This Airy California Residence Brings Together a Powerful Collection of Art and Artifacts

“Right off the bat, we knew they wanted super clean, contemporary architecture and a very monotone palette,” says Suzie of the 13,500-square-foot structure that’s entered through oversized shou sugi ban and steel doors. “Everything in this house is one tone, and that was important to them because she wanted that as the background for this collection that she was bringing from New York.”

“The vision was so clear it wasn’t even like referencing something else,” recalls David of the four-bedroom, seven-bath residence. “She came with her very specific, organized collection. Going into it, we knew every single piece of art that was going into this house.”

One of the wife’s earliest requests were multiple display surfaces for her carefully curated selection of treasures. In the living room, one of the first pieces that visitors encounter is a large-scale custom console that holds a formation of towering antique Senufo and Dogon African wood figurines and faces as well as a selection of antique carved wood Sumba guardian statues. Its controlled height allow the works to stay front and center while still offering a relatively unobstructed view of the picturesque Santa Rosa Mountains beyond.

In the main bedroom, floating shelves display a collection of tribal necklaces from Papua New Guinea and a large feathered headdress from the Sioux Lakota tribe—its colors informing the specific shade of cashmere used for accent pillows—while the dining room holds a pair of Clotilde Ancarani canvases.

One of the only acquisitions made for the property was a massive sculpture by Jacques Le Bescond, originally intended to be installed in an interior alcove but relocated to an area alongside the swimming pool once the designers situated an antique Bamana/Dogon tunic in the space. “I bought it for her, but I kind of wanted to keep it,” says David of the garment. “I didn’t want to give it up, but once we saw it in the house, I knew it absolutely had to be here. And once we saw it in this location, it was the perfect spot for it, and we’ll have to find a different place for the Le Bescond sculpture.”

Complementing the earthiness of the art collection is a gentle balance of warming, textural materials including wood with exposed grain implemented on the ceiling, as well as plaster and brushed limestone on the walls. “We did things where we brought a little bit of that texture and materiality to the space so that it didn’t come across as sleek,” says David. “It still comes across as warm and textural.”

Texture comes heavily into play in the custom furnishings, especially in the pair of  living room sofas upholstered in a Dominique Kieffer fabric, the dining room’s oak and metal table, and the suede headboard in the primary bedroom. “When you build a house like this, everything has to be tailored to that space,” explains David. “Especially for somebody like the homeowner, where the proportions of things was so important, everything had to really fit and make perfect sense.”

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The finished product is a perfectly executed combination, with quietly impactful furnishings that let this uniquely curated array shine. And while most interiors conceived for passionate collectors are left with windows for later acquisitions, this project was fully realized on move-in day.

“She acquired this incredible collection of art and objects and sculpture that just really are meaningful to her and we designed the house around that,” continues David. “That was the thing that drove what we did for her in the interior design. I think she approaches her houses as a piece of art or sculpture and she’s not going to mess up the composition of that space by putting more stuff in it. The vision was for this specific part of her collection and there aren’t really gaps for new things. It’s now whole.”

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This Airy California Residence Brings Together a Powerful Collection of Art and Artifacts

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A ceiling installation of brushed white oak surmounts the open living-dining room that offers a breathtaking view across the swimming pool to the Santa Rosa Mountains beyond.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

The home’s exterior, conceived by Hayer Architecture in collaboration with interior design studio Lucas, is covered in a silver Indiana limestone; the chairs are from Gloster.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

In the living room, Lucas created the two custom sofas using a Dominque Kieffer fabric and the cocktail table, that’s accented with leather from Townsend, and situated the entire vignette on a custom wool rug.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

Antique Senufo and Dogon African wood figurines and faces and a selection of antique carved wood Sumba “guardian” statues, displayed in the living room.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

In the dining room, an Apparatus chandelier overhangs a custom dining table surrounded by Desiron chairs made using a Pierre Frey fabric and topped by a selection of Rina Menardi vessels. The artworks to the left and right are by Clotilde Ancarani.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

In the kitchen, a pair of custom pendents overlook an island made with Caesarstone and set with counter stools by Desiron.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

David Lucas acquired this antique Bamana/Dogon tunic with amulets for the project, installing the piece in a gallery hall outside the kitchen.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

In the office, a pair of bleached Art Deco tortoise shells back a custom sofa that’s paired with a metal and travertine cocktail table by Lucas, Usona chair, and Gregorius|Pineo stool and lamp. The rug is by Driscoll Robbins Fine Carpets.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

An antique coconut fiber Chinese peasant raincoat and hat has pride of place in a hallway leading to the media room. The sconce is by Apparatus.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

A pair of metallochromy panels by José Aguirre from Galerie Durst, a trio of ebonized wood offering bowls, and 19th century Ethiopian carved wood Jimma chair animate a hall leading to the guest wing.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

In the main bedroom, Apparatus lighting is backed by a large-scale custom leather and oak headboard that supports a bed dressed in Pierre Frey fabrics and Loro Piana pillows and blankets. A Philippe Vasseur canvas is joined by an early 20th century Sioux Lakota ritual war headdress and a collection of tribal necklaces from Papua New Guinea.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

In the main bath, a freestanding Hydro Systems tub with Dornbracht fixtures is paired with a Pfeifer Studio stool.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

Idylle, a large-scale patinated bronze sculpture by Jacques Le Bescond stands sentry over the picturesque swimming pool.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

The covered lanai is furnished with a Manutti sectional and chairs, situated around a cocktail table from RH.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz

Outside the 13,500-square-foot residence in Indian Wells, California, designed by Hayer Architecture and interior design studio Lucas; the landscape is by Gaudet Design Group.

Photograph by Aaron Leitz