Anastasia Soare’s Hilltop Estate Is a Design Playground

Elizabeth Quinn Brown

Anastasia Soare, of Anastasia Beverly Hills, has discovered that she is drawn to furniture that subscribes to the “golden ratio”—which is the same rule that she uses when shaping brows. “I didn’t understand why I was so attracted to [Italian midcentury modern designer] Gio Ponti until I found a book about him and learned that his work is based on the golden ratio,” she says. “I use the golden ratio to create the perfect shape on my clients’ faces. And he uses the golden ratio on his furniture.”

Soare first purchased the land for her oasis-like home in Beverly Hills, which borders her main estate, to guard her south-facing views. She then constructed this two-bedroom house for entertaining, importing 160 slabs of Italian marble to decorate the surfaces. The interiors are light-filled and modern, a fluid space to show Soare’s collections of objets and midcentury modern furniture. “The colors are grayish—a warm gray, not a cool gray; if I have colors, they keep me upbeat,” she says, adding that she prefers to mix fabrics, employing everything from bouclé to mohair. “I wanted to have this incredible feeling of zen—but then you look at the different pieces closely, and your eye is surprised.”

Anastasia Soare, of Anastasia Beverly Hills, stands on the master bedroom’s terrace—which boasts breathtaking views of L.A. “When you sit on that Hans Wegner chair, I promise you, you feel like you’re on cloud nine,” she says. "On Sunday mornings, I open the windows and I like to sit and read history books; I’m really obsessed with history books.”

The entrepreneur has a strong passion for design and is her own interior decorator. She relies on auctions (including 1stdibs and some of the larger houses) for sourcing her items, focusing on midcentury furniture. (She also shops at stores such as Orange in L.A.) Going from room to room, a visitor is introduced to splendid pieces from the designers of the period, including Ponti, as well as the likes of Paul Evans and Hans Wegner. She is particularly fond of Evans, saying, “He was such an artist—an American artist. His pieces are so unique and he has two periods: brutalist and cityscape. I like the brutalist.”

These pieces are first introduced to Soare’s home and then, after some time, reupholstered to fit the space. (It’s little surprise that the woman behind a brow empire is so detail-focused.) In the master bedroom, for example, a Federico Munari–designed couch has been refreshed in moss green, and two Italian chairs have been reborn in crushed velvet. “I thought that I needed some color in the bedroom and the green worked with the green outside,” she says. “I think the two chairs are so cool looking; they look like bugs." The Pucci de Rossi–designed side table is the same color as the crushed velvet. "I thought that worked so perfectly.”

Each nook is charming and thought-out, featuring art and objets that have been artfully and deliberately positioned. Here, a J.M.W. Turner painting is situated between shelves. And there, a KAWS sculpture is nestled on the coffee table. It makes it hard to choose a favorite room: “I think every corner of this house is my favorite; I love the living room when I wake up and make my espresso, doing my emails and Instagram, and listening to Miles Davis," she says. "For entertaining, I love the dining room with its beautiful table by Paul Evans and living room with serpentine couches, but I really love my bedroom, where I wake up in the morning, look outside, and say, ‘Jeez, I live in heaven here.’”

Anastasia Soare’s Hilltop Estate Is a Design Playground

“Everything is so earthy that I felt like I needed a little oomph,” beauty entrepreneur Anastasia Soare says of the marble bar in her Beverly Hills home, which she decorated. “I felt like I needed a little fire, because everything is really zen. The bar area is where you want to have a little fun.”
“Everything is so earthy that I felt like I needed a little oomph,” beauty entrepreneur Anastasia Soare says of the marble bar in her Beverly Hills home, which she decorated. “I felt like I needed a little fire, because everything is really zen. The bar area is where you want to have a little fun.”
The dining room is situated in the heart of the house, where it is dressed with a Christopher Boots–designed chandelier and Paul Evans–designed furniture (including the chairs and table). The walls are covered with some of the 160 slabs of Italian marble that Soare ordered for the interiors. “The marble is hammered so that it has the look of stone,” she says. “Nothing is too, too finished—nothing is shiny.”
The kitchen is but one of the house’s entertaining spaces, and like the others, it embraces earth tones and marble finishes. Soare likes to decorate with flowers, including blush-colored peonies and roses. “I have to have fresh flowers—always,” she says. “I think it’s so relaxing to make arrangements. If I wasn’t in the beauty industry, I would definitely be in the flower business."
The office is home to a Gio Ponti–designed desk (with a Luciano Figerio–designed lamp). The Paul Evans–designed shelves feature objets and works from Alexandra Nechita (who, like Soare, is Romanian-born) and J.M.W. Turner.
The office is home to a Gio Ponti–designed desk (with a Luciano Figerio–designed lamp). The Paul Evans–designed shelves feature objets and works from Alexandra Nechita (who, like Soare, is Romanian-born) and J.M.W. Turner.
This light-filled living room is brimming with midcentury pieces, including a Hans Wegner–designed “Papa Bear” chair and a Vladimir Kagan–designed couch. On the coffee table are small sculptures by Jeff Koons and KAWS.
This light-filled living room is brimming with midcentury pieces, including a Hans Wegner–designed “Papa Bear” chair and a Vladimir Kagan–designed couch. On the coffee table are small sculptures by Jeff Koons and KAWS.
The second bedroom functions as a library (though it does have a Murphy bed). Here, the midcentury theme continues with the desk and Jean Prouve–designed chair. “I bought the wallpaper online," Soare says. "It’s muted and it’s not too much, but it gives a whimsical feeling.”
The second bedroom functions as a library (though it does have a Murphy bed). Here, the midcentury theme continues with the desk and Jean Prouve–designed chair. “I bought the wallpaper online," Soare says. "It’s muted and it’s not too much, but it gives a whimsical feeling.”
Soane’s friend, textile designer Rosemary Hallgarten, contributed the alpaca-blend throw in this second-floor nest, which is garnished with plants such as bonsai trees.
Soane’s friend, textile designer Rosemary Hallgarten, contributed the alpaca-blend throw in this second-floor nest, which is garnished with plants such as bonsai trees.
One of the best features in the master bedroom are the windows. Then, there’s the Federico Munari–designed couch (with a Philip and Kelvin LaVerne–designed table). “I thought that I needed some color in the bedroom and the green worked with the green outside," says Soare.
One of the best features in the master bedroom are the windows. Then, there’s the Federico Munari–designed couch (with a Philip and Kelvin LaVerne–designed table). “I thought that I needed some color in the bedroom and the green worked with the green outside," says Soare.
Soare’s bed was designed by Gio Ponti. “I bought it at an auction in Italy and I still can’t believe I paid that much money, but I loved it," she says of the purchase. "I was bidding and I couldn’t stop—and this is what happens.”
Soare’s bed was designed by Gio Ponti. “I bought it at an auction in Italy and I still can’t believe I paid that much money, but I loved it," she says of the purchase. "I was bidding and I couldn’t stop—and this is what happens.”
The gold stenciling in the master bathroom is the work of Soare herself. “It was an ‘in the moment’ decision," she says of the impulse addition. "I love to take baths and relax and look at the view and be zen.”
The gold stenciling in the master bathroom is the work of Soare herself. “It was an ‘in the moment’ decision," she says of the impulse addition. "I love to take baths and relax and look at the view and be zen.”
Outside, the furniture is from Philippe Starck and RH. Soare was exacting about the height of the bar and bar stools. “I don’t want to see the counter, so I wanted the bar to be very high; it’s not easy to find bar stools that high," she says. "If you can see the counter, it doesn’t look chic anymore.”
Outside, the furniture is from Philippe Starck and RH. Soare was exacting about the height of the bar and bar stools. “I don’t want to see the counter, so I wanted the bar to be very high; it’s not easy to find bar stools that high," she says. "If you can see the counter, it doesn’t look chic anymore.”
Soare stands in her wood-paneled entrance, which is decorated with a painting by Horia Damian as well as a wire sculpture by D’Lisa Creager. “Horia Damian is a Romanian, like me. When I bought the piece, I didn’t know that he was Romanian. I just loved it," she says of the acquisition. "I think it’s so beautiful and so structural—the colors are gorgeous and look good against the wood.”

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest