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French treasure from Home & Remodeling volume 2604
Remodeling and extending a grand residence can require a delicate balance – on the one hand respecting and celebrating its refined origins, and on the other, making it a place you can call your very own.
The remodel of this French chateau-style 1960s residence comprised the introduction of two new wings to the rear, an upgrading of the existing exteriors, and an almost complete rework of the interiors by designer Nieves Millar. The work was substantial, with the house expanded from 6000sq ft to 10,000sq ft. One wing contains the master suite, home office and a poolhouse, the other a four-car garage.
On the exterior, the two new wings merge seamlessly with the original facades. The owners, Bruce and Sherry Burrow, went to great lengths to achieve this effect – sourcing the manufacturers of the original brickwork and ordering recastings to use on the wings. Similarly, weathered slate for the new roofs was sourced to match the old. Planter boxes, landscaping walls and a garden courtyard were also introduced – the garden is set at the rear, between the new additions.
On the interior, traditional elements such as French wall mouldings, casings and a reproduction Louis XV marble mantel were retained. Everything else was stripped back to the parquet floorboards, which were duly restored. Nieves Millar was given free rein throughout, creating diverse personalities for individual rooms that celebrated the old, introduced the surprising and new, and created a setting for the owners' prized art collection.
"I wanted exploring the house to be like going on a treasure hunt, with different jewels to discover in every room," says Nieves Millar.
Wallpaper in the double-height entrance foyer has a gold-metallic finish that works as a backdrop for other colors and, together with the glittering lights, bounces light around the room.
"I designed many of the lighting elements myself," says Nieves Millar. "A company in the Czech Republic was commissioned to make the hand-cut crystal chandelier and sconces to our specifications, and two installers flew out here to assemble the strands and hang them."
Off the foyer, the study retains its original custom millwork. The designer used the dark wood shelving as the inspiration for a playful Americana theme. The palette of red, white and blue can be seen in elements such as the white silk drapes and leather wing chairs, a red sofa and the blue club chairs. Gold is used as an accent in accessories such as the full-length mirror, gold side table and occasional lamp.
The upgrade in the living room was designed to complement the original French-style mouldings, wood flooring, and the Louis XV marble mantel.
"In this room, I used a soft blue color palette so the tailored and Asian furniture pieces would stand out," says the designer. "It also creates a beautiful backdrop for the baby grand piano."
The rooms in the extension to the home, including the master suite, are given a lighter, slightly more contemporary feel.
"Pale yellow tones in the bedroom achieve this – in conjunction with neutral-toned ivory linens and furniture," says Nieves Millar. "Color accents include the dove-gray suede wing chair, deep-seated lounge chair and the paintings. The owners wanted their bedroom to be a calm, relaxing environment."
In the master bathroom, a rich, inviting feel is evoked through use of maple wood millwork. Emperador marble with lapidas gold granite inserts was employed for the tub surround.
While the restoration is rich in period detail and faithful to the home's beginnings, it also has a highly contemporary subtext. The owners requested every home automation advantage be included in the comprehensive refit.
This Louis XV-style home has been restored and extended, with two new wings added at the rear of the property. Existing landscaping has been integrated with introduced elements, such as the marble water fountain imported from Italy. The driveway emulates black ashlar slate, and is made of Bomanite, a concrete with an English Slate texture. Original imported finishes in the home have all been retained and accentuated.
New Carrara marble on the stairway matches the floor in the formal entry, which is decorated with black granite inserts. An Art Deco-style table, by Nieves Millar, offers a transitional feature.
In the study, the red, white and blue color scheme fits with the room's Americana theme.
Subdued finishes in the dining room allow the crystal light fixtures to take prominence.
Classic lines are tempered by transitional pieces, such as the rug and the chests on either side of the fireplace. The owners did not care for heavy drapery treatments, so the designer commissioned custom design prints using ink on natural hemp. These linen drapes dress up the room, yet allow natural sunlight to penetrate during the day. Ornate fluted decorative rods add to the formality of the space.
An iron staircase is finished in gold leaf. Art was commissioned to integrate with the colors in the foyer.
The bedroom has a transitional air, with restrained mouldings and a tray ceiling. French doors in a painting echo the doors that open to the courtyard.
The tub's wing walls divide the master bath, which has his-and-hers vanities set on either side.
Credit List
Architect
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Brackett-Krennerich & Associates PA Architects (Jonesboro, AR)
Interior designer
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Nieves Millar, Alumni UCLA Arc_ID, Nieves Millar & Associates (Granada Hills, CA)
General contractors
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Metro Construction
Builder
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Rhinehart & Ostie Construction
Architectural millwork
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Tommy Farrell Custom Furniture
Stonework
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WW Trent
Outdoor front exterior and driveway
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Ashlar slate with English Slate texture in black, by Bomanite
Interior flooring
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Tile; porcelain tile; wood; marble; carpet
Paints
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Benjamin Moore Icing on the Cake, Cream Yellow, Fresh Air, White Cloud, Cotton Balls, Chantilly Lace
Area rugs
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Galbraith & Paul; Aga John Oriental Rugs; Masland Carpets
Furniture
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A Rudin; Barbara Barry, Bill Sofield, Jacques Garcia, from Baker Kohler Interiors; Kreiss; John Boone; Victoria Hagan; Vaughan Benz; Lily Designs; Gumps; Capitol Arts & Frames; The Green Shutter
Fabrics
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Arc-com Fabrics; Pasini-Pelle; Nina Campbell, Osborne & Little; Décor de Paris; Brunschwig & Fils; Innovations USA; Clarence House; Bergamo; Pollack; Victoria Hagan; Waterworks Textiles; Edelman Leather
Story by Charles Moxham
Photography by Durston Saylor
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