Meet Drake's architectural designer, who designed the superstar rapper's palatial mansion and has worked on some of the world's most expensive homes
, a palatial manor containing, among other wonders, an NBA regulation-size indoor basketball court, as well as a great-room chandelier by Lobmeyr dripping with more than 20,000 pieces of hand-cut Swarovski crystal, the second-largest installation of its kind in the world. Also included was a Rafauli-designed Bösendorfer grand piano splashed with the distinctive skull motifs of artist Takashi Murakami.
The kind of richly layered maximalism he practices isn't for everyone — Drake's interiors, for instance, were called "Jay Gatsby-meets-Vegas" in one snarky review — but for those who appreciate it, Rafauli is the best at what he does. It's not unusual for him to use more than 5,000 textiles in a project. To him, each home isn't just a living space — it's an end-to-end art installation.
As you'd imagine, he walks the walk himself. His own home features a 4,000-square-foot lounge and bar with suede walls, marble flooring and high-end audio equipment. "I live what I design. I buy things because I love their quality, execution and fearlessness," he says, such as one of the cars in his collection, the new Ferrari F8 Tributo, a model he considers an art piece and likens to a nimble ballerina.
His closet has been carefully considered, both in terms of construction and contents. The room itself is an ode to the good life, decked out with macassar ebony, bronze insets with suede hides and hardware from his own FR line. Hidden doors reveal espresso machines and fridges, and the islands contain TVs, allowing Rafauli to catch sports highlights or the news while dressing. On the rails, vintage Yves Saint Laurent leathers hang beside Hermès and splashier pieces from Roberto Cavalli.
"At one point I had 50 Louboutins alone," he confesses. "They're like candy. You buy them just because you love them, but a shoe has layers of artistry that people don't always recognize."The secret sauce of his success, he believes, is his bravery. "I like to think I'm fearless when it comes to design," he says. "I have a vision for a project, and I'm usually stepping outside the boundaries to execute it. I'm never comfortable.
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