Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1110892
68 silhouettes and textures to make it interesting." Rice designed a striking round coffee table for the sitting room, which became a centerpiece for the main seating area where the family gathers to watch television. Water-cut from a slab of stone and "popped out and put together like a Happy Meal toy," he says, the idea was born from necessity. "We needed something dramatic at a reasonable price. So I bought the prettiest piece of Brazilian quartzite I could find with a textural finish and got this very dramatic table." Vioski's U-shaped sectional, enticingly piled with pillows, is the perfect shape to engage with the table. Rice often uses a sumptuous Knoll Womb chair in his projects, and this one is no exception. "I try not to use things that are too ubiquitous, but it's a hard chair to beat because it's comfortable and looks so outstanding," he says. Rice conceived the handsome living room as a place to enjoy a glass of wine before moving into the adjacent dining area. Like the rest of the house, it's a collection of tonal colors and subtle textures. A pair of rattan Poul Kjaerholm PK22 chairs is draped with sheepskin throws, and a paper Noguchi floor lamp provides plenty of design bang at a reasonable cost. Plaster-topped tables have a stained, textural finish and were handmade in Italy. Amsterdam–based interdisciplinary cooperative BCXSY designed the one-of-a-kind patchwork wool rug, which was woven by Bedouin women. Because the walls in the house are mostly windows, the couple couldn't hang much art. In this case, that turned out to be a good thing. "Empty walls help keep the serene feeling," Rice says. "I tell clients there's nothing wrong with empty walls, especially if the room has some architectural interest." Ultimately, the refined and comfortable house works beautifully for the couple and their children. "My personal style is classic and unfussy," Liu says. "I take a similar approach to running our business. At Leatherology we create beautifully crafted leather essentials that are meant to be timeless. Our home is a reflection of that — with the added requirement that everything in it be child-friendly. I love that Josh has helped us create a home we can live in for years." Custom oak-and-lacquer wall system made in Italy. Top, KSDS Open Wind vase. Uta Feyl Queensbury Venus vase. Both from Russell Brightwell. A tension bookshelf made in Brazil by Jader Almeida for Sollos separates the living and dining areas. KSDS porcelain vase at center. At left, 1970s Tapio Wirkkala vase. Both from Russell Brightwell. White leather bench by Charles Pollock for Bernhardt Design.