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An infinity edge pool is the centrepiece of the large outdoor entertaining area

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MEDITERRANEAN dreamingBehind this grand

facade is a modern home designed for entertaining

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WORDS LUISA VOLPATOPHOTOGRAPHY JOHN GRANEN

A long walkway through a formal landscaped garden with perfectly rounded hedges on either side brings you to the entrance of this sprawling

two-storey home. With its stone exterior, clay-tiled roof and Juliet balcony above the decorative front door, you would think you were somewhere in the Mediterranean, about to enter the palazzo of a wealthy Italian.

In reality, this is a brand new home in Dallas, Texas, US. However, the fabulous old mansions you see in Europe provided a lot of the inspiration for the design, says interior V

designer Sofia Joelsson. “It’s a modern take on a Mediterranean inspired home with soothing and sophisticated clean lines and luxury textures, finishes and materials,” she says.

The Swedish native heads up SoJo Design based in Miami, an interior design firm that specialises in high-end residential new builds and renovations. Its work stretches from New York to Los Angeles to St Tropez.

This particular project is what you’d call a dream job. “The client spared no expense in building a home that has been completely custom-designed, from the small details to the materials used and furniture and items hand selected from all over the world,” says Sofia.

“The brief was all about creating luxurious open spaces made for entertaining, furnished in

warm, muted colours and rich materials” — Sofia Joelsson

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“The brief was all about creating luxurious open spaces made for entertaining, furnished in warm, muted colours and rich materials,” explains Sofia. The sense of luxury and opulent materials is obvious upon first glance of the family room, which is accessed via the home’s large double entry doors and features exposed timber ceiling beams. The space has warmth, with soft tones of beige and mocha throughout and with cream walls and hand-scraped walnut timber floors. The large sofas

The dining room is comfortable yet formal, with wingback chairs and elegant silver chandeliers setting the scene for opulent dining

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are by French designer Christian Liaigre, while an oversized leather tufted ottoman serves as a coffee table, sitting on a custom wool-and-silk blend rug.

The dining room next door, with its large wingback-style chairs around a solid timber table, exudes a more formal, yet still very comfortable feel. After dinner, guests can adjourn to the bar and wine room or to the home theatre, which is complete with tiered seating and reclining chairs. V

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Up a sweeping staircase, past an Andy Warhol print hung above a zebra leather bench, are the estate’s bedrooms and bathrooms. The same soothing and timeless colour scheme continues in the two main bedrooms with layers of fabric and texture used for the upholstered bedheads, bed linen and curtains.

The master bedroom opens up to the columned courtyard terrace, which overlooks the outdoor entertaining area and swimming pool. This part of the home is what you might

call the pièce de résistance. “I think the outdoor oasis created for this client is one of a kind when it comes to residential homes,” says Sofia.

“The large grounds include what I believe is the first residential waterfall screen installed with a movie projector. There’s also a sunken fire pit and seating area, dining space with outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven, plus super comfortable south beach beds that surround the huge infinity edge pool.

The same soothing and timeless colour scheme continues in the two main bedrooms with layers of fabric and texture

The bedroom is sumptuous in muted

tones and richly layered textured fabrics

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IN SHORT The client’s brief to interior designer Sofia Joelsson was for a home with open spaces designed for entertaining Beyond the older-style grand stone facade and formal front garden is a comfortable and luxurious home with all the mod cons Luxury finishes include limestone, travertine and hand-scraped walnut floors Many furniture and accessory items were custom-made and sourced from around the world The home is filled with the client’s favourite pieces of art There’s a home theatre with tiered seating that comfortably seats eight

“Inside and out, it’s a home that’s all about living and entertaining. In fact, the client was so excited when it was finished that he had his favourite pizza restaurant fly its chef in to christen his outdoor pizza oven!”

MORE INFO? sojodesign.com

Specialist lighting and audio-visual consultants were brought in to kit out the theatre room

High ceilings and a rich, warm palette enhance the sense of grandness

“Inside and out, it’s a home that’s all about living and entertaining”

— SofiaJoelsson