Situated in the 1928 Romanesque Villa on Harper and Fountain, and designed by the Sunset Tower Hotel’s architect Leland Bryant, this apartment is where designer Davide Casaroli lives with his husband Shawn and their two-year-old twins Atena and Diana. When he first visited this historic building, he was immediately intrigued by its style – a combination of Spanish Revival and Churrigueresque – and its atmosphere.
The interiors, distinguished by the arched entryway and high wood-beamed ceilings, were surrounded by an aura of mystery and character. He wasn’t surprised to discover that Romanesque Villa has been home to two legends of Old Hollywood – the transgressive Diva Marlene Dietrich and the unsurpassed Marilyn Monroe. Who else could have left such an impalpable mark of enduring mystique on this place? It was the perfect match; like in designer’s personal life, European sensibility meets American glamour. One year after they had moved in, Diana and Atena were born. He couldn’t be happier to raise them in a home with almost one century of history behind, suiting hiw passion for art, antiques, and cinema.
To best represent Davide’s taste and lifestyle, he re-named it; Villa Almodóvar. They are an international, contemporary family, in which his Italian background, his American husband, and their Mexican nanny create a colorful multi-cultural universe that recalls the acclaimed Spanish director’s.
Photography : Michael Wells
