Tablet-Magazine-studioannetta

I've had all things French on my mind for the past week. After posting about a Jean-Louis Deniot designed apartment in Paris filled with contemporary art it left me thinking of other amazing apartments filled with wonderful treasures, and lead me to a London townhouse decorated by another stellar Parisian, François Catroux. The owners - Prince Pavlos and Princess Marie Chantal of Greece (the former from the Miller family of Duty Free fame, whose family commissioned a Palladian style Villa in Hong Kong by NY based Fairfax & Sammons) - have a stunning collection of art which Catroux has worked his magic with. The Princess claims their home took 3 years of serious house-hunting to find, but I think it was worth the wait...

A Hervé van der Straeten chandelier hangs in the entrace above an English Regency mirror and a c. 1917 Viennese ebony & silver bench.

In the main living area antiques such as the Viennese ebony chair and a Regency mirror mix harmoniously with more contemporary pieces such as the Hervé van der Straeten designed lamp and cabinet, a Christian Liaigre side table, and custom pieces designed by Catroux. The Flowers painting above the fireplace is by US artist Donald Baechler.

A Jean-Michel Basquiat painting provides some colour in the otherwise neutral library. The custom sofa and chairs are by Catroux, the coffee table is from Christian Liaigre.

T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings designed dining chairs by Saridis around a Catroux designed dining table. A custom Claude Lalanne chandelier hangs above and a Hervé van der Straeten mirror sits above the fireplace.

All photos from House & Garden November 2006, photography by Robert Wyatt.