When celebrated fashion designer Natalie De Banco, behind the label Bronx and Banco, known for dressing Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez (and more) approached Helena Clunies-Ross Design, her request was deeply personal: to transform her home into a restorative sanctuary. Her fast-paced, high-profile lifestyle demanded a space that offered tranquility and balance—a private wellness retreat rooted in calm. Drawing from the client’s experiences across Bali and Southeast Asia, the design took cues from the serenity of nature-informed spaces, minimal luxury spas, and soulful organic textures. The result is a residence that exudes grounding elegance, fusing Eastern philosophies with modern refinement to create an environment that feels both intimate and elevated.
Helena Clunies-Ross, founder of Helena Clunies-Ross Design and former Design Director for Anouska Hempel, brings a painterly, emotionally attuned sensibility to interiors—approaching each project as both an artwork and a sanctuary. Deeply informed by her background in fine art and art history, her work balances form and feeling, visual restraint and soul. Her signature Calma philosophy—a reverence for stillness, light, and layered natural materials—guides her approach to creating spaces that soothe, restore, and quietly transform. With an ethos grounded in wellness and lived experience, her designs are immersive, contemplative, and highly personal.
The design at the 14 Timber residence embodies Helena Clunies-Ross’s philosophy—an intuitive, emotionally resonant approach that prioritizes wellness, harmony, and quiet sophistication. Every architectural gesture, material choice, and spatial flow was designed to engage the senses and soothe the spirit. From handcrafted Buddha sculptures sourced in Bali to immersive wellness zones that include meditation nooks, serene bathing areas, and integrated greenery, the home feels like a living artwork—layered, contemplative, and deeply intentional. Natural materials such as stone, timber, and linen create a tactile rhythm, while the choreography of light and shadow enhances a sense of peace throughout the interiors.
Every detail in the home was custom-conceived, from slatted timber screens that filter light and guide the gaze, to bespoke millwork, a sculptural kitchen pendant designed by Helena Clunies-Ross, reclaimed timber details in the wellness space, and a speakeasy style bar in the
basement. Innovative use of materials—including timber-
The transformation included a dramatic architectural reimagining, extending the home by 3,500 square feet and opening the structure to the outdoors. At the heart of the new layout is a preserved cherry tree, now framed by soaring glass. This sanctuary—both crafted and lived—honors craftsmanship, cultural resonance, and the quiet luxury of intentional living.
