Design veteran Jeannine Dal Pra crafts a moody, modern abode for a discerning Gold Coast client.
In the living room, a sofa by Yung Atelier upholstered in Pierre Frey mohair in Bold Army and a pair of Sumo armchairs by Holly Hunt in Métaphores Toundra Sable fabric draw immediate attention.
THE CLIENT
From 1986 to 2020, Jeannine Dal Pra was known as an expert curator of cutting-edge home accessories, furniture, tabletop and jewelry at her must-shop concept store Elements. No surprise then, that when the store closed there was no shortage of clients reaching out to Dal Pra for design advice. Case in point: One regular asked if Dal Pra would visit their new apartment—a 3,200-square-foot gem with 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows with an expansive terrace off the living room and dining room areas—to provide input on the renovation and design. “The living room and dining areas are open to the kitchen,” notes Dal Pra, “a perfect setup for entertaining for family gatherings and the holidays.” Intrigued, she offered her advice—and the client hired her to design the entire home.
The dining room mesmerizes with a counterweight glass pebble chandelier by OCHRE above a Philip Nimmo Design table, which features a gilded interior and a free-form sculpture base with organic shapes that play with positive and negative patterns; the chairs are vintage covered in Jim Thompson silk.
THE PRIORITY
Speed was key for the client, who insisted that the project be ready for move-in within six months. For Dal Pra, now the founder and principal designer of her eponymous design firm, the aim was equally clear: “The client is stylish and chic, so the apartment needed to be sophisticated in order to blend with the client’s personality.”
THE CHALLENGE
In this age of delays and back orders, finishing the construction and custom designs within the client’s six-month ask proved to be Dal Pra’s most significant hurdle. “Most of the custom design features were finished within six months, including the fireplace mantel and powder room vanity. However, not all the furnishings and the draperies were ready, but the client was able to be flexible for the special pieces that had longer lead times.”
A black lacquer door, Phillip Jeffries Metallic Ombre wallpaper in Pewter on Shetland horsehair, and a Christian Astuguevieille black rope mirror add up to a seriously dramatic foyer.
THE DETAILS
For Dal Pra, one of the smallest spaces—the foyer—proved to be the most special. “With so much light in the living room and dining room areas with the floor-to-ceiling windows, I felt that the foyer needed to be dark to create an inviting, warm and intimate feeling when entering the apartment. We installed Phillip Jeffries horsehair and metallic leaf paper with a Christian Astuguevieille black rope mirror and black wool and silk custom rugs from The Rug Company. As the black lacquer door of the apartment opens, you become encompassed in this gorgeous, mysterious space.” The library is another highlight for the designer. “Everything about the library is so inviting that you want to collapse into the deep sofa upholstered in Métaphores chenille fabric with a fascinating novel or watch a great movie. The walls are covered in a Carlisle & Co. hand-embroidered fringe on natural sisal, which creates texture and dimension to complete the warm and inviting feel of the room.”
Highlights of the powder room include a rock crystal pendant by Pagani Studio, floating vanity in Sahara Noir polished marble fabricated by Hardroc Inc., and Pave mirror by Magni Home Collection.
THE OUTCOME
In response to the finished product, the client was “overwhelmed with delight,” says Dal Pra. “I provided exactly what was expected of me—a beautiful, comfortable home that was chic and sophisticated. My goal for my client? When you walk into your home at the end of every day, you should love whichever room you decide you want to be in.”
Wild Flax wallpaper in Gunmetal by Carlisle & Co., Alison Berger Glassworks pendants, and art by Lora Fosberg from the client’s own collection draw the eye in the primary bedroom.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Condominium
LOCATION
Gold Coast
BUILDERS
Artistic Construction
INTERIOR DESIGN
Jeannine Dal Pra Interiors
MILLWORK
S. Lloyd Natof
PAINTERS
Paintcraft, Inc.
RESOURCES
ALISON BERGER GLASSWORKS
Primary Bedroom case glass pendants
CARLISLE & CO.
Wallpaper in primary bedroom and den
GRUEN GALLERIES
Various art gruengalleries.com
HARDROC INC.
Fabrication of fireplace mantel and powder room vanity
HOLLY HUNT
Various accessories
INTERIORS CRAFTS INC.
Coffee table in den
OCHRE
Dining room chandelier
PAGANI STUDIO
Powder Room Rock Crystal Pendant
PHILIP NIMMO DESIGN
Dining room table
PHILLIP JEFFRIES
Wallpaper in foyer/powder room
THE RUG COMPANY
Rugs in halls/living room
SHIIR RUGS
Rug in library
STACKLAB
Acrylic and bronze coffee table in living room
YUNG ATELIER
Living room sofa
ZIRLIN INTERIORS INC.
Window coverings in living room/ primary bedroom