Lap of Luxury JULY/AUGUST 2010

Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams have been design partners for 15 years, bringing their clients a unique East-West Coast perspective. Kennerknecht was working on a luxury townhouse project in Virginia when she was introduced to Los Angeles-based Williams, a consultant on the job. Soon after, she landed a major residential project and asked Williams to help. “The rest is history,” she says. Though their work has never been published, the duo has collaborated on dozens of homes all over the country. 

“Our clients are hungry for a twist,” says Williams, “but they don’t know that. We try to get people out of their comfort zone by 10 to 15 percent.”

Such was the case on a project they recently completed in Great Falls. Their client, ready to furnish a guest suite located above his four-car garage, presented them with a challenge: He wanted a space that could accommodate both visiting business associates as well as relatives with kids—and he wanted it done in “Giorgio Armani” style. 

Kennerknecht and Williams proposed an open plan with separate lounging and sleeping areas screened by a mesh fabric by Donghia. The result is a mix of modern, classic and custom furnishings with glamorous accents, chic enough to rival a luxury hotel room yet practical too, with a sleeper sofa, durable fabrics and a double chaise that can serve as two twin beds. 

The homeowner and his wife now enjoy spending time in their guest suite. As Kennerknecht explains, “We try to create comfortable, elegant ‘destinations’ for our clients.” 

INTERIOR DESIGN: Charlene Kennerknecht and Arch Williams, Monarch Interior Design Group, Vienna, Virginia and Los Angeles, California.

**Out of the array of interior design magazines, Home and Design magazine stands out as a primary idea source for luxury home designs.  Wonderful visuals of inspired décor and lush landscapes are combined with expert advice to provide a fundamental reference point for bringing amazing home interior design ideas to life.