Perry & Lestat’s Colorful Romanian Home

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Name: Lestat, Perry and their twin toddlers Lucrezia and Orazio
Location: Cotroceni Quarter, Bucharest, Romania
Size: 6,000 square feet
Years lived in: Owned 2.5 years

6,000 square feet is certainly a lot of space to fill, but Perry and Lestat did not shy away from the challenge. Instead, the stylish and talented Lestat designed and created a space full of color, personality, pattern, great furnishings and fun. There’s so much inspiration here, it’ll be hard to pick a favorite room.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Neoclassical inspiration with a French touch, but definitely the comfort of vintage American.

Inspiration: I have always loved combinations: Art Déco, design, ethnic, modern, traditional. Uniform décor bores me. I revisited these great classics without losing their essence. Stripped of their gilt and their conventions, they gained in beauty and prestige. Discrete luxury is the philosophy I applied restoring our home.

I constantly snap photos of anything and nothing. I have accumulated an impressive picture library showcasing objects, locations, decorations, materials, colors, textures, people or simply memories gleaned here and there in my travels. In all their many quirks and eccentricities, these photos reflect my personality and my intuitive style.

Favorite Element: I love that my home is eco-friendly. The building has been awarded an “A”-rated “green certificate” certifying that the property is energy efficient, using solar panels on the roof to produce hot water and electricity, LEDS, energy saving light equipment that reduces pollution and decreases the cost of utilities.

Biggest Challenge: Completing a massive reconstruction and redesign in a foreign country where red tape takes on a new meaning! Also, luxury furnishings and materials are difficult to find here and when you do find them, the prices tend to be off the charts. In the end, it turned out to cost far less for us to simply fly to London, purchase furniture and have it all shipped to Bucharest.

What Friends Say: Most visitors, friends or otherwise, marvel at the quality finishing and attention to detail and many have told me that the design is by far the most interesting and appealing they have seen anywhere in Romania.

(Image credit: Adrienne Breaux)

Best Advice: As a student of Feng Shui, I am very sensitive to the inert energy of a room, I avoid overcrowding my interiors. Over time, I learned that aesthetics has nothing to do with comfort. I remember a sofa and armchair “Big Nothing” by Philippe Starck bought in Paris which are as beautiful as they are uncomfortable. With age I refined my choices; now I require pieces of furniture that are comfortable, as well as beautiful.

Biggest Embarrassment: The mosaic tiles in the master bathroom did not stay in place due to inexperience of the workers who installed them. Ultimately, although it broke my heart and cost a fortune, I tore most of them out and flew in a Moroccan artisan to construct an actual bronze color tadelakt on the shower floor and lower walls of the bathtub.

Proudest DIY: To be honest, the entire building is a DIY project! I gutted it, added modern earthquake reinforcements and reconceptualized the entire space. In my partner’s office space, the master bedroom and the twins’ room, I designed art deco-style furniture, which were made by craftsman Petru Sava in the finest tradition of the 1930s. The depth of the enamel was obtained by applying multiple layers. They were manually painted in a paint chamber.

Biggest Indulgence: Probably the artwork. We have collected paintings, drawings and sculpture from a number of well-known and up-and-coming local artists, including Laura Covaci and Catalin BADARAU.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Resources of Note:

APPLIANCES

HARDWARE

FURNITURE

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

ACCESSORIES

LIGHTING

RUGS & CARPETS

TILES & STONE

WINDOW TREATMENTS

ARTWORK

PAINT

FLOORING

Thanks, Perry and Lestat!

Images: Corina Olaru, assisted by Adina Shollenbarger and Brandon Lee

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