A Little Je Ne Sais Quoi
by Lauren Annette
photos courtesy Luxe Magazine + Lauren Annette
[dropcap letter=”T”]he city of Beverly Hills teamed up with the chic residential design and architecture magazine Luxe Interiors + Design. Together they showcase Maison de Luxe Designer Show House; a collaboration of over 20 of the most highly-sought after interiors designers in the country that joined together to reimagine the historical Greystone Estate. Once the residence of the Doheny family, the 55-roomed mansion is the perfect setting where contemporary meets classic.
At the opening reception this contrast was palpable; cocktails where accompanied by Tesla’s display of it’s latest innovation and massive open platters adorned with jelly-beans were there for the taking. The Baronial-style home welcomes you in with 25 foot fuchsia pink drapes, and time-honored checkerboard flooring. The foyer is traditionally gothic but has been spun into a fresh and whimsical setting using an impressionistic landscaped mural that travels along each wall. Patterns, lighting, texture, and art embellish the bold interiors, drawing you into a rich experience. From dining rooms to powder rooms, each one exudes a distinct personality.
Interior design is all about the setting. It is used to create the vibe; set the tone. It is safe to say that it is one of the most collaborative processes of design available. Maison De Luxe is an amplified ode to this medium. Each room beautifully exhibits multiple artists from around the world that have come together in support of the overall vision of each designer. Some rooms feel incredibly romantic, while others are highly sophisticated. My personal favorites are the those that have the ability to bring it all together with edgy and innovative dynamics.
Take for example Patrick Dragonette’s first floor room entitled “A room without a view”. Despite the predisposition that the name may ensue, this room has the ability to make you want to sit back and relax. With it’s avant-garde approach, the room is it’s own view. The interior decor varies from private to vintage to custom pieces and each element is topped off with unexpected detail. Two favorites are the glass-beaded, fringed net used for the custom Ceasarstone ping-pong table, as well as the statement pieces, “sheep of another color” chairs that would make the ultimate setting for a board meeting. Straddle up anyone?
One of my personal favorites is contemporary space by Oliver M. Furth, titled “The Reception Hall”. With floor-to-ceiling arch windows, it showcases a warm walnut chair sculottes into form that draws inspiration from the classic whicker ascetic, flanked by two sapphire-toned velvet sofas, and accompanied by an iridescent corner game table crafted from mother of pearl. The space also used an unexpected grid that stitches across the length of the ceiling, made from sustainable felt. This eye-catching element doubles as a utility for sound absorption. Party on.
Maison de Luxe Designer Show House is open to the public November 7 & 8, 11-15 and 18-22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $39 per person. I could tell you more but seeing is believing, and there is much to discover! Why wouldn’t you take to opportunity to stroll through one of Los Angeles’s most treasured estates, opulently decorated by the leading interior designers of today?
NOTE: Dress to impress, because within the historic walls of the The Greystone Estate is a gem of conglomerative design that is not to be missed.
