The rich are different

And a few of the very rich are ridiculously different. It makes me vibrate to think about all the style and tastiness that money has bought - the most mouth-watering and luxe finishes that can be found in the world, the most important antiques, the most sumptuous textiles. Imagined and created and installed in stunning and tasteful digs. At a cost of millions and millions of dollars. And then more millions. And the very rich who want the status of having the chic-est homes and the furnishings with biggity-biggity provenance, can call on million dollar decorators to serve it all up and write checks like they were Post-It notes.

Nope… I’m not talking about those Million Dollar Decorators (Thank you very much, Bravo!)

These guys

Stephen Sills and James “Ford” Huniford 

Those two, although not in partnership any more, were together for 25 years tricking out some amazing homes. During the 80s and the 90s, they were shamelessly gouging their clients, marking up shit by 3 times, pissing off Anna Wintour, defending themselves in court (and in the court of public opinion) against gouging and pissing, and were looked upon by some in the interior design industry as being despicable. But they can conjure up eclectic and edited, classic, magical spaces that reek gently of luxury, and in some circles their hefty price tags have come to be seen as something of a status symbol. Fraudulent billing has undoubtedly been going on for a very long time in interior designing (and I know something about that), and is not a discouraging phenomenon to some very well heeled clients.

So, together, and now separately, Sills and Huniford, professionally shrugged off the “thieves” label that they were tagged with, and continue to make magic happen with their exquisite taste. 

To appreciate the beauty of the details, click to enlarge! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 You can read the details in the following article published in 'New York' magazine

Decorators in the Haute Seat

A glittering client list and undeniably exquisite taste helped establish Stephen Sills and James Huniford as the hottest design team in town. The mansion they were building for a Philadelphia credit-card king was to be their masterpiece. Instead, it allegedly became an $80 million money pit that has exposed them to charges of price-gouging and shockingly undecorous behavior. 

Thanks to Japanese Trash for tipping me off to Huniford