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Canyon Road by Violante & Rochford
The Canyon Road project by Santa Fe
designer Violante & Rochford, is in an
especially historic, exclusive neighborhood
in Santa Fe. The house is a new build, and
Violante & Rochford were brought in
during the building to suggest finishes,
color palette, materials and more that
would be part of their overall décor plan.
This is a second home (but their first ever
in Santa Fe) for a very high-profile couple
from Texas, who have two children and
a great, big dog! The couple wanted the
house to be stylish, chic and sophisticated
without being too formal or fussy. Every
piece in the house is comfortable and
durable, yet still elegant, like the mohair
sofas in the living room, where the kids
might be playing and the dog is asleep on
the sofa taking a nap.
The aesthetic is meant to be very clean,
no clutter, sleek lines, and space to
roam around in. There are a few major
English pieces, like the chandelier in the
dining room, a nod to the husband, who
is originally from England. In general,
the décor is a mix of periods, styles
and locales, which is the Violante &
Rochford signature. And worked into
that, treasures from the family that
make the home distinctly theirs. An 18th
Century chest co-exists harmoniously
with more modern pieces. The art is a
mix of the whimsical and two works by
major abstract expressionist, Emily Mason
(from Greenwich Village in NYC), and the
painting above the fireplace by Forest
Moses, an important New Mexico artist.
The only rule that Violante & Rochford
were given: both of the daughters’
bedrooms had to be identical—furniture,
rugs, window treatments, but that each
daughter could choose “her” colors, and
that would be the individual spin on each
room. A great way to keep sisters from
bickering with each other about whose
room is better!
The provenance of the décor is
international, yet there are a lot of
distinctly New Mexican pieces and
architecture that reflect the history of
where the house is situated.
The result is a very low-maintenance,
joyful second home that the family uses a
lot and enjoys enormously.
Color is an important factor here, sofas in
the living room are purple, there is a hot
pink lamp in the dining room—pieces and
other colorful, playful accessories that
make the house fun!
All of the diverse fabrics used in the house
are contemporary, and came from all over
the world.
www.vrinteriors.com