Incollect Magazine Issue 7

Incollect Magazine 43 BEGINNING AGAIN IN BEL AIR, CALIFORNIA Following a move from New York, where he was a well-established professional, to Los Angeles, where he was relatively unknown, David Netto’s decorating career was revived when he was hired to work on a historically significant property built in 1938 by architect James Dolena. The clients, who as Netto wrote, “could hire anyone,” had an art collection that included works by Cézanne, Picasso, and Lucian Freud; and he further notes, wryly, that “art was not a problem on this project.” A vintage Venetian Murano glass mirror floats on the mirrored fireplace wall, multiplying the light and revealing reflections of a painting by Philip Guston. The pair of 1930s hammered copper sconces are by French dinanderie (metalwork) artist Paul-Louis Mergier. Mixing styles of architectural elements requires an artist’s eye for scale, strong convictions and a dose of courage. Here, a muscular post modern style mantel counterpoints classical moldings, and the decoration freely references the art deco period during which the house was built. Photo by Roger Davies