Sandra Bullock, architecture enthusiast
If Sandra Bullock wasn’t an actress, she would be an architect. It’s a career that once crossed the mind of the Oscar-winning actress and well-established Hollywood star. “As I no longer thought I could be an actress after a certain age, I invested every penny of my fees in real estate”, remembers the one who pursued her parallel passion for design away from the spotlight, bringing properties back to life. “Each place is different and has its own history and memories. »
His project ” Most important “, as she describes it, is a 19th century Manhattan housee century, a property that required “Major renovations and lots of love”. Seduced by its garden, its original fireplaces and its airy living room, Sandra Bullock acquired the house more than 20 years ago. At the time, she recalls, her life was going through many changes. “By undertaking the restoration of this house, I was also trying to find my bearings in adulthood. »
A renovation focused on know-how
For this makeover, as with all of her on-screen performances, the actress has focused on the details, revealing her spirit, strength and aura as she goes. Here the details included the missing pieces of ceiling medallions that had to be carved by hand, as well as the 19th century fireplaces.e century that have been carefully recreated. A fireplace that had been removed by a previous owner was even discovered at a neighbor of the actress. Behind every piece of Placoplâtre was nestled “a story of the old world”, according to the owner.
To write this new chapter, Sandra Bullock called on a team of expert craftsmen capable of picking up the pieces. “This know-how was once passed on from generation to generation”, she explains, adding that the specialists she brought together represented not only 15 nationalities, but also a world of virtuosity. “I didn’t go to Fine Arts but I can enter a place and recognize what the space is best suited to. I just have to find the artists capable of executing what I have in mind. »
More recently, Sandra Bullock brought her vision to life with the help of AD100 duo Ariel Ashe and Ashe Leandro’s Reinaldo Leandro, who were introduced to her through her friend Amanda Anka and whose work she had long admired. . Working remotely due to the pandemic, what initially started with a kitchen remodel soon turned into a total room reorganization. Wooden floors have been sanded to reveal the grain, fireplaces have been polished and walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s SuperWhite shade. “Everything shone with a thousand lights”, recalls Ariel Ashe, who added Noguchi pendant lights to all the rooms to diffuse their inimitable light. To complement Sandra Bullock’s collection of antiques, the architects added bespoke pieces, like the comfy sofas set up by the fireplace in the living room. Not far away, an old Flemish tapestry extends over a large wall. In the kitchen, stainless steel Bulthaup cabinets inspired by the house of Jasper Conran have been installed. There are also pieces from the early work of Rose Tarlow. The goal, notes Ariel Ashe, was that the interiors “give off a certain depth but without seeming cluttered”.
As part of their remote collaboration, the architects often had to try to fit pieces into the space, emailing or texting photos of the result to the actress. “It was all new for me, because I had always been there for the projects,” says Sandra Bullock. She adds : “I had to give up some control, which is not my forte.” The three have never met in person. “Ariel and Reinaldo are very, very patient, indicates the owner, “but I very quickly understood that they knew how to respect the integrity of a space. »
Sandra Bullock, who spent much of her childhood between Germany and Austria, attributes her love of design to her father, who bought and restored houses as singing studios where he taught opera. “I was his sidekick and loved being in old houses,” she said, remembering wandering over old floors, exploring dusty attics and scavenging for architectural artifacts. “Growing up, I didn’t know how to put on makeup properly, but I knew where to put the wax ring when installing the toilet. » For her, the process of renovating a house is not unlike that of making a film. “In both cases, everyone must work in the same direction. »
Lately, she has been passionate about design stories that we tend to ignore. “I fall in love with places that other people frown on,” says Sandra Bullock, who adds that even “Her family thinks she’s crazy. » Find the stories hidden behind the walls, write scenarios for each room: the process never runs out of steam. “Architecture was supposed to be plan B but luckily times have changed and we no longer have to stick to one area in life,” notes the actress, grateful for the opportunities offered by her profession. “I can very well have two passions at the same time. »
Article originally published on AD US.
2023-05-30 15:39:50
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