Japanese Garden

At Home in Madrid with Lorenzo Castillo



Tag along for a behind the scenes visit with renowned interior designer Lorenzo Castillo at his historic home in Madrid. Originally a 17th century monastery, in the 18th century it was transformed by the King’s architect, Ventura Rodríguez, into a majestic palace. However, when Lorenzo found it, over 20 years ago, it was a neglected theater and costume warehouse. After a massive architectural renovation, he was able to reinvent the large building into his home, studio and warehouse – a glorious representation of his many talents.

Watch to see how Lorenzo combines classic elegance with modern art.
Learn how he effortlessly combines bold colors, patterns and textures and hear how Lorenzo’s background as an art historian and antiques dealer enables him to meld many different historical periods and design influences to create such sophisticated and visually stimulating spaces. You’ll be inspired and entertained.

Big thank you to video sponsor Luxury Portfolio.

For more visit quintessenceblog.com

E Well welcome to my home in Madrid is 17th century Monastery it was and then in the 18th century uh was a a very important private Palace by the most famous architect of the king Ventura Rodriguez the the architect of the Museo Del PR the pra Museum as soon as you

Entrance in the house you can find the conservatory that is it has the the original uh metal and glass ceing so it’s a real Conservatory um full with trees and plants and we use it we use it in in especially in spring for for um small

Quiet lunches and dinners um then we go up through the original staircase that is incredible because it’s a it’s a it’s a original neoclassic circuit typical from the from the architect Ventura Rodriguez um the the influence comes from from England from the ren uh from the George the Geor thir style that it

Was very it was a strong influence in Spain during the 18th century and I’ve been using um part of my incredible collection of 18th century French English and Spanish um Engravings with the original frames of course something very useful in this house and think that it’s so big it’s like we have

Rooms for every different uh actions no so for example we are coming into the gallery we call it it’s like a it’s like we call it the Winter Garden or the or the jardan D it’s like it’s like a garden inside the house that’s the reason that I wanted to decorate it with

The one of my Fabrics of my first designs of my brand um with that green Indian flowers um upholstering the walls but also all the furniture very Outdoors filling with a with a metal day beds with the metal consoles beautiful R Deco uh consoles um from Paris or also the

The black and white marble floor uh from the gallery that is like the entrance the entrance hall of the house we go into the daily dining room it’s a beautiful space that we have changed uh the decoration with this incredible uh green deep green lacquer high gloss um W

Covering and also I have one of my favorite pieces like for example the the Italian torto shell dining table and it’s the place where I host uh dinner for no more than six people so for this from this dining room uh we go into the the formal dining room that we use it

For more than 20 people and it’s also more at night and they is share it shares the the space with the bar the bar is the most popular space of course in my house it’s not right now it’s like the tequila bar because the tequila is

Like crazy um and is a rock star all my friends want tequila and is the place to be during my parties well lighting is the most important part of a of a decorating project so um that’s the reason that I really really I’m really in love with

Lambs lamp table Lambs or floor lamps or o shine sometimes chandeliers and the the shades are very important uh I like Silk Shades um because they are warm they’re bright and you feel I mean you you feel more beautiful with that kind of warm light

No the the reason why I fell in love in this house is was the drawing room is an incredible space it’s more than 150 square m so it’s so unusual to find so incredible scale room in the center of Madrid where I can um put together all my highlights my my

Best objects pieces sculptures and Contemporary Art mixed also with uh portraits from the 18th century or antique furniture um I was in that at the time I was in the in the pink mood at that’s the reason that the whole Space is covered with that incredible uh

Pure Fray powder p pink uh fabric well I’m not a real collector I don’t like to to collect Pieces Just Like a collector what I love is is just beautiful things so what I like is to arrange objects like uh uh for example for colors or materials for example to put all my

Shells and coral TRS together or all the lacquer box the Japanese lacker boxes all together or for example the silver the bronzes that’s my only decor recipe well the guest room has the original decoration from 20 years ago with a wallpaper that I’ve designed it

From a 1960s pattern um is a mix of everything it’s a mix of all the that kind of strange pizzas that I love not that for example the the Camelback sofa with that 1960s wallpaper or with a collection of uh of um 18th century portraits so it’s a mix of everything

And I really love it I think it works works I think La the resistance this this room and is the bed because it’s a Italian bamboo uh 1970s uh canopy bed that I think is is is is I think is really shocking in contrast with the with the collection of

Portraits well I love combining Styles and periods because it’s so difficult to choose one of them really love by Contemporary Art my background was as an historian of art was is like my love for antiques um from different periods not just 18th century but also Spanish 17th century or also

Napoleon the 3D 19th century um I like to choose my my favorite pieces from each period and to put all together but it’s very difficult to um to mix uh periods and styles and I think the only um tip to to give is like to educate at

Your eye is the only I mean it’s the only thing you can do is to travel to visit Museums Art Galleries uh antique shops and educate your ey to the be to the beauty and what is fun in the studio is that the entrance has a completely different decoration because the studio

Is white and it’s like more like a lab but the entrance is totally upholstered with one of my Mo most Vero um decorative uh fabrics and it was especially done for kolina erera because I host a dinner party for her and for the designer West Gordon when they came

To Madrid so it was like a kind of of gift of a a surprise no they were really in shock when they saw the entrance with all the that tent handmade all all embroidery and it was a beautiful gift for that um unbelievable night well I’m very lucky and it’s very convenient for

My work to have my studio uh my provin rooms and also the state rooms that we call the Upper Floor all in the same building no because for me I can I can take my my clients to work but also to dat sometimes they have they come to

Have lunch or we can do um all in the same day so it’s it’s really uh really convenient thanks to the to the to the size of this enormous house no uh but downstairs I have also my warehouse a warehouse where I keep um the furn antique furniture all the lamps silver

And ceramic pottery and all the all everything you need um for your decorating projects I love drawing since I was uh four um and something that I do is the way that I show my products to my clients is always drawing by hand that is something very natural very very fast

But also uh my my my my best friends know they want to that I drw the invitations for their um birthday parties this for example this one that is very tic style for a too or my own invitation for my birthday next week I’m

55 I’m going to be 55 I’m going to turn to 55 um and this is the invitation full of flowers because the dress Cod is wearing flowers and flowers and anything than flow more than flowers don’t miss another video visit click on the orange Q to subscribe and have quintessence virtually delivered from

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39 Comments

  1. I l9ve all these beautiful homes that you show us. But sometimes I am saddened when I think of what might happen to them when these people go. Will someone keep them as such,will they become abandoned or will everything be sold. I wonder if these designers worry about what will become of their lifes work.

  2. Oh I love that green flower room that pops up again in the end, It is surprising and fizzy, like a visual refreshing drink that awaits you after you have entered through the 18th century hallway.

  3. Cada espacio es impresionante, tiene esculturas, lamparas, pinturas, espejos, plantas, que le dan un toque unico a esa casa. Me encanto.

  4. Wow ! What a treat, and as a viewer….What a feast for the eyes….in every which way ! A perfect example of… less is less, but more ? is sooooo much MORE ❣

  5. Love the conservatory with the staircase going up from it. Dreamy! Thats one lucky little dachshund getting to live in that house.

  6. Thank you so much Lorenzo for showing us your gorgeous home, you have a geniius eye! Thank you so much Susanna and Stacey for bringing us this gem. Now I am goung to watch the whole thing all over again! ❤

  7. I smiled the entire duration of this house tour. Thank you for finding such inspired, learned, hard working, gifted people to introduce to us all. I love your channel. The more atmospheric, theatrical and idiosyncratic the homes and interiors, the better! Thank you so much. Happy new year all!

  8. As "@evolunacy2" wrote below, this home is a sanctuary. You can tell that this space recharges Lorenzo's life force on a daily basis.

  9. Why do wealthy people choose clashing palates? There are many beautiful elements to this home, but then a modern art piece will make it jangled and inconsistent. He did say he does not ascribe to any particular time or style, but just loves beautiful things though. So his method is clear. More of an anti-method; and after all, it is HIS home. However, I have noticed that wealthy people choose idiosyncratic objects and colors.

  10. Although it is a large home he’s been able to create a very relaxed and warm atmosphere within his rooms. This takes talent for decorating in such an eclectic style.

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