We brought in the owner’s personal story tracing her pregnant belly to mimic the corbel design. In this way we created an indelible relationship between the architecture and the owner. True design is about telling the story of someone’s life. In this moment the house becomes truly theirs, not mine…

Art is always a big deal when creating the perfect ambience – it’s a game changer and adds untold currency and sophistication. Brokering deals with local artists is part of the journey, its often intuitive, sometimes synchronistic, and always deeply personal.

Venice has the ideal climate for outdoor living and the exterior spaces became very important. More decking allowed a feeling of bringing the indoors outdoors.

A guest studio was perfect for music jamming and to make art

We opened up the guest bedroom into the living room, which seemed like a radical idea at the time. And the owner needed some convincing. But once it was done, she loved it. It mimics a true European lifestyle when all the rooms merge together – the romance of seeing a bed from the living room. What’s more, when there’s a party, people can spill over into the bedroom. Heavy drapery in the master bedroom creates beautiful diffused light, the room becomes dreamy and ethereal. Soft and organic pillows bring in a farmhouse feel.

Little elaborate gates at the entrance to the yard came from an architectural salvage. Part of the joy of creating is sourcing from myriad different places. Over the years, you get to know where the real gems are to be found.

The front walls had a code restriction of 3 feet. As a designer it’s sometimes necessary to push the limits and we got a concession to make them taller, which made all the difference.