Desert glamour

When renovating a home, the interior designer needs to take various factors into account. The style and size of the home must be considered, but the interests of the owner and their expectations are also critical to the design.

In this home, interior designer Julie Porter of Julie Porter Associates worked with clients who appreciated fine furnishings and accessories. They wanted their home to provide a backdrop for their extensive collection of African artifacts and art.

In addition, the interior scheme had to reflect the large dimensions of the house. The drama begins at the double-height grand entrance. From here, custom-made wrought iron double doors, flanked by Juliet balconies, lead into the two-story ballroom. Sweeping 20ft-high draperies add to the sense of theater. Other public spaces include the formal and informal dining rooms, an entertainment room, theatre and billiard room. In the ballroom and entertainment room, Porter has used oversized furniture to complement the magnificence of the scale of these spaces.

The house also includes several specialized spaces: a gym, handbag and accessory lounge, china room, wine cellar, master and guest suites.

"To ensure the interior design scheme was successful, it was imperative to keep the palette neutral. We also wanted to enhance the scale of the house and reflect its quality in the choice of fittings and features," she says.

"The owners are passionate about many styles of art, furnishings and African antiques, so we allowed these to influence the interior design."

For example, brackets on the stair balustrade, taken from their collection of African artifacts, were customized to fit the hand-woven leather rails.

Baccarat chandeliers and sconces from the French lighting design house cast a soft, reflected glow, and are used as focal points in several of the rooms.

In the desert climate, shady outdoor living areas provide relief, and the owners' appreciation of Lalique crystal is expressed through the placement of a Lalique crystal fountain in an outdoor courtyard. This can also be seen through double doors opening off the ballroom.

For the dining room, Porter selected pieces from furniture-maker Baker Knapp and Tubbs. The rare Brighton Pavilion mahogany, gilt wood and inlaid twin pedestal dining table is paired with 12 George I carved walnut chairs. The room also contains a Regency rosewood-style inlaid and gilt wood commode in a serpentine form. Colombo Mobili vitrine cabinets with a gold leaf carved crown are flanked by two Parler Deaux chairs. The entire tableau is lit by an original 1920s Baccarat chandelier and framed by silk draperies.

For more details, call Baker Knapp and Tubbs, Pacific Design Center, Suite B525, 8687 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90069, phone (310) 652 7252, fax (310) 652 7591. Or visit the website: www.bakerfurniture.com.

Or call Julie Porter Associates, 3664 Snowy Pines Street, Las Vegas, NV 89147, phone (702) 252 0235, fax (702) 253 6586. Email: julie0235@aol.com. Website: www.JuliePorterAssociates.com.

Story by: Trendsideas