Beachfront Retreat in Los Angeles

Today, dear readers, I have a most singular house to show you. Designer and antiques dealer Richard Shapiro built this Malibu beachfront retreat and decorated it in a rustic yet elegant style with unique period pieces. If you'd like to read the whole story just go right <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/homes/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man_article">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><img alt="" class="featureimg" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/01_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 596px;" /><br />Richard Shapiro, antiques dealer and head of Studiolo home furnishings, at the Malibu beach house he designed with architect Douglas Burdge. The Dutch wicker chair is from the 1960s.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /></div><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/02_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 552px; height: 598px;" /><br />Steel windows fabricated by Pierre Quinton open to a view of the Pacific Ocean.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/03_renaissance_man.jpg" /><br />The living room walls are sheathed in frescoed plaster; a 17th-century Italian gilt-wood mirror is displayed above an antique Cypriot fireplace. Shapiro designed the chairs, the wood stools are 19th-century Ghanaian, and the white-painted cast-bronze floor lamp, by Patricia Roach.<br /><div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/04_renaissance_man.jpg" /><br />The open kitchen occupying one end of the living space is anchored by an island made of basalt. The same volcanic stone is used for the backsplash and counters; the cabinets are black lacquer. A vintage glass waterfall table by Pace is paired with a linen-covered sofa custom fitted to the alcove. <div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/05_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 552px; height: 598px;" /><br />The dining area is centered beneath a pair of 18th-century inlaid Cosmatesque panels. Rattan chairs and a bench designed by Shapiro.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /></div><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/06_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 554px; height: 600px;" /><br />A sculptural staircase with a steel balustrade winds up to the master bedroom and bath. At its base is a 19th-century replica of an ancient Greek statue; the nail-studded walnut front door is 17th-century Italian.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/07_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 553px; height: 599px;" /><br />In the living room, a painted-steel pedestal displays a fourth-century Roman torso.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/08_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 553px; height: 599px;" /><br />The timber staircase leading to the beach was designed to resemble the weathered ramparts of a Moroccan fort.<br /><br /><div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/09_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 552px; height: 598px;" /><br />The stone terrace is furnished with rattan and wicker chairs and an early-20th-century octagonal table painted deep red; the large ceramic jar is 16th-century Thai.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/10_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 553px; height: 599px;" /><br />The front door is framed by a French 18th-century stone surround and lush greenery.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/11_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 553px; height: 599px;" /><br />A daybed covered in mismatched stripes is tucked into a corner of the library; the table is 15th-century Italian, and the painting is by Shapiro.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/12_renaissance_man.jpg" /><br />The library walls feature <em>tadelakt</em>, a traditional Arabic polished plaster. An 18th-century French chair is paired with a Spanish desk of the same period; the ottoman and sofa are Shapiro designs.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/14_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 550px; height: 596px;" /><br />A 19th-century Uzbek suzani covers Shapiro’s bed; the 17th-century Italian Savonarola chair stands alongside an antique Burgundian roof corbel.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br /><img alt="" src="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/images/homes/2011/04/renaissance_man/13_renaissance_man.jpg" style="width: 551px; height: 597px;" /><br />Shapiro conceived the master bath so that the minimalist tub has views of the garden and the Malibu hills.<div style="overflow: hidden; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;"><br />Photographed and produced by Miguel Flores-Vianna<br /><br />All images and information from <a href="http://www.architecturaldigest.com/">Architectural Digest</a>.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Beachfront Retreat in Los Angeles

Today, dear readers, I have a most singular house to show you. Designer and antiques dealer Richard Shapiro built this Malibu beachfront ret...

Read more »