PaperCity Magazine

September 2017 - Dallas

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126 is beautifully made, like a piece of sculpture. "All three of us fell in love with it," Bolke says. "Gonzolo loves it because it's a really beautiful object. Faisal loves it because it's so heavy — and he thinks of it as being so strong. I love it because nobody understands what it is until they touch it." The chair is part of a striking vignette beneath the stairs that includes a sculptural bench by Marc Newson, which once resided in design rebel Peter Marino's New York offices. A Richard Avedon photograph of aristocrat and fashion designer Jacqueline de Ribes sits on a restored French brass easel from the mid-20th century. The photograph tugs at Bolke's heart. "My first job was at Gump's in San Francisco, and they carried her clothes," he says. "I always thought she was the most glamorous creature that ever existed. This photo really spoke to me." These carefully selected and personal objects in the foyer set the tone for the rest of the house — collections of important mid-20th century furnishings and contemporary art. Each piece seems to come with a story, and Bolke relishes the retelling. A pair of rare '60s-era Vladimir Kagan sofas, discovered on 1stdibs, had just been re-covered in Perennials fabric and installed in their home when Kagan himself arrived at Sutherland showroom in May 2015 to sign copies of his book. On a whim, Bolke and Halum invited him to their house for drinks and to see the sofas. Their newfound friendship was made all the more poignant when 88-year-old Kagan died just months later. The sofas are in many ways a reminder of what friendships can be: Bueno had them specially padded so that Bolke and Halum could be comfortable watching TV in the living room, and the plush indoor-outdoor fabric was chosen so that Gator, the couple's 11-year-old English bulldog, could lounge with them. "Gonzalo knew the sofas were not just something to look at, but meant for every-day use," Bolke says. "It's that kind of thoughtful level that is really quite special when you are working with someone who knows you so well." A striking vintage Paul Evans Cityscape dining table "was a happy accident," says Bolke, who fell in love with it on 1stdibs. Set under art-light spots in the living area, the table's reflective, multi-plane surfaces cast an unexpected light show on the ceiling, and it is sometimes mistaken by visitors for an art installation. A Karl Springer lizard-embossed backgammon table from the 1960s — an early purchase — bears the well-worn patina of use. "You wonder where it once lived, and how many games were played on it," Bolke muses. While almost everything in the house was chosen with unanimous consensus, Bolke and Halum each allowed themselves one piece to call their own. For Bolke, it was a set of high-backed vintage Frank Gehry chairs, which he unearthed during one of many late-night prowls on 1stdibs. Bueno worried that the chairs were too stiff and uncomfortable to use as seating in a dining room. "I've always loved those chairs," Bolke says. "Maybe they didn't make the most sense in here, but I didn't care." When the chairs arrived, Kitchen countertops are Santa Margherita Vega quartz. Henry Leutwyler's Neverland Lost, 2010. Vintage stools from Bolke's own collection. Slavs and Tatars' Pajak Study No. 9 copper hanging mobile, 2013. Hèrmes orange bowl.

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