Welcome to Hollywood!

This week while looking for drawer pulls for my new O’verlay chests I was looking at lots of great vintage furniture for design ideas. That is when it struck me how modern these designs looked. Most of the designs I was looking at were from the Hollywood Regency era designed over 80 years ago.

Hollywood Regency  originated in the homes of Hollywood stars during the 1930s.  American designers, such as Dorothy Draper and William Haines, began decorating rooms to be luxurious showplaces for their celebrity clients. By incorporating elements of Art Deco with eclectic touches of silver screen glitz and glamor they created spaces with opulent glamor like no others.

Left: Dorothy Draper was the first to “professionalize” interior design, in 1923, she started the first interior design company in the United States. Right: New York City’s Essex Hotel’s lobby in 1954

 

 

Hollywood Regency design is regaining it popularity in a big way and I can see why. It combines all my favorite things! First is color! Pretty pinks, bold red, Kelly green, turquoise and of course plenty of black and white. Then Lacquer everything, weather you buy glossy spray paint and do it yourself or add lovely colorful lacquer furniture, make it shine. And my favorites, showy fabrics. Hollywood Regency is about making you home a showplace, so show off. Also Chinoiserie is very prevalent in Hollywood Regency design, and you know I’m always in for a little “Asian Flare.” Finally an eclectic mix of classic furniture that never goes out of style, so my mid century modern totally works. Throw in a little sparkle and you’ve got it.

Okay so it’s not that easy but today designers like Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler are bringing Hollywood Regency back to the forefront of design and if they don’t make it look easy they at least make it look great! Have a look…