MODERN LINES, ENGLISH HEART
A Beverly Crest villa proves that Modernist geometry and timeworn charm can coexist— with grace, wit, and a lived-in polish.
by Abigail Stone photo by Rich Stapleton styled by Lisa Rowe
ORGEOUS, BUT BROODING — that was designer Sebastian Zuchowicki’s first read of the Mediterranean villa newly acquired by social figure Gabrielle Rose Ressler and her husband. With nearly every surface leaning formal and weighty, the 4,000-square-foot home felt a world away from the lightness of a young couple anticipating their first child. Arched openings, ornate railings, and dark stone floors cast a theatrical mood that bordered on somber. But Zuchowicki, who is equal parts aesthete and structural problem-solver, immediately saw potential in the bones. “Everything was in the right place,” he G
recalls, “but it was dark.” What followed was a meticulous transformation in tone—shadow to softness, moodiness to quiet glow. The designer’s first act was to lift the atmosphere entirely. Floors were sanded and lightened to introduce a coastal luminosity, window frames were washed in cream, and walls took on a pale plaster sheen that catches daylight with gentle restraint. These subtle moves created an architectural exhale, softening the home’s earlier gravitas without stripping away its European dignity. Carved, heavy fireplaces gave way to sculptural Modernist forms— pieces that didn’t demand attention
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EC Magazines | Busan Edition 2025
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