Decorating & Design
January 21, 2019
Peek Inside Design Legend Veere Grenney’s New Book, A Point Of View
New Zealander Veere Grenney is a design legend who, after emigrating to England in the 1970s, trained under David Hicks, and worked at Colefax & Fowler. His first book, Veere Grenney: A Point Of View, is a collection of his work from homes all over the world, from Morocco to Manhattan and Mustique — but they all embody a particularly English sense of comfort. The libraries are lush, the bedrooms are cozy, and the mudrooms are populated by well-organized rows of wellies. Let’s take a look at some of the prettiest offerings.
In Veere’s own holiday home in Tangier, Morocco, an Indian flavored guestroom is embellished with Moroccan-embroidered curtains and hand-stencilled walls by Alistair Erskine.
This drawing room on the Upper East Side of Manhattan is full of sophisticated touches. Light bounces off the glossy, white lacquered walls, while a coffee table by icon Gabriella Crespi is a sculptural note.
A bold painting by Sean Scully is the focal point of this all-white drawing room, which is blessed with high ceilings and ornate plaster moldings.
Veere’s Folly linen is used to line this charming alcove bed with a canopy. The built-in bookshelves and reading light make it feel like a secret hideaway. “The only thing I want to find on my bed is a lovely lurcher, not acres of satin pillows,” jokes Veere.
Plaster palm trees and a striking display of circa-1815 plates by Royal Worcester adorn the walls of this dining room, which is decorated with painted shield-back chairs and a fireplace inspired by prominent British designer John Fowler.
This classic English boot room comes complete with hardwearing brick floors (with underfloor heating to dry off wet footwear), panelled walls, and plenty of storage for jackets, boots, blankets and walking sticks.
The walls in this library are upholstered in a Fortuny damask to dampen the sound, and matching drapes for a lush, enveloping experience. Bronze and rosewood shelves are simple, yet luxurious.
“Four-poster beds are so glamorous, and everyone always says how well they have slept in them,” says Veere. “We try to persuade clients to have a four-poster in their guest rooms because their visitors will regard that as a holiday or a treat.”
Vintage furniture, a chunky woven rug and palm print upholstery are all right at home in this Mustique house, where the walls are clad in bamboo.
An old fashioned copper tub suits the natural vibe of this bamboo-stalk bathroom in the Caribbean. A simple ledge keeps necessities at hand while teak shutters provide privacy.
All the walls are hand-painted by Alistair Erskine in an homage to Italian architect and designer Renzo Mongiardino (a favorite of Gianni Versace and Valentino) in Veere’s Tangier library.
Twin vintage iron beds are dressed with panels of Veere’s Belvedere linen, to add a bit of softness. The subtle design is repeated on the bedskirts and coordinating wallapaper for a tonal effect that’s lively and layered.
David Oliver
@ Veere Grenney: A Point of View, written with Ruth Guilding, Rizzoli, 2018
Veere Grenney