So, for example, the designers reached out to a lacquerware specialist in Kyoto to make a rectangular headboard finished in crackled ecru colors, a process that took months. And the bronze coffee table in the living room, a low square made with soft, rounded edges and hammered legs, was handmade in France.
Elsewhere in the living room, there’s a deep-burgundy velvet sofa, a set of vintage Swedish chairs with boxy wooden frames inlaid with harlequin patterns, and a Carlo Mollino “Suora” floor lamp. Walls were covered in a creamy white limewash, providing a serene backdrop for the room’s important artworks. One corner, near the street-facing windows, is anchored by a nude metal sculpture by Tal R, and the wall across from the fireplace has a nearly mural-size abstract painting by Martha Jungwirth. Every piece was selected by Frössén, whose parents are the artists Gunnar Frössén and Yvonne Bengtsson.
Throughout the 8,000-square-foot home, the style is refined, measured, and ever-so-slightly midcentury, with a combination of bespoke and vintage pieces. While Sauzay and de Tonnac say they tend to look to the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s for inspiration, their ultimate goal is to transcend time periods—and stay away from trends. “Our job is to create a place people will hopefully stay—and maybe even give to the next generation,” says Sauzay. “So we want to have the best bones, and that means good materials that will patinate over time.”
Using enduring materials such as travertine, oak, bronze, and brass, everything was designed to reflect the family’s lifestyle, from his-and-hers offices (his: navy blue everywhere; hers: natural fibers and neutrals) to an entire floor awash in peachy tones for the girls. A few things remained in place, such as the garden-facing kitchen on the lower level, which after some thought they decided not to move up to the parlor floor, where the living and dining rooms are.
While Aflalo has an unquestionably strong sense of style—she’s launched several womenswear lines, and was a fashion model before that—her approach to decorating her home was rather light-handed. “I spent a lot of time in the beginning picking the right partners, but I was determined not to agonize during the process,” she says. “Building a house from scratch is a gift, and I was focused on being grateful. It was such a pleasure.”
