By the Book: New Books by Cullman & Kravis, Nicole Hollis and Michael S. Smith
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Fall is the season when our instinct leads us to revel in the pleasures
of hearth and home. To inspire you in that pursuit, we present spectacular new books by three top interior design firms, each with a distinctive
and gloriously artful vision of the art of interiors.
by Marianne Litty
Cullman & Kravis: Interiors celebrates the latest work of the renowned firm, now in its fortieth year. Based on tradition, infused with boundless creativity and a fresh perspective, they juxtapose exquisite antiques, iconic vintage furniture, sumptuous textiles, and contemporary art for a lively dialogue of eras in the ultimate expression of timeless luxury. The firm’s unwavering standards of excellence and deep devotion to “delighting the eye” are revealed in remarkable residences including a Gilded Age New York apartment designed by Stanford White and a serene indoor/outdoor home in Palm Beach with blue-chip artwork and vintage 1930s and 40s pieces from French and Italian design icons.
Art, craft, color, and form converge to create alchemical magic in the interiors of Nicole Hollis. Her second book, Nicole Hollis: Artistry of Home presents 11 residences in New York, California, and Hawaii. In her elegantly understated interiors, thoughtful curation allows each object to perform a role in the mix while radiating its unique qualities. Custom commissions and works of bespoke collectible design are featured prominently; these functional works of art bear the imprint of the maker, complementing and elevating the spaces with the infinite joy of human expression.
Michael S. Smith’s flawless blend of European classicism and American modernism is paired with his dramatic sense of scale and proportion to create richly layered interiors, filled with moments of subtle nuance and bold expression that function as contemporary with the warmth and patina of the historic. Smith has designed homes for moguls, Hollywood luminaries, and, most famously, for the White House during the Obama administration. Classic by Design unveils projects ranging from Smith’s home in Los Angeles, his apartment in a nineteenth-century palace in Madrid, a reimagined saltbox in East Hampton, and an East River penthouse in New York City.
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Upper East Side Art Deco Apartment
In a classic Rosario Candela-designed Art Deco New York apartment, the color-soaked wood-paneled living room was Inspired by Jean-Michel Frank’s 1938 decoration for the salon of Nelson Rockefeller’s Fifth Avenue triplex. Cullman & Kravis Associates showed images of the Rockefeller apartment to their clients, who were enchanted, and the direction was set. The chandelier is a custom piece designed together with the London studio of Charles Burnand; the contemporary take on art deco furthers the bridge between the historical and current pieces in the room. The rug was designed by French fashion illustrator Christian Bérard, who designed the Rockefeller apartment rug and was produced by the same St. Tropez atelier as the original. A vivid painting by Color Field/Minimalist artist Anne Truitt hangs above the fireplace, the painting at right is a 2019 work by German Neo-Expressionist Georg Baselitz. A pair of 1970s hammered brass consoles by Philippe Hiquily flank the fireplace and are topped with a contemporary pair of lamps by Hervé van der Straeten, and above each, a 1950s original Osvaldo Borsani mirror with a replica made to match. The center table is by the French art deco furniture designer Jules Leleu, whose refined forms, luxurious materials and exquisite craftsmanship have made his pieces icons of the era. Topping the Leleu table is a sculpture by Mark di Suvero. Cream curtains have a hem of hand-painted gold brushstrokes, and the pair of armchairs are in the style of Maison Jansen. Photo by Joshua McHugh. |
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Gilded Age Residence Media Room A media room with walls lacquered in the clients’ favorite sapphire blue drenches the room in color and creates a dramatic backdrop for elements that sparkle and shine. A blue velvet sofa repeats the bold color statement in a softer texture, the same, but a quite different effect. The custom rug based on a Chinese design is a balanced expression of traditional and contemporary. A coffee table in parchment and lacquer contributes lustrous glamour, the bubble glass bead chandelier glitters and a polished brass table lamp with stacked lucite disks shines. The French club chairs are vintage. The large artwork is by French photographer Jean-François Rauzier, who assembles trompe l’oeil “hyper-photo” photomontages of some of the world’s most recognizable architecture, here, the Orsay Museum in Paris. Using hundreds of images, he creates surreal scenes that challenge perception and imagination. The smaller work is by American abstract expressionist painter Michael Goldberg, circa 1960. Photo by Eric Piasecki. |
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Cullman & Kravis Associates partners (left to right): Lee Cavanaugh, Alyssa Urban, founder Ellie Cullman and Sarah Ramsey. Photo by Peter Olson. |
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Gilded Age Residence Library Color, pattern, and bold contemporary artwork infuse energy and modernity into the library of a grand McKim, Mead & White apartment. For clients with a passion for both Old World decoration and lively color palettes, the design team developed a decorative idiom that spanned over a century. British-style dark mahogany paneling was rejected in favor of lighter anigré for an updated version of a traditional bookish mood. Patterned sofas, once common, are now seldom seen, but this one beckons appealingly, cozy in its wall niche. Careful consideration of scale and balance is the key, it’s revealed. A custom coffee table lacquered in glossy cinnabar and armchairs in a saturated turquoise hue are traditional but with a contemporary twist. The contemporary work above the sofa is by Doug Argue. Photo by Eric Pisecki. |
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Indian Wells, California
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Nicole Hollis: Artistry of Home | |
by Nicole Hollis © 2024 Nicole Hollis, published by Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. Available at rizzoliusa.com and Amazon |
With the pure and stark beauty of the California desert as a backdrop, the architect for this project, a former colleague and friend of interior designer Nicole Hollis, tapped into the aesthetic of midcentury desert modernism to design a house that became one with the landscape. Monochromatic fourteen-foot bleached-oak ceilings, limestone floors and travertine walls, and retractable glass walls created a pristine setting for Nicole’s selection of exquisite furniture forms and sculptural lighting. Each design decision was rigorously considered — was it necessary? — following the client’s desire for open space and restful simplicity.
In this expansive entertaining room, the dining area is tethered by Jeff Zimmerman’s monumental Illuminated Vine Sculpture, 2019, a work that so embodies the grace and beauty of organic form, it is utterly alive. The custom dining table is by contemporary French furniture artist Joseph Dirand, paired with dining chairs by legendary French interior designer of the 1920s–1930s Jean-Michel Frank. In a seating group by the fireplace, curved Vladimir Kagan sofas in velvet and mohair soften the angularity of the architecture; a round wool and silk rug furthers the effect. In the foreground at right, a cocktail table surrounded by Vladimir Kagan’s 1998 “Wysiwyg” swivel chairs defines another gathering spot. The color and materials palette was pared back to dramatic effect, with soft blues, white and ivory, and pale earth tones to reflect the sky, clouds, and surrounding hills, while rays of desert sunlight glint off warm brass and gold finishes. Photo by Douglas Friedman.
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Nolita, New York City The historic 1886 Romanesque Revival Puck Building in New York City once housed the offices and printing plant of the famous humor/satire magazine of the late 19th century Puck, and in the late 1980s/early 90s, the satirical Spy magazine. In this penthouse residence, the interiors retain a refined industrial mood, with a bank of original size floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted brick ceilings, and massive support beams. The occupants of this remarkable space were repeat clients who asked for a comfortable sanctuary that showcased their art collection and could also serve to host meetings with leading global and industry figures. A seemingly tall order, but one that was tempered by the trust earned by previous projects together. A textured wool and silk rug grounds a seating group with a sofa by Nicole Hollis, vintage 1960s Brazilian Modern lounge chairs by Liceu de Artes e Oficios and a sculptural cast brass contemporary collectible design coffee table by Italian designer/architect Vicenzo De Cotiis. At right, a sculptural onyx side table and a midcentury Finnish wingback lounge chair round out the furnishings. On the wall, a 2022 work in colored and mirrored glass is by Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. The dining area, seen at left rear, has a cast brass base dining table with a suite of vintage 1960s chairs by American Studio Craft artist Sam Maloof. A chandelier made in handmade Japanese washi paper and gold leaf is by Celine Wright, the artwork is Infinite Regress CCII, 2023 by Eamon Ore-Giron. Photo by Douglas Friedman. |
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Tribeca, New York City In a newly remodeled 19th-century brick landmark building in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City which was originally a book bindery, Nicole Hollis infused this loft apartment with an elegantly relaxed atmosphere. The building’s industrial bones, including aged wooden beams and banks of arched windows are enhanced by minimalist sculptural furniture forms and arresting artwork. The Soul Bench in Cor-Ten steel by Madrid-based artist Veronica Mar is a work of functional art, serving not only as seating, but also to define the conversation area within the great room. The artist drew inspiration from spiral geometries present in nature, from DNA chains to hurricanes. The Alpha club chair at left is a 1970 design by Pierre Paulin, the sofa is by Christian Liaigre, and the gray lounge chair is by Italian designer Augusto Bozzi, designed circa the 1950s. Vintage 1970s Paul Evans Cityscape side tables bracket the sofa; a coffee table is by French design duo Gilles & Boissier. On the coffee table is the bronze sculpture Recumbent Figure, 2021 by Rogan Gregory sculptural teardrop shapes in blown glass cascade down the wall in Drips Beget Drips, 2021 by Fred Wilson. A large sisal rug introduces warm textural notes and captures the grouping. Los Angeles artist David Wiseman, a frequent collaborator, was commissioned to create the porcelain and bronze magnolia branch chandelier over the dining area. Photo by Douglas Friedman. |
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Michael S. Smith Classic by Design | |
by Michael S. Smith with Andrew Ferren © 2024 Michael S. Smith, published by Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. Available at rizzoliusa.com and Amazon |
Modernist Pavilion
Holmby Hills, Los Angeles
In the spacious living room of Michael S. Smith’s primary residence, which he shares with his partner James Costos, the designer created a series of intimate enclosures “to encourage people to stop and sit down.” To that purpose, he created an inglenook-style grouping around the fireplace, with a pair of custom sofas he designed based on Vladimir Kagan’s curvy midcentury models. A custom bronze lantern with a matte black patina, one of a pair by French artist Phillippe Anthonioz, creates a sculptural presence in the room and visually relates the ceiling to the room, creating a sense of intimacy. At right, a custom sofa stretches along the wall to define another seating group. The bronze Thread armchair is a limited edition work of collectible design by Mattia Bonetti, 2018. At the far end of the sofa is a plaster “African” end table by American designer John Dickinson, circa the late 1970s. The much coveted and widely collected tables were handpainted, resulting in an appealing handcrafted texture, and feature four primitive animal paws at the base of the legs. The designer’s art collection reflects his diverse interests and encyclopedic knowledge of fine and decorative arts. A school of Rubens painting acquired by Smith early in his career hangs behind the piano, at right, Gary Simmon’s Hurricane contains images of boxing broadsides announcing matches of Black boxers, including Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter. Simmons’s work addresses themes of race, identity, and social inequality. Photo by Roger Davies.
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Mountain Retreat, Montana In the living room, the astounding views through floor-to-ceiling mullion windows might be enough atmosphere for some homeowners, but not for these clients, for whom Smith created an indulgently cosseting, richly layered, luxurious ambiance, placing the emphasis on warm textures, tones, and finishes to contrast with the pristine iciness of the mountains and sky. To mirror the scale of the windows, Smith designed curtains with a giant patchwork pattern in shades from pecan to butterscotch to beige, in fabrics of varying translucence. He positioned a pair of caramel-tone midcentury Italian armchairs by the fireplace, beside a sofa in a lavishly textured mix of neutrals. By the window, the Charles daybed from Studio Van den Akker is upholstered in a zebra-patterned fabric. Against the wall is a vintage black walnut sofa by George Nakashima. The stunning bronze double branch chandelier with porcelain blossoms was custom made for the space by David Wiseman. Photo by Michael Mundy. |
