Incollect Magazine - Issue 9

Incollect Magazine 61 Nicole Hollis: Artistry of Home by Nicole Hollis Photographs by Douglas Friedman © 2024 Nicole Hollis, published by Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. rizzoliusa.com and Amazon INDIANWELLS, CALIFORNIA With the pure and stark beauty of the California desert as a backdrop, the architect for this project, a former colleague and friend of interior designer Nicole Hollis, tapped into the aesthetic of midcentury desert modernism to design a house that became one with the landscape. Monochromatic fourteen-foot bleached-oak ceilings, limestone floors and travertine walls, and retractable glass walls created a pristine setting for Nicole’s selection of exquisite furniture forms and sculptural lighting. Each design decision was rigorously considered — was it necessary? — following the client’s desire for open space and restful simplicity. In this expansive entertaining room, the dining area is tethered by Jeff Zimmerman’s monumental Illuminated Vine Sculpture , 2019, a work that so embodies the grace and beauty of organic form, it is utterly alive. The custom dining table is by contemporary French furniture artist Joseph Dirand, paired with dining chairs by legendary French interior designer of the 1920s-1930s Jean-Michel Frank. In a seating group by the fireplace, curved Vladimir Kagan sofas in velvet and mohair soften the angularity of the architecture; a round wool and silk rug furthers the effect. In the foreground at right, a cocktail table surrounded by Vladimir Kagan’s 1998 “Wysiwyg” swivel chairs defines another gathering spot. The color and materials palette was pared back to dramatic effect, with soft blues, white and ivory, and pale earth tones to reflect the sky, clouds, and surrounding hills, while rays of desert sunlight glint off warm brass and gold finishes. Photo by Douglas Friedman.