Blogs that Inspire
- Fabulous Chinoiserie Chic Deal1 day ago
- Dessert Plates2 days ago
- Chinoiserie Chic Flower Arranging3 days ago
- Chic Sunglasses High/Low4 days ago
- The Wicker Beverage Tub High/Low5 days ago
- New HomeGoods/T.J.Maxx Find6 days ago
- Happy Memorial Day1 week ago
- Setting the Summer Table1 week ago
- Red, White, and Blue1 week ago
- Happy Prints for Summer1 week ago
- MY FAVORITE ROOMS: 2023 KIPS BAY PALM BEACH DECORATOR SHOWHOUSE3 months ago
- THE DESIGNER LIST: THE 2023 KIPS BAY PALM BEACH DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE4 months ago
- Inspiration, Illumination and Delight: My Favorite New Design, Style and Art Books5 months ago
- Magical Kingdom: The Exquisite Flowers Estate and the Discovery of Sonoma Coast Wines5 months ago
- 2022 BEST DESIGN BOOKS: THE ELEGANT LIFE BY ALEX PAPACHRISTIDIS6 months ago
- The Brilliant Benjamin Dhong: The San Francisco/Healdsburg Interior Designer Creates an Elegant St. Helena Haven Framed by the Mayacamas Range6 months ago
- JOIN US FOR ROOMS WITH A VIEW, SOUTHPORT’S DESIGN EVENT7 months ago
- MY FAVORITE ROOMS: 2022 KIPS BAY DECORATOR SHOW HOUSE DALLAS8 months ago
- THE D. PORTHAULT SALE STARTS THIS MONDAY9 months ago
- Celebrating San Francisco Opera: A Glorious Fall Season Celebrating 100 Years9 months ago
- Welcome to the Very Exciting New RH San Francisco Gallery — Glamour and Glory9 months ago
- The Great Fred Lyon: The finest photographer of California design. The most charming man. And the most dapper and stylish. A great pleasure to work with him…and chat to him at a dinner party. A lively and witty raconteur.10 months ago
- Thrilling New Style and Design Book: ‘French Chateau Style Inside France’s Most Exquisite Country Houses’ by Catherine Scotto and with photography by Marie Pierre Morel11 months ago
- Travels with The Style Saloniste: Jordan Winery, Alexander Valley11 months ago
- San Francisco Opera Summer Season: The Brilliant and Highly Artistic Program Continues with ‘Dream Of The Red Chamber’12 months ago
- San Francisco Opera Summer Season 2022 Opens with Two New Productions12 months ago
- Happy Thanksgiving2 years ago
- At Home in Millbrook with Ashley Whittaker2 years ago
- At Home in New York City with Bunny Williams2 years ago
- ROOMS WITH A VIEW: CATCH DESIGNER VIGNETTES IN CT THIS FALL2 years ago
The Golden Room
12-14-15
The Golden Room
One of the major highlights from our recent grand tour of Spain was a visit to the exquisitely opulent, Casa de Pilatos in Seville. While touring the magnificent indoor spaces and outdoor courtyards, I was dazzled by a set of rooms that were built in the early 16th century by Don Fabrique Enríquez de Ribera, a Spanish noble and the son of Pedro Enríquez de Quiñones who began the construction of the palace in the 15th century.
The rooms consists of an outer rectangular gallery or entrance hall, with the main room being perfectly square. The walls are ablaze in a way of warm, yellow ochre walls with white red painted borders. Adorning the spaces are an extraordinary array of Roman antiquities. Many of them dating from the second century A.D. which Don Fabrique collected during his sojourns to Italy. Aside from the collection of antiquities and the striking colors, the beauty and uniqueness of the rooms is the combination of Mudejar and Rennaissance Revival elements. In fact the rooms were named for the intricately patterned carved wood ceilings that are separated from the walls by an equally complex frieze of carved plaster. For a truly fascinating and more in depth story on the Casa de Pilatos be sure to visit Christopher Worthlands blog (here).
IMG_0573
IMG_0560
IMG_0564
Unknown
Looking up at the intricately carved wood ceiling in the main room
Unknown-3
A striking vignette including a beautifully detailed marble console, Roman bust and a massive carved plaque
Unknown-4
Unknown-5
A view from the main room to the gallery, which is flanked by marble doric columns
Unknown-6
Unknown-2
Perfection! Atop the center table rests a massive carved Roman helmet in marble
Unknown-1
A collection of Roman architectural fragments in the portico before entering the rooms
Paris in my Heart
11-18-15
Paris in My Heart
We have been devastated to hear about the ongoing tragedy in Paris. With every day my heart hurts a little more for the victims and the amazing and resilient Parisians who will hopefully find strength and comfort in one another. I simply love Paris! It is my most favorite of all cities. A place that shall always be in my heart and continue to inspire me no matter how many times I go. Paris was really where my education and passion for design, furniture and architecture began and is a place that formed the foundation of so much within me. Were sending all of our thoughts and prayers to everyone in Paris, for you are always in my heart!
Unknown-8
Unknown-7
Unknown-6
Unknown-4
Unknown-3
Unknown-1
IMG_0982
IMG_0993
IMG_0967
IMG_0907
IMG_0898
IMG_0853
Living with Art- An Extraordinary Sale
11-13-15
Living with Art- An Extraordinary Sale
Last month, Christies held an impressive sale titled, Living with Art, which included an incredible selection of furnishings and art from two significant properties. A Oklahoma estate designed by Stephen Sills and the legendary, Villa Hesperides in Montecito, California.
There were a number of items that were surprisingly affordable, given their provenance and exquisite quality. In fact, I was beyond thrilled to acquire the set of four French mahogany fauteuils below for my own home. How wonderful it is to own a set of chairs from such an extraordinary collection by one of my all time favorite designers, Stephen Sills!
I always like to see the furnishings in situ, which bring them to life and create a sense of context. The Architectural Digest article on Villa Hesperides left an indelible impression on me when I was a young design student and helped shape my love for classical interiors, architecture and antiquities.
a_north_italian_brown-painted_and_parcel-gilt_mirr copy
A Northern Italian painted brown and pace gilt mirror Early 18th century
a_set_of_four_empire_mahogany_fauteuils_circa_1810 copy
A set of four French Empire mahogany fauteuils. Circa 1810
Sills copy
A MAGNIFICENT OKLAHOMA ESTATE BY STEPHEN SILLS
a_pair_of_directoire_gray-painted_and_parcel-gilt_ copy
A Pair of Directoire grey painted and parcel gilt chaises gondole 18th century
a_pair_of_queen_anne_gray-painted_center_tables_la copy
A Pair of Queen Anne grey painted center tables 17th early 18th Century
Sills-3
a_pair_of_french_cut_and_gilt-glass_chandeliers_by copy
A pair of monumental crystal chandeliers by André Arbus 20th Century
Sills-4
a_pair_of_south_german_white-painted_console_table copy
A pair of South German painted console tables Circa 1740
a_set_of_four_italian_white_marble_columns_20th_ce copy
A set of four Italian white marble columns with urns 20th Century
a_pair_of_queen_anne_style_mirrors_modern_d5934256 copy
A pair of Queen Anne style mirrors Modern
Sala Bianca images-15-edited copy
Sills-2
All photos above by François Halard and are featured in Stephen Sills Decoration
a_pair_of_italian_carrara_marble_terms_on_pedestal copy
A pair of Italian Carrara marble terms on pedestals 19th century
Villa Hesperides-4
a_pair_of_north_italian_painted_and_parcel-gilt_ar copy
A pair of Northern Italian painted and parcel gilt armchairs Circa 1820
Villa Hesperides
an_italian_giltwood_pier_mirror_tuscany_late_18th_ copy
An Italian gilt wood pier mirror Tuscany, late 18th century
Villa Hesperides-2
two_plaster_casts_after_the_antique_20th_century_d copy
Villa Hesperides-1
two_pompeian_style_silvered_wood_and_slate-inset_l copy
two_large_chinese_export_porcelain_blue_and_white_ copy
an_italian_pale_green-painted_and_parcel-gilt_day_ copy
An Italian painted and parcel gilt daybed Early 19th century
Villa Hesperides-3
Photography by John Vaughan for Architectural Digest