You may have already had the confounding experience of seeing Gerard Butler's New York City loft in the latest issue of Architectural Digest. You may have even been having interior design nightmares ever since. Well maybe I can help ease the trauma. I prescribe an exercise that may exorcise all those dark images from your psyche. You be the designer. I challenge you to re-do Gerard's loft as per his wishes, "I wanted something elegant and gorgeous and at the same time rather masculine and raw." Pobre Gerard. Instead what he got — after four years in the making mind you — was a dark Dickensian cavern of a home.
Before:
First of all, I'd lighten the place up. I'd have loads of warm colors and textures on a white background, or at least creamy white ~ a la World of Interiors:
Click on any photo for larger view.
As it is, there's no backdrop for any of the pieces. It's all just a muddy mess. Here are some of the elements I would have chosen:
LIVING ROOM
Tea Time cocoa velvet sofa by Interieurs…
…plus antique velvet pillows…
Or the Dean sofa from Andrew Martin, UK…
upholstered in this Pavillon Italian cut velvet & silk from Dedar…
Chair from Andrew Martin; Pillows made from antique drapes, Alhambra Antiques…
Chandelier by Mathieu Challières; Corduroy silk rug from Carini Lang…
Mid Century credenza, Renzo Rutili for Johnson Furniture…
Wall mural, like this plum branch by Scott Waterman…
Curtains from India with glass bead trim; Louis XV Bergere from Alhambra Antiques
Harris Tweed pillows for Dean sofa, from Little House of Tweed…
Aboriginal painting, by Makinti Napanangka…
Brooklyn coffee table from Orson & Blake, Australia…
Redwood and stainless steel wall plaque, 1st Dibs…
Root sculpture & French Gothic processional stand; Alhambra Antiques…
BEDROOM
Venetian bed, from And so To Bed, UK…
French antique sconces; for whimsy – Westie bookends from P.O.S.H., Chicago…
French Antique Louis XV desk from Alhambra Antiques…
Lomond Wool, Osborne & Little to upholster French antique chair…
Velvet Vintage Theatre Drapes on Ebay from Shabby*Shack…
Aboriginal painting by Warlimpirrnga Tjapaltjarri…
Pair of Buddha lamps from Lum Vintage Lighting…
…sitting on top of Louis XVl nightstands…
KITCHEN
Jéroboam chandelier by Mathieu Challières…
Stone work table, Sweden ca. 1740…
"Baroque Stone Top Table with a pink base from the Island of Öland in the Baltic Sea. The 2" thick Stone has a small hole drilled into each corner where rods were attached by the Fishermen to weave their nets."
Antique mushroom prints…
Olivewood nesting bowls from Brook Farm General Store…
Lustreware teapot…
DINING
Antique chairs and table from Spain…
1970s USA "Fabulously textured Brutalist orb chandelier. Four interior sockets provide exceptional mood lighting."…
John Derian decoupage plates (check out the collection of trays!)…
Chemoma Lounge from ici et la
"Fritillaria" & "Japanese Witch Hasel", 1915 watercolor & pencil, by Scottish designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh…
Painting by Claire Basler…
The artwork I would change periodically, as I do in my own home. There's just too much great art to have fixed pieces. besides, he can afford it. I myself of course simply rotate my thrift art.
I am now going to get the ball rolling by challenging a couple of bloggers to come up with a design for Mr. Butler's place:
Jaclyn Ehrlich of Haute Home
Scott Fazzini of Domicidal Maniac
I have a compulsion to re-design ( I'm sure I've been captured by surveillance in various dental and doctors' waiting rooms rearranging the furniture) and the moment I saw Gerard's place I began having visions. But I give credit to Hobac over at The House of Beauty and Culture for the idea to post this particular re-design.
Make sure you look at this other post from Hobac: From Heartbreaker to Heartbreak (it has some great comments), as well as Memo to Gerard Butler from An Aesthete's Lament.
P.S. I just found out that the designer of the loft, Elvis Restaino, is a set designer. No wonder I kept having the impression that it looked like a place where Indiana Jones would live.
I welcome anyone else who is interested to post their entry. Make sure to let me know, merci.
So Sylvie 
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