Previous Page: The inviting

sofa and oversized chaise are

both custom Donna Livingston
designs, while the Morrison
throw pillows are at A. Rudin.
The Venetian coffee table is
from the Bradbury Collection,
while the animal-print Regency
bench from Las Palmas adds
an appropraite touch of Vegas
kitsch. See Resources

Comfort is what comes to mind as interior designer

Donna Livingston looks at one of her favorite paintings
above the couch inside her Los Angeles home,
where, once she arrives, she immediately begins to
unwind.
Its by an Austrian artist, its a woman in the elds,
she says. Theres movement, and I happen to just lover
her face because shes looking in a coquettish way, with a
dress thats slipping off of her shoulders.
After 26 years of designing homes, Livingston
believes that art not only lls empty wall space, but
becomes important to expressing a certain mood in
a home, one that is totally unique. At the end of a
project, she says, whether it be your own home or
someone elses, if you dont commit to art, you dont
have a completed project.

Livingston - whose Los Angeles-based rm, Donna

Livingston Design, has twice been featured in Architectural Digests annual issue of the Top 100 architects
and interior designers - recalls one particula piece she
fell in love with, one she had hung above a replace
in the living room of a penthouse on the 31st oor at
Turnberry Place.
This piece isby Jamali, says Livingston of the
large pastel entitled Queen Tiy. Its special because
its tall and most artists work horizontal. This piece
adds heights to the room, I rally liked the simplicity and
boldness of it.
Although art does bring a certain mood to the
residence, owned by the developers of the property,
Livinston adds that it can also be used as a tool to
achieve dimension and balance - especially when faced

with one of the greatest roadblocks to design perfection:

a condensed living area. Using tricks and techniques shes
picked up along the way, Livingston faced and overcame
this challenge several times while carrying our the design
of the penthouse, which she completed in early 2001.
For example, Livingston points out that one section
of the master bedroom, a space directly above the bed,
was difcult to ll with art - and, in fact, she nds this a
troublesome spot in most homes. You must have proper
proportions, she says, adding that a grouping was the
solution here. Since it was a small and awkward space, I
grouped a collage of several etchings.
Fine taste in art is not the only example within the
Turnberry penthouse of Livingstons discerning
eye. According to the designer, the home had to be
functional and inviting while remaining luxurious. So

her mission in collaborating with the owners of the

residence was to create an atmosphere that crossed a
multitude of levels, but also measured up to her design
rms motto, livable sophistication.
Design in this apartment had to be done in a way that
offered a sense of drama, as well as comfort to appeal
to the masses, says Livingston. Friends of the owners,
celebrities - and it denitely had to be child-friendly.
In order to carry out her vision of providing comfort
to all ages, Livingston combined a variety of concepts that
included installing low-voltage lighting for warmth and
burgundies, deep blues and chocolate browns throughout
the home to create an inviting atmosphere, as well as deep,
oversized sofas and soft fabrics to add a romantic quality.
Elaborate chandeliers, Persian rugs and exotic collectibles
were used to appeal to those with a more sophisticated taste.

Above, left: Marc Fichous

Untitled 13, which adds a
modern statement to one wall
in teh formal dining area, was
found at the Robert Berman
Gallery in Santa Monica.
Above, right: The portrait, a
commisssioned piece by artist
Christine Sinay, hangs above a
Lily Jack demi-lune buffet and
matching candlestick lamps
from Nancy Corzine. Opposite
page: Soft morning light adds
an inviting glow to the master
bedroom, which is anchored
by a grand Provence bed from
Artifacts International. The
Eden bedside lamps are a
set from Corbin Bronze, while
the Dante bench at the end of
the bed is by Royal Custom
Designs. See Resources

Hopefully this project didnt seem like it was themed out. she
says, but looked like the person who lived there traveled extensively
and collected thigns over a period of years or a lifetime.
This sense of travel, the experiencing of different
cultures, contributes to both Livingstons personal style and signature
design - which is why she enjoys getting out of the country once in
a while.
Travel always opens your eyes, says the designer.
Im very attracted to traveling in Europe. I grew up in Kentucky,
so I think there was a sense of what I imagined to be a romantic way
of life.
So is design a calling? With two grown children and one grandchild, Livingston reveals her focus was always to be a good parent.
Becoming a designer, however, was the only thing she ever saw
herself doing for a career.
This is the fabric of my life, she says. Yes, theres a lot of
paperwork involved and thats not glamorous, but in being a
designer, youre giving somebody a gift - the gift of a home.
Completing the penthouse at Turnberry was a challenging but
fullling project, and in teh end Livingston created a remarkable
space. This project was the rst of its kind there in Vegas, the rst
high-rise condominium. To be involved in such an important project
that was such an innovative idea, in the end, it cecame a real renaissance.