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Collection by Jaime Gillin

Coolest Homes for Artists & Art Collectors June 12, 2012

We at Dwell are always on the lookout for unique homes that express the personality of their occupants—and it's no wonder some of the most unique and memorable residences we've featured in recent years belong to artists and art collectors, who embrace the quirky and the unconventional. Join us at Dwell on Design Sunday, June 24th, where we're inviting architect Tom Marble, collector Jeff Wardell, and architect Linda Taalman onstage to chat about ways architecture can best highlight and showcase art. To whet your appetite, flip through our slideshow for a look at some of our favorite homes designed around the display and making-of art, from a famous conceptual artist's industrial-inspired rowhouse in New York City to a street art collector's shipping crate-filled loft in San Francisco.

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A view from the back reveals the studio space on the ground floor and the living areas above.
A view from the back reveals the studio space on the ground floor and the living areas above.
The studio space includes room for the full-time archivist to work. Note the library-style storage along the wall, with shelves that crank along a track.
The studio space includes room for the full-time archivist to work. Note the library-style storage along the wall, with shelves that crank along a track.
The floor is painted with a reflective silver paint to carry light through the long, narrow space. Long expanses of drywall and magnetic surfaces offer plenty of work and display space.
The floor is painted with a reflective silver paint to carry light through the long, narrow space. Long expanses of drywall and magnetic surfaces offer plenty of work and display space.
The house has many unexpected splashes of color, and exposed industrial materials are used throughout. The diamond-plate steel shown here was also used as a kitchen backsplash, covered with a coating of pink paint.
The house has many unexpected splashes of color, and exposed industrial materials are used throughout. The diamond-plate steel shown here was also used as a kitchen backsplash, covered with a coating of pink paint.
Another one of our favorite projects is this Noosa, Australia home of the New Zealand-born painter Stefan Dunlop and his family. The airy and elevated building was designed by their new next-door neighbors, who happened to be architects.
Another one of our favorite projects is this Noosa, Australia home of the New Zealand-born painter Stefan Dunlop and his family. The airy and elevated building was designed by their new next-door neighbors, who happened to be architects.
To explain their aesthetic taste and vision to the architects, Dunlop and his wife created a scrapbook of inspiration images, including ripped-out pages from design magazines, photos, Polaroids of furniture they'd picked up at flea markets, and images of Stefan's paintings—"to show that the artwork came first and the furnishings weren't necessarily going to match the couch." This pool was inspired by concrete Sao Paulo houses they loved and included in their inspiration book.
To explain their aesthetic taste and vision to the architects, Dunlop and his wife created a scrapbook of inspiration images, including ripped-out pages from design magazines, photos, Polaroids of furniture they'd picked up at flea markets, and images of Stefan's paintings—"to show that the artwork came first and the furnishings weren't necessarily going to match the couch." This pool was inspired by concrete Sao Paulo houses they loved and included in their inspiration book.
This is their open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, full of vintage furniture from flea markets. Dunlop's big and bright painting has pride of place over the fireplace.
This is their open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area, full of vintage furniture from flea markets. Dunlop's big and bright painting has pride of place over the fireplace.
Stefan's studio has good daylight, plywood walls, and an extra-big entrance for his large-scale work.
Stefan's studio has good daylight, plywood walls, and an extra-big entrance for his large-scale work.
Next up, the Parisian apartment of Didier and Cleménce Krzentowski. Didier is an art collector and the founder of the acclaimed design gallery Galerie Kreo, which commissions limited-edition pieces from contemporary designers.
Next up, the Parisian apartment of Didier and Cleménce Krzentowski. Didier is an art collector and the founder of the acclaimed design gallery Galerie Kreo, which commissions limited-edition pieces from contemporary designers.
Didier confesses to sometimes keeping one piece from each edition for himself—as you can tell from his home office, which is delightfully cluttered with design gems.
Didier confesses to sometimes keeping one piece from each edition for himself—as you can tell from his home office, which is delightfully cluttered with design gems.
Cleménce and daughter Clara hang out on a Pierre Paulin sofa, under an installation by artist Alan McCollum.
Cleménce and daughter Clara hang out on a Pierre Paulin sofa, under an installation by artist Alan McCollum.
Check out his postcard view of the Eiffel Tower. Pretty sweet.
Check out his postcard view of the Eiffel Tower. Pretty sweet.
The architecture firm Wonder Inc. designed this 3,300-square-foot home and studio hybrid for artist Kent Monkman in Toronto.
The architecture firm Wonder Inc. designed this 3,300-square-foot home and studio hybrid for artist Kent Monkman in Toronto.
Every wall has solid plywood behind it, so Monkman can hang his work anywhere. He uses the space as a gallery when collectors or curators visit.
Every wall has solid plywood behind it, so Monkman can hang his work anywhere. He uses the space as a gallery when collectors or curators visit.
The wide plywood stairs have a built-in bookcase. Behind the stairs is a 5 x 30-foot corridor to store his bigger paintings.
The wide plywood stairs have a built-in bookcase. Behind the stairs is a 5 x 30-foot corridor to store his bigger paintings.
Upstairs is a serene bedroom with skylights, exposed rafters, and an a bathtub open to the rest of the room.
Upstairs is a serene bedroom with skylights, exposed rafters, and an a bathtub open to the rest of the room.
Lastly, check out the Wardell-Sagan apartment from our December/January Prefab issue in 2011. Jeff Wardell collects a lot of large-scale street art and wanted to renovate his loft to preserve as much display space for art as possible.
Lastly, check out the Wardell-Sagan apartment from our December/January Prefab issue in 2011. Jeff Wardell collects a lot of large-scale street art and wanted to renovate his loft to preserve as much display space for art as possible.
Their solution was to stack two shipping containers on top of each other, to create private space within the open-plan living area.
Their solution was to stack two shipping containers on top of each other, to create private space within the open-plan living area.
The top container contains Wardell's office—and a "napping nook" above that.
The top container contains Wardell's office—and a "napping nook" above that.

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