The Luxury Space
A few words from Tony Cutugno
“Nothing is in good taste unless it suits the way you live.”
— Billy BaldwinIf our homes are our memoirs—a sentiment fostered by the most discerning decorators and certainly shared by me—the moments that materialize where we eat and drink tend to be those we remember most. Whether dining alone or with a big, spirited group, a delightful, highly-personalized décor is essential for savoring this life-sustaining ritual.
“Modern clients are not creating a past, they are moving all the time and living in the present,” observes Veere Grenney, a London and Tangier-based interior designer who grew up in Auckland, New Zealand (so knows something about moving). No surprise his brilliant book A Point of View on Decorating , which inspired this month’s Luxury Space, devotes a chapter to Eating Rooms. Grenney feels the best dining areas should “always have movement in and out”, with a sense of flow and creativity.
Lately, we at Private Brokerage are discovering that the most interesting luxury estates no longer confine eating and cocktailing to the dining room or library. Country kitchens might include elaborate chandeliers and ample tables, entrance halls install loveseats spacious enough for several guests to enjoy an aperitif; covered terraces are embellished with plush chairs, splendid topiary, and are either heated or air-conditioned, so al fresco entertaining becomes a four-season affair. The homes on the following pages embrace a kinetic use of color, elegance, simplicity, and above all comfort. A perfect illustration of Veere Grenney’s credo “We need less cool, more beauty.”
On the cover: 63 Park Avenue, Bronxville, NY listed by Kathleen Collins and Priscilla Newman
A Country Breakfast or an Elegant Dinner
You wonder if, in 1908, the year this sensational colonial shingle was built, the residents ever opted for an elegant dinner in the kitchen like we often do today. With fireplace and chandelier in place, why not? Laid-back luxury can be delicious. As Thomas Edison observed that same year: “Anything is possible.”
Round or Rectangular? The Fun of Dual Dining Rooms!
Permeated with “past lives and fresh wonders”—designer’s Veere Grenney’s ideal room—are embodied by the adjoining dining areas at the glorious Greek Revival known as Killearn. Unexpected guests and their friends and family for the weekend? The more the merrier!
Variety will always be the spice of life, especially when it comes to dining. Never a dull moment at the stunning stone & clapboard Baldwin House, whose multiple options in spectacular settings makes every meal an adventure.
Cocktails in the Entrance Hall... A Banquet to Follow
You don’t have to be a UN ambassador—like a previous owner of this exquisite Bronxville Georgian—to appreciate the endless possibilities to entertain (whether foreign dignitaries or just dear friends). Updates and expansions include merging original dining room and sunroom—for hosting a horde!—plus expansive blue-stone terraces for al fresco fun.
Bellinis on the Terrace... Pasta Primavera in the Sunlit Kitchen
Recreate your favorite Capri vacation by adding a dash of sun to your lazy lunches in a kitchen with 10’ ceilings and towering windows, then some fun, fizzy cocktails on the bluestone terrace overlooking your sparkling pool.
Just as vivid color signals that food is fresh and more flavorful, so a vibrantly-hued room can be more appealing for entertaining. A dynamic mix of pinks and blues are animated even more by sunlight, making drinks and meals all the more appetizing.
by Veere Grenney
Senior Vice President