Customer Reviews

Axel Vervoordt: Timeless Interiors

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Along with many other antique collectors, we first discovered Axel Vervoordt of Antwerp at the 1984 Paris Biennale des Antiquaires where he created a sensation with his display of Ming porcelain that had recently been recovered from a ship lost in 1645 in the South China Sea. His huge display of table after table of the blue and white Ming in a large booth at the center of the Grand Palais was the immediate focus of attention for everyone as they entered the fair.

We were fortunate enough to have bought a few pieces, very reasonably priced in part because of the extraordinary number of pieces recovered (surprisingly well preserved by being packed in rice hulls which presumably cushioned their fall and with grains of sand from firing still stuck to the bottom rims of most pieces) but also because centuries in salt water had given the pieces an unusual semi-matte finish. The larger pieces were sold almost immediately, in huge numbers, and the talk around the fair was that the buyers were several Saudi princesses seen hitting the booth at the opening and going over the material at length.

Vervoordt, relatively young (37) at the time, had already been avidly collecting antiques for over twenty years, focusing principally on European pieces from the Renaissance to the present, but also including ancient arts from Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The 1984 Salon launched him into a greater orbit and allowed him to acquire a huge castle in the Belgian countryside which he very tastefully restored over the next four years, using it both as a home and as a shop, albeit one covering acres and acres. More recently, he has refurbished a huge industrial complex on a canal in Antwerp, the Kanaal, to provide a series of shops, work rooms and storage, both indoors and out, for the thousands of pieces in his inventory and to create a large decorating practice.

This new book, by Armelle Baron and published by Flammarion, shows the interiors Vervoordt has created for connoisseurs who share his sophisticated, eclectic interest in beautiful objects (and possess large pocketbooks). The 250-plus pages are full of large format, color photographs showing some twenty homes around the world, where Vervoordt has beautifully incorporated a collection of Basquiat paintings with country furniture; furnished magnificent chateaux for the Queen of Belgium and for the merely wealthy; decorated a Dallas home with sophistication we doubt Texas has ever seen before. All appear very comfortable. Some of the homes featured are not at all grand but are every bit as tastefully done: a Swiss chalet, a Provencal farmhouse, a Palladian-style home on a Florida waterway.

The present book comes six years after "Axel Vervoordt: The Story of a Style", 2001, published by Assouline, which provides a magnificent introduction to his aesthetic as well as his collection, his castle and his extraordinary skill at mixing styles and periods. This is a taste which flawlessly displays a huge Anish Kapoor sculpture (maybe fifteen years old at the most) next to ancient Thai carvings, Renaissance bronzes and wonderful European furniture, all in a gorgeous stone interior.

The current book would be a wonderful gift for anyone interested in interior design or antiques. My only quibble would be the interior photography; some of the many photos do not show sufficient detail across all of the image. The 2001 book from Assouline would be the better choice if you were principally interested in antiques (and has better photography, on a par with the Givenchy monograph of a few years ago). Vervoordt has a different aesthetic than Bunny Williams or John Fowler; think Rose Tarlow working with a very sophisticated European client in the French countryside or a Greek isle instead of Beverly Hills.

A beautiful book with perfect interiors atmospherically lit and framed. The soft half-light does leave me trying to decipher the detail a lot of the time, but I suppose that is not the purpose of these pictures. The interiors are wonderful - sparse, minimal and perfect, with the texture of old wood and stone blending together like a gentle whisper of the passage of time. Truly gorgeous, and a visual delight.
One of the great pleasures of interior design books is the chance to see private collections in their native settings, and my only regret about this volume is that all the houses are either full of "Axel objects" rather than individually chosen works of art reflecting the taste of the owners (with one sparkling exception full of modern paintings and classical antiquities), or pieces cannot be seen because of the lighting. A small enough sacrifice.

Vervoordt's peaceful environments invade space with mood. The resulting grandeur of such tranquil beauty and gentle sophistication is most admirable and thoroughly revealed in this beautifully accessorized volume. Leafing through this book will calm your design sensitivities, as period inpressions drift from page to page. The dramatic and dimly lit photos featured here capture the essence of time. The historical significance of such a talented artist can not be denied, as Vervoordt's careful selection and discerning eye for arranging will be learned from for years to come. There is an art to assemblage, and this designer definitely defines it!

As a professional in the interior decorating field, I chose this book along with another,Your Home A Living Canvas: Create Stunning Faux Finishes & Murals with Paint, by Curtis Heuser, and was pleasantly surprised by each. As I work mainly with customers who wish to develop time worn feeling and comfortable living spaces, both of these books proved wonderful additions for helping with that thought process. "YOUR HOME..." follows the creative rebirth of the author's/decorative artist's historic 1890's home, with hundreds of beautiful full color before/after and during renovation illustrations, accompanied with full spread finished room concepts. I would love to see the two of these talents in collaboration - as both artist have a keen sense of using color, texture and light to bring a space to life. Though these books are so different in energy level (Heuser uses dramatic color and unique murals and specialty paint finishes to stage the scene), both offer immense inspiration for helping one to envision and recreate "timeless interiors"!

The text may not be what some are looking for, as it is not a "how to" per se, but the superb photos of a the work of a rare talent speak for themselves. For those who draw inspiration from visuals, this book is for you. The subject residences and projects may often be stratospheric in provenance, but the ideas and concepts illustrated are easily adapted to any budget. This is not a book of luxury residences per se, but a book which visually delineates the design philosphy of a man and his team who have broken away from hackneyed design to give the world a fresh view of what elegance, comfort and atmosphere can be; indeed, as the title states, "timeless". Even if the book sits on a table, it will always be appreciated by the casual glance through, as well as the more careful study of the projects and ideas presented therein.

This is a book to enjoy its photos, to enjoy what it says about the photos, about the houses, and to enjoy it all over and over again. The simplicity, the raw, the antiques, the contemporary, all find amazing fit! It shows Mr. Vervoordt as a genius in his expertise. Armelle Baron descriptions and Christian Sarramon's photos make a perfect match. The title "Timeless Interiors" says it all.

Others have described the content. Just wanted to add that I have found this book to be surprisingly helpful in planning a kitchen restoration (in an old house) of all things. Although there are no particulars given on were to source materials, the photos provide several examples of older kitchens done with beautiful wood and old tile. If you're planning a kitchen today you see all the same conventions in the shelter mags. When does one ever see really old wood or checkerboard floors? This book was a revelation and prompted me to consider options I would never have thought about if I had just looked at the kitchen mags.

This is classic beauty. Quiet, vast interiors filled, not with too much gilt and chintz, but a few pieces of wonderful antiques. The best thing about this book is that the rooms never looked decorated. Everything looks as though it grew in place.

Personally, I fell in love with the ocean view and eternity pool on page 79. Amazingly, even the eternity pool doesn't seem too brash and new.

Wonderful designs.

I was happy to discover that Timeless Interiors is as interesting and inviting as I had heard. I keep returning to it even though I have read it repeatedly. Each time, I discover some new concept. I love this book!

I love his mix of old, new, light and dark. I feel very connected to the earth and living in beauty that is not overdone. I myself, don't like a lot of little stuff you have to tend to, or too much clutter, and I find his work a perfect balance. Of course what designer wouldn't want to work with the 'bones' he gets to start with!

If you are a fan of Mr Verfoordt's restrained timeless chic, this book is for you. Full of beautiful photographs of the timeless interiors the book was named after, this is a lovely edition that will provide endless inspiration.