Robb Report Luxury Home: Old-World Workout
January 1, 2008
To create the perfect workout environment, home gym designer Mark Harigian starts with an assessment of his client’s taste and lifestyle. So when he was brought in by the owners of a Beverly Hills estate, which was undergoing a major remodel, Harigian carefully studied the home’s blueprints before suggesting a layout for the gym.
"They were building an old world–style house with a lot of wood detailing and custom finishes," says Harigian, who also designed the clients’ previous gym. "Most people think a home gym has to look industrial or can only be functional, but if that’s not your style and it isn’t a pleasurable space to spend time in, you’re never going to use it."
Harigian and interior designer Marla Sher made sure that the gym, which is housed in its own structure at the foot of the pool, was a fluid extension of the main residence. With an 800-square-foot fitness area and a 450-square-foot spa, the space has hand-painted murals and hand-hewn wood floors—two elements also found inside the home. "The walnut floors are installed in an interlocking pattern with three central inlay designs," says Sher, who modeled the floors after those at the Hotel Danieli in Venice where the owners once stayed.
Harigian’s custom equipment in the workout area includes a body weight–assisted pull-up machine that allows the user to sit instead of stand (taking pressure off the joints) and a leg press with a platform that conforms to the user’s foot to evenly disperse weight (thus reducing the risk of injury). Harigian chose butter-soft beige leather for the padded seats and engraved the owners’ last name on the metal, which has an antique rifle finish. "When you take the time to finish the equipment properly, the pieces take on an almost sculptural quality," he says.
The spa was inspired by old Roman baths. The stone steam room includes a curved back wall with a mosaic patterned after a 17th-century palazzo in Palermo but personalized for the clients.
A vaulted ceiling, skylights and arched doors open the gym to the surrounding gardens. "People often forget how important it is to incorporate nature into design," says Harigian. "All of the gym equipment includes an iPod docking station, but sometimes it’s nice to open the doors and just listen to the fountains." S.B.
Harigian Fitness, 818.243.5132, www.harigianfitness.com
Marla
Sher Design, 831.484.4813, www.marlasherdesign.com
Sinclair Associates
Architects, 310.824.9420, www.sinclairaia.com
Greg Grisamore Design,
626.229.9394
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