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Design Super Sleuthing

I'm revisiting Gwyneth, again. It's OK. Stay with me...
After seeing the photos of Paltrow taken for the August Vogue article, I wondered if perhaps they were taken in her home, in her kitchen? The author alludes to the photos being taken on a "vast set," so I figured it was some other highly-stylized kitchen.
However, a few months back, The Happy Home blog did a little design sleuthing, and found images of what she felt were most certainly Gwyneth's Tribeca loft on designers Roman and Williams' website. Gwyneth hired the duo - former set designers known for their ability to translate a client's persona into an interior space - for her part-time, NYC residence. The images on the list of R&W's projects were not credited as the work done for Paltrow, but now, having seen the Vogue spread, I too, feel certain they are of her loft.

So, my question to you is this: If Roman and Williams have a reputation for realizing a client's being through design, what does Gwyneth's home say about her?
gwyneth nyc kitchen 2
This is the kitchen that appears to be the location of the Vogue shoot. The sheer dimension of the Carrara marble on the cooking island is impressive, but overall, the space reads very sterile to me. The kitchen was styled much more warmly for the Vogue shoot, and for her children's sake, hopefully more realistically!
I know the cabinets are most certainly custom, but somehow I feel I could get the same look from Ikea pre-fabs. Am I crazy?
gwyneth nyc kitchen

The living room. Again, beautiful, but stark. Hardly practical, especially where kids are concerned. Is that even a factor to consider when this home is most likely a stop-over point between London and L.A.?
gwyn tribeca loft

The swing, made from an antique, Indian door and custom chain was one of Gwyneth's favorite touches.
gwyneth loft swing

A banquette area, most likely opposite the kitchen. I understand the designers wanted the room( not a lot of knick knacks) to be the focus, but I don't get the sense that this is a warm, cozy place where the family sits together to eat.
gwyneth nyc banquet

A "Bed Chamber" -Presumably, the master bedroom.
gwyneth bedroom

...and a gilded closet to go-with.
gwyneth loft closet

A beautifully-papered hallway leading to the "bed chamber."
gwyneth hallway

The room that gave away the incognito status of the project - labeled "Apple's room." It's lovely, but lonely.
apple's room nyc
The words perfect, austere, untouchable come to mind. If in fact this home is an interpretation of Gwyneth's personality, I think it speaks volumes as to why people sometimes find her a tough pill to swallow.

14 comments:

Chesapeake Chic said...

I love the bed in Apple's room-- so gorgeous! I've never quite understood why people dislike others because they have it all. I think it is nice to see happiness and success without all the drama that normally swirls around in the celebrity world!

Lindsey Encinias said...

I agree. Certainly doesn't feel like "home". I guess if you have multiple pads there might be one that's no fuss, but even so it seems like it would be cozier in a hotel room.

The Rural Socialite said...

I love the built-ins around the fireplace and also the swing banquette, but yes, it has a sterile feel overall. I'd love to try my hand at photo-styling this place to feel more kid-friendly. I didn't see the Vogue shoot but I will be checking it out.

MyLittleHappyPlace said...

Chesapeake: I agree. I think the problem people have with GP is her knack for seeming aloof and elitist - whether that's a true reflection of her personality or not.

Krystle said...

The kitchen felt cold just looking at it so I understand what you were saying. I do have to say that nothing in those photos spoke to me. It's grand and it makes a big statement but it lacks the coziness and family-ness of a home.

Stephen Alesch said...

everyone reads too much into these pics, they were taken the very first day of installation and have not one personal object in them, its sort of obvious if one uses common sense and not shadenfraude as their inner guide. It will have to remain private - or semi private what the home looks like after the layers of personal and favorite objects are brought in. designers shouldnt entirely finish a home, the clients should.
I designed this so i know.

MyLittleHappyPlace said...

Mr. Alesch:
Point taken, and thank you for the comment. I would never presume that the photos taken of a client's home for publication necessarily represent how they actually live in that space. In the case of a celebrity, I imagine the desire to protect their privacy takes precedent over any concern about how "real" their home appears to a stranger.

I was merely opening up for discussion interpretations of the home as published.

Averill said...

I totally agree with your analysis. It's just so...monochromatic and impersonal. Where are the family photos? The personal touches? The COLOR!?!?!

paula said...

so insanely gorgeous! she lives such a fairytale in home decor.

Anna Liesemeyer said...

wow that hanging couch is incredible!!
Even though i would never live in it, it sure is fun to look at!

Bailey@ peppermintbliss said...

Gwyneth. Oh Gwyneth. I am genetically programmed to do anything you GOOP me to do, and to curse my short curvy brunetteness for not being WASPY pure perfection like you. But sometimes, only sometimes, I want to shove my whole fist up your bottom. Just to make sure you are, in fact, a human. And then I would roll my eyes at you. This space kind of feels like that. Pretty pretty, sexy, ohhh I love it, and then...wait a tick...this is absurd. You LIVE like this!? Hand up the butt. Now we are all on the same page again.

Maria said...

Thank you for posting and finding these images, even though it does feel a bit sterile, that kitchen is a wowser with all that marble, I love it!!

Anonymous said...

Come on, y'all, Gwyneth is a goddess! She got to smooch on Brad Pitt, for God sakes!

Charlotta Ward said...

Clean, simple, elegant, comfortable and inviting. Just like her.

x C

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