House Party

Homeowners Stephen Dunn and Beau Black.

The theme for the day—for fashion icon Beau Black, anyway—appears to be nautical. Black, who has handled inside sales at David Sutherland Showroom for the last 12 years, answers the door of his Tealwood townhouse looking shipshape in a blue and white striped shirt, white pants, Vans, and a blue bandanna around his neck. Just when you begin wondering if you, too, could pull off a bandanna (you can’t), his partner, interior designer Stephen Dunn, appears in a button-down and slacks—noticeably bandanna free—with a glass of wine and a hug for guest.

Black often rotates art in and out of rooms. In the brown-and-white living room now, “Free Values,” a charcoal by Ian Ingram commands attention over the mantel; body cast by Eben Lee Hall; crystal obelisk by Krystallos. Stephen Dunn designed the white chest.

In the pine-floored “Santa Fe” room, Dunn took the name of the neighborhood, Tealwood, literally when he chose the color. The room boasts the couple’s extensive devotional art collection, including “Madonna and Child” by Miguel Martinez, which sits on the mantel. Watching television is a pleasure on either the sofa by John Hutton or the vintage Le Corbusier chaise.

(top) A separate seating area in the living room offers an ideal view of the conservatory. Vintage Tomlinson chairs in Perennial fabric by Ann Sutherland, Rope table by John Dickenson, and Rafaella lamp by John Hutton. (bottom) Beau Black likes to spend his mornings here, either meditating or watching television. Stephen Dunn chose faux crocodile wall covering. Indonesian sculpture “Two Friends” was a gift to the couple from David and Ann Sutherland; “Androgyny” by Christina De Muse hangs above a white sofa. Clear and black acrylic table is by Pat McLaughlin Collection.

Black’s sense of fun and Dunn’s classic style come together beautifully in their recently remodeled home. Even before they bought the place in June 2007, the couple had an affinity for the house. “We tried to buy it 14 years before, but we bought Christopher Place instead.” When they sold that in April 2007, the Tealwood house was on the market again, which they took as fate. But that’s when the real work began. The residence needed a complete overhaul—it began life as a 1980s spec house built by developer Jim Williams. Black likes modern. “I’d like the house to be a place I could have surgery. I call it lobotomy modern,” Black laughs. And though Dunn is hesitant to use the word “traditional” to describe his style, he does allow that when it came to figuring out a design scheme. “We decided to meet somewhere between spare and not so spare,” he says.

It’s hard to believe that the conservatory was once filled with red brick. It’s now a travertine paradise complete with light fixture from Scott + Cooner, white pots from Design Within Reach, acrylic Ice Leg table from the Pat McLaughlin Collection, and Olympus teak chairs from Sutherland, which the couple painted white.

The work was fast and furious. The project took three months; Dunn used many of the same people that he uses professionally, which “was a gift from God,” Black says. “I’d tell Stephen what I wanted before I left for work, and when I’d come back later, it would be done.” A red brick atrium that provides light to both the living room and the master bedroom was completely transformed from its origins, “an orange little nook,” Black says. It now embodies serenity—a light-filled conservatory replete with cool travertine floors, soothing fountain, and spiritual sculpture. “We bought the angel in New Orleans,” Black says. “We were on holiday 25 years ago, and they were tearing down a church. We thought it was a lot of money—$500—and we brought it home in a VW Bug.”

Dunn is a gourmet cook, and the couple entertains frequently, so the kitchen was also a big concern. “It was originally all yellow,” Black says. “And there are no windows.” Although the previous owners had redone the kitchen in 2007, Dunn brought in new cabinets (a must since the couple has some 36 sets of dishes), and he also addressed lighting. Just off the kitchen is the elegant art-filled dining room. The couple chose turquoise grass-cloth wallpaper for three walls, mirrored the fourth, and after some back and forth, opted to keep the grand chandelier. “[The chandelier] calms Beau down,” Dunn laughs. And don’t talk to Black about the get-rid-of-the-formal-dining-room trend. They use this room, and specifically their Pace dining room table—even when it’s just the two of them.

Black and Dunn travel to Santa Fe often and decided to bring a little New Mexico to Devonshire. “It’s my favorite place in all the world,” Black says. “Except Carmel. And Provence. And Tuscany.” The first thing you notice about the den: the color. It’s turquoise. “I went crazy with the color,” Dunn admits. “Our houses have always been neutral.” And although the entire house is filled with art, this is the room to check out for their “devotional art” collection. “That’s what they call it in Santa Fe,” Dunn explains. “I guess it’s more PC than ‘religious art.’ We’re really attracted to it.”

THIS PAGE: (left) The dining room is home to an antique bust of Homer and intaglios by Dessin Fournir set against turquoise grass-cloth wallpaper by Pettigrew Associates. (right) Also in the dining room, a lamp by Kartell sits atop an acrylic tea cart by Pat McLaughlin Collection. The painting is by Mienga Ann.

Guests are greeted with art—and plenty of light—when they enter the house. Raphael lithographs are by Beaux Art; nest sculpture is from Forty Five Ten; the silver and turquoise tray is by Emilio Castellos.

No detail was too slight for Dunn’s attention. “I’m really proud of him,” Black says quietly. Dunn designed the cabinets in the living room and the chandelier in the entry, and as with the kitchen, the lighting in the rest of the house had to be dealt with. He even struggled with the decision to paint the living room white. “I don’t know if I’ve ever told a client to paint her house white,” he laughs. And then there’s the laundry room, with its whimsical black and white curlicued walls. “All of our friends want to do their laundry here,” Black says.

In fact, there are only a few reminders of the house’s origins, one being the parquet floors in the entry and living room. For the other, you’ll have to schedule a trip to all four bathrooms, where, all told, there is roughly $250,000 worth of tiger’s-eye, amethyst, and rose quartz fixtures. They have to be seen to be believed—especially when you consider that the builder also used relatively inexpensive poured marble vanities. “Lavender poured marble,” Dunn muses about the upstairs bathroom vanity paired with amethyst fixtures. “But people say, ‘If you change it, you’re nuts.’”

Once a spec house, the home has its original (expensive) amethyst fixtures by Sherle Wagner in the bathrooms.

The dramatic transformation has resulted in a house that has a great flow, and though modern and filled with wonderful art, guests always feel at ease. “That’s a principal in all design,” Dunn says. “No matter if it’s French, English, formal—it has got to be comfortable.” That sentiment pertains to their parties, too, which might explain why the invites are met with such delight. As one friend explains, “When they have a party, it’s an experience. There’s a theme. Beau sets the table; Stephen cooks. And the theme extends to the music, the attire. It’s a fantasy evening.” If you’re lucky enough to get an invite, you might want to stock up on bandannas. Just in case.

All of Stephen Dunn and Beau Black’s girlfriends vie to stay in the guest room, affectionately called the Tiffany Box. The couple has had the vintage Ello mirrored chests for years.

Beau Black and Stephen Dunn find refuge in their master bedroom. The bed is from Pace Collection and was a gift from Vera Herkimer. “Greek Gods” painting by Art Evans.