Chateau Primary Suite

For the bedroom quarters of this Swiss chateau, opulence and comfort were paramount. In these rooms, luxury is harmoniously combined with an intimate atmosphere and cozy spirit. The eclectic decor includes references from different eras and styles, making each room unique. Istomin’s use of antique furniture paired with custom upholstery, lavish decorative finishes, bespoke trimmings and modern art creates a lush and multi-layered interior.  

In the primary bedroom, the ultra-chic scheme draws upon the Vogue Regency style of the 1930s. The citron silk dressmaker curtains with elaborate swags and “bishop sleeve” jabots were inspired by the work of mythical decorator Nancy Lancaster. Istomin had the period Louis XV beechwood bergère painted peach. 

Mirrored fireplaces, riffing on a Serge Roche console table design, anchor each end of the room. 

The wife’s dressing room is one of the most complex spaces Istomin has ever created. Its whimsical design is influenced by the famous ­18th-century Royal Pavilion in Brighton, England. Decorative palm-pilasters and painted-plaster baseboards imitating grass were made by hand. The carpet, based on archival 18th-century designs, was also custom-made.

Istomin designed an elaborately mirror-paneled bathroom for the wife, extravagantly layering it with crystal and mother-of-pearl inlaid marble. An abstract floral design found on a vintage French textile, now covering a shell-shaped side chair, inspired the primary bathroom’s wall decorations. Sherle Wagner carved- amethyst drawer knobs are opulently platinum-plated. 

Outfitted in handsome green marble and mahogany, the husband’s bathroom is both tailored and restrained. To create an old-world ambiance, Istomin installed striped silk balloon shades, a leather Chesterfield wing chair and a bespoke vanity based on a Chippendale-style chest of drawers. 

The “chocolate” sitting room is both regal and cozy. A gold-leafed ceiling and deep-brown silk from Prelle with a historical design from the 1920s sumptuously envelop the room. The fabric’s pattern is also replicated in the carpet border. Trimmed with a high fringe, the Istomin-designed sofa nods to the Hollywood style of the 1930s. The pair of Secession-era mahogany side tables is by Adolf Loos. 

To accommodate the client’s wish for a traditional English four-poster in the small guest bedroom, Istomin suggested using faceted Lucite columns and feet, which give the impression that the canopy and bench are floating in mid-air. The room is decorated with a traditional English floral print fabric, whose motif is replicated in a larger scale on the carpet. Istomin clad the walls in a chocolate satin silk to visually expand the room — a trick often used by his mentor, the legendary decorator Albert Hadley. 

Narrow pilasters serve as the basis of the decorative architecture in the guest bathroom. The walls are adorned with mirrored panels, creating a fabulous looking-glass effect. The bespoke cut-glass and rose quartz sconces are from Mathieu Lustrerie. 

In a “green” guest bedroom, a quilted chocolate silk bedspread and slipper chair in a traditional English floral linen are paired with a modern abstract-patterned carpet. Based on a historical design, the fringed chartreuse curtains are made of silk, while the Roy Lichtenstein artwork adds a distinctly modern touch.