Indiana Tones
When a 15,000-square-foot structure holds dozens of cars, a state-of-the-art home theater, a guest suite, and a cigar bar, can one still adequately call it a garage? In the case of a three-story building in Fortville, Ind., owned by 46-year-old financier Tim Durham, intended to serve not only as a shelter for his shiny phalanx of classic and contemporary automobiles, but as a luxurious setting for his many parties—as well as a private clubhouse where he might shoot a game of pool, smoke a cigar, and then recline on a queen-size bed to watch a movie—garage seems a bit of a pale misnomer. "I’m a nontraditional person, and I wanted a space with a unique feel," says Durham, who splits his time between this home and another in Beverly Hills. He worked with designer Shannon Connor and Harwood+Tabberson Architects to update his existing residence and develop a singular and elegant retreat where he can unwind with friends.
Connor created a warm, clubby feel for the space by cloaking it in an array of chocolate and obsidian hues, elegantly tactile mohair, silk, and leather for the furnishings and walls, and sculptural chrome detailing for the ceiling. This modern setting mimics the contemporary aesthetic of the main house, creating a seamless connection between the two adjoining structures. Two levels, one below ground, are reserved for the gleaming machines that make up Durham’s collection—where a 1957 Jaguar XK-140 with a red-leather interior rests comfortably next to a stately 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing—while the upper level holds the smoking lounge with its adjoining wine cellar, J. Robert Scott mohair armchairs, and blown-glass pendant lights by Alison Berger. Nearby are a circular bar with custom poker and billiards tables by Hensley and Mitchell (respectively), a catering kitchen that can accommodate the hundreds of guests who attend the various fund-raisers and raucous parties that are Durham’s specialty, and a sunken home theater that boasts what Connor refers to as a "mack daddy" Kaleidescape sound system, complete with Klipsch speakers situated throughout (including several hidden within the room’s structural columns) and a $100,000 Runco projector that wirelessly transmits high-definition images onto one of the room’s five screens.
As impressive as the various elements are, the garage’s pièce de résistance is, of course, the car collection. Durham’s first purchase was a 1929 Packard, which helped spawn a longstanding addiction. Among his prized pieces are a 2008 Bugatti Veyron, a 1987 Fiat Bertone, and a 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. "I have loved cars since I played with Matchbox antique replicas as a kid," Durham says. "I have always been fascinated with cars as pieces of art. I think of them as rolling sculptures."
Shannon Connor Design, 317.252.5594, www.shannonconnordesign.com
Harwood+Tabberson Architects, 765.289.7889
SOURCES
Kaleidescape sound system, 650.625.6150, www.kaleidescape.com
Klipsch speakers, 800.554.7724, www.klipsch.com
Runco projector, 800.237.8626, www.runco.com
Hensley poker table, 619.749.1953, www.hensleygametables.com
Alison Berger pendant lights, 323.650.5212, www.alisonbergerglassworks.com
London Underground
In the Kenwood neighborhood of North London, on a leafy cul-de-sac, is a nearly 16,000-square-foot French limestone–clad edifice simply called the Mansion, currently listed for $47.3 million. One of the home’s most jaw-dropping features is a six-car garage with an immense remote-controlled turntable that renders the pesky reverse gear entirely obsolete. This attribute, especially in space-starved London, is a marvel. As Anil Varma—a cofounder of Harrison Varma, the luxury design and build company that built the Mansion—notes, "Parking is always a difficult issue."
A heated granite driveway is a distinct advantage, considering the property’s sloped setting and London’s often frosty or wet weather. Inside the garage, a ceramic floor retains the residual heat while an army of sensors help drivers avoid potential scrapes and dings. A Lutron lighting system illuminates the way to an eight-person elevator that opens directly to the home’s interior.
Another important element is security. Harrison Varma installed a BPT video entry system rigged with Nova video monitors, which log and record all visitor comings and goings in a central system. In addition, residents can remotely access closed-circuit camera footage. "Protective measures are definitely one of the top things we focus on," explains Varma. "Creating a safe home has become an integral part of our building structure."
Harrison Varma, +44.20.8883.6600, www.harrisonvarma.co.uk
SOURCES
BPT video entry system, +44.1442.230.800, www.bpt.co.uk
Lutron lighting system, 888.588.7661, www.lutron.com
Museum Quality
Brett Torino was leafing through an issue of The Robb Report Collection when his eyes fell on a spectacular hand-blown glass chandelier designed by Washington-based glass artist Robert Kaindl. Suddenly, Torino—both an entrepreneur with a penchant for classic American automobiles and a philanthropist with a foundation serving special-needs children at no cost (the Torino Foundation, www.torinofoundation.org)—knew he had found the man to create what would become the heart of his 30,000-square-foot car museum and foundation headquarters.
"We designed a magnificent building," says Torino, who houses his many candy-colored convertible Hemi ’Cudas (as well as vintage pedal cars and antique carousels) inside this hidden outpost. With its Byzantine-era tile floor, ceiling made from wood reclaimed from a mosque, and 20-foot-long conference table made from a single piece of lapis lazuli, Torino’s office is truly a staggering showplace.
Kaindl’s chandelier, constructed of what he calls "taillight red" spires of glass hand-wired onsite to a custom steel armature ("I couldn’t feel my fingers for days," he says), is a fiery backdrop for Torino’s incredible car collection. Torino worked closely with area craftsmen on every aspect of the structure, where he hosts many fund-raisers each year to benefit his foundation.
"When I was a kid, living in an apartment in Torrance, [Calif.,] I would hitchhike every day to school," Torino recalls. "Every day I would walk by a lime-green Hemi ’Cuda, which is like the holy grail of muscle cars, in the parking lot. I knew then that one day I was going to have one, because those cars represent the stuff that made America what it is, and I am extremely proud of that."
SOURCES
Robert Kaindl art glass, 425.750.0003, www.robertkaindl.com