FEATURES

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"How could I compete with that?" asks Sawicki, gesturing toward the splendid water views. Wisely, she didn't try. The living room palette, for instance, is as pleasing as a sea breeze: pale blue linen-upholstered chairs with a matching sofa piped in crisp white; a sand-colored abaca rug and a custom-made Murano-glass floor lamp that's nearly transparent, but slightly opalescent, like a pearl. The adjacent dining room features the same blue—Sawicki had the walls enameled to match the upholstery—but is grounded by glossy, dark wood antiques. They provide context for the wall, hung with two impressive oil paintings in gilt frames—pieces from the couple's collection, mostly by Norwegian artists. But the console has a 1940s flair with silver piping and "sexy" curved legs. The traditional dining chairs sport spiffy white leather seats, and the curtains are pure couture, fashioned from ivory satin and embroidered with pearls.

There's glamour in the foyer, as well, with its display of paintings—more Norwegian oils—and a lozenge-shaped, white marble table. Even the butler's pantry is elegance itself: dark wood cabinetry with silver hardware, a silver-leaf ceiling and lighting designed to illuminate the crystal, like the jewelry cases at Harry Winston.

As for the kitchen, Sawicki achieved a fine balance between posh and practical. "They cook in this kitchen twice a day," says the designer. "It gets used." Thick slabs of honed Jerusalem marble top the counters, and the banquette and chairs around the breakfast table are wipe-clean white vinyl. Yet there are also two dishwashers (one in the butler's pantry), two sinks and a double-oven range supplemented by two wall-mounted ovens.

But perhaps the most glamorous place is the master suite, a collection of rooms Sawicki designed with a laser-sharp attention to detail. She chose the walnut hangers in the dark-wood paneled wardrobe—resembling the men's department at Bergdorf's.