Todays Design Diary entry goes inside Frank Gehry’s Schnabel House.  As I mentioned previously, the home was open to the public this past Sunday for a rare open house.  Homes priced in the $12 Million range are usually seen by appointment only, therefore, I wasn’t about to less this golden opportunity pass… have iphone will travel.

When most of us think of multi-million dollar estates, we think of luxurious sprawling rooms with beautifully appointed details. You won’t find any lavish crystal chandeliers, silk drapes,  12 inch high moldings or Venetian plaster walls here. No. This home has been deconstructed. Open ceilings expose beams and joists with all of their respective hardware. If you’ve ever wondered how something was built, this is your answer. And it may very well be the beginning of the loft living movement that seems so common place today. Remember, this was built in 1989,  over 25 years ago. I’ve toured many newly built residences during the last decade, and this deconstructed concept is in full swing. I often chalk it up to developers just wanting to save money and lower costs as opposed to making an artistic statement.

The one luxurious interior detail that almost goes unnoticed, is the copper trimming the entrance to the master bedroom pavilion. You may not realize it from the previous post, but that same copper treatment was used extensively on the exterior. As you know, copper patina’s over the years and changes colors, just like a copper penny. I wonder what it would be like to be inside this home during a massive rain storm, especially the home office with the sphere on top. The rain pounding down against all of the homes copper siding could be rather ‘musical’ to say the least.  And speaking of music, look at the evolution of Gehry’s work just 14 years later. Completed in 2003, the Disney Concert Hall has been praised for its acoustics.

It has been said that Gehry’s buildings are juxtaposed collages of spaces and materials that make users appreciative of both the theater and the back-stage, simultaneously revealed.  I think it’s a fitting quote that beautifully describes his process. There’s nothing more provocative then seeing one of his sculptural structures from the outside, and then walking inside and being able to see so many of the construction details that made it possible.

To learn more about this home, please visit Elliman.com