ARTISTIC INHERITANCE
A collection of art by the owner’s grandfather gives this LA home unique charm
For Sheila Bouttier, inheriting a large collection of artwork was a blessing that prompted not only a new home but also her business, Galerie Provenance. As the only grandchild of the late acclaimed American artist Benjamin Abramowitz, Sheila and her husband Brett are the custodians of many of his works and decided that, as well as needing more room for their two growing children, they wanted a spacious new home to display the artwork. The collection, spanning 70 years, is managed by Sheila and her mother, Susan Rosenbaum. ‘As the catalogue is so vast and varied it became my mission to find a way to display it,’ Sheila says.
Keen to keep the children in the same school, the couple didn’t move far from their previous 1930s
Los Angeles abode. ‘It had always been Brett’s dream to build his own home, so we began searching for a plot of land. We found one at the bottom of a cul-de-sac that was tucked away, had plenty of great spaces for the garden, yet was close to the things we needed,’ says Sheila.
The book California Homes by Studio William Hefner turned out to be the key to unlocking the couple’s architectural goals. ‘I bought it for Brett’s birthday because we loved the homes in it. When we realised they were all the work of one architect we knew he would be the ideal candidate.’ With William Hefner commissioned, Brett threw himself into achieving his vision, deliberating over the finest details. ‘Brett had previously considered architecture as a career choice so he pored over the plans. He had a strong vision for many of the design elements in the house, for example he knew he wanted to open the front door and see straight through to an outdoor fireplace,’ Sheila explains.
Her own journey and that of the interior, was a revelation that would change the course of her life. ‘I’d been working in TV for more than 20 years, but as I became more involved in finding objects and furniture for the house, I realised it could be a new career avenue.’ Inspired by Ellen Degeneres’ Home book, Sheila took a thoughtful, curated approach to furnishing the new property. ‘I love the way Ellen’s home contains mid-century French antiques and artefacts, as well as primitive pieces to create this really interesting look with a lot of texture and patina. I discovered some amazing European designers and met people who taught me about design and antiques. I founded Galerie Provenance to help source furniture and artefacts for designers and private collectors, working by appointment.’
Her home has become the ‘shop window’ for her business. Opting for mostly crisp, white walls, her own collection of art, curios and design classic pieces punctuate the bright and spacious rooms. Towards the back of the house, in a departure from the main living spaces, the more formal office and dining room take on a darker, moody character that is offset by the huge steel-framed windows.
Eager that her children were able to live carefree in the house, Sheila also planned for plenty of resilient, high-traffic spaces. ‘I wanted it to be liveable, so while there are a few chairs that are design classics and beautiful to look at, there are also plenty of comfy upholstered seats, which strike a balance. I chose the 1930s pine kitchen chairs by Swedish designer Axel Einar Hjorth because I knew they’d be easy to clean when my son spills maple syrup on them,’ she laughs. In a remarkable marriage between high culture and welcoming comfort, Sheila and Brett have created the perfect home for both family and art.