which includes a blue mirrored bookshelf, to a fish tank. ‘A lot of my references
come from my childhood, and I remember as a kid there were always aquariums
in dentists’ offices,’ Doug says. ‘I was fascinated looking at those little worlds.’
The apartment’s most striking feature is, without question, the candy pink
sculptural partition that divides the living area. Christened ‘Deep Space’, it
takes its inspiration from sci-fi movies and topographical maps, and features
a series of portholes and antennae sticking out from it. Made from wood, metal,
epoxy and painted plaster, it took Doug four months to construct, and its eclectic
aesthetic is echoed in many of the home’s walls.
Glazed ceramic panels influenced by Brutalist architecture and the works
of Louise Nevelson feature throughout, while back-painted glass cladding
decorated with micro organism-like motifs greets visitors as they enter the
home. In the living area, one wall is adorned with an expanse of mirrored
Plexiglas, a material for which Doug has a particular predilection. ‘When light
hits it, it warps reflections and just creates this bizarre quality,’ he says. On top
of it, a 17th century portrait of a woman takes pride of place, reflecting Doug’s
love of layering art over mirrors. ‘It adds so much depth to a space,’ he says.
This bold explosion of colour and texture is balanced out by a few quieter
moments, and several walls are finished in a simple red-oak veneer – a nodTHIS PAGE, FROM TOP
The library doubles up as
a guestroom, complete
with a handwoven
blanket bedspread and
embroidered cushions
from Morocco. Doug’s
Deep Space partition
separates the space from
the rest of the living area,
while an Ara table light by
Philippe Starck for Flos
(flos.com) introduces
a chrome element to the
predominantly blue and
green scheme; four pink
images from Doug’s BOD
collection are displayed
to the right of the kitchen,
providing a contemporary
counterpoint to the 17th
century portrait of a
woman in the living area.