What the butler saw: Discerning household tips

Over my 24 years as a career butler, I have been very fortunate to have seen some of the most fabulous residences in the world, and worked on behalf of my employers with exceptional decorators, interior designers, luxury builders and architects.

These great homes include, but are not limited to, the former New York residence of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, the Park Avenue apartment belonging to J.D. Rockefeller and a castle in the United Kingdom that is still owned and lived in by an actual duke and duchess. As well, I have worked with numerous industrialists and television personalities and have been privy to their private homes, secluded islands and ski chalets, ranging in size from a 2,500-square-foot pied--terre to an 80,000-sq.-ft. private residence.

As a butler, I get to go into every nook and cranny of a residence to make them as comfortable and enjoyable for the owners as possible. But remember, as a professional butler, I always keep their private-life secrets private.

Why is a butler writing a column in a homes section? Given my experience working in these most magnificent homes, I have learned what works and what doesnt. By this, I am referring to both the space and the function of a room. For example, will it work based on both the physical space and furniture layouts? Will it work for cocktail parties, intimate dinners and/or large-scale fundraisers? It is all about form vs. function. This introductory column is all about what you need to consider before moving into a luxury condominium, where you will perhaps for the first time live in close proximity to your neighbours, and how to make that transition successful.

Each and every one of the professionals that I have worked with have taught me something unique, but I still think after all of these years the most important lesson I have learned is that no matter what you are designing whether a single room, an exquisite apartment or an entire household the most important element is scale. If you have that down, the space looks normal and feels comfortable. However, when the scale of a room or the furniture is off, the space just doesnt feel right and, in fact, it just never works. When you successfully achieve the right scale of any room, it then becomes a matter of personal taste when you begin to consider the furniture style, colours, textures, etc.

Whether you are moving to a new home or remodelling a luxury condominium, you need to think about how you are going to entertain. Are you going to invite your family, friends and/or business colleagues? Do you entertain in a formal fashion thus a formal living and dining room are needed or is your personal style casual, and is a casual environment appropriate for your needs? Do you need a butlers pantry, and if so how should it be organized? (A butlers pantry, incidentally, is a service and storage room traditionally located between the kitchen and the dining room.)

How many sets of dishes, china and stemware do you have and should they be stored in the butlers pantry or the kitchen? What is your closet/storage space going to be like? How much storage do you need, and how much stuff should you be getting rid of? Do you need a large linen cupboard? What are you doing with your luggage, golf clubs, hunting equipment and off-season clothing?

Often when we are moving into a new residence, we are overwhelmed by the builder asking us to make a plethora of decisions with many options, and yet if we could only have the luxury of living in the space for a year to see how it really feels, it would then be easier to decide how to ideally finish the space. However, this is often not a luxury we have and decisions have to be made prior to the move-in date in order to finish the space on budget and on time.

An architect might be needed to help review space and scale and this architect is a great liaison with the builder about what can and cannot be done, but then a decorator and designer should be consulted to assist in the completion of your new space.

While recommendations from colleagues and friends are important, it is ultimately your decision who to chose and this matter should not be taken lightly. Just like any trade, a minimum of three decorators/designers should be interviewed and the choice should be given to the individual who understands your requirements regarding scale, style, colour, lighting and budget. You should always feel comfortable being able to question and veto any suggestions that you do not feel comfortable with.

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What the butler saw: Discerning household tips