At Home: Mireille Schwartz mixes old, new

By Elisabeth Laurence
Special to The Examiner 10/5/08

Mireille Schwartz with daughter Charlotte Jude. Mike Koozmin/Special to The Examiner

» More Photos SAN FRANCISCO – It’s only natural for Mireille Schwartz and her daughter, Charlotte Jude, to have a stylish home: beauty, style and sophistication are in the genes.

Schwartz’s mother, Katiti Kironde — former Glamour magazine cover girl from Kampala, Uganda — set the bar high as one of the first African supermodels. Schwartz’s grandfather Apollo Kironde — one of East Africa‘s largest landowners — served on Uganda’s highest court and then as the long-term Ugandan ambassador to the United Nations.

Schwartz’s home sits on the edge of the Presidio and is a gracious medley of antiques and modern elements, highlighted by art and furnishings collected from four continents. Old and new exist in harmonious juxtaposition. Her artwork includes a Pablo Picasso self-portrait, a Marc Chagall and a stellar collection of African artwork.

From the entry, a light-filled living room houses a wall of black and white plates, bowls and urns arranged in contrast with red and gold pieces — all are from Africa or Asia. An antique, etched, wooden upright ice chest stands against neutral, off-white walls and carmel-colored, organic seagrass rugs.

In the dining room, Paul Revere-era sterling silver candelabra and pitchers add luster to a long, rectangular table. And twin antique lamps with intricate designs contrast with sleek, modern furniture in the family room.

Charlotte Jude’s room features a hand-painted landscape mural and an oil painting of a cerulean blue sky on the ceiling. A fashionista, she also has her own mirrored dressing “beauty” alcove and collects stylish handbags and jewelry.

“My daughter is the biggest blessing in my life,” Schwartz said. “Charlotte is the most amazing person I have ever met.”

Style keys

Design aesthetic: Old meets new. “I love clean, modern lines and I like bright space but I’m addicted to little bits of history so I collect older artwork and older bits of history.”

Notable design elements: Artwork, old family art, a few key pieces. “I don’t believe in this thing of keeping them under lock and key. I’ve got a Chagall on the wall, adjacent to the outside garden, really it’s all about fine arts.”

Design inspiration: “My mother — from her I’ve learned to appreciate older design. I keep going back in time — I love fine, old antiques. From my daughter: living large with color — in the moment. My garden is a complete reflection of energy, zeal with a young person imagination. The two things work together in juxtaposition complement each other.”

Favorite room: “Indoors it’s my daughter’s room with a hand-painted mural and an oil painting on the ceiling of the sky. Live large and dream. Imagine. My favorite outdoor room is the garden, with a natural blue sky.”

Favorite color: Red. “My daughter’s favorite color is purple. I’ve come to appreciate every single hue of purple. My garden is purple and pinks.”

Prized possessions: “My family. Without them there’s nothing else. Some of the artwork I’m only holding onto it temporarily, borrowing it until I pass it along to my children. Something special is my Blue Willow bowl and pitcher. Really beautifully, a love story is painted simply, elegantly painted onto the bone china, tells a story of two lovers crossing the bridge together.”

Favorite design stores: Kendall Wilkinson, which incorporates cleaner, more modern elements with old-school tradition and flair.

Favorite design publication: “Architectural Digest and Dwell, which gives me many new ideas.”

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