Photography by Carmen Troesser
“Come look at this leather,” says interior designer David Kent Richardson. He’s admiring an Italian Renaissance chair adorned with a lion’s head, and claws carved into its arms and feet. The piece is just one of many styles represented in his newly designed den, part of a larger renovation project that began more than six months ago at his Dogtown bungalow. The 1,200-square-foot house is home to all the things Richardson loves. “I’m a constant buyer,” he says. But despite the eclectic collection of artwork, books, furnishings, and sculpture, the room is first and foremost meant to be lived in. “I don’t believe in rooms that you can’t go into, that are intimidating and uncomfortable.” The space will be used for entertaining, watching TV, reading—“just whatever!” exclaims Richardson. A steel wallpaper hanger’s table, coupled with Charles Pollock chairs, is an inviting spot in which to share a meal with friends. For low-key evenings, a Windsor chair and comfy sofa with a Turkish ottoman make ideal places to curl up with a book. “I don’t read fiction,” says the designer, who prefers biographies. “The world provides enough of that.” When a dose of beauty is needed, a glance around the room will satisfy. There are Victorian pieces, marbleized pottery, and artwork by Ernest Trova. A designer’s perfect refuge.
