Full of Grace

From the pages of designer Orlando Diaz-Azcuy's recently published book comes these frankly mesmerising pictures of an all white home in San Francisco. This place is undeniably luxurious yet has an underlying serenity.
Not at all bohemian chic and not a floral pattern in sight.
Fresh flowers though are welcome and used in varying shades of sweet pink to make the place that much more inviting. This is as close as I get to my idea of a dream apartment- heaven on the 17th floor with views of the Golden Gate.


Architect Andrew Skurman was a former apprentice of I.M Pei, the brilliance responsible for the Louvre's famed pyramid. Wife Francoise Skurman is a sculptor, creator of the enchanting white plaster figures perched like beautiful ladies-in-waiting around the apartment. Its little wonder their home is an exquisite mix of clean lines and soft touches. A harmony of true grace and surprising warmth.

The Tom Dixon custom-designed dining table stirred serious design lust. Almost like a mathematical construction, one of those teaching models carelessly strewn around the classroom by a group of six year olds. It looks deceptively light yet is clearly strong enough to act as a base for the glass top and setting of weighty designer tableware.

Louis XV fauteuils refinished in silver leaf were heirlooms from Francoise's Parisian family. Distinguished by different white jacquard upholstery they are classic but emphatically this century. Serge Roche torchieres and a pair of console tables from the estate of the late Gianni Versace complete the elegant picture.

Super modern thrown in with the timeless, seriousness undercut by whimsy, the couple describe it best when they said "We moved in and we've lived happily ever after".