17th-Century Seville Palace (Interiors By Europe's "It" Designer)
Revitalizing a historic royal residence with free reign.
By Sarah Bray and None
Before venturing into interiors, Madrid-based designer Lorenzo Castillo trained his masterful eye as an antiquarian. His treasure trove of Old World finds are housed at his eponymously-named shop conveniently located blocks away from the intrinsically-inspiring Prado art museum. It's this insatiable appreciation for antiques and art energized with a contemporary flare for color and print that has put him on the map, in just a handful of years, far beyond his native country. As one of Europe's most desirable designers, Castillo is cast to do projects everywhere from Florence to London to Rotterdam. His talent is increasingly in-demand internationally, with projects commissioned around the world from Shanghai to the Dominican Republic to New York City. Most recently he traveled south to the lively, historical city of Sevilla to tackle a grand Spanish palace with free reign.
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Media Platforms Design Team
Courtyard
The Client: My clients are very international. This is not their main house, only the house where they stay when they come to the "Semana Santa" and other parties in Seville as part of the "Feria de Abril." So they told me "do as you want"...which is a real gift.
Original 16th-century marble columns and decorative tile floors; 18th-century Apollo bust on a Neo-Gothic faux marble wood stand; 17th-century Spanish armchair upholstered in leather.
Original 16th-century marble columns and decorative tile floors; 18th-century Apollo bust on a Neo-Gothic faux marble wood stand; 17th-century Spanish armchair upholstered in leather.
2Media Platforms Design Team
The Zaguán or Entrance Hall
The Inspiration: I was inspired by Seville's golden age in the XVI century. It was a time of crossroads between the New World and the trade routes of the past.
Lorenzo Castillo in the "zaguán". The entrance hall, called "zaguán" in Spanish, is traditionally very simple, painted in stucco and emblazoned with Renaissance-period stone medallions featuring Roman Emperor busts.
Lorenzo Castillo in the "zaguán". The entrance hall, called "zaguán" in Spanish, is traditionally very simple, painted in stucco and emblazoned with Renaissance-period stone medallions featuring Roman Emperor busts.
3Media Platforms Design Team
Courtyard
The Architecture: Not only did the pre-existing architecture influence my design, but also the very important history of the city of Seville. I try to be very conservative with the tradition and powerful style of a city in my designs by bringing them to the comfortable XXI century.
Leather Victorian ball chair; Louis Phillipe Neo-Gothic stone jardiniere; Bronze wall sconces with mirrors by Lorenzo Castillo.
Leather Victorian ball chair; Louis Phillipe Neo-Gothic stone jardiniere; Bronze wall sconces with mirrors by Lorenzo Castillo.
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Kitchen
The Sources:I designed most of the upholstered furniture and lighting. Regarding the antiques, they are from all around the world but they are mostly Spanish. I find the antiques at auctions, galleries, the shops at the Rastro in Madrid and le Marché aux Pûces in Paris.
The kitchen that opens to the courtyard features white marble floors, green handmade tiles, and custom-made cabinetry painted in green and white.
The kitchen that opens to the courtyard features white marble floors, green handmade tiles, and custom-made cabinetry painted in green and white.
5Media Platforms Design Team
First Floor Gallery
The Favorite Room:The dining room because of the mix of colors and the richness of its different pieces and materials. It's a bit crazy, but it works!
Rubens 17th century tapestry; Sofa and chairs upholstered in Gastón y Daniela fabric for Kravet.
Rubens 17th century tapestry; Sofa and chairs upholstered in Gastón y Daniela fabric for Kravet.
6Media Platforms Design Team
First Floor Gallery
The Reward: Bringing the majesty of a palace back to life with its Renasaince influence, Andalusian patio and Roman remains.
Window panels painted in a Farrow and Ball; Louis XV armchairs in provencal fabrics.
Window panels painted in a Farrow and Ball; Louis XV armchairs in provencal fabrics.
7Media Platforms Design Team
Main Staircase
The Next Project: I have just finished The Room Mate hotels Isabella and Luca in Florence and am preparing another one in New York. Currently, I am doing private residences in Barcelona, Domenican Republic, and, what I like the most, one in the Olympic Tower in Manhattan. I'm also looking forward to my upcoming (second) fabric collection for Gaston & Daniela distributed by Kravet and designing a furniture collection. Cant wait!
Original 18th-century polychrome blue and yellow tile.
Original 18th-century polychrome blue and yellow tile.
8Media Platforms Design Team
Main Staircase
17th-century gilt Spanish mirror; Louis XVI bronze lantern; pair of bull heads; XVI-century ceiling is original to the house.
9Media Platforms Design Team
Master Bedroom
Canopy upholstered in Pierre Frey and Manuel Canovas fabric; Sofá upholstered in Etro fabric; Baguès red lacquer coffee table; Antique Spanish lantern; Venetian armhairs upholstered in Rubelli fabric.
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Master Bedroom Entrance
Venetian armhairs upholstered in Rubelli fabric; Jansen lacquered secretaire; Castillo wall sconces.
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Master Bedroom
Louis XVI commode as night table; Chinese porcelain table lamp with silk shade; Spanish 17th-century mirror; antique doors hide cupboards.
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Master Bathroom
Red Alicante marble; Brass doors, mirror, sconces.
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Drawing Room
Sofá by Lorenzo Castillo upholstered in various fabrics by Etro, and Pierre Frey; Swedish leather 19th-century screen; Spanish coffee table from the 1960s.
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Drawing Room
Cabinet from Northern Spain; Collection of chinese ceramics; Table by Jean Michel Frank; Velvet and floral print "meridiene" used as a coffee table; Roman prints from 16th-century with mahogany frames.
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Drawing Room
Pair of Spanish 17th-century mirrors; Spanish 17th-century armchair on left; Modern English armchair on right upholstered in Jim Thomson fabric.
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The Bullfighter or "Matador" Bedroom
This very traditional Spanish room features a wood ceiling and patterned floor designed with two types of marbles. Bed upholstered in cut velvet by Colony; Sofá upholstered in Loro Piana cashmere; Two paintings by Castillo's brother painter Santiago Castillo.
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The "Matador" Bathroom
Natural Wood ceiling, marble floor, wall sconces and basins by Lorenzo Castillo; Spanish mirrors by Carlos IV; Stools upholstered in Lorenzo Castillo for Gaston & Daniela.
18Media Platforms Design Team
Guest Bedroom
Canopy bed upholstered in Gastón y Daniela fabric; 19th-century Colonial Spanish armchairs; Walls upholstered in a camel velvet from Lorenzo Castillo for Gaston & Daniela.
19Media Platforms Design Team
Guest Room
18th-century Spanish polychrome table; Chinese ceramics; Lacquer table lamp; Antique romantic engravings.
20Media Platforms Design Team
Guest Bathroom
Black marble sink basin; Sterling silver and ebony 17th-century Spanish mirror; Terracotta floor.
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