EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AND PHOTOS
PREPARING FOR A SPARKLING CHRISTMAS
INVITES US INTO HER BELGRAVIA TOWNHOUSE AS SHE LOOKS FORWARD TO A TRULY MODERN FAMILY REUNION
December in London has a special charm and there’s no better place to appreciate that Christmas sparkle than the home of Carol Asscher.
A brilliant hostess, Carol – whose grandfather belonged to the Asscher diamond dynasty – has designed a perfect setting to enjoy the party season.
Like her other homes in Gstaad, Monaco, Phuket and St Tropez, the three-storey Belgravia townhouse flawlessly expresses facets of its owner’s personality. While the pink and gold decor suggests sophisticated glamour, soft satin and velvet add welcoming warmth.
As for Carol’s impressive collection of contemporary paintings and sculptures, that’s proof of the passion for art that she shares with her love, Simon de Pury, a well-known dealer and curator. And the finishing touch is the presence of her adored son Nicolas, who lives here too, close to his work in the capital.
Carol, how did you choose this house?
“A friend of mine, Silvia Bruttini, found it for me. I fell in love with it at first sight, although I realised that it would take a lot of work to turn it into a comfortable home.
“Each of my houses has a very distinct feel. Here, I didn’t hold back on my love of pink and gold. I’ve created somewhere that’s exuberant but cosy. Both my son and I like to entertain our friends and we wanted an inviting ambience.”
How long did the renovation take?
“It took more than two years because of the Covid pandemic. I did it with the help of my friend, interior architect Sandra Cerfontaine, who’s worked with me on lots of different projects.”
Tell us about your passion for pink…
“I fully own it. It’s been with me since I was a little girl. My house could be Barbie World! But you can see by looking at my son’s room that his favourite colour is red. You can see, too, that I share Simon’s passion for art. But I never want to put it on a pedestal. I like it to be simply part of life, in a laid-back way.”
Whose works do you have here?
“In the living room there are pictures by Katharina Grosse, Andy Warhol and George Condo, and sculptures by Georg Baselitz, Takuro Kuwata and Barbara Nanning. In
