Gentry Home (March-April 2016)

S A N F R A N C I S C O | P EN I N S U L A | S I LI C O N VA LLE Y

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12 | Letter from the EditorNew & Now

19 | InspirationsFresh Attitude. Runway trends informtoday’s best furnishings, textiles, and accessories.

26 | My LifeGreen Thumb. Landscape architectBrian Koch of Terra Ferma is known for creating magical gardens and ultra-chic modern landscapes. Gentry Home reports.

28 | Destination DesignThe House of Lions. Since its debut in2013, the Four Seasons St. Petersburghas inspired the global design commu-nity with its meticulous restoration andthe modern take on the spirit of ImperialRussia. Corrine Mehigan reports.

34 | Outdoor LivingUltimate Outdoor Kitchen. GentryHome visits an exquisite garden andoutdoor entertaining space in Palo Altocomplete with a covet-worthy Kalama-zoo Outdoor Gourmet kitchen.

80 | The GH CompendiumDesign calendar, sources, and stockistsfor this issue.

82 | QuintessenceFresh Focus. Silicon Valley-based interior designer Annalisa Avelar is inhigh demand for fresh spaces and a contemporary aesthetic. Gentry Homecaught up with Avelar to discuss herdesigning ideas.

departments

On the Cover:The architectural dream team of Robert Swattand George Miers conceives a minimalist chic dream home in Tiburon. Photography by Russell Abraham.

MARCH – APRIL 2016

features38 | California CoolThe architectural dream team of RobertSwatt and George Miers conceives aminimalist chic dream home in Tiburon.

46 | Modern Day ChaletAward-winning interior designer SarahJones imbues a dramatic Martis Campestate with a contemporary Tahoe vibe.

52 | Ritz ReduxRitz-Carlton Hotels and Resorts hasbeen expanding with striking new prop-erties while quietly undergoing strategicfacelifts across the globe. The results are nothing short of dazzling.

58 | In Marin County: An Ode to GreyDesigner Ann Lowengart created elegant new interiors with artful lighting, chic woven textiles, and thirty shades of grey.

10 GENTRY HOME | March – April 2016

II vividly recall sitting next to a woman from Germany at anevent in San Jose a dozen years ago. As happens at fundraisingluncheons, conversation turned to the subject of people’s profes-sions. She asked me what I did, and when I explained that Iedited a group of magazines that covered lifestyle and design shegrabbed my hand and asked abruptly, “Why is the design so badhere?” I was taken aback. I knew that Northern California hadsome extraordinary design talent, but the more we spoke, themore I could understand her point of view. She had moved toCalifornia with high design expectations—hoping Silicon Valleywould be as avant garde in its architecture, art, and interiors as itwas cutting edge with technology. Instead, she saw a vast sea ofmini malls, office parks, and a handful of uninspired high rises.

Well it’s taken over a decade, but the tide is changing andarchitects, in particular, are starting to wow our skylines andneighborhoods with innovative new towers and homes that seizethe imagination. In this issue, we take a look at several excitingprojects. The award-winning architectural team of Robert Swattand George Miers share a modernist home project in Tiburonthat takes full advantage of one of the best views in the Bay Area(California Cool, page 38). Swatt, Miers, and their team are in highdemand working on projects around the globe. Notes Bob Swatt,“We’re finally creating the buildings we were meant to design.Two decades—even a decade ago—folks just were not interestedin true contemporary architecture.” Thankfully, that’s changed.

The management team at Ritz-Carl-ton Hotels and Resorts read the trendtoward modern architecture and authen-ticity of location nearly 15 years ago andset in motion a plan to remodel existingproperties and build stunning new onesto meet the high expectations of themodern luxury traveler (Ritz Redux, page 52). To that end, theyhave employed some of the major designers and architects inthe world to create these modern masterpieces.

Style expert and author Diane Dorrans Saeks catches up withMarin-based interior designer Ann Lowengart and tours one of herlatest projects wrought in subtle hues (An Ode to Grey, page 58).

Landscape architect Brian Koch of Terra Ferma describes hisapproach to fresh gardenscapes (Green Thumb, page 26). Interiordesigner Annalisa Avelar of AL Interiors describes the five mostimportant things every interior should have (Fresh Focus, page82). And we take a look at fashion colors and details that aremaking their way from the runway to reality in furnishings, fab-rics, wallpapers, and lighting (Inspirations, page 19). Enjoy!

editor’s letter


Stefanie Lingle Beasley, Editorial Director, [email protected]

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On My List . . .

New & Now

COLORFUL PICKS FOR ADDING A DASH OF SPRING TO YOUR DÉCOR.1| The “Hydra” table lamp in purple from Currey & Company. www.curreycodealers.com

2| Rubelli Venezia’s “Queen Anne” upholstery silk, worn as a scarf. www.donghia.com

3| Donghia’s new “Dune” in silk and linen replicates waves of sand blown by the wind. www.donghia.com

4| The “Jules” chair by Arflex covered in Donghia’s “Spritz” fabric and Donghia’s Divan sofa covered in Donghia’s “Backgammon” fabric. www.donghia.com

5| Donghia’s “Geode” features a cotton ground with a satin weave pattern of irregular shapes. www.donghia.com

6| British Designer Tom Faulkner’s “Tiffany” chair in marmalade. Available at The Store by Jay Jeffers, San Francisco. www.jayjeffers-thestore.com

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Editorial Director | Stefanie Lingle Beasley

Art Director | Lisa M. Duri

Creative Services Manager | Michael Kanemura

Editorial/Communications Manager | Corrine E. Mehigan

Chief Photographer | Jack Hutcheson

Senior Editors | Robin Hindery, Jill Layman

Contributing Photographers | Russell Abraham, Drew Altizer, Scott Lasky, Adrian Mendoza, Crystal Waye

Contributing Writer | Diane Dorrans Saeks

——————————

Senior VP/Associate Publisher Senior VP/Associate PublisherBrenda Beck Sara Shaw

Vice President/National Accounts | Norene Sheehan

Senior Account ExecutivesTiffany Birch, Collier C. Granberry, Meredith Zappert

——————————

Chief Financial Officer | Dot Juby

Director of Operations | Lisa Lemus

Distribution Management | California Delivery

Printing | RR Donnelley

——————————

Elsie Floriani Sloane CitronFounder/Executive Editor Founder/Publisher

EXECUTIVE BOARDJoshua Citron, Scott Feiler, Dan Floriani, Michele Floriani,

Arielle Citron, and Kathleen Mehigan

ADVISORY BOARDLina Broydo, Barbara Campisi, Rebecca-Sen Chan, Marilyn Dorsa,

Nanci Fredkin, Mary Gebhardt, Marie LoPresto, Sandy Mandel, Teresa Medearis, Brian Neel, Kelly Porter, Margo Ritter, John Thibault,

Terri Tiffany, Bernard Vogel III, and Jane Yates

Setting a higher standard.

18 Media is the leading lifestyle media company for the San Francisco, Peninsula, and Silicon Valley. Critically acclaimed editors, designers, and executives work in

close concert to provide superior media offerings and opportunities.

18 Media provides readers, advertisers, and business partners with an incomparableexperience, from the heart, with a higher standard of quality, honesty, and integrity.

With award-winning titles that appeal to sophisticated adults, the publications guide lifestyle decisions in the coveted San Francisco/SiliconValley market.

Gentry Magazine (ISSN 1545-7664) is published twelve times a year by 18 Media Incorporated, a California corporation. Entire contents copyright © 2016 by 18 Media Incorporated. All rightsreserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited.

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RUNWAYREADY

Fashion-forward huesand dressmaker

details are increasinglyinfluencing

furnishings and décor.

MARCH – APRIL 2016

inspirations


TRIBAL INFLUENCENatural textures, hand crafted

touches, and earthy colors translate from runway to home

décor seamlessly this season.

McGuire “Bercut” lounge chair.

www.mcguirefurniture.com

Oscar de la Renta’s “BilbaoCafé” rug for Elson & Co.www.elsoncompany.com

Tory Burch’s “weaver”tassel sandal ($450).www.toryburch.com

McGuire’s rectangular concrete side table by

Sonoma artist Pamela Holmes.

www.mcguirefurniture.com

Currey & Co.’s “Boho” chandelier.

www.curreycodealers.com

Tory Burch’s floral meshgown ($1,495).

www.toryburch.comTortoise shell-colored glassdecanters and ice bucket by

Oscar de la Renta Homewww.oscardelarenta.com

“Jakarta” fabrics bySuzanne Tucker.

www.suzannetuckerhome.com

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inspirations

ROSE QUARTZ& SERENITY

The Pantone Color Institute selectedtwo signature colors for 2016: Rose

Quartz, a warm blush tone, andSerenity, a cool tranquil blue. Bring

the pastel pair to life with thesehome and fashion picks.

“Celestia” embroidered fabric by Suzanne Tucker.

www.suzannetuckerhome.com

Christopher Guy’s “Courbé” setee.

www.christopherguy.com

Christopher Guy’s“Cambré” chair.

www.christopherguy.com

Tory Burch’s “fringe” hobo in maple sugar ($795).

www.toryburch.com

Tory Burch’s “Paintery”jacquard dress ($895).www.toryburch.com

Valentino Spring 2016 Runway

Jessica Charles’ “Paloma”

dining chair. www.jessicacharles.com

Serena & Lily’s “La Jolla”basket ($128).

www.serenaandlily.com

Valentino’s “Ballerina” flat($975). www.valentino.com

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inspirations


PATIO READYNew suit, new cover-up, and new

sunblock—now it’s time to give yourpatio and pool deck a makeover.Here are a few fabulous fashion

forward lounge pieces ready to addglamour to your gardenscape.

Lace tunic ($185) by BELL by Alicia Bell. www.aliciabell.com

Sutherland’s “mariner” tub chair by John Hutton.

www.sutherlandfurniture.com

The “Clover” tunic ($190) by BELL by Alicia Bell.

www.aliciabell.com

The “Rhea” metallic espadrille ($195) by Tory Burch.

www.toryburch.com

Brown Jordan’s Suncloth“Lace & Strap” collection.

www.brownjordan.com

Sutherland’s “Beachside” collection.

www.sutherlandfurniture.com

Aerin’s “Amelie”hourglass vase.www.aerin.com

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my life


What inspired you to go into landscape design and architecture?

As a boy, I would spend hours playing in my parents’ backyard“Dirt” pile creating miniature landscapes, paths, and water featuresfor my matchbox cars and figures. Later in life as a high schooler,my passion for creative landscape design re-surfaced while workingon a ranch property in Mendocino. This time, using tractors andhand tools, I was able to work with the land and shape it into reallife paths and garden spaces. After that, I was hooked!

My most pivotal educational experience was at Filoli in Wood-side. After I earned a degree in Horticulture from the Universityof Vermont, I was incredibly fortunate to intern in the gardens atFiloli—they truly are the Bay Area’s premier historical gardens.That time at Filoli informs my work to this day. I realized thenthat designing and then building a garden are just the first steps.Maintaining it and seeing it flourish properly is an honor. Notonly do we help our clients envision their dream garden, we helpthem build it and also offer ongoing fine gardening services toensure it grows beautifully over time.

Do you have a particular style? Our team prides itself on being ableto work in a myriad of styles to meet the needs of the client and thesites that we work on for them. The best style is one that is timeless

and adapts with each site and for eachclient. Many of our clients are seekinga “Transitional Style” design. This essentially means that theywould like to marry the style of their home with a modern land-scape that is responsive to our California weather and lifestyle. Fea-tures and nuances of each project are taken from physical cues thatexist at the site, such as mature trees and topography.

Which landscape architects do you most admire? If I had to nar-row it down, I’d say one from the present and one from the past.For the past, it has to be Tommy Church. He understood life inthe Bay Area and was a visionary for western gardens and design.He reshaped how, when, and where people use their gardens. Forexample, he understood folks gravitate towards the mature statelyoaks in the afternoon, sipping iced tea, and watching the sun godown. He figured out people and the way they want to use theirgardens before they figured it out themselves. We keep these ideasin mind for every project that we work on with our clients.

My present day mentor is Andrea Cochran in San Francisco.Her knowledge of plants and their environment is incredible. Youcan have an incredible design, but if you don’t know your plantsand you don’t specify the right one for the right location, the

GREENTHUMB

Gentry Home interviews Landscape Architect Brian Koch, known for

creating magical gardens and ultra-chic modern landscapes.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADRIAN MENDOZA

March – April 2016 | GENTRY HOME 27

design impact will not be fully realized. Landscape architectureonly works if the plants are in harmony with the site, the environ-ment, and the client’s tastes.

Do you have any go-to plantings? When we evaluate plantings, itis always with the site and client in mind. I start with those twofactors and then adjust to meet the garden style and the vision wecreate together for the various spaces. I always select the founda-tional plants that anchor a site and garden very carefully. Theycan’t be fussy. These plants must be tolerant, require little mainte-nance, and have modest water requirements. Examples would beCarex Tumilcola (Berkeley Sedge), Green Beauty Boxwood, andLoropetalum. Beyond the foundational plantings, I love to incor-porate colorful and impactful plantings. Some examples includeViburnum Plicatum Tomentosum (love saying that one!),Annabelle Hydrangea, and Echium ‘Blue Bedder’—one of myfavorites! I like these especially because they provide a needed“pop” of color at various times of the year.

How do you balance sustainability with a client’s desire for a par-

ticular garden style? This takes work!!! In some cases, we need toeducate our clients when it comes to sustainability. You have to be

a good listener and take the time to inform clients of what youhave learned and explain experiences you have been through. If weneed to, we guide clients into alternate plants or garden materialsand elements that are both fitting and appropriate for the environ-ment and site. There is often compromise when it comes to sus-tainability, and compromise takes time, education, and lots of backand forth discussions.

What’s your idea of a dream project? Any project where our teamis invited by the client to view an undeveloped property before hir-ing an architect. Landscape architects are a bit undervalued aboutwhat they can bring to a project, especially before the projectbegins. We have an inherent skill to locate a home in just the rightspot with all the right orientations that can make an impactful dif-ference in the home’s overall design and outcome. We can mini-mize negative impact to the site and preserve the key elements thatmight be overlooked by others. I feel it is our connection with theland, natural features, and existing trees and plants that gives usadded value to any project. At Terra Ferma we work hard to con-nect with a site to understand where its strengths lie and whereweaknesses exist, so we can create opportunities to change ourclients’ lives with a design they will love now and in the future. ◆


destination design

THEHOUSE OF LIONS

STORY BY CORRINE E. MEHIGANINTERIOR DESIGN OF PUBLIC SPACES AND GUEST ROOMS

BY CHERYL ROWLEY, BEVERLY HILLSINTERIOR DESIGN OF THE RESTAURANTS BY SPIN STUDIOS, TOKYO

ARCHITECTURE BY REARDON SMITH, LONDON


FFrom the first glimpse of the grand front entrance, guarded bytwo marble lions, it’s obvious that the Four Seasons Hotel LionPalace St. Petersburg is a remarkable building with a rich legacy.Known among city residents as “the House with Lions,” thepalace holds a fascinating history. Surrounding landmarks includethe State Hermitage, Mariinsky Theatre, Kazan Cathedral, andMikhailovsky Castle.

Originally built as the home of Princess Lobanova-Ros-tovskaya, it was completed in 1820 by Auguste Ricard Montfer-rand, appointed Court Architect by Tsar Alexander I. The resi-dence was a wonderful example of pure neoclassic style. Theentry of the hotel represents the heritage core of the project withoriginal ceilings, columns, and plaster details intact. In collabora-tion with Raphael Dayanov, the Heritage Architect designerCheryl Rowley selected marbles for the floor and a grand stair-case that reflect the period.

In order to maintain historical accuracy, Rowley explains: “Wedid an enormous amount of research on the Neoclassic period,which Catherine the Great mandated as the official style during herreign; the Russian Empire-style during Peter the Great’s reign; and

Since its debut in 2013, the Four Seasons St. Petersburg has inspired the global design community with its meticulousrestoration and the modern take on the spirit of Imperial Russia.

the city itself.” The city’s pastel-colored palaces inspired Rowley’scolor palette for the guestrooms, about half of which have uniquecombinations: sky blue and yellow with accents of crimson ormelon, and buttercup yellow with accents of blue.

The suites feature a more regal teal blue and gold with russetaccents. Accommodations all feature ivory-painted moldings andcustom-built cabinetry, as well as warm walnut woods with giltaccents. “It has a lightness to it and a current attitude, but it’s defi-nitely period,” says Rowley, who chose appropriately rich velvets,silk damasks, and woven textures, as well as window draperies,

canopies, and pillows with tassels and trimmings to add to the senseof period and place. As for the public spaces, she adds, “The interiorcolors in the promenade area surrounding the Tea Lounge wereinspired by the rosy pinks and milky blues of the sky mirrored in theNeva River during St. Petersburg’s famous White Nights.”

One of the hotel’s most famous spaces is the Bar, inspired by TsarPeter the Great, founder of St. Petersburg. As Rowley notes, “TheBar is a tribute to his passion for the sea and his love of shipbuildingand woodworking.” Conceived as a series of entirely wood-cladrooms, the Bar features parquet floors, wood paneling, and wood-clad ceilings. The center wall features a double-sided fireplace whilethe surrounding walls provide space for bookcases and a special cus-tom-designed cigar humidor for guests’ private storage. Electrifiedalabaster urns sit on pedestals flanking the windows, providing awarm glow. Continues Rowley, “The styling is pure Russian ➛

California designer CherylRowley infused the FourSeasons St. Petersburg’s interiors with colors from

the imperial court of Cather-ine the Great, including gold,ivory, and robin’s-egg blue.

destination design


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No detail was overlookedin the sumptuous renova-tion of the hotel. Rowley

and the team of architectsdedicated to the project

took great care to maintainhistorical accuracy

while also providing state-of-the-art luxuries.

Empire. A warmth and richness of materi-als will permeate the space. Re-creations ofMaster paintings of ships and maps willhang above the sofa groupings as a mosaicof canvases in the style of the great PictureHall at Peter III’s palace.” The furnishingsare layered on Persian carpets. “The front ofthe bar,” notes Rowley, “was inspired by amid-19th-century Russian marble inlaytable top.” Gilt bronze chandeliers from thesame period hang overhead. The mood isintended to be dark and romantic, evoca-tive of an earlier time.

While the heritage building providedunique opportunities, it also offered chal-lenges, among them the necessity to createindividual architectural guestroom config-urations in order to work within the origi-nal building footprint. While this pre-sented a significant challenge during thedesign and construction phase, ultimately itwas an opportunity to create individualitythroughout the hotel, offering a welcomerelief from the usual, cookie-cutter guest-room experience. The result is one of themost luxurious hotels in the world. ◆

destination design

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outdoor entertaining


Just mention the name Kalamazoo Gourmet andwatch the swoons from your foodie friends. Quitesimply, the brand, which was founded in 1906 inKalamazoo, Michigan, sells the Rolls Royce of out-door appliances from barbecues to pizza ovens andmuch, much more. Gentry Home wanted to see what

all the hype was about, so we headed to a gorgeous new gardencomplete with Kalamazoo entertaining spaces in Palo Alto.

The homeowners assembled a dream team to create this elegantbackyard. Betty P. Lee of Palo Alto’s Topiary Design was chargedwith creating the overall landscape design. She crafted a space tailor-made for entertaining. Whether it’s a simple family dinner ora major party for close to a 100 friends, this garden is ready with ele-gant gathering spaces. But the fun part comes down to firing up thebarbecue and gourmet pizza oven.

As the homeowner relates: “We love to throw lots of informalcookouts around the kitchen area with small groups of family andfriends where multiple people take turns in both cooking at the grilland making their own personal pizzas. It’s really fun to gathereveryone and involve them in the hands-on prep and sampling of

ULTIMATE OUTDOORKITCHENQUESTION: What do Wolfgang Puck,Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rick Bayliss have in common? ANSWER: A love of great food and their Kalamazoo Gourmet outdoor kitchens.

OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN: GEORGE MOUSTROUFIS, MOUSTROUFIS ARCHITECTSOUTDOOR COOKING AND ENTERTAINING EQUIPMENT: KALAMAZOO OUTDOOR GOURMET, LLCLANDSCAPE AND GARDEN DESIGN:BETTY P. LEE, TOPIARY DESIGN CONSTRUCTION: JASSON FLICK, JSD CONSTRUCTION, INC.LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION: JIM LORD LANDSCAPINGMASONRY: SOARES MASONRY

Season 2015 | GENTRY HOME 35

outdoor entertaining



appetizers. For larger groups, we can enlist some help to man the barbeque and pizza oven.” The Kalamzoo Gourmet team helped the homeowners realize their vision for a beau-

tiful and extremely functional outdoor entertainment space. “We wanted a happy, infor-mal outdoor cooking/entertaining space,” the homeowners note, “that could be com-pletely self sufficient (no need to get stuff in and out of the house) and could be used atany time of day all year round, with unobtrusive lighting, fans, and heaters for differenttimes of day/seasons.

“We wanted a powerful (but not huge) gas grill that could cook with charcoal and wood,and a pizza oven that heated up in 20 minutes, instead of the traditional wood burning3.5 hours.” For refrigeration, they required equipment to keep uncooked food safe, tocool wine, beverages, ice, etc. They also had distinct requirements for storage cabinetsthat would allow them to leave all their cooking and serving equipment—plates andglasses—outdoors all the time. “That also meant we needed large sinks with warm water,a disposal, and an outdoor dishwasher as well,” they added.

They are overjoyed with the results. “The garden is so beautiful and will only get bet-ter with time,” they note. “And we are doing so much cooking! We love the speed andsearing heat of cooking with gas, but have ended up truly enjoying the simplicity of get-ting the full flavor of hardwood charcoal and large aromatic limbs of wood. The differentmeats, vegetables, and fish surfaces and zones make life a lot easier. And what’s betterthan a pizza straight out of your own oven?” ◆

CALIFORNIACOOL

The architecturaldream team of Robert Swatt andGeorge Miers conceives a minimalistchic dream home in Tiburon.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RUSSELL ABRAHAM | ARCHITECTURE BY SWATT | MIERS, EMERYVILLE

Horizontal volumes, reminiscent ofthose seen in great Southern Californiamodernist homes, make an impressive

statement in this Tiburon beauty.


A ward-winning architect Bob Swattis a man clearly enjoying this chap-ter of his career. Smiling like the

proverbial kid in a candy store, he begins to relate the projects thathe, his partner George Miers, and their expert team are workingon right now. “We have a cliff-side project on Mallorca, a homein Bel Air, several in Napa, Sonoma, and on the Peninsula, and we’rebuilding the first modern home in Durango, Colorado. We’rereally doing the work that we love now,” he enthuses. That workis crisp, modern architecture based on classical principles. “Wecouldn’t have done this 25 or even 20 years ago,” he notes. “Backthen, no one was interested in this type of architecture.”

Thankfully, times have changed and Swatt Miers’ expertise isin high demand. One of the team’s favorite projects in recentyears is the hillside residence pictured here. “When I first sawthis property in Tiburon back in 2005, I was seduced immedi-ately,” recalls Swatt. “The view of the Bay is one of the best viewswe’ve ever had the good fortune to work with—it’s nothing shortof extraordinary.”

The existing home on the property was an uninspired 3,200-square-foot 1970’s structure made of T-111 plywood. As Swattsays, “Our clients had lived there for a few years and were finallyready to build a home deserving of this special piece of land.”

Swatt/Miers’ clean sophisticated architecturaldesign frames show-stopping views of the

San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.

The Swatt/Miers team bases their designs on the principles of modern architecture that havemade the West Coast so special. Each of theirbuildings is knitted to its site in a way that al-most seems inevitable. Notes Robert Swatt, “We strive to create architecture that both physi-cally and visually celebrates the beauty of thenatural landscape by blushing the boundary between inside and outside.”

Frameless windows and spectaculartravertine floors that run from the inside of

the home straight out to the expansivemulti-level terraces all add to the drama

and beauty of this dream home.

Having previously worked on several homes in Tiburon, theSwatt/Miers team was cognizant and respectful of the restrictionsthey would be facing when it came time for meetings with thetown’s architectural review board. “The views in Tiburon areworth a gazillion dollars,” he notes. “It’s imperative when planninga home to make sure that you are not interfering with the views ofanyone above you. You must also be very careful not to create lightpollution that will interfere with those neighbors’ views of the Bayand San Francisco.” To that end, the Swatt/Miers team painstak-ingly created a home that emphasized horizontal lines.

“The new home is centered upon a spine that runs east-west,”says Swatt. “We were able to pop up the roof line in a very smallway above the kitchen to allow in some light from clerestorywindows, but the rest of the design came from manipulatinghorizontal volumes and creating huge horizontal extensions.”The team also added 2,000 square feet of living space on a lowerlevel. Swatt relates, “The north side of the home is the entry, andwe kept it almost entirely opaque with five interesting verticalwall panels of Jerusalem stone that bring in slivers of natural

light.” The main focus, however, is to the south, east, and west. Swatt believes that the home is one of their most successful in

terms of connecting indoor and outdoor living. “Everyone wantsto blur the lines between indoor and outdoor today,” says Swatt,“but this house really demonstrates how it can be done seam-lessly.” Vein-cut Turkish travertine was used inside the home andoutside on the terrace. The walls and ceiling inside and out werecrafted of the same materials, and pocket doors and framelessglass windows enhance the effect. “The homeowners,” says Swatt,“were intimately involved in the details of both the planning andmaterial selection. They were laser focused on impeccable detail-ing and they got it. The quality of the construction on this homeis immediately apparent upon arrival.”

Growing up in Los Angeles, Swatt was influenced by thework of modernist architects like Richard Neutra and RMSchindler. “This house,” says Swatt, “echoes a bit of their aes-thetic. It has a strong pavilion look to it.” Swatt is definitely in hiswheelhouse with modernism. “This is what I was born to do,” hesays joyfully. And he’s right. ◆

MODERNDAY

CHALETAward-winning interior designer

Sarah Jones imbues a dramaticMartis Camp estate with

a contemporary Tahoe vibe.

INTERIOR DESIGN BY SARAH JONES, RENOARCHITECTURE BY CLARE WALTON,

WALTON ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING, INC., TAHOE CITY BUILT BY CRESTWOOD CONSTRUCTION, TRUCKEE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RUSSELL ABRAHAM

48 GENTRY HOME | Season 2016

A t 6,790 square feet, this Martis Camp home is every bit the embodiment of the modern Tahoe lodge. “It’s a homemeant to be enjoyed by lots of family and friends,” relates

interior designer Sarah Jones. While unmistakably sophisticated, it is a residence ofsupreme function and practicality, too. Jones worked closely with architect Clare Waltonand the building team at Crestwood Construction to turn their client’s dreams into reality.

“The lines and architecture of the house are very clean and very modern,” says Jones.“Clare really created an extraordinary structure that captures the gorgeous wooded sur-rounding wonderfully.” The homeowners had purchased the land a number of yearsbefore they finally built. With their design/build team finally in place, the whole projecttook just under 18 months. “The clients have a busy family with three children andwanted a home that would be warm and welcoming while they were there on their ownand one that would expand seamlessly to accommodate guests,” notes Jones.

To that end, all five of the bedrooms are extremely spacious, and Jones created severalbuilt-ins and trundle beds. “The resulting house has the sleeping space of a 7 – 8 bed-room house,” she says. In the initial stages of the design process, Jones spent a lot of time


The home’s crisp, clean lines frame gorgeousTahoe views. The dining room (opposite below)

features a floor-to-ceiling hearth flanked bysoaring windows. “At dusk, with the fire going

and dappled light coming through the windows,it’s simply spectacular,” remarks Jones.

The kitchen melds form and function. While it’s sleek and sophisticated, it is expertly

equipped to handle a crowd with ease.

interviewing the clients to understand how they live and theirdesign tastes. She notes, “I realized early on that they wanted acontemporary mountain home and had an affinity for Adiron-dack-style cabins, too. It was my task to blend that mix of mod-ern and traditional.”

In a nod to classic Adirondack style, Jones punctuated herdesign with rich doses of red and a dash of plaids and stripes, butupdated them with fresh bursts of turquoise. In the living room, adramatic floor-to-ceiling stone hearth sets the tone. The largespace could have been overwhelming, but Jones grounded it withback-to-back sofas covered in a sumptuous toffee-colored LeeJofa fabric flanked by end tables crafted of large birch logs. Shealso created several distinct seating areas and added a game table.“I really love the chandelier here,” points out the designer. “It’s the‘Carousel’ chandelier by McLain Wiesand. It has a marvelousFrench-rubbed steel frame and antique convex mirrors.”

The dining room features a custom table that Jones designedand had built by Jagger Jones in Idaho. She surrounded it withAlder & Co. chairs with a distressed black walnut finish. Thefronts of the chairs are covered in a tan woven fabric from Pindler& Pindler, while the backs are covered in a stripe by Schumacher.Jones added a playful white ceramic chandelier by Roll & Hill,which echoes the whimsical antler motif on the room’s drapes.

A massive island in the kitchen is the perfect spot for breakfastand gatherings. Five bar stools, covered in a faux leather that’sincredibly easy to maintain, beckon kids and guests for meal time,snacks, and—in the winter—plenty of hot cocoa. Over the island,Jones hung Italian glass pendant lights by Contardi with a bronzefinish. She notes, “The kitchen also has an adjacent pantry filledwith state-of-the-art appliances and lots of beverage drawers.”

A show-stopping open-tread staircase is playfully accentedwith a wall of vintage skis. “We had a lot of fun selecting themand laying them out in a colorful pattern,” recalls Jones. “I thinkthe building team went crazy with me as I adjusted them on thewall, but it was worth it.”

The bedrooms all have a distinct flavor and feel. The masterfeatures a contemporary four-poster bed with custom beddingand a blue mohair bench. Jones filled the wall with elegant piecesof botanical artwork for a bold statement. “The kids’ rooms arebright and colorful,” she relates. “The boys’ room has a slidingbarn door which opens to an adjacent play area. But when otherkids are visiting, it becomes slumber party central.”

For Jones, “The most satisfying part of this design is that thehome is being used just as the clients wanted—it’s warm andinviting with a dash of whimsy and fun.” ◆

50 GENTRY HOME | Season 2016


Vintage skis (opposite above) act as sculptural artwork along the staircase. “The clients were after a soothing spa-like bath in the

master suite,” relates Jones. She delivered by keeping the palette soothing in tones of cream and toffee and utilizing elegant slabsof stone in a waterfall effect between the vanity and soaking tub.

The four-poster bed in the master suite backs up to a fir-clad wall.“It adds coziness and texture to the space,” notes the designer.

One of the children’s rooms (below) features barn doors, built-in trundle beds, and plenty of space to play.

RITZ REDUXRitz-Carlton Hotels and Resorts has been expandingwith striking new properties while quietly undergoingstrategic facelifts across the globe. The results are nothing short of dazzling.

Set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens, gur-gling fountains and Venetian-inspired buildings,the new Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal offers a luxury beach resort experience minutesaway from the city center and just a 25-minutedrive from Abu Dhabi International Airport.


Two decades ago, luxury travellers yearnedfor elegance, tradition, and familiarity. ARitz-Carlton customer in the ’90s couldexpect the brand’s trademark European-style glamour and luxury whether they werein Boston, Buckhead, Bal Harbor, or Bei-jing. Fast-forward 20 years and luxury

travellers have a decidedly different take on things. “Our clientstoday are after authentic experiences,” relates Ritz-Carlton Market-ing Director Steven Holt. “They want to discover their destinationsand they want the hotels that they stay in to reflect a distinct sense ofplace.” To that end, Ritz-Carlton has been creating unique newhotels and resorts and giving existing ones top-to-toe multi-million-dollar makeovers with the mandate of authenticity in mind. Overthe past decade, the company has welcomed a staggering 50 new,renovated, or refurbished hotels into its growing global portfolio.

Spectacular properties in Tianjin and Macau brought the luxurybrand’s number of hotels in China to eleven; the opulent Ritz-Carlton hotels in Almaty, Herzliya, and Bangalore marked thebrand’s entry into Israel, Kazakhstan, and India; and the barefootluxury experiences in Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico, and Bali weremilestones in casually chic and elegant design execution, driven byextensive global customer research.

Here we take a look at three marvelous Ritz-Carlton propertiesin Kyoto, Abu Dhabi, and Barcelona that exemplify this fresh newdesign outlook. Some of the world’s top architects and designershave been enlisted for these ambitious design challenges.

At the newly opened Ritz-Carlton Resort Kyoto, the very chic

The Otak design firm melded an intriguingcombination of Venetian and Arabian artistrythroughout the 57-acre Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal Resort.

Designed by Remedios Design Studio, the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto features 134 guest rooms andsuites, most with breathtaking views of the Kamogawa river and the Higashiyama mountains.


The lobby at the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto exemplifiesthe painstaking attention to detail that the Reme-dios design team paid to the furnishings, textiles,

and intricate lighting throughout the hotel.


contemporary interiors serve to serenely frame the views of Kamo-gawa River and the Higashiyama Mountains. The location of thehotel has been prized by the Japanese since the Edo period (1603 –1867) when the city’s aristocrats and nobles lived in stately homesand palaces along these banks. In homage to the history of thehotel’s esteemed location, the award-winning interior design teamsof Peter Remedios and Spin Studios sought to retain the characterand aesthetic of a traditional Meiji house and courtyard. Theyincorporated patterned motifs created by local artisans, Zen rockgardens (karesansui), and water features, including a four-storywaterfall positioned in the heart of the hotel. Sleek woodwork,metalwork, embroidered silks and linens, and woven materials offera textural bonanza. Design aficionados will swoon at the details.

And then there’s the art. The inspiration for the property’sextensive art collection is The Tale of Genji, the classic novel writ-ten by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century. In the public areas,the design is a modern interpretation of residences of the era.Eighty artists, mainly Kyoto’s local artists, have created a total of409 works interpreting the delicate, graceful sentiment of Genji’stime for the contemporary world under the guidance of Remedios.

Nearly 8,000 miles away, Ritz-Carlton has unveiled The AbuDhabi Grand Canal, one of the first in an array of new luxuryhotels planned for the thriving area. The multidisciplinary designfirm Otak International was the creative force behind the eclecticarchitecture of the resort property. Pivoting on the resort’s uniquelocation along the sandy shores of the historic Al Maqta creek, thedesign concept is infused with the elements of traditional 15th- to

early 17th-century Renaissance architecture and the urban plan-ning of the city of Venice.

The Otak design team struck a fascinating balance betweenEuropean classicism and the rolling Arabian Desert landscape. TheItalian theme is seen in everything from Murano glass accentsadorning the grand staircase of the lobby to the swirls of a Venetiangate etched into the marble floors. The 57-acre resort’s grand lobbyincludes spectacular floor-to-ceiling glass panels that channel sun-light through to the 21,000 shimmering crystals that make up three

The Club Lounge at the Ritz-Calrton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal is a decidedly sleekspace with a contemporary Italian flair.

Architect Frank Gehry’ssoaring “Fish” sculpturedominates the skyline atthe Ritz Carlton’s HotelArts Barcelona.


striking chandeliers that dominate the space. Otak also weavedArabesque motifs and signature marble floral designs into the fabricof the resort architecture. Seen throughout the property are botani-cal swirls, vines, and flowers inlaid within marble floors, while thewood inlays on the elevator wall panels and on guestroom doors areof acanthus leaf designs inspired by Italian craftsmen.

The soft ochre-colored façade overlooking the swimming poolstands in sharp contrast to the saturated greens of the Arabian gar-dens comprised of mature date palm trees and local flora. At sunset,looking up at the striking building from the pool garden is whenthe best aspects of Venetian architecture come into play.

Nearly 4,000 miles to the West, Ritz-Carlton’s show-stoppingHotel Arts Barcelona has quickly become a darling of the designworld. Bruce Graham, Senior Partner at Skidmore, Owings &Merrill, helmed the team creating this 44-story masterpiece. Thebuilding features gleaming sheets of glass encased by a steelexoskeleton. It stands as a beacon of renaissance for the city’s long-neglected waterfront.

Graham worked in concert with legendary architect FrankGehry whose “Fish” sculpture floats over an adjacent retail courtthat was designed to provide a waterfront landmark. The sculptureprovides an abstract foreground element when viewed from thehotel terraces, and is a shading/enclosing device for the retail courtbelow. Graham’s language of stone base and steel exoskeleton ismeant to complement and strengthen the tower and its presence, aswell as create a much stronger public space that fits beautifully withthe tower/hotel functions. The trellis pattern evolved to a “wave

form” and slowly became what it is—an abstract flying fish. Thestructure of the sculpture is made from the same exoskeleton asHotel Arts, but is clad with a new material to separate it from therest of the project. Bronze color-dipped stainless steel catches thesunlight and creates a presence that holds its own with the towerbut never dominates it so that the tower always remains the domi-nant element.

For the interiors of the Hotel Arts, the well-known Catalandesign team CGA, founded by Josep Juanpere and Antonio Puig,and interior designer Jaime Tressera created environments that areat once lavish and restrained using exclusive pieces from Tressera’sown line of furniture, lighting, carpets, and accessories. Tressera’ssignature material is Spanish white walnut. Here, he manipulatesthe wood with a variety of hand-applied natural varnishes. Otherexotic woods are used for accent inlays in the furniture and forarchitectural elements such as doors and room-defining screens.Brass, finished in silver or chrome, is employed for fittings and hard-ware. Upholstery materials are generally confined to pigskin suedeand natural cotton in off-white colorations. This painstaking detailand focus on elegant materials and expert craftsmanship is appro-priate for a city with a decidedly progressive attitude toward design.

These three hotels are exciting examples of the Ritz-Carltonbrand’s dedication to meeting today’s discerning traveller’s needs.Notes Holt, “Today’s sophisticated and trend-conscious hotelguests take pleasure from savoring the very latest discoveries aheadof the crowd—in hotels just as much as in the worlds of art andfashion.” Ritz-Carlton is delivering in spades. ◆

Interior designer Jaime Tessera’s remarkable apart-ment at the Hotel Arts Barcelona exudes a quiet

luxury. The finest materials and sumptuous texturesare all wrought in soothing natural tones so as

not to compete with the stunning views.

IN MARIN COUNTY:ANODE TOGREY

Designer Ann Lowengart created elegant new interiors withartful lighting, chic woven textiles, and thirty shades of grey.

BY DIANE DORRANS SAEKS


A nn Lowengart is admired for creatinghighly original color schemes for herclients throughout Northern Califor-nia. But for a recently completed pro-ject she rose to the challenge of workingin a low-key hue, juxtaposing mutedtones of gray in principal rooms. The

result: chic classic interiors with a timeless, tranquil feeling.“Grey is the new neutral, and I love the way it updates today’s

interiors,” notes Lowengart, whose firm was commissioned by afamily with three young children to outfit their new Tiburon hill-side house. The designer’s brief was to decorate turn-key interiorscomplete with all furnishings, a custom-designed kitchen, a fully-

stocked pantry, bedrooms, family rooms, children’s rooms, a gym,and curated photography and art collections.

The house, in the gracious classic shingled Hamptons style,has beautifully sunlit rooms, elegant proportions, and a relaxedmood. “Grey is versatile, and it’s softer than pure white with amore modern family-friendly edge,” says Lowengart.

Her harmonious color palette ranged from the palest dovegray and soft blue-gray in the living room, to very rich charcoaland muted silver as accents, with shimmering metallic tones andbronze and white-gold finishes for the custom-crafted furniture.

With her soothing grey wash of color as the background,Lowengart gave each room dramatic, one-of-a-kind light fixtures.

In the breakfast room, a globe-shaped “twig” chandelier by

While working with such a restrained color palette, Lowengart made sure to play up textures to add interest. In the living room (left) she mixed silk andwool velvets with raw wood accents like the chandelier, sleek metals and gleaming glass. The dining room, too, features marvelous textures from theraw beauty of a live edge table to the undulating surface of the highly stylized credenza.

San Francisco artist Shirley Robinson hovers over a made-to-measure table. In the dining room, a chandelier with a cluster ofeight hand-blown glass orbs was custom made by Philadelphiaartist John Pomp. “Another theme was bringing the beauty ofnature inside,” points out Lowengart. Her plan was interpretedwith a light touch.

The large-scale satin finish walnut dining table, by UrbanHardwoods, was made using hand-selected timber from a fallentree. The dramatic reverse-matched tabletop has a natural unfin-ished live edge. A sculptural cast bronze base was crafted in a spe-cialist workshop in Oakland.

In the living room, wallpaper by Trove, with a muted patternof tree silhouettes, frames a bold chandelier sculpted to look liketree branches and twigs. Swarovski crystals glimmer amongsmall, concealed lightbulbs.

Her focus on natural materials included gray honed marble

for countertops, jute carpets, natural wool rugs and pillows, purecotton bed linens, silk curtains, marbleized patterns for wallpaper,and a white-gold burnished finish on a coffee table for a spark of glamour.

The effect is tranquil, controlled, cohesive, and balanced. “Thefamily was wonderfully inspiring to work with, and the interiorsare a reflection of their dreams and enthusiasm,” says Lowengart.“They were involved every step of the way—including selectingwoods, visiting art studios, and encouraging specialist craftspeo-ple to experiment and invent new finishes and original sculpturallighting.”

The family’s immersion in the project was balanced byLowengart’s professional polish and precision. The result is anexuberant family home, a place for repose and inspiration. Andwith the designer’s orchestration of grey as background, there’snever a dull moment. ◆

“The home has incredible views of San Francisco and the Bay,” notes Lowengart. “We made sure to keep the interiors simple to let the views take centerstage, but also to be inviting and luxurious. The kitchen (above left) features a cozy curved banquette, “perfect,” says Lowengart, “for lingering over cof-fee in the morning.” A sleek home office (below left) is wrought in shades of white and the master bedroom (below) is a serene space in varying shades ofivory and taupe with floor-to-ceiling drapes and custom shades that open to Tiburon’s abundant sunshine.

ALLABOUTAh, how we love our homes.And even more, we love planning the next project on that home, whether it be something substantial like replacing all the windows or redoing a special room. In approaching such projects, knowledge is key, and so we have enlisted some of our professional clients to support those efforts. The following categories will help you learn “all about” some subjects that you might be considering right this very moment, or, if not right now, in the near future.

Enjoy learning more!

A GENTRY PROMOTION

ALLABOUT

The Miele Combi-Steam OvenCombining moisture, heat, and airflow in a symbiosis of convection and steam cooking, the MieleCombi-Steam Oven can do just about anything. Home chefs have the tools to produce bakery-qualitybreads, rotisserie-crisp yet moist poultry, pizzeria-fresh re-heated pizza, and yes, the quickest andhealthiest three-pot meal, all in one oven. Gentry Home caught up with the professionals at the MieleDirect Seller showroom located in University Electric to find out why commercial chefs and homecooks find this product invaluable.

IT’S ONE SMART OVENThe fully-automated oven knows the best comboof steam and heat to produce ideal results based

on the moisture content of the food. The display and con-trol panel is streamlined and easy to use. The controlknob and buttons are used to set the cooking modes andaccess all of the features of your convection steam ovenfor exceptional results. With the capability to program andsave your cooking preferences, baking your mom’slasagna has never been easier.

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GOOD FOR THE BODY IS GREAT FOR THE FAMILYCooking with steam preserves the nutrients,

vitamins, and minerals of foods while maintaining thetexture and natural flavors. Steam keeps foods moist,and provides ideal results without using oil or fat. Lessbecomes so much more.

2SAVE TIME AND ENERGYConvenient, quick, and easy to clean. No need topreheat. Pull together the ingredients, and dinner

is ready in under fifteen minutes. Eliminate the oil, smoke,and mess that accompanies most meals, and keep yourkitchen clean. By cooking multiple layers of food from oneheat source, home chefs are able to maximize energy andtime savings while enjoying superior results.

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REJUVENATE IN REHEAT MODEWant to bring leftover foods, cooked chicken,cold pizza, or rock-hard bread back from the

brink? With a genius combination of steam and brown-ing, food comes all the way back to fresh like nothing wehave ever seen. “Leftovers” are now a delicious option!

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VERSATILITYMiele’s Master Chef Combi-Steam Oven is idealfor all types of food—browning roasted meats

and baking breads. This single appliance does the work ofseveral appliances, featuring a wide range of desiredresults. Convection with 12 cooking modes: steam, reheat,auto steam bake, convection, convection humid, convec-tion steam, Miele Master Chef, slow roast, recipes, keepwarm, descale, and cleanse.

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The only Range sophisticated enough to be a Miele.Allow the Miele Range to guide you to extraordinary culinary adventures. Only through Miele’s intuitive functionality and impeccable design, can the sanctuary of your kitchen become a world of exploration night after night.

1500 Martin Avenue, Santa Clara, CA✆800.681.0508 universityelectric.com

Hours: Tues., Wed. and Fri., 8:30am-5:30pm; Thurs., 8:30am-8:00pm; Sat., 9:00am-5:00pm; Closed Sunday and Monday

ALLABOUT

Crystal Cabinet Works

Crystal Cabinet Works is one of the largest custom cabinet manufacturers in the U.S.A.Family owned since 1947, they still build cabinets one at a time with personalized looksand a quality and uniqueness that is totally yours.

CUSTOM PERSONALIZED STYLE Everyone deserves a custom kitchen! Customizingcabinets is the ability to make some of your cabi-

nets a special size or configuration so the design and fit isas it should be. With Crystal Cabinet’s Keyline and Encoreproduct series we use a unique approach to make surethere are no limitations on how the products can be cus-tomized to meet your needs.

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DESIGN AND LOOK YOU WANT The quality of the design is the major factor inany enduring product. The last thing you want is

quality custom cabinetry with a poorly designed kitchen.Ingenuity and functionality are key. When you are work-ing with the design professional at an independent Crystal dealership, you are working with some of themost qualified designers in the industry.

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UNIQUENESSCrystal is a family-owned company and since1947 has been building every kitchen and bath

one at a time. Crystal Cabinetry Works’ approach to pro-viding custom cabinetry is unparalleled in the industry. Byproviding a menu of options, any process becomes easierfor clients. There are many options for choosing a pricepoint based on design, door style, wood and/or finish.

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FINISHING Crystal’s exclusive hand wiped finish is a multi-step process that has been developed over

many years. Each coat is applied by the skilled expertsand is done so until every cabinet reaches fine furniturequality. This process creates a very rich, smooth, anddurable finish with exceptional scratch and scuff resist-ance. In Addition to an extensive collection of standardfinishes, Crystal also offers custom finishes to create theexact look you want.

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QUALITY IS AN INVESTMENT Many studies have shown that your best return isinvesting in quality for your kitchen or bath. With

Crystal Cabinetry you can consider that quality is a given!They have been carrying on the tradition of handcraftedquality for over 60 years. Crystal’s policy is to exceedclients’ expectations, and to provide the best service anddedication for delivering the finest materials to the cus-tomers. And all of this is backed up with their Made in theU.S.A. Limited Lifetime Warranty.

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www.tbsconstruction.com • 650.466.7777 • [email protected] • CA Lic. #903870

TBS Construction is a full-service general construction company located in Santa Clara, California.

We specialize in design-build residential services. Whether you're looking for a kitchen remodel, a

bathroom overhaul, or new home construction, we are excited about making your dreams come

true. Our experienced designers, architects, and project managers spend as much time on design as

they do on building. We will plan, design, and build all of your construction and remodeling projects.

Our full-service approach takes the stress out of the building process — clients can be hands-off and

still be confident that project will be completed on-time and to the highest standards.

ALLABOUT

Fine Home PaintingWhen you hire E. Perez and Company, you can count on an exceptional experience and results thatdazzle. Eddie Perez founded the company more than a decade ago. Today, Perez and Company hasmore than 20 loyal experts working on projects continuously all over the Bay Area. Perez specializes inpainting homes, but their expertise extends to drywall and plaster repair. Their commercial paintingservices include exteriors, as well as custom finishes for office, restaurants, and retail spaces. GentryHome asks Eddie Perez about what makes his painting services the most sought after in town.

ATTENTION TO DETAILPerez & Company is known for exceptional qualityand attention to detail. We paint interiors and exteri-

ors, including wood refinishing and restoration of bothcommercial and residential spaces. Surfaces are alwayscarefully prepped and surrounding areas are covered prop-erly. We safely address environmental issues and protectyour property. You’ll never see drips, or dust, or damage.

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EXPERT PAINTERSOur knowledgeable team of painters has beenpart of the family for more than a decade.

Together, we ensure excellent results and customer satisfaction for a wide range of jobs, both interior andexterior. We never jeopardize quality. You can expect themost talented professionals to bring the right equipment,do extensive prep work, and do an expert job for a long-lasting finish.

2 YOUR EXACT COLOR We use many of the top brands of paint and suggest the best paint for the application, but if

you have a preferred brand, we can use that as well. Wewill also consult on the most appropriate finish and colorfor a room’s walls and/or trim. We follow the customer’slead when it comes to color. Years of experience withcolor selection enables us to custom mix our own stainsand glazes to meet the customer’s specific requirements,ensuring the finest quality and craftsmanship. We genuinely enjoy the process of collaborating with the customer to create and generate your dream color.

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SATISFACTIONWe hold our team to the highest standards ofexcellence with the goal of meeting and exceed-

ing our customers’ goals and expectations. We emphasizeexpert preparation and high-quality materials applied withtime-tested techniques. We try our best to accommodateany special needs for each of our customers.

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UNDERSTANDING THE TASK AT HAND The act of accurately assessing what a spaceneeds is the single most important step. There

are many qualified crafts people out there to do the work,but the vital question of what kind of work should be done is often ignored. Complete refinishing or cleaning,perfect color blending, and replacement are all options to be considered. We enjoy the education process, for our-selves and for our customers, as we master any project onany surface.

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E. Perez & Company Painters specialize in painting homes. This is where our hard work and attention to detail differentiates us from other painters. We paint interiors and exteriors, including wood refinishing, restoration, commercial, and residential spaces. Our expertise is also in drywall and plaster repair. Our commercial painting services include exteriors, as well as custom interior finishes for offices, restaurants, and retail spaces. In addition, we do tenant improvements, complete exteriors, small to mid size buildings, or shopping centers. Please browse our website to learn about how we work, the products we use, and what our customers have to say about us. Find out how we safely address environmental issues, who we are, and how we go about being one of the best painting companies in the Bay Area. E. Perez & Company.

Contact us for a Free Estimate at 650.363.5904 or [email protected]

Beautify Your Home with E. Perez & Company

Our quality preparation and skilled application along with premium materialsmake all the difference in beautifying your home making it look its best.

ALLABOUT

Quality Tree CareJohnathan Turner knows trees. In fact, members of Turner’s family have been in thearborist profession for 250 years. “We can trace our “roots” back to men in the family inEngland who were lumberjacks,” he relates. Today, Johnathan and his father, Charlie arepartners in Natural Arbor Care, providing expert services on the Peninsula and in SiliconValley. Gentry Home speaks with Turner about the need for quality tree care.

EXPERTISEThis will be my 39th year in the business. Clientslike Villa Montalvo, Stanford University, and

numerous golf courses, including the links in Half MoonBay, entrust their trees to Natural Arbor Care. We havethree certified arborists on staff and some of the best tree climbers in the business. We truly care for trees anddon’t butcher them.

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PRUNING AND FEEDINGNatural Arbor Care’s ISA certified arborists willexamine your trees and recommend care from

proper pruning and thinning to allow more light into yourgarden and improve the health of the tree to NaturalArbor Care’s exclusive feeding system that improves thetree’s immune system, enabling it to better fight diseaseand pests.

2DROUGHT CARE Because of the past four years of drought, treesare in need of pruning and maintenance more

than ever. The early spring is the best time to prune, giventhe recent rains. If Mother Nature has caused damage toyour trees, Natural Arbor Care offers 24 Hour Emergencyservices. We also offer cabling/bracing, utiliy clearance,tree transplant, and tree and stump removal services.

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QUALITYWe are dedicated to our customers andemployee-owners. We’re fully insured and have

a company focus on earning accreditation and certifica-tion for our arborists and tree climbers. At Natural ArborCare, our goal is to provide quality care for your trees sothat they can provide a lifetime’s worth of enjoyment.

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ORNAMENTALS AND FRUIT TREES Ornamental trees and fruit trees require expertisein order to bloom and produce fruit properly. Nat-

ural Arbor Care’s team specializes in understanding theneeds of these special trees and will create a plan forpruning them at precisely the right time.

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ALLABOUT

Wood RenewalThe expert team at N-HANCE Wood Renewal specializes in one-day wood refinishing. Yes, you did readthat correctly. The N-Hance Wood Renewal team utilizes the cutting edge N-Hance line of products to preserve wood floors and cabinetry without the need for messy and time-consuming sanding. GentryHome caught up with General Manager Dave Lantow about the N-Hance process.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVATIONOur specialty is the preservation of your interiorwood. Never before has the preservation of our

floors, cabinets and wood trim been more important. Not only is wood a precious natural resource, but also themaintenance of it represents one of the greatest costs inthe ownership of a home or business. With that in mind,we at N-Hance want to help you treasure what is yourswith simple and clean solutions.

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ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUSOur products are formulated and manufacturedin the United States and our process is environ-

mentally friendly. N-Hance products are all designed with low VOC’s (non-toxic) and many jobs can be com-pleted in one day, dust and odor free. There’s no longerany reason to wait to renew that beautiful wood in yourhome or business.

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CABINETRY RENEWALWhile floor renewal typically can be done in oneday, kitchen cabinetry renewal takes between

1 – 5 days, depending on the service chosen. With a basicrenewal the cabinet doors are treated in place. For a colorshift and color change they are removed, treated, and finished, and cabinet surrounds are treated and finished in place. Once dry, the doors are reinstalled. Renewal cansimply refresh the look of the cabinet by keeping it thesame color or clients can opt for a color shift (slightlywarming the tone of the wood, but not removing thegrain). If clients want a complete color change that ispossible as well.

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CUSTOMER SATISFACTIONWe understand that service is only part of agreat relationship. N-Hance Wood Renewal is

an N-Hance award-winning, locally owned and operateddealership. Our aim is to establish a long-term relation-ship with you by providing easy access, education, great customer service and knowledgeable consultantswho will advise you on your unique project. If we earnyour business, our trained technicians will serve you with excellence.

5HOW IT WORKSOur renewal process thoroughly cleans the surface of the floor and repairs damaged areas.

After we burnish the floor we apply our proprietary N-Hance finishes that are custom matched to meet yourdesired floor color. The finishes are high-tech and able to bond with what remains of your floor or cabinet’s existing finish.

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Serving San Francisco & San Mateo Counties

www.sfwoodrenewal.com415.294.7795

License #925392Independently Owned & Operated

Serving Santa Clara County, Berkeley & the East Bay Hills

www.nhance.com/siliconvalley855.728.7157

License #693344

www.sfwoodrenewal.com www.nhance.com/siliconvalley

CABINET OPTIONS: Basic Renewal requires no color shift or color change. It restores the shine and luster to the wood and usually takes just one day.

Color Shift slightly warms the tone of the wood without covering the wood grain. Typically takes 2–3 days.

Color Change on cabinets will dramatically alter the color of the wood, either a much darker wood color or going to an opaque color that is lighter. Takes 3–5 days.

FLOORS: Basic Renewal to restore the visible signs of wear.

BEFOREAFTER

REVOLUTIONARY WOOD RENEWALNo Dust, No Mess, No Odor

ALLABOUT

Cast StoneExpert stonemasons Gary Edwards and Barry Tripp, owners of Millbrook Stone in Los Gatos,learned their craft in their native England by apprenticing with some of the finest master masonsin the country. In the late 80s they were flown to California to ply their craft carving stone for aprivate South Bay estate. They joined forces and opened Millbrook Stone in 1993. Gentry Homecatches up with Gary and Barry to discuss their craft.

CASTLES AND ABBEYSAt the early age of 16, both Gary Edwards andBarry Tripp had found their calling. They lived in the

small English town of Longburton and both knew thatthey wanted to work with their hands. They studiedmasonry at prestigious Weymouth College and were soonhired to work on the restoration of some of Great Britain’smost historic buildings. That hard-earned expertise hasmade their work sought after by some of the best buildersand architects in Northern California.

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ENDURING ARTISTRYFor the past 30+ years, Millbrook Stone hasbeen crafting exquisite fireplace mantels,

ballustrades, columns, window and door surrounds, andmore. Each piece is crafted of cast stone which, whenfinished, has the strength, durability, and characteristicsof English and French limestone.

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JUST FOR YOUCustomers and interior designers often findinspiration in Millbrook Stone’s marvelous down-

town Los Gatos showroom, and can sit down with adesigner to create the fireplace, kitchen hood, or columnsof their dreams. Each custom design is drawn by hand tometiculous detail in time-honored fashion.

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ARRIVING SOONThis spring, Millbrook will showcase a collectionof natural stone planters, benches, fountains,

statuary, and fireplaces.5

FIREPLACES TO GRAND ESTATESWhether it’s a 40,000 square foot mansion inHillsborough or a single fireplace surround, we

will take on the project with the same care and profession-alism. We take ownership of each project from start to fin-ish and employ only the most highly skilled professionalsto install the final products and make any necessaryadjustments on-site. From a simple garden fountain to aseries of surrounds and columns, you can be confidentthat the installation of your particular piece will be handledwith precision and care.

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Millbrook Stone Inc.

We invite you to our new store in beautiful downtown Los Gatos

Providing exceptional handcrafted stonework for your home & garden

Millbrook Stone did an absolutely beautiful job designing and installing a fireplace in my master bedroom. They are first-rate all the way: totally professional and so kind—and the finished product is gorgeous—even better than I could have imagined. They are the best in the business! – Client

32 East Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95030 • 408.399.3444 • www.millbrookstone.com • [email protected] – Saturday 10:30 to 5:00 • Closed Sunday & Monday

ALLABOUT

Closets and Home StorageWith more than 35 years of experience and innovation within the home storage category, CaliforniaClosets is known for creating beautifully crafted custom solutions for all areas of the home. Throughintuitive design, superior products, and a commitment to delivering exemplary customer service, theirexpertise allows them to create organizational solutions that clients will use—and love—for years tocome. Gentry Home catches up with the California Closets team to discover what goes into creatingthe perfect storage solution.

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOUAt California Closets we’re committed to solvingyour unique storage needs by designing systems

that suit your aesthetic preferences and lifestyle, seam-lessly blending functionality with personalized details.

1STREAMLINING YOUR CLOSETWhen organizing your closet space, create threepiles of clothing: one for the items that will stay,

another for items to donate (anything out of style or thatdoesn’t fit), and a third for items that are stained or in disre-pair that should be thrown away. Make sure to create sight-lines. You don’t wear what you don’t see. Fold sweaters andshirts and stack them on shelves so that you’re reminded ofwhat you have. Group clothing types together (place shirtswith shirts and pants with pants) so that finding what youneed is easier. Use drawers or containers to store itemssuch as socks, workout gear, and scarves.

2 TAME THE TECHNOLOGYTurn your family room/media room into an ele-gant space free of unsightly cables and wires.

Our team installs electrical access within your system tohide all cords and cables behind the cabinetry. We canconceal large electronics with sliding doors allowing youto cover your flat-screen television and other electronicswhen not in use. We can also outfit a media center withboth closed and open storage. Closed storage is ideal forhiding smaller equipment, while open areas offer spacefor displays.

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THINK MULTI-PURPOSEYou really can have it all. With clever planning, a guest room can double as a home office. We

can maximize space by incorporating a wall bed andkeep your desk clutter-free by creating individual files foritems that require your review, such as bills, insurance,taxes and receipts. Thoughtful solutions like placing yourprinter in a cabinet with a slide-out shelf to provide quickaccess and the option to tuck it away when not in usewill keep the space streamlined.

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BEYOND CLOSETSThe team at California Closets has storage solu-tions for much more that clothes, shoes, and

accessories. The storage systems can turn family roomsinto clutter-free zones, home offices into beautiful multi-tasking spaces, guest rooms into dual purpose spots, andentry halls into organized, functional spaces for thewhole family.

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Your home is a sanctuary and should be as beautiful as you can imagine. Let California Closets design a custom system

just for you and the way you live, and help make your dream home a reality with our exclusive materials and exceptional designs.

Visit our showroom or call us today to arrange your complimentary design consultation.

916.751.3171 californiaclosets.com BERKELEY CARMEL FRESNO LARKSPUR LOS ALTOS LOS GATOS

ROSEVILLE SAN FRANCISCO WALNUT CREEK

compendium

THROUGH MAY 16Pierre Bonnard: Painting ArcadiaThis is the first international presentationof Pierre Bonnard’s work to be mountedon the West Coast in half a century. Theexhibition will feature approximately 75works that span the artist’s complete career,from his early Nabi masterpieces, throughhis experimental photography, to the lateinterior scenes for which he is best known.

The exhibition celebrates Bonnard(French, 1867–1947) as one of the defin-ing figures of modernism in the transi-tional period between Impressionism andabstraction. Several themes from Bon-nard’s career will emerge, including theartist’s great decorative commissions wherethe natural world merges with the brightcolors and light of the South of France,where windows link interior and exteriorspaces, and where intimate scenes discloseunexpected phantasmagorical effects.Legion of Honor, San Franciscowww.legionofhonor.famsf.org

May 14SFMOMA re-Opens!www.sfmoma.org

May 16The Modern Ball Kick up your heels and sneak a peek at thenewly renovated San Francisco Museum ofModern Art. The museum’s homecoming

soirée is your chance to see inside theexpanded SFMOMA as you eat, drink,and dance the night away.

The Modern Ball 2016, chaired byGina Peterson and designed by StanleeGatti, offers three extraordinary experi-ences, all celebrating the museum’s returnhome. Partake in the glamorous Gala Din-ner, an exquisite seated dinner paired with a thrilling live auction featuring work byMark Bradford. Get your fill with fellowart aficionados at The Supper Club, whereyou and your friends will mix and mingle in a chic lounge filled with culinary stations,flowing libations, and toe-tapping music.Put on your dancing shoes for The Post-Modern Party, where you’ll sip on cocktailsand get down late into the night with head-line entertainment you won’t want to miss.

Proceeds support SFMOMA’s in-novative exhibitions and education pro-grams, which serve more than 60,000 students, teachers, and families each year.www.sfmoma.org

ART EXHIBITIONS,OPENINGS, & DESIGNEVENTSMARCH – APRIL 2016

RinatArt.com | [email protected]

MY LIFE, PAGE 26

Brian Koch, Landscape Architect

Terra Ferma

South San Francisco

www.tflandscapes.com

Photographer

Adrian Mendoza

Adrian Mendoza Photography

Santa Rosa

DESTINATION DESIGN, PAGE 28

Cheryl Rowley

Cheryl Rowley Design

Beverly Hills – Vancouver

www.cherylrowleydesign.com

The Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace

St. Petersburg, Russia

www.fourseasons.com

OUTDOOR LIVING, PAGE 34

Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet

Barbeque grill, pizza ovens,

refrigeration, and accessories,

all available through:

Atherton Appliance & Kitchens

Redwood City

650.369.1794

www.athertonappliance.com

Topiary Design

Betty P. Lee

[email protected]

CALIFORNIA COOL, PAGE 38

Architects

SWATT/MIERS

Emeryville

www.swattmiers.com

RITZ REDUX, PAGE 52

Ritz-Carlton Resort Kyoto

Ritz-Carlton’s Abu Dhabi Grand

Canal Resort

Ritz-Carlton’s Hotel Arts Barcelona

www.ritzcarlton.com

MODERN DAY CHALET, PAGE 46

Interiors

Sarah Jones Interior Design

Reno

www.sarahjonesinteriordesign.com

Architecture

Clare Walton

Walton Architecture + Engineering

Tahoe City

www.waltonae.com

Contractor

Crestwood Construction

Truckee

www.crestwoodconstruction.com

AN ODE TO GREY, PAGE 58

Interiors

Ann Lowengart Interiors

San Anselmo

www.annlowengart.com

QUINTESSENCE, PAGE 82

Interiors

Annalisa Avelar

A.L. Interiors

Los Gatos

www.alinteriorsdesignstudio.com

IN THIS ISSUEStockists, showrooms, architects, designers,and photographers for this issue.

Redecorating?

FREE DONATION PICK-UPYour tax-deductible donation to the ReStore helps hard-working families in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Donation Hotline650.847.4000

1411 Industrial RoadSan Carlos, CA 94070

Hours: Tue-Sat 10am to 5pmwww.habitatgsf.org/restore


GENTRY HOME: Which Design icon inspires you most?

Annalisa Avelar: Carlo Scarpa is my favorite architect of all time.Studying his work opened me up to using shapes and textures toachieve rhythm and solve problems in the spaces I design. Hisunderstanding of light, the flawless way he combined materials,and his avant-garde ideas on detailing still have me in awe.

GH: What are five key elements to a great space?

AA: (1) Lighting. Your overall (ambient) lighting is your base,and that should be layered with task and accent lighting. Tasklighting (reading lamps, sconces at the bath vanity, etc.) is essen-tial for comfort, and accent lighting (lighting that showcases art,bookcases, etc.) creates depth and interest. (2) Art. Whether it’san object you picked up on your last travelling adventure, a paint-ing you fell in love with at an art show, or a portrait you found at anantique shop—start collecting pieces that speak to you and displaythem. It adds character like nothing else. (3) Custom WindowTreatments. These make a world of difference and anchor yourspace. There is nothing that kills a room like a bowing draperyrod or improperly sized drapery panels. If you are nervous aboutcommitting to a color or a pattern, pick linen or raw silk in aneutral color. It will be timeless. (4) Fresh Flowersand/or Live Plants. Fresh flowers in a interestingvase or live plants (I prefer orchids) in a beautifulcontainer. Every week I replace the flowers in myhome and in our design studio. Flowers add asense of beauty to every design style. Start collect-ing interesting vases and containers for plants andflowers and have fun coordinating vases with

your weekly flower pick. (5) Texture. A great space has a bal-anced variety of texture. Surfaces and upholstery should have vari-ety, so play around with wood, metal, stone, and different fabricweaves to strike a balance. I often use a metal coffee table to breakup texture that is feeling too soft, or an area rug with a thick pile ifthings are feeling too flat.

GH: No room should be without?

AA: Something quirky and or silly! I have a beautifully framedblack and white photo of Lucy (from the I Love Lucy show) inmy entry. She’s wearing a Superman costume and about to jumpout of a window and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

GH: Exciting recent find?

AA: On a recent trip to New York, I visited a small DesignShowroom called Studio Four, and found some amazing wallpa-per lines for a few clients. My favorites were by CAITLINMCGAULEY & ANGIE HRANOWSKY. Both lines havemodern patterns with a sense of softness to them, which wasperfect for the families I was shopping for.

GH: Color your obsessing over now?

AA: Black. Nothing is more sophisticated or moreversatile than black. Sherwin Williams has a blackcalled “Caviar” that I love to use on interior doors.

GH: Do you have a Mantra?

AA: Choose wisely. It’s far better to have threeexceptional pieces than ten mediocre ones. ◆

quintessence

Silicon Valley-based interior designer Annalisa Avelar is in high demandfor fresh spaces and a contemporary aesthetic.

FRESH FOCUS

HEIRLOOM QUALITY EUROPEAN CRAFTSMANSHIP AMERICAN HERITAGE

Returning to Palo Alto - Spring 2016Town & Country Village 650-326-8583

scandiahome.com

Gentry Home (March-April 2016)

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