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.  PHOTOGRAPHED BY TONY SOLURI

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.  PHOTOGRAPHED BY TONY SOLURI
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.  PHOTOGRAPHED BY TONY SOLURI
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  PHOTOGRAPHED BY TONY SOLURI
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. PHOTOGRAPHED BY TONY SOLURI
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

artisticconstruction.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

Jeannine Dal Pra Interiors

jeanninedalprainteriors.com

MILLWORK

S. Lloyd Natof

slnatof.com

PAINTERS

Paintcraft, Inc.

paintcraft.net

RESOURCES

ALISON BERGER GLASSWORKS

Primary Bedroom case glass pendants

alisonbergerglassworks.com

CARLISLE & CO.

Wallpaper in primary bedroom and den

carlisleco.com

GRUEN GALLERIES

Various art gruengalleries.com

HARDROC INC.

Fabrication of fireplace mantel and powder room vanity

hardrocstone.com

HOLLY HUNT

Various accessories

hollyhunt.com

INTERIORS CRAFTS INC.

Coffee table in den

interiorcraftsinc.com

OCHRE

Dining room chandelier

ochre.net

PAGANI STUDIO

Powder Room Rock Crystal Pendant

paganistudio.com

PHILIP NIMMO DESIGN

Dining room table

philipnimmodesign.com

PHILLIP JEFFRIES

Wallpaper in foyer/powder room

phillipjeffries.com

THE RUG COMPANY

Rugs in halls/living room

therugcompany.com

SHIIR RUGS

Rug in library

shiirrugs.com

STACKLAB

Acrylic and bronze coffee table in living room

stacklab.ca

YUNG ATELIER

Living room sofa

yungatelier.com

ZIRLIN INTERIORS INC.

Window coverings in living room/ primary bedroom

zirlininteriorsinc.com