By Adriana Ermter
Intricate conceptualization and custom design are just two phrases that come to mind when describing the expertise Art Boulle brings to all their projects. Be it classical, contemporary, ornate or avant garde in design, the company’s masterworks are the physical expression of their drive and passion. Every door, staircase, wall panel, built-in and furnishing is unique, reflective of and inspired by the team’s vision for the home and its homeowners. This perfectly explains why their craftsmanship is so coveted adorning luxury homes around the world, inclusive of their most recent project, a stunning 10,000-squarefoot home in Boca Raton. “We worked directly with the owner and the home’s designer and architect, collaborating to customize this project,” says Nancy Saavedra, the CEO, co-founder and creative director of the Toronto-based company. “Together, we brought the designer and owner’s shared vision for the space to life.”
Timeless and elegant in aesthetic, complete with exotic touches, evidence of the home’s high-quality calibre begins with its jewel of a front door. Handmade from bronze metal and custom-designed, the door’s repeated hexagon pattern features tiny, elaborate cast-work-formed indentations that radiate from every angle in the Florida sunshine. Walking through its grand doorway leads to an entryway with walls embellished in exotic veneers lacquered in a polyester finish. A modern glass staircase with a matching veneer handrail and abstract, bronze metal detailing throughout the railing’s lower half add depth and glamour to the foyer. Book-matched marble — an ancient and precious technique that ensures the marble’s veining creates a fluid pattern — covers the entrance floor, along with the staircase’s treading and is, in its own right, visual art. “The main entrance door is the showpiece of the home,” says Saavedra. “The glass railing provides visual relief, but at the same time, it also shines on its own and the view from the second floor reveals the gorgeous book-matched marble treads. Every interior space of this home features uniqueness both in terms of design and materials.”
These interior spaces include the home’s living area where integrated pocket doors showcase exotic veneers and glass and metal details finished in bronze patinas. The custom door pulls feature cast-work-created metal work, while its reflective glass gives the room a wide and expansive feeling. In the dining room, the entryway’s wall-panelling is mirrored through magnificent built-ins with glass backdrops and shelving, allowing for the placement of unique accoutrements, antiques and collectible art. The home is elegantly furnished in handpicked, custom pieces from indigo- blue velvet sofas and plush armchairs to a marble dining table and a cluster of gold-leaf coffee tables. “The focus was to create completely custom pieces, incorporating veneers, gold details with royal blues and silver,” she says. “Our designs boast intricate details and refined upholsteries to merge a modern and timeless transitional design. We brought one-of a-kind creations and complete customization with our designs and finishing touches. The overall effect is an atmosphere of exclusive sophistication.”
