The first thing visitors see is a foyer that looks more like part of a museum than a house. Round arches framed by marble columns open onto a dining area with a chinoiserie table and chairs. The East-meets-West mix of furniture includes high-back chairs slipcovered in beige natural basketweave linen.  But there are blasts of color in the room, thanks to a series of paintings.

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The house’s key feature is an extraordinary Gothic staircase, traced by an ornate wrought-iron railing and ringed by balconies and niches. The size and complexity of the triple-height space meant that every piece of furniture had to hold its own.