Society columnist Amoryn Engel tells us why this is her favorite room.
“I could cry I love this room so much. I’ve spent so many wonderful hours by the fire with my husband, Kevin, and our two boys, Harrison and William; there’s something so cozy and magical about it. This is the tiniest room in the house, but it’s where everybody ends up after a dinner or party. People drape themselves on the sofas and chairs, and on the floor — this room is so warm and inviting, it’s just a magnet… a little jewel box.”
“My style is eclectic, whimsical and not too serious. I like a little bit of playfulness. I love color and I wanted to invite that into our living space. The custom lacquered blue walls hearken back to a trip I took to Morocco with girlfriends.”
“My designer and friend, J Gibson, and I wanted something deeper and moodier than that Majorelle blue, and it took several attempts to get it right. J designed the sofa and chairs to create a tone-on-tone look for the room.”
“I saw the Picasso above the mantel at a gallery in Palm Beach and immediately fell in love with it: it’s so playful, I love the pops of color and thought it would be perfect for this room. I do cherish my art — each piece has a special meaning and represents a moment in time with great memories.”
“The Clarence House grasscloth wallpaper on the ceiling was J’s idea. He likes to layer tone on tone, and he wanted a lot of texture. The armchairs he designed have a brass bottom and they swivel; they’re super comfortable.”
“The bar is an antique. It folds down to reveal the mirrored interior — it’s quite pretty when you’re serving oysters from it. Growing up, the rug was in our living room and it was my mother’s first Persian. I put all her stuff in storage after she passed away, but J remembered it and thought it would suit this room. I told him, ‘I don’t know how it’ll work in an all-blue room.’ He had the fringe taken off, got it cleaned and this incredible color came to life. Everyone who walks in is just blown away by the carpet.”
Author: As told to Wendy Jacob
Photographer: Virginia Macdonald
Source: House & Home February 2018