SAN DIEGO
APRIL 1960
Magazine
50 CENTS
The most distinguished place to live.
PENTHOUSE, SIXTH AVENUE
By Roberta Ridgely
A PENTHOUSE only minutes from the heart of downtown, a of it specifically for the Salomon penthouse. A black and white
garden apartment whose plantings have been enriched by speckled rug was created for the Colonel’s study. Also for the
over a half-century of growth, the San Diego address of study, an experiment was attempted: walnut blinds were
Irving Salomon (internationalist, former U.N. delegate, and woven with leather for an unusual effect that consumed twen-
a board member of countless corporations), “3200 Sixth ty hides and imparts an exclusively masculine elegance to the
Avenue” already has cost over a million dollars. It utilizes an room. Ornamental hardware was ordered to be fashioned of
incomparable Balboa Park view as surroundings for a luxu- silver. For the bedside tables, antique silver drawer pulls were
ry apartment building---something that has not been obtained. The Lemurians, an obscure Ramona sect that
attempted in a decade. It does not pretend that its tenants excels in craft work, began to turn out door escutcheons and
can do without parking accommodations. It furnishes them tiny knobs of semi-precious stones imbedded in mastic: bud-
a basement garage, complete with elevator (with interior by dstone, chrysocolla and pedrara onyx. To achieve a particular
an A.I.D. decorator). yellow that would capture the bedroom’s tones of gold and
umber, glass tiles from Italy were especially ground. Local
With rooming houses and tired mansions, beautiful old Sixth craftsman Bob Stuart began the arduous task of creating
Avenue was aging. Now the whole avenue looks forward to perfect specimens of custom cabinetry.
its first renascence since an abortive flurry that followed
close on World War II. Irving Salomon’s apartment building Such early preliminary work enabled the decorator to take
helped to bring about this change. How did the building full advantage of many architectural niceties. The upright
come to be? motif of the penthouse’s front door repeats at once in the
vertical peacock feather panels, the first sight to charm the
The Salmons’ many global interests preclude passing much eye when one crosses the threshold. Striking use is made
time in San Diego County---but when here they like to live well. of the variations in ceiling heights. Sliding doors can parti-
For a while their only San Diego home was Rancho Lilac, tion the living room from the dining rooms; they are covered
which many accord the accolade of the loveliest ranch site in with synskin, which duplicates Japanese cloth and particu-
the Escondido area. But, the story goes, Colonel Salomon larly reflects the flavor of the dining area.
desired a penthouse in San Diego. Finding none in existence,
he built one. If his decision to break ground was indeed so Not seen in the accompanying photographs is a crystal-
impetuous, the successive steps have nonetheless been topped coffee table made from an ancient Siamese bronze
charted with precision. Architect Henry Hester, designer drum. The table is not seen because it has not arrived. The
Roger Matthews, and decorator Jerry Jerome worked drum was contracted for early enough but the Siamese gov-
together from the penthouse’s inception. Before sidewalk ernment abruptly has barred shipment of what it hastily
superintendents had an inkling of what was to befall, many decided was a national treasure. The question is still unre-
custom-made items were commissioned. In Puerto Rico solved as to whether the drum will remain in Siam, or come
V’Soske set to work handlooming carpet, much to rest in the new treasure house of Sixth Avenue.
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Walls and sliding doors of the master bedroom’s dressing room
and bath exude costly elegance with their covering of immaculate
--- but eminently practical --- white moiré vinyl. This silk-like vinyl
extends into the bedroom itself, as do the yellow and white
accent tones of the hardware. Note lack of shadows as light
emanates from all the ceiling panels.
—Photograph and Caption from San Diego Magazine April 1960
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The penthouse at 3200 Sixth Avenue has a nodding acquaintance
with Balboa Park treetops, which form a living mural complementing
the muted yellows and cool bluish charcoal greys of the dining
terrace. Few Southern California patios command such openness
and such spectacular greenery. Ancient Chinese tea canisters
(foreground) strike the color keynote with their mellowed blues,
greens and golds. In the overhang, skylights regulate the stronger
sunlight hours and no over-brightness is permitted to jar. Even the
sofa (right foreground) is putty, rather than stark, white. The
atmosphere creates an appropriate environment for owner
Irving Salomon, who once wrote a book entitled How to Relax.
—Photograph and Caption from San Diego Magazine April 1960
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Sunlight is the color of the master bedroom. The draperies, which can yawn wide to
disclose one of San Diego’s finest productions---the Sixth Avenue perimeter of Balboa
Park---are chromatically hung in blocks of three distinct shades of gold, merging into
white. Golden too is the two-toned, quilted trapunto bedspread. The bedstead, silk
paneled, slides down to reveal remote controls for lights and television. Turquoise
lampstands and aqua Italian silk velvet chairs (sinfully comfortable, these both rock and
pivot) take their color inspiration from the blossom centers of the wallpaper mimosa
tree which spreads its panache-like branches above the bed. The custom-made desk has
a white leather top, as has the small round table wedged between the boudoir chairs.
—Photograph and Caption from San Diego Magazine April 1960
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Peacocks from the Salmons'’ Rancho Lilac near Escondido not only suggest the dominant
color harmony of the living and dining rooms but gave generously of their tail feathers to
provide the set of panels screening the entrance door from the living room. The
monumental fireplace (designed by William Matthews) with its pewter hood and chrome-
plated base, seems to rest upon a long slab of pearl granite ---actually a bench, with blue
and green silk cushions. Two chairs flank a nest of sap-green walnut tables, and repeat
mute echoes of these colors. Emperor green lampbase is converted from a very old
Chinese vase. The large sofa, pale celadon with couturier pleats is an island in the
V’Soske rug’s river pattern of blue and green on white.
—Photograph and Caption from San Diego Magazine April 1960
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The dining room casements, handwoven by Robert Crowder, are white at the top, in
the lower half a crescendo of blue-green color striae; the same curtains continue into
the living room, as does the V’Soske carpeting. On another example of Bob Stuart’s
matchless cabinetry, topped by radio-black polished marble, stand two crystal pieces from
Italy, brilliant blue, merging with bright green at the base to blend with the chair cushions
of blue and green striped silk. An oriental influence first is evidenced in the wall mural,
hand painted on grey silk. Unique drama is provided by the small glass-enclosed pool,
separated from the outdoors by a bronze screen, hand crafted to a special design and
dominated by a bronze Quon Yen. Perhaps significantly the first guest in this new home
of the world-circling Salmons' will be Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.
—Caption from San Diego Magazine April 1960
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