Monday, October 08, 2018

Something Old, Something New



Ever since I first saw glimpses of photographer Victor Skrebneski's house in those Seventies and Eighties-era Estée Lauder ads (Skrebneski often used his Chicago home as a backdrop for the stylish ad campaign), I became intrigued by its pitch-perfect blend of minimalist architecture and formal, traditional furniture, a mix you still don't often see in America. Decorated with the assistance of interior designer Bruce Gregga (Gregga was once Skrebneski's assistant and, incidentally, happens to be one of the featured designers in my new book), the photographer's home is a Victorian-era coach house. But based on its interiors, you would never know it. Stripped of anything ornamental, the home's interior architecture is very modern and spare. Travertine floors, a concrete entry hall and staircase (see above), and glossy ceilings are as far removed from the Victorian style as they could possibly be.

But ensconced among the home's sleek walls is Skrebneski's carefully selected collection of twentieth-century art and eighteenth-century French antiques. In fact, the living room is almost entirely furnished with eighteenth-century pieces, including a Gobelins tapestry, a coromandel commode, Louis XVI gueridon, and a Louis XV giltwood sofa. Also prominent is modern art by Man Ray, the Giacomettis, Max Ernst, and Oskar Schlemmer. It's the best of both worlds--and the best of two centuries--together in one room.

Elsewhere in the house, there are not one, but two sitting rooms that, while perhaps more intimate than the living room, maintain the sense of grandeur established in the home's more public spaces.  Even the kitchen, with its zig-zag painted floor, is a modern shell that, once again, surrounds French furniture. The formula for this sublime marriage of the old and the new is not as complicated as it might seem. As Skrebneski simply puts it, "Any beautiful things work well together." 







The living room, as seen from three different angles.



The two images above show the sitting rooms.



The kitchen, which is lined with books.



The dapper photographer himself.


All images from Architectural Digest, March 2000, Victor Skrebneski photographer.

12 comments:

  1. Although photographed in 2000, these are elegant, timeless rooms. And speaking of your book Jennifer, I have just glimpsed through it, and it is sensational. I can't wait to finish my current book and begin reading yours. Even your cover is very, "chic (like you of course)!!" LK

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    1. LK, I can't thank you enough! I so appreciate it, and I hope you enjoy reading the book.

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  2. Unequaled--definitely the touch of a master. Thank you. Have missed your posts enormously.
    xo Mary

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    1. Mary, Thank you, and I'm so glad to be back with all of you.

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  3. I've long admired those Skrebneski ads for Estee Lauder. His work is flawless and we're lucky here in L.A. to be in close proximity to Bruce Gregga's William Laman shop in Montecito. Your new book will be a reference I'll go to often. Well done!!!!

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    1. Thank you so much! I have heard great things about William Laman. Maybe one day soon I'll have the opportunity to visit it.

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  4. Hello Jennifer, This place is amazing. Usually architectural features add so much to create a rich look to decor, but Victor Skrebneski has shown how top-quality items used imaginatively in a relatively plain shell can work to perfection. The use of travertine was brilliant (but even Skrebneski could not win me over to shiny ceilings!).
    --Jim

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    1. Jim, His use of travertine might be my favorite aspect of the home. His collection of French antiques ranks up there as well.

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  5. Wonderful piece Jennifer, and speaking of wonderful, I read your book cover to cover and just loved it. It really is the definitive tome on 20th century design. Curious about one omission, that you do not have to answer publicly, how come no Jeffrey Bilhuber?
    Many thanks- Larry

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    1. Larry, I am happy to hear that you enjoyed reading my book. I really appreciate it.

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  6. Thank you for a great article. Each piece is beautiful and of the best quality.

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