Kevin Peavy. photography by Danny Piassick

French Empire The formal French interior of Kevin Peavy’s Turtle Creek high-rise is a regal study in elegance and symmetry.

styled by Janet Rosell From D Home NOV-DEC 2002

A 1950s modern Turtle Creek high-rise might be the last place you’d expect to find a formal French interior, but the dcor of Kevin Peavy’s home of six years seems a natural fit. Older apartments have larger rooms with better flow and more wall space, Kevin says. Newer apartments have warrens of little rooms, which are not conducive to entertaining. And wall space is certainly important to me as a collector. Kevin, who is a partner in Joseph Minton Antiques and president of the Slocum Street Antique Dealers Association, says he’s more of an addict than a collector. I’m addicted to furniture and objects, he says. I’ve always felt that inanimate objects have their own soul, and I’m fascinated by who made it, who owned it, and what was going on in the world at the time. Furniture has attitude, and that intrigues me. I’m lucky enough to have been exposed to art and antiques as a child and to have had three great friends and mentors Sigmund Mandell, George Pelletier, and Joe Minton who trained my eye and gave me the opportunity to work in an area I love. Kevin’s particular passion is French antiques, especially Napoleonic pieces and the furniture of Louis XIV and his successors. But he’s quick to point out that these are not period rooms: The majority of the pieces are French Empire, he says, but mixing in other styles and time periods makes the rooms more interesting. For instance, I love pairing Empire pieces with the masculine lines of English Regency furniture. Kevin adds interest to his home by peppering the dcor with Asian, Italian, Russian, and English pieces everything from small accessories, such as Chinese porcelains, to large, dramatic pieces of furniture, such as the English collector’s cabinet in the living room.

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02Two English giltwood griffins guard the English Regency rosewood collector's cabinet in the living room. The bronze Louis XVI clock, which is only one piece in Kevin's impressive clock collection, depicts Diana, the huntress. Kevin was drrawn to the dogs in the 19th-century hunting scene he purchased on Slocum Street. The lamps are antique

photography by Danny Piassick oil lamps that Kevin had wired for electricity.

Balance and symmetry are the hallmarks of Kevin’s dcor. French classicism lends itself to symmetry, he says. Pairing things makes them seem more important and gives you more opportunities to note their lines and design. It also creates a more formal atmosphere. Kevin’s color and fabric choices lend an air of formal elegance, as well. Silk and linen velvets grace many pieces of his fine furniture, and the walls are painted in deep jewel tones, such as the living room’s Imperial aubergine and the bedroom’s custom mix of cranapple and vintage claret. Inspiration for the paint colors came during a tour of historic European homes in the late 80s. The walls were all ivory until that trip to Europe, Kevin remembers. People generally think adding such deep colors to the wall will close in the space, but the apartment actually seemed smaller with ivory walls. Now it’s warm and intimate. The colors are attractive during the day, but they are especially rich at night, and, of course, that’s really when people spend the most time in their homes. An added bonus of the deep and dramatic wall colors is the way they highlight the art on display throughout the home: Gold frames against deep wall colors will make your art pop, Kevin says. Though one might be tempted to think his home is perfect and complete, Kevin still has a few projects on his to do list "and who else would he turn to but his business partner and friend, distinguished local designer Joseph Minton. Joe and I have a few plans, he says. We’ve talked about laying a limestone floor on the terrace and adding a banquette for enjoying the view. We’re investigating the possibility of raising the ceilings by borrowing from the crawl space above the apartment. We want to add architectural details paneling and molding. And we’ve found a beautiful marble mantle to mount on the mirrored wall in the living room. The mantle it’s French, of course.

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02Kevin's high-rise apartment houses a number of significant collections. "I do love big pieces, but I'm also drawn photography by to smaller collectibles-because of their detail," Kevin says, pointing out this Napoleonic snuffbox.

Danny Piassick

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02A custom mix of Pratt & Lambert's cranapple and claret paints yields the bedroom's dramatic wall color. The Napoleon III giltwood bed is a new acquisition; Kevin found it in a Paris flea market. The original floral tapestry upholstery on the headboard was byond repair, so Kevin's business partner, designer Joseph Minton, suggested reupholstering the headboard in leather. Joe also suggested the linen velvet bedspread. A pair of French Empire chests

photography by Danny Piassick flake the bed. An English Regency telescoping side table holds favorite books.

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02Kevin sets his holiday table with Hawkes crystal, Tiffany flatware, antique Rosenthal service plates, and Royal Crown Derby "Golden Aves" china. He cleverly adapted these jewel-toned ornaments to serve as place card holders. photography by Danny Piassick

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02Kevin's apartment is only 1,230 square feet, but it feels open and spacious. The living room's mirrored back wall photography by Danny Piassick creates the impression of a much larger room.

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02A Louis XV black lacquer bureau plat, or desk, is the perfect display space for Kevin's collection of snuffboxes photography by Danny Piassick and mineral boxes.

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02Tucked into a far corner of the living room under a large window with a view of the city, Kevin's Louis XV-style game table can also accommodate an intimate dinner party. The hand-carved Louis XVI chairs are covered in parrot-

photography by Danny Piassick green Hermes glazed shoe leather.

Kevin Peavy's Turtle Creek High-Rise

11.02In the entry, Kevin's guests are welcomed by Louis XVI hand-carbed bergere in a Scalamandre silk velvet. The photography by small Louis XV black-lacquer table often holds a small bouquet arranged in a gilded bronze Odiot cup.

Danny Piassick