Architectural Cases

Harmony in Reflection: A Lakeside Oasis Reimagined

A Deeply Personal Project: Revitalizing a Childhood Home with Artistic Flair

Lauren Sands, the visionary behind LES Collection, sought to infuse her family's lakeside retreat—a place rich with childhood memories—with a renewed sense of purpose and beauty. Her desire was for a home filled with art and objects that resonated deeply, each piece holding decades of personal significance, rather than merely being decorative. This ambition led her to engage AD100 designer Jeremiah Brent, whose ability to weave personal narratives into his designs made him the ideal choice.

The "Harmony of Reflection" Concept: Blending Interior with Nature's Flow

Brent's design philosophy for the project, which he aptly named "the harmony of reflection," sought to create a seamless connection between the home's interiors and its natural lakeside surroundings. This concept was meticulously applied throughout the renovation, from the expansive dining table adorned with wave-like carvings to the spiral droplet motifs found in various design elements. The transformation involved extensive structural changes, including relocating exterior walls, to optimize views of the lake and establish distinct yet cohesive living areas.

Crafting Functional Beauty: Thoughtful Spaces for Family Life

The renovation prioritized both aesthetics and functionality. The open-plan public spaces were designed to offer sweeping lake views while maintaining separate zones through strategic use of columns, flooring, and coffers. The family room kitchen, for instance, showcases Sands's personal collection of dinnerware and glassware within a corner cabinet featuring rippled glass, further emphasizing the water theme. Every detail, from custom furniture to unique lighting fixtures, was chosen to reflect the family's lifestyle and passions.

Intimate Retreats and Bespoke Details: Personalized Sanctuaries

Beyond the communal areas, personal spaces like the second-floor office and primary bedroom were crafted as serene hideaways. The office features unique warped-wood walls, a collaborative effort between Brent and local millworkers, designed to evoke a sense of history and warmth. The primary bedroom, with its luxurious creamy surfaces and canopy bed, offers a tranquil escape. The primary bathroom elevates this luxury with a stunning display of mid-century Italian and Austrian lighting set against dramatic Paonazzo marble, creating an exceptionally dreamy ambiance.

A Vision Realized: The Intersection of Art, History, and Family

The 20-month undertaking culminated in a home that Brent describes as a unique blend of "color and vibration and whimsy and feminine and European." It eschews a single design style, instead becoming a vivid representation of the client's personality and history. Sands herself marvels at the magic of living in her reimagined childhood home, noting how Brent truly understood her vision, creating a space that radiates the family's essence.

Architectural and Artistic Collaboration: Expert Craftsmanship and Design

The extensive renovation was a collaborative effort involving Brent's team, Hanlon Architects, and DVC Incorporated contracting. This partnership ensured that complex structural changes, such as moving exterior walls to enhance lake views, were executed flawlessly. The integration of custom-designed pieces, from the dining table by Jonathan Hansen to bespoke plaster walls by Kamp Studios, highlights the meticulous attention to detail and craftsmanship that defined the project.

Curated Collections and Unique Furnishings: A Tapestry of Style

The home is a showcase of thoughtfully curated furnishings and unique art. Pieces like the biomorphic chrome coffee table in the formal living room, vintage Italian lounge chairs, and French Art Deco armchairs contribute to a rich, layered aesthetic. The powder room, with its ripple motifs in the wainscoting and marble sink, continues the water-centric theme, while whimsical sconces add a playful touch. Even the children's bunkroom is a vibrant, customized space, featuring bold patterns and unique lighting, demonstrating that every corner of the home tells a story.

Elizabeth Taylor, a titan of Hollywood’s Golden Age, frequently distinguished between her public persona and her private self, expressing a deep desire for sanctuary away from the relentless glare of fame. Though her career was marked by extraordinary success, activism, and a famously eventful personal life with eight marriages, it was within the walls of her residences that she truly found contentment. This unique photographic compilation invites us to explore the quieter, more intimate aspects of her existence, unveiling the homes that served as a backdrop to her private moments and shaped the narrative of her life beyond the silver screen.

From her early years in Hollywood to her final days, Elizabeth Taylor’s homes offered a refuge from the public eye, evolving as she navigated the complexities of stardom and personal growth. Each dwelling, from her childhood abode to her cherished Bel Air estate, reflects different chapters of her life, capturing her evolving tastes and priorities. These spaces were not just structures but extensions of her being, providing comfort, stability, and a sense of normalcy that was often elusive in her public life.

The Evolution of Elizabeth Taylor's Domestic Sanctuaries

Elizabeth Taylor’s journey through various homes mirrored the dramatic trajectory of her life, each residence telling a unique story of her personal and professional evolution. From her early days in London and Los Angeles to her later years in sophisticated urban apartments and sprawling country estates, her living spaces were a constant amidst a life of constant change. She began her life in Hollywood in a Spanish-style Beverly Hills home, a space that would witness the nascent stages of her acting career. This initial home fostered her formative years, marked by both the joys of childhood and the early demands of stardom. As her career ascended, so too did the grandeur and diversity of her homes, from her London flat with Michael Wilding to a New York penthouse with Mike Todd. Each move represented a new phase, a different relationship, and a fresh attempt to cultivate a personal haven.

Her residences served as more than just places to live; they were canvases upon which she painted the chapters of her life. The Beverly Hills house she shared with Michael Wilding, for instance, became a symbol of burgeoning motherhood and domestic bliss, meticulously decorated to reflect her burgeoning personal style. Later, her New York City penthouse with Mike Todd showcased her sophisticated taste in art and served as a backdrop for intimate interviews, blending her public and private worlds in a delicate balance. The Chalet Ariel in Gstaad, Switzerland, offered a secluded retreat, reflecting her enduring love for tranquility and nature, while her Virginia farm with John Warner hinted at a desire for a more grounded existence. Finally, her long-term residence at 700 Nimes Road in Bel Air became her ultimate sanctuary, a place where she curated her art collections and welcomed close friends, embodying her final vision of a cozy and private home life, rich with memories and personal touches.

Balancing Stardom and Personal Retreats

Elizabeth Taylor's life was a masterclass in navigating the intense pressures of public scrutiny while fiercely guarding her private moments. From her initial disillusionment with fame, as she revealed in "Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes," she continuously sought to differentiate between the "commodity" that was the public Elizabeth Taylor and the "flesh and blood" woman who craved a normal existence. This pursuit of personal space led her to create a series of domestic sanctuaries that offered respite from the overwhelming demands of her celebrity. Her homes became vital havens where she could shed the mantle of stardom and embrace the roles of daughter, sister, wife, and mother, finding peace and authenticity away from the cameras.

Her experiences, from the rigidly scheduled childhood that stifled typical adolescent freedoms to the tumultuous early marriages that played out in the tabloids, underscored her need for personal retreats. The Plaza Hotel, following her first divorce, became a symbol of newfound independence, where she reveled in simple pleasures with close friends. Later, her homes with Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Richard Burton, and John Warner each offered different forms of domesticity and stability, from raising children in Beverly Hills to entertaining on a lavish yacht or finding solace on a Virginia farm. Ultimately, her Bel Air estate on Nimes Road, designed with meticulous attention to comfort and personal taste, became her enduring sanctuary. It was here that she truly found a balance, surrounded by her beloved art, pastel interiors, and vibrant gardens, embodying her deep-seated preference for a cozy, authentic life away from the public's relentless gaze.