Versace View: Inside the Villa by Barton G

The fashion world came to a screeching halt the day Gianni Versace was shot outside his Miami home in 1997. The Italian fashion mogul produced accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings, as well as clothes that dressed generations. Few people inspired fashion the way Gianni Versace did. Few people did it in a way that is as recognizable as Gianni Versace. Few people lived the way Gianni Versace lived, and today, few people get the opportunity to step inside the villa that was once owned by the iconic fashion designer.

Before it was the Villa by Barton G, it was the Casa Casuarina – built in 1930 and modeled after the Alcazar de Colon in Santo Domingo, a residence built in 1510 by the son of Christopher Columbus and said to be one the oldest existing homes in the western hemisphere. Versace purchased the building in 1992 for $2.9 million and demolished the hotel next door to create a two-story, 6,100-foot addition that became the Versace Miami Beach house. It saw the likes of Madonna, Elton John, Lady Diana and more, and today stands as a tribute to the man who helped define luxury to its core. The now 19,000-square-foot space is owned and managed by Barton G. Weiss, the renowned restaurantuer, who maintains the essence of Versace behind the steel gates at historic 1116 Ocean Drive.

I walked into the mansion at precisely 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning. The butler opened the grand steel gates and showed me the way past the arched opening and toward the fountain in the middle of the courtyard that streamed gold water (via gold thread in its spouts). Admittedly, I stood in awe, my jaw open and my eyes wide, as the realization of my whereabouts came into focus. The Versace handbag in my closet has a whole new meaning now. View the exclusive photos.

Each of the 10 custom-designed suites comes with a private butler, as did my tour. She graciously took my half-gulped Starbucks latte and placed it perfectly in the center of a silver tray. My coffee was approximately three steps behind me far during the tour. A quick left at the water fountain and we were standing in the open courtyard, home to the outdoor dining area and the stunning Versace pool.

The Thousand Mosaic Pool

The Thousand Mosaic pool is lined in 24k gold and sits along perfectly landscaped grass and Versace-inspired lounge chairs. The pattern on the fabric of the chairs is the same pattern found in the dishes used for serving guests on the patio. Ocean Drive is only steps away, but you’d never know it amid the serenity of the villa.

You can smell the genius when you step inside the dining room. From the tiled walls to the Versace-original flatware and plates, you can almost see the visionary sitting in the corner enjoying a meal on the one-of-a-kind dishes and sipping wine from the jeweled cups that sit on the dinner table. View more photos.

The intimate 30-seat Dining Room at The Villa By Barton G. features the mesmerizing cuisine that is constant with Barton G. style. The carefully cultivated wine list offers more than 100 labels selected from the world’s finest vintners – a true joy for the most discerning palettes – and after dinner drinks can be served in the Dining Room or outside in the courtyard under the stars.

But nothing can prepare you for walking into the Signature Suite.

The suite is said to be where Versace’s brother, Santo, stayed when he visited. The living room is a Versace masterpiece – a plethora of colors, textures, patterns and technology merge to produce a stunning entrance to the suite.

Zebra print sofas sit next to cheetah print lounge chairs, both accented with bright throw pillows in red, pink and orange. The pièce de résistance, however, is not surprisingly the bedroom.

A double-king bed serves as the focal point of the bedroom, flanked by original Versace drapes and linens. The custom created comforter is red silk with embroidered cheetahs throughout, but the way it was cut is where the story lies. Linens are cut on dimensions – a twin, full, queen, king – and are sized appropriately. However, a double-king bed is unusual and to sew the fabric together to simply make a double-king meant a seam would run through the middle of the bed… and, as any royal will tell you, no one should have to sleep on a seam.

The result: A custom-created silk comforter, seams appropriately placed on the edges, fit for a King, or a guest at the Villa.

The mansion is said to be the second-most photographed home in the U.S. – the White House is the first – so it’s no surprise that while we were inside, passersby were snapping away along Ocean Boulevard. We made our way to the roof deck and took a look at what Versace himself saw when he stayed here: the peaceful blue waters, the palm tree-lined beach and the beauty of South Beach.

I’m fortunate enough in my work to be able to see some of the best of the best hotels and homes in the world. On occasion, I get to share these visits with family friends. This was one such occasion. With my Mom in tow – an equally mesmerized fashionista – we walked to the edge of the Villa’s rooftop and looked down. In what I can only describe as a pivotal moment in both our lives, my Mom waved as a tourist snapped her photo from outside the Versace mansion. As far as the tourist was concerned, my Mom was a celebrity staying inside. As far as I was concerned, my Mom was was indeed that celebrity.

There’s more to come from this magnificent mansion, including a look at the suite said to be designed specifically for Madonna, and the original frescos that Barton G. had preserved in the mansion. Stay tuned for my features… and in the meantime, view some of my exclusive photos from the Villa.