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With its Mediterranean climate, sun-drenched beaches, and tile roofs atop charming hillside homes, Santa Barbara has earned the moniker “American Riviera.” The peaceful community, just over an hour or so north of Los Angeles and home to approximately 90,000 permanent residents, is embraced by the Pacific Ocean on the south and Santa Ynez Mountains on the north.
Architectural flourishes and statement design ensure a sense of occasion every time you arrive home, writes Nancy Groves Sarasota, Florida | Premier Sotheby’s International Realty As the glitter settles for another year on the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, it seems fitting to take a tour of some truly Oscar-worthy hallways around the world. Most actors will have dreamed of one day sweeping through a grand doorway or down a spiral staircase, clutching that golden statuette in a longed-for moment of adulation and celebration. But making an entrance isn’t reserved for the good folk of Hollywood. Every homeowner wants a hallway fit for their identity and lifestyle, one that impresses visitors, welcomes in guests, and is both impactful and a suitable introduction to the rest of the residence. And when it comes to high-end luxury homes, this becomes all the more important. “A luxury property’s entrance sets the tone for the entire home,” says Shauna Walters, global real estate advisor with Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage. “It’s the first moment of arrival and the first impression for guests, so it needs to immediately convey scale, design intention and atmosphere.” Hollywood Hills, California | Sotheby’s International Realty – Beverly Hills Brokerage Nowhere is that intent more evident than in the opening vestibule of this midcentury-inspired contemporary build in the Hollywood Hills, where dimensions, decor and custom fittings by the Italian lighting brand Vesta combine in an aesthetic that should appeal to those behind or in front of a camera. “The entrance hallway was designed as a true architectural moment.” says Walters of this dynamic design scheme. “The bespoke lighting and dramatic chandelier draw the eye upward and highlight the volume of the space, while the fountains introduce movement and a calming sound that adds a resort-like sense of luxury.” These sensory and sculptural elements are echoed throughout the entire nine-bedroom, 14-bathroom home, offering continuity. “What makes the experience even more powerful is that the hallway naturally leads your eye toward the expansive views beyond,” Walters says. “As you walk through the entry, the home slowly reveals itself, creating a sense of drama and progression that sets the stage for the rest of the property.” Sarasota, Florida | Premier Sotheby’s International Realty There is a similarly pleasing progression to the entrance of this coastal Florida estate, part of the gated community of Cocoanut Bayou in Sarasota. A twin Italianate exterior staircase leads the visitor up from the grounds to heavy-duty wooden double doors, which open into a 12-foot-high foyer, framed by a curved ironwork banister: perfect for an award-winning descent. Step from this hallway through to the huge central living room, meanwhile, and the ceiling height doubles to 24 feet, while hardwood flooring and a decorative balcony on the terrace beyond create a continuous sightline from the front doors right through to the waterfront. Corfu, Greece | Greece Sotheby’s International Realty In a secluded stretch of Greece, the statement made by another twin staircase and gallery landing is deployed in a hallway that ties these elements together playfully. For those inspired by storytelling—and what else is the movie business?—the entrance to The Grand Estate in Kassiopi, Corfu, engages your curiosity and imagination immediately. The simple trinity of flagstone, woodwork and white walls becomes a canvas for decorative rugs, painted panels, books, pots, clocks and other treasured items. And through a trio of windows and door: green foliage and the beautiful blue waters of the Ionian sea. As Shauna Walters says of good hallway design: “Done well, an entry creates a transition from the outside world into a private sanctuary while building anticipation for what’s beyond.” Belgravia, London | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty Finally, in London, famously home to its fair share of Oscar winners, staircases don’t get much more sweeping than the central flight of this Belgravia duplex, proving that grand entrances aren’t reserved for standalone homes, but also serve stylish apartment living. Combining architectural detail with contemporary flair, this hallway’s monochrome scheme exudes drama, with dark banisters echoing the marble and decorative grate at floor level. What’s more, while the entrance to the apartment is private and discreet, via a landscaped garden, the building is portered, offering the best of both worlds. Everyone’s a winner. As decorative metalwork grows in popularity, here’s why it’s never gone out of fashion
This extraordinary 5,326-square-foot aerie in Manhattan’s Mandarin Oriental showcases the signature style of legendary interior designer Jacques Grange and, with its walls of glass, affords a cinematic outlook on Central Park, the Hudson River, and the sparkling city skyline. Legendary in aesthetic and architectural circles, Frenchman Jacques Grange is one of the world’s most influential interior designers. His sui generis style—which alchemizes the historical and the contemporary—has drawn the eye of luminaries the world over, from Pierre Bergé, co-founder of the Yves Saint-Laurent fashion house, to the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Alain Ducasse, and Paloma Picasso and is widely coveted for its uncommon ability to exude elegance while remaining unfussy, livable, and comfortable. New York, New York | Elizabeth L. Sample, Brenda Powers | Sotheby’s International Realty – East Side Manhattan Brokerage This magnetic marriage of the simple and the sophisticated is on brilliant display in this soaring residence in Manhattan’s Mandarin Oriental, an extraordinary 5,326-square-foot aerie with walls of glass offering a cinematic outlook on Central Park, the Hudson River, and the sparkling city skyline as it unfurls toward the Atlantic Ocean. In the gallery foyer, surfaces of sturdy, richly hued wood introduce the home’s unique aesthetic, stamped with Grange’s signature style. A glamorous custom cocktail bar serves as a soigné segue to the vast great room, an entertainer’s showplace with two sitting areas, a dedicated dining area, a majestic vista, and walls and lighting designed for the display of art. Beyond is a study or sitting area with a wall of built-in bookshelves. The captivating ambience persists even in the streamlined kitchen, secluded behind automatic doors off the dining area. Here, carved rosewood cabinetry and black mica finishes create a one-of-a-kind setting for an impressive collection of top-tier appliances, including two Sub-Zero refrigerator-freezers and wine chillers, a five-burner Gaggenau cooktop, three Miele ovens, a Dacor warming drawer, and dual Miele dishwashers. The open, airy owner’s suite is an almost otherworldly sanctuary of clean lines, silk-paneled walls with gold-leaf accents, and expansive views. The two-part spa-inspired bath boasts amber-mica-tinted glass, dramatically veined marble, handsome onyx, radiant-heated floors, a steamshower, a bidet, a park-facing whirlpool tub, and dual vanities. The boutique-caliber walk-in closets and dressing rooms are clad in zebra wood and offer a wealth of custom appointments. Well separated and exceptionally private, the guest wing comprises three bedrooms, each with an en suite bath, a generous closet, and eye-catching Hudson River views. A top-of-the-line Crestron system controls audiovisual components, window shades, air conditioning, and heating throughout the home. For the owners of this residence and the 58 others at the Mandarin Oriental, the five-star amenities include an an attended lobby with dedicated elevators and staff, exceptional security, a 75-foot indoor pool, a fitness center, a spa, in-home dining, and housekeeping, butler, valet, and concierge services. The building enjoys a prime position on Billionaires’ Row, an area of Manhattan developed as an allure for the global elite exemplified by iconic residential towers at prestigious addresses affording exclusive amenities and consummate privacy—the ideal environs for the timeless talent of Jacques Grange. Discover luxury homes for sale and rent around the world on sothebysrealty.com
Our monthly series asks: How do you bring color into luxury design? Used with care, yellow is uplifting, writes Jill Krasny London, England | United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty Some homes quickly fade from the mind while others are unforgettable. Often the design scheme is a factor. Pink can be surprisingly grounding and red gets people talking, while yellow—which our series on color in design turns to next—is notoriously hard to handle, but can deliver amazing results. “When I’m thinking about yellow, the first room that comes up for me is the Yellow Room by Nancy Lancaster and John Fowler,” says London-based interior designer Rachel Chudley of their famed reception room at 39 Brook Street, Mayfair. “That for me is yellow at its best—it’s somehow luminous, it’s warm, it pulls everything together, but it also feels bold,” she says. The variations—and contradictions—of yellow have captivated artists for centuries, as the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam explores in its current exhibition, “Yellow. Beyond Van Gogh’s Colour.” However, they can also make the color tricky to work with, especially as a pastel. “It’s really difficult not to make it too insipid,” says Chudley, “and maintain that kind of lightness.” Still, she notices more and more people are gravitating to yellow in luxury design schemes again, while drawing on its layered historical associations. Florence, Italy | Italy Sotheby’s International Realty A charming 16th-century villa near Florence feels in tune with its verdant surroundings thanks to its faded ochre exterior. “It’s got that plastery warmth, which feels kind of natural there, very Italian,” says Chudley, noting the extensive use of the color during the Florentine Renaissance. The weathered appearance, made all the more noticeable due to the material’s application, also “lends itself to this clay-pot feel,” she adds. Yellow is deployed throughout the interiors too, a striking backdrop to the home’s extensive collection of traditional furniture and fine art. Sea Island, Georgia | DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty By contrast, Villa Measured, a neoclassical residence within a gated estate on Sea Island, a private island in Georgia, appears lighter and brighter. “This yellow feels like the John Soane yellow,” says Chudley, referring to the house museum of the English architect Sir John Soane. Soane’s drawing room, painted Turner’s Yellow—a pigment developed in the late 18th century—is truly a statement. The same hue works in Georgia, says Chudley, because “they’re leaning into that classically proportioned architecture,” which complements the clear blue sky. Sea Island, Georgia | DeLoach Sotheby’s International Realty A sprawling estate on Merritt Island, on the east coast of Florida, similarly pays homage to traditional Florentine villas with its butter-yellow exterior and distinctive Italian stone fountains. Inside, the sizable Tuscan-style kitchen and adjacent dining area continue the theme, though the true star is the home’s neoclassical exterior, which contrasts beautifully with Florida’s violet-streaked sunset. “This is a perfect hot weather color,” says Chudley. Anything lighter would feel washed out. Merritt Island, Florida | ONE Sotheby’s International Realty In London, meanwhile, a spacious townhouse on Kendal Street near Hyde Park uses a turmeric shade of yellow to set off the grayness outside. “It’s the classic London brick with the gray London light coming through,” says Chudley. A key part of selecting a paint color is working with or against the view, she says, and here the color draws your eye away from the window. “If you have an amazing view, you want to bring it in,” she says. Here, the color feels “like a warm hug” on a cold, foggy day. Explore our Color Chart series, from zingy orange and bold red to calming white, joyful pink and crowd-pleasing blue
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