"The renovation that followed was exhaustive, comprehensive, and took over two years to complete. It is, by intent, nearly undetectable. ("Are you sure you renovated?" is a compliment if heard at the end of a project like this.) With the spirit of a conservation campaign, every door, every shutter, every window was replaced. Most incredibly, the poured cement floors with inlaid pebbles in a diamond pattern-a technique known as "calades"-are all new,"
"'I am more of a maximalist than Ruth, and she is a bit of a purist,' Tom says with a chuckle, explaining how the process went. 'Ruth was the main editor.' His wife doesn't disagree. Having bought the place furnished as Betty suggested, Ruth and Zandberg methodically curated the contents, keeping certain key Catroux elements, like the pair of walnut screens flanking the sofa in the salon alcove, the metal lion sculpture on the mantel in the front salon,"
The renovation took over two years and was exhaustive, yet the interventions were intended to be nearly undetectable. Every door, shutter and window was replaced in a conservation-minded approach, and poured cement floors with inlaid pebble calades were newly recreated to match the originals. Design decisions balanced maximalist and purist instincts, with Ruth acting as the principal editor while retaining signature Catroux elements like walnut screens, a metal lion sculpture and upholstered salon furniture. Contemporary additions include chairs by Martino Gamper and lighting by Paavo Tynell, infusing midcentury energy. The project reconnected to the original creative lineage by involving the architect's son and the same garden designer.
Read at Architectural Digest
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]