Louise Bradley

Sophie Paterson’s Contemporary Classic Design

It is no wonder Sophie Paterson Interiors has made its way to the top. She has a natural eye. She is an example to support the idea that one either knows design or they don’t. Style, taste and a sense of what is correct are mostly innate gifts that one learns to channel.

Interior Design: Sophie Paterson Interiors

Photography: Ray Main

Thank you so much for reading along with me. What do you think of this contemporary classic design? I look forward to hearing from you in the comments!

Have a great day!

August 5, 2016