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This project in Auburn, Alabama, was one of my most unique ventures, not least in that I did not physically visit the house until nearly two
years after its completion! The credit for this marvelous work, in all fairness, must be given to my esteemed clients, who entrusted me with their
new home to an extent such that the entire design was created in Chicago, and was then shipped to & installed by the client directly in Auburn.
The concept for this house was a large, very comfortable Tuscan villa, suitable for entertaining, in which elements of the past & present are
companionably intertwined. This enabled a full exploration of many different motifs and ideas, harmonised, through colour, form and texture.
Many of the pieces shown on this page were custom-designed by me. I also participated extensively in the architectural finishes, providing paint
colours, textures, and, very often, a sounding-board for ideas & inspirations on other aspects of the house & its construction.
The design of this house was a truly collaborative effort between the clients and myself. Each & every element was carefully selected, reviewed,
and then considered in its relationship to the whole before a final decision was made. The design process, inherently fluid, became a lively,
animated dialogue in which all contributed. Much of what you see here was not part of the original concept; indeed, even the original colour
scheme was different! But that, at the end, is inconsequential; what matters is the end result.
Thank you, Roger & Joyce, for this wonderful opportunity and this wonderful project.
years after its completion! The credit for this marvelous work, in all fairness, must be given to my esteemed clients, who entrusted me with their
new home to an extent such that the entire design was created in Chicago, and was then shipped to & installed by the client directly in Auburn.
The concept for this house was a large, very comfortable Tuscan villa, suitable for entertaining, in which elements of the past & present are
companionably intertwined. This enabled a full exploration of many different motifs and ideas, harmonised, through colour, form and texture.
Many of the pieces shown on this page were custom-designed by me. I also participated extensively in the architectural finishes, providing paint
colours, textures, and, very often, a sounding-board for ideas & inspirations on other aspects of the house & its construction.
The design of this house was a truly collaborative effort between the clients and myself. Each & every element was carefully selected, reviewed,
and then considered in its relationship to the whole before a final decision was made. The design process, inherently fluid, became a lively,
animated dialogue in which all contributed. Much of what you see here was not part of the original concept; indeed, even the original colour
scheme was different! But that, at the end, is inconsequential; what matters is the end result.
Thank you, Roger & Joyce, for this wonderful opportunity and this wonderful project.
The Dining-Room
The magnificence of this dining-table is truly deserved: the top is
made from five fourteen-foot lengths of solid maple planking,
supported by a sturdy, hand-carved base. In elegant contrast, the
dining-chairs, fitted in deep lavender blue mohair, are accented by silk
cording in green & coral red. A large, handsome rug in shades of soft
blues, greens, golds & lavenders, designed exclusively for the client,
offers a pleasing, cool compliment to the floor, tiled in warm Jerusalem
stone. Note the clever use of the clients' initials 'R', 'J' and "L'
worked into the pattern of the rug itself; this motif is continued
throughout the house.
The antique hutch at the head of the table was found, abandoned, in
a warehouse in North Carolina, and shipped to the client's home.
made from five fourteen-foot lengths of solid maple planking,
supported by a sturdy, hand-carved base. In elegant contrast, the
dining-chairs, fitted in deep lavender blue mohair, are accented by silk
cording in green & coral red. A large, handsome rug in shades of soft
blues, greens, golds & lavenders, designed exclusively for the client,
offers a pleasing, cool compliment to the floor, tiled in warm Jerusalem
stone. Note the clever use of the clients' initials 'R', 'J' and "L'
worked into the pattern of the rug itself; this motif is continued
throughout the house.
The antique hutch at the head of the table was found, abandoned, in
a warehouse in North Carolina, and shipped to the client's home.
The Intimate Reception Room
This small, elegant Reception Room is used mainly as a formal
parlour or for small entertainments. Of special note here is the large
area rug in deep creamy wool with graceful arabesques in slate blue
& moss green echoing the curves of the wrought-iron coffee table. It
should be noted, however, that the coffee table was purchased after the
rug had been designed and was already on the loom; the superb
pairing of these two elements was, to everyone, a delightful surprise
and a testament to the successful design of this room.
parlour or for small entertainments. Of special note here is the large
area rug in deep creamy wool with graceful arabesques in slate blue
& moss green echoing the curves of the wrought-iron coffee table. It
should be noted, however, that the coffee table was purchased after the
rug had been designed and was already on the loom; the superb
pairing of these two elements was, to everyone, a delightful surprise
and a testament to the successful design of this room.
The Grand Sitting-Room
The size of the Sitting-Room is deceiving; at once comfortable &
inviting, it can easily accommodate fifty or more people with ease.
Of special note are the twin sofas in deep evening-blue mohair velvet,
accented with soft gold & blue silk damask pillows and flanked by
comfortable armchairs in gold chenille.
The chimney was hand-painted by a local artist as a modern
interpretation of the ornately decorated fireplaces first popularised in
Florence during the Renaissance.
The rug is a vast expanse of deep, golden wool, highlighted with
swirling arabesques. Intentionally, only minimal furnishings are
allowed to protrude, small coffee tables & ottomans which can be
moved easily for large parties.
inviting, it can easily accommodate fifty or more people with ease.
Of special note are the twin sofas in deep evening-blue mohair velvet,
accented with soft gold & blue silk damask pillows and flanked by
comfortable armchairs in gold chenille.
The chimney was hand-painted by a local artist as a modern
interpretation of the ornately decorated fireplaces first popularised in
Florence during the Renaissance.
The rug is a vast expanse of deep, golden wool, highlighted with
swirling arabesques. Intentionally, only minimal furnishings are
allowed to protrude, small coffee tables & ottomans which can be
moved easily for large parties.
The Foyer
The Foyer, while perhaps not so large as the other rooms in this
beautiful home, is nonetheless impressive with its display of a portion
of the owner's art collections. A magnificent bronze bull prefaces a
winter landscape, mounted over a superb chinoiserie table.
beautiful home, is nonetheless impressive with its display of a portion
of the owner's art collections. A magnificent bronze bull prefaces a
winter landscape, mounted over a superb chinoiserie table.
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