Home Away from Home: Jacques Grange's The Mark Hotel

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:00:04 -0800

Last winter, my mom got some amazing deals on botanical prints and chinoiserie-style furniture when one of New York's luxury hotels, The Mark, was selling its furnishings to go hybrid—in other words, to convert a third of their building into co-ops and become somewhat of a boutique hotel. Fast forward nine months and Jacques Grange, France's most famous interior designer, has given birth to a new Mark, transforming what was once an elegant, traditional, and antique-filled space into a buoyantly modern mix of 20th century furnishings and contemporary furniture designed by Grange himself. I was a bit anxious about how the Mark would metamorphose, but I think the results are everything that the Upper East Side needs today: a dose of humor, a dash of trend, and a dollop of Paris.

To see images of the transformation, read more
According to the New York Times, Grange said

"That’s the influence of New York - the modernity, the creation. I’m more protective in Paris, more traditional, but I’m more open to being modern in America.”

That surprises me. As old world and conservative as France may seem at times, I see Paris as one of the more cutting-edge cities in terms of design. Modern design furnishings are everywhere there, in major department stores citywide and living rooms on both banks. In the US, contemporary flair is just starting to move beyond specialty stores and haute hotels. In any case, Grange's eye for interiors is always welcome here, and I hope to see more from him stateside.

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On the Market: Yves Saint Laurent's Villa Mabrouka

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:00:34 -0700

French designer Yves Saint Laurent, who passed away in June 2008, is known for his iconic fashions. However, the designer also had a discerning eye when it came to the world of real estate. His Moroccan home, Villa Mabrouka, or "House of Luck," is currently on the market, and I am swooning over the house's location, style, and interior design.

Interior Design notes,

The Moroccan home represents a collaboration between two of the great French aesthetes of the 20th century: Laurent, who turned pantsuits and safari jackets into haute couture, and Jacques Grange, the only interior designer ever to receive the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration. Perched on a cliff overlooking the coast of the Spanish region of Andalusia and the Strait of Gibraltar, the 9,688-square-foot home rests on nearly two acres of grounds landscaped by Madison Cox, featuring soaring palms, Italian lemon trees, and extensive lawns. A heated swimming pool was excavated into the mountain rocks on which the estate stands, while a nearby pavilion was designed by architect Stuart Church.

To take a tour of this gorgeous Moroccan home, read more.

The home, which is located five minutes outside of downtown Tangier, features gorgeous Mediterranean Sea views,and is surrounded by immaculate gardens. A mix of Moroccan and English styles, the home is eclectic, refined, and absolutely gorgeous. I'm ready to move in! If you have the cash for this killer property, check out the details at Christies Great Esates.

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