With the untimely passing of British luxury designer Christopher Guy Harrison, the design world has suffered a devastating loss. Here, I honor his memory with a look at the legacy of sophistication and panache he leaves behind.
The X-leg seen throughout Christopher Guy's exquisite furniture collections is much like the man himself was: graceful, elegant, unforgettable. The "X" of his patented design, inspired by a ballerina's pose, might as well stand for "x-travagent," because arguably, no other designer's work so precisely embodies the concept as his does.
Christopher's signature pieces have decorated innumerable splendid spaces; his chairs, tables, cabinets, and mirrors continue to embellish celebrity homes, lavish resorts, and luxury ocean liners the world over.
Christopher was adored by legions of fans (including yours truly!) and in his career, he was recognized by some of the most prestigious organizations; The British Interior Design Association awarded Christopher Guy the Outstanding Design award in 2004, and The World Market Center Las Vegas and Las Vegas Design Center named him their 2011 Design Icon.
If you've ever had the fortune of sailing Cunard's Queen Mary 2, visiting the iconic Savoy Hotel or Georgian Restaurant at Harrods Department Store in London, gaming at The Bellagio or Venetian in Las Vegas, or staying at The Ritz-Carlton in Toyko or in the Presidential Suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel, you've seen Christopher Guy's creations firsthand. If not, you've surely viewed them on the big screen; his posh furnishings were enlisted for the set designs of Casino Royale, The Devil Wears Prada, Ocean's Thirteen... and even that infamously (and tragically!) trashed hotel room in The Hangover.
The designer's glamorous international lifestyle exposed him to vast sources of inspiration, which he then translated into remarkable works of timeless elegance. And while it's impossible to condense decades of mastery into a single post, please allow me to present you with ten Christopher Guy pieces that are standouts IMO:
Opulent yet understated, the CAROLINE 2-seater sofa boasts curved half-scroll arms and a buttoned back.
The sculpted mahogany BALLET side table features one drawer and Christopher Guy's signature Chris-cross legs.
The sleek CHEZ HARRODS cabinet is marked by intricately-carved reeded doors and finished with the CG signature knot emblem.
A striking bistro stool, AMY's proud posture comes by way of a cantilevered back and sweeping saber legs.
A clear, tempered glass top reveals the sensuous curves of the PARISIAN GRAFFITI coffee table's hand-cast aluminum base.
More a precious work of art than an occasional chair, LILY is a breathtaking design finished in gold leaf.
Aptly named, the EPICENTER pyramid-shaped, four-seater banquette becomes the hub of any space it graces.
The lithe LE LOTUS chair, in hand-beaten antique brass, strikes a yoga pose and a modernist chord.
The CARRÉE, with its floating platform and headboard comprised of 160 hand-carved squares, brings stunning visual interest to the bedroom.
CARTIER, one of many spectacular mirrors by Christopher Guy, encircles its asymmetrical glass pane with a richly textured gold leaf spiral frame.
Christopher Guy Harrison's design legacy lives on, but he will be sorely missed.
But without question, heaven just got a whole lot swankier.
IN MEMORIAM
CHRISTOPHER GUY HARRISON
1960-2020
