Things to do in Bangkok: Find Design Inspiration at Two Historic Thai House Museums

Introduction to the Nai Lert Park Heritage Home

Most Bangkok visitors are familiar with the legend of Jim Thompson and make it a point to visit the Jim Thompson House and Museum — it should not be missed, and I will share my impressions on the house later in this post.  There is, however, a new arrival on the house museum scene that is also worthy of your time if you can work it into your schedule.  That new entrant is the Nai Lert Park Heritage Home.  Opened to the public in late 2015, the home was originally constructed in 1915 and occupied by three generations of the Lert family.  The home is open for public tours, however calling ahead for hours and to reserve a tour is necessary.  In addition, the house can be booked for weddings and special events.  In fact, if you look on Instagram for photos tagged with the home’s location you will find many beautiful wedding and event photos.

A bit of #shelfie inspiration from Ma Maison

One other thing should be mentioned before we talk specifically about the Lert family home.  The home sits on a good sized lot which includes a public park, a museum store, and two restaurants.  We decided to hang around after our tour to await the opening of the Ma Maison restaurant for dinner.  The restaurant is intimate with an abundance of orchids on display and wonderfully crammed full display shelves for your #shelfie inspiration.  The prices are reasonable, and the restaurant appears to cater to locals who are “in the know”.  The food was good, as was the service, however, we did have some communication challenges due to language.  I would still recommend dinner there if it fits with your plans.

 

Exterior view of the Nai Lert Park Heritage House

Now back to the house.  The home’s architecture is traditional Thai, which for starters in very practical terms means that the home is elevated, consisting of two separate buildings joined by a common walkway.  Incidentally, one of the two buildings was destroyed by a bomb in World War II and rebuilt.  The crater from the bomb is now a beautiful lotus pond.  The main living area is reached by an exterior staircase and surrounded by a veranda that is protected from the elements by a wide overhang.

To fully appreciate and understand this home and it’s contents, we must first ask “who was Nai Lert?”  The answer to that question is vital.  Lert was named Phraya Bhakdinorasresth, meaning “beloved millionaire” by King Rama VI in 1925.  You can think of Lert as a prominent, early industrialist in Thailand. Well known for his many innovations and contributions to Thai society, for example, Lert was the first to import cars from Europe, as well as starting the first public bus service in Bangkok.  The Lert influence extended to other family members as the first female Thai cabinet member was Thanphuying Lursakdi, Lert’s daughter and sole heir who served as Thailand’s Minister of transportation.

 

Section from a large wall hanging in the Nai Lert Park Heritage House

The Lert family lovingly restored the 100-year-old home and opened it to the public just over a year ago, keeping many of the family heirlooms and furnishings intact and on display for your enjoyment.  The collections include furniture, porcelains, a collection of antique walking sticks, and even a stand-in for Thanphuying Lursakdi’s beloved dog

 

The Jim Thompson Legacy

Depending on the length of your stay in Bangkok and which days of the week you are there, you may not be able to visit the Nai Lert Park Heritage House, however, the Jim Thompson House and Museum, as shown in the image above is very accessible as it is open daily.  Do call, however, to verify hours.  Opened to the public as a museum after Thompson was legally declared dead back in the seventies, the Thompson House is a “must see” venue for art and design lovers.  Although both of these locations feature traditional Thai architecture, there are a number of important differences.  In addition, the Thompson House has one of the best collections of South East Asian art in the world.  Thompson describes the objective for his collecting activity as follows:

I have tried to build up as fine a collection as I can to leave to this country. I know that the museum does not have funds to buy many of the fine pieces that turn up, and rather than see them leave the country, I have tried to buy the really exceptional ones to keep them here. I have paid very high prices for many of them, but I know that if I did not, they might have gone for good. I hope that you will believe that I am deeply interested in the archaeology and preservation of the beautiful things of this country, and I am not making a collection for financial advantages or selfish purposes.

Before we explore a few of the architectural differences between the two homes, it is important to understand a bit of the Thompson legend and how the home came to be.  The story of Jim Thompson, his life as an ex-pat in Thailand, and his mysterious disappearance in Malaysia is actually a great read.  In fact, Thompson disappeared on Easter Sunday 50 years ago.   As I write this post what happened to him remains a great mystery.  To read more specifically about Thompson’s life and disappearance beyond the brief synopsis I’ll provide, the book titled Jim Thompson:  The Unsolved Mystery by William Warren is a great resource.  I was able to get a copy from my local library, but it is still available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats.

Since photography is not allowed in the Thompson house you may also want to consider the book Jim Thompson:  The House on the Klong.  Note that there are two versions — a 2007 version and a 2015 version with a slightly reworded title.  You can find both on Amazon (or at the museum if you’re willing to carry it home), and either would make a lovely reference or coffee table book.  In addition to images from the home’s interior like the one on the book’s cover, the book also has reference information on Thai art and on the antique Chinese porcelain in the house.  The porcelain information is also relevant to the collection at the Nai Lert Heritage House.

Jim Thompson in his home office, image from Jim Thompson: The Unsolved Mystery

Jim Thompson was born in 1906 in Greenville, Delaware.  After graduating from Princeton, he spent nine years working as an architect in New York City where based upon his interest in the ballet he became a director of the Monte Carlo Ballet company which was a forerunner of the NYC ballet.  During his time with the ballet company, he developed an appreciation of costume and set design which would help distinguish him in his future career endeavors.  In yet another career switch, as America entered WW II Thompson quit his job and enlisted in the Delaware National Guard.  He would later join a new military organization that specialized in clandestine missions known at the time as the Office of Strategic Services — that organization is now known as the Central Intelligence Agency (you know, the one on Homeland) or CIA.  It was while on assignment with the OSS that he was deployed to Thailand, and he ultimately made Thailand his home.

A recent fashion ad campaign for Gucci featuring Tom Hiddleston.  Source:  Jim Thompson Fabrics Instagram

Thompson really was a master of reinvention and embarked upon his fourth adult career.  Upon permanently settling in Thailand after a divorce, Thompson became interested in the Thai silk industry.  This was an industry that really wasn’t doing well based on the introduction of cheaper machine-made textiles.  Many of the families that had historically woven fabric in their homes were moving into other endeavors to make a living.  These lustrous silk fabrics reminded him of those found in the ballet costumes, and he ultimately packed a bag of samples which he brought to New York where he met with the editors of Vogue and Vanity Fair.  Indeed, while Thompson’s silks are well known to the interior design trade, they initially were picked up by fashion designers.  By the way, another Thompson connection was with Thailand’s Queen Sirikit.  Thompson and Thailand’s silk industry received greater visibility as these fabrics were used in a wardrobe designed for the Queen by Pierre Balmain.  To read more about these beautiful fashions and how you can see them, click here.

A gorgeous contemporary interior designed by Christopher Kennedy Inc. featuring Jim Thompson Fabrics via Instagram

Jim Thompson brought a number of key skills to bear which fueled the revival of the Thai silk industry and the establishment of the business which lives on today.  He was an enthusiastic proponent of Thai silk and his enthusiasm for the product really translated into sales results and penetration of the US and European export markets.  Thompson also introduced chemical dyes to the industry and played a significant role in developing color ways or color combinations.

As the business became more successful, Thompson became an avid collector of Thai antiquities.  At the time, there wasn’t much of a preservation effort in Thailand, so the fact that Thompson collected so much for his home and left it all in his will to found a museum means that there is a substantial collection that has been preserved for our enjoyment.

Perfect for entertaining, the dining room features antique furnishings and beautiful teak surfaces

In the early sixties when Jim Thompson designed and constructed his Bangkok home he purchased six individual buildings which were disassembled and moved by canal or klong to his home site.  These buildings were historic in that some dated back to the 19th century.  It is important to note that traditional Thai architecture utilizes what I would characterize as “prefab” movable architecture.  This means that a family could build a home, and later disassemble the home so that it could be moved to a new site.  This was also desirable since as the family’s needs expanded, additional buildings could be constructed and connected to the original home.  Another reason that had cultural importance is it’s not common for Thai people to buy homes on the resale market that were owned by other families due to their Buddhist beliefs.  Having spirits (especially negative ones) from other families around is not at all desirable, and great care is taken to provide a spirit house to keep the ancestral spirits happy.  The Lert home provides another example of these multiple buildings which were joined together by common walkways.

Architecturally speaking, raised thresholds are a common Thai design feature and serve as a way to literally trip up evil spirits.  Note that at the time Thompson designed and built his home, prosperous Thai families were more interested in modern Western architectural styles, especially in urban areas like Bangkok.  This house did have some Western elements as well as design elements which were specific to Thompson’s requirements.  For example, Thompson preferred an interior staircase, and you can see that specific difference in the photos above.  Also, the walkways which connect the six buildings are all on the interior like you would see in a Western home.  Modern conveniences like air conditioning (in the office area only) and Western style bathrooms are also included.  You’ll also notice in the image above the red exterior paint which I understand was popularized by Thompson.

The on-site landscaping (examples below) is every bit as important as the architecture.  The grounds are filled with an abundance of tropical plant life and outdoor art.  Thompson entertained regularly, and it wasn’t uncommon for American and European celebrities or dignitaries to be entertained by Thompson.  All who visited were wowed by both the house and its landscaping.  There was plenty of entertainment in the house over the years initiated by a housewarming party that featured a performance by a Thai dance company.

I hope that you’ve found this post both entertaining and useful.  If you have already visited or are visiting Bangkok in the near future, I’d love to hear what you think of these museums.  If you know someone who will be going, please share this post.

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A Living Room is for Living

As 2016 came to a close, it became very clear to me that my living room needed an update.  This revelation came to me as I moved items about the house in order to have my carpeting replaced.  I found that the stacks of books and magazines in my living room had gone from neatly arranged light coffee table reading to extreme clutter.  In addition, the decorative items on display were in need of an update and serious styling help.   Every time I saw a beautifully curated table scapes, I had a deep sense of longing.   My issues were due to a lack of attractive, functional storage furnishings combined with holding on to items that no longer served a purpose.

Holding on to things which are no longer needed is a challenge for many, and it is a problem which can creep up on us, slowly robbing us of our joy.   I suspect this is an even greater problem for us as we ahem, mature.  As the carpet installers moved items from room to room to do their work, I found myself wondering why some of these things weren’t just moving out the door to make room for what would bring more joy and utility into my day to day experience?  Famed architect Le Corbusier nailed it — my machine for living just wasn’t working very well for me.

This is an old image of the corner in question. So boring, even with the paint color at right

This is the opposite corner which is much more interesting

The confession I’ll use as an example may date me, so let’s just say that yes, I am over the age of 40.  A significant amount of space in the living room was taken up by a 1990’s era component stereo system that I really don’t use any longer except to plug my iPhone into (see photo at left).  The speakers on that old Kenwood system were pretty good, but I was finding that I had moved on and I was now using my highly portable Bose SoundLink Mini — wired speakers have really become a thing of the past.  The huge revolving stand which I used to store CDs (barely visible behind the sofa arm) was also a relic of the past.  Many of my CDs were long ago imported into iTunes and all of my current purchases go straight into iTunes.  iTunes, streaming services like Pandora and internet radio really did away with the need for my less than attractive component system.  Note that the image on the right is the opposite end of the sofa — a far more interesting corner of the room.  I painted that accent wall several years ago and the pop of color made a huge difference.  The image at left is from before the paint job as my more recent photos of that corner didn’t turn out well.

The point of this disclosure is that I had quite a bit floor space dedicated to things I didn’t need, didn’t use, and that didn’t make a positive contribution to the aesthetics of my living space.   It was time for me to rethink the whole living room space to better reflect my lifestyle in this century.  Clearly, this was bigger than a table-scaping problem.

As I assessed the space, it was clear that I needed to do the following:

• Remove old component stereo system and CD storage
• Ensure all of my CDs have been transferred to iTunes and discard
• Find an upgraded, more permanent audio solution
• Remove old wrought iron wine rack (I bought this inexpensively as a “temporary” solution–I wanted a nice bar cart type of setup
• Reduce the number of “coffee table” books and magazines
• Bring in additional shelving as I knew that I had more books that I wanted to keep than would be fit on just my coffee table
• Add a second side table as I only had one (I did this a few months ago)
• Update decorative accessories to create an attractive table and “shelfie-scraping” space
• Purchase a piece of furniture which would be attractive and play the bar cart role with plenty of display space

Once I had my list, the furniture and audio elements were fairly easy. I had a good idea of what I wanted and absolutely fell in love with what I feel is now the focal piece —  a gorgeous Chinoiserie cabinet with a gallery tray top and shelves.  This Chocolate Garden cabinet by Theodore Alexander has it all — substantial size, beautiful painted imagery on a mahogany base, open Chinese Chippendale or fretwork side and front panels  —  it really was love at first sight.  And oh by the way, it does have built in LED lighting which is a plus.

The second piece of furniture I purchased is the Villegas etagere by Bernhardt.  The photo here shows three units side by side, but I only needed one.  For an upgraded audio solution, I went with the Bose SoundTouch 20 which I’ve been really happy with thus far.  I’m able to easily access music from Amazon Prime (another reason to be a Prime member), Pandora, and my iTunes library.  I also love that I can expand the system over time by adding additional speakers.  My one disappointment is that I cannot connect a non-Premium Spotify account.  I like Spotify, just not enough to spend $9.99 US per month for it.

Finally, I prepared by scouring Instagram for inspiration and identifying vignettes that appealed to me.  You can see some of my favorites in my Instagram grid.  I also did a quick read of pro stylist Emily Henderson’s (em_henderson)book Styled: Secrets for Arranging Rooms, from Tabletops to Bookshelves.  I then started to work on rearranging my existing decorative elements and selectively buying or creating some new ones.  I still have more work to do and will plan a follow-up blog post in the near future.  Below is a photographic update on my progress.  One of the issues I need to work on is reducing the amount of visible cord clutter, but I think I’m off to a good start.

I’ll also plan to share further updates via Instagram, so if you’re not already a follower, do join me.  Tell me, are you holding on to stuff that no longer serves you?  If your living spaces don’t reflect your current lifestyle, what changes would you like to make, and how do you plan to tackle the project?  I’d love to hear all about it!

Design Calendar 2017: Where to Go and What to See This Year

One of my favorite activities is visiting various design and architecture related shows. There is a core group of shows here in Southern California that occur every year, and I tend to attend these on a repeat basis.  I recently came across a list of shows around the world that is posted on the Houzz website.  I think this list will be particularly handy when traveling as it’s a great reference.

Modernism Week is the first Southern California event, and it is the only local event that I haven’t been to.  I’m hoping to correct that this year with a copy of The Architecture Nerd’s Guide to Modernism Week 2017 in hand.  Maybe I’ll see you there between February 16 – 26, 2017.

Your Guide to All the 2017 Colors of the Year

I had originally planned to write a post on 2017 color trends.  Instead of doing a blog post, I I am creating a link to Your Guide to All the 2017 Colors of the Year Photos via Architectural Digest http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/pantone-benjamin-moore-behr-color-of-the-year/all

An Introduction to Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture – Part I

The broad architectural style category we refer to as Spanish Colonial Revival occurred from 1890-1940, and reached it’s peak during the years 1924-1932. This style is very common in US states with  Mediterranean -like climates with  California and Florida as strong examples.  It grew from a number of sources, and according to David Gebhard, noted architectural historian there were two distinct phases. The first phase known as Mission Revival covers the period from 1890-1920.  The second phase was from 1920-1940 and was known as the Mediterranean Revival.

If we look at the first or Mission phase, in the late 19^th century there was a desire to go back to our roots, whether real or imagined. One factor was the decline of the Spanish Missions here in California and a desire to refurbish and preserve them. Another was the publication of Helen Hunt Jackson’s Ramona in 1884. Jackson was a friend of Harriet Beecher Stowe, and hoped that her book would draw attention to the mistreatment of Native Americans in much the same way that Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin drew attention to the mistreatment of Negros. The unintended result, however was that the book’s storyline raised a desire for romance and fantasy. While the Mission Revival began to fade, as predicted by architect Bertram Goodhue, the desire for romance and exotic far away places continued.

Two drivers of the Mediterranean Revival phase were Washington Irving’s book titled The Tales of the Alhambra, and the 1915 Panama-California International Exposition in San Diego. In addition to the ideas and inspiration from these two sources, the Ecole des Beaux Arts and World War I conspired to create another source. The Ecole encouraged architectural students to take the “grand tour” of the architectural highlights of Europe. Due to the war, many found Spain a safe, accessible alternative to other European destinations. Although not a student of the Ecole, it happens that George Washington Smith, the premier Spanish Colonial Revival architect in the Santa Barbara area visited Spain at this time. In 1918, Smith designed and built his own home in Montecito, and his career as an architect was launched as a result. The Casa del Herrero or house of the blacksmith was a home originally built for George Fox Steedman in 1925 in Montecito, CA and is now open to the public.  The city of Santa Barbara and surrounding areas were a hot spot for this style of architecture for a number of reasons. One was a desire to re-establish the Spanish style of architecture, much of which had been lost over time. Second was the need to rebuild following the 1925 earthquake.

Many architectural characteristics of the Spanish Colonial Revival style can be traced directly back to Spain and the Andalusian region, as well as the Alhambra. Examples include design elements such as arches, fountains, courtyards, red clay tile roofs, and Arabesque ironwork. These elements can be traced directly to Spain’s architectural history and the significant Moorish / Islamic influences there. Romantic elements such as widow’s walks are also common, while elaborate Churrigueresque decorative details are sometimes found in non-residential buildings. Here are a few examples — first is the building designed by Carleton M. Winslow under the direction of architect Bertram Goodhue for the Panama-California exhibition in 1915, which is part of San Diego’s Balboa Park and a National Historic Landmark.

Source: http://balboaparkconservancy.org/project/house-of-hospitality/

Another ornate example is shown below and features Churrigueresque elements.  The building in this case is Beverly Hills City Hall, designed by William J. Gage and Harry G. Koerner.  The building was originally built in 1932 which was during the peak period for this architectural style.

Image of Beverly Hills City Hall, original source unknown

A classic residential example is the Adamson House in Malibu (see below) which has also been designated as a historic site.  The home is open for tours, so if you are in the area check their website for hours of operation.  They also are available for weddings, and the setting would be especially memorable.  Note the arches, the widow’s walk, chimney style and use of tile as these are all common elements of the style.  While the house was built 86 years ago, the architectural style has maintained it’s allure — the prime Malibu beach location doesn’t hurt either.

Our next installments will feature some of the key architects who popularized the style and will explore how to create interiors which complement it.

If you are visiting the Southern California region I’ve intentionally included a number of sites which are open to the public for your viewing pleasure.  Let me know your thoughts on any that you visit.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post!  Your feedback on what else you’d like to learn about in the world of architecture and design is appreciated.  By the way, ICYMI, I have a series on Hollywood Regency design which is another style with deep roots here in Southern California.

Five Interesting Interior Design Product Lines from the 2016 Westedge Design Fair

I have five interesting interior design product lines from my visit to the Westedge Design Fair last weekend that I wanted to share. I’m sharing these in random order but they share some commonalities. First, these are designed and produced by smaller, niche-oriented, artisanal design firms either wholly or in collaboration with more established brands. They are also unique offerings that you won’t find at your local big box store so these are details which enable you to differentiate your environment and express yourself. Many also have a sustainable or organic element – read on and enjoy!

Natural, sustainable lighting from Ango

 

The colors and shapes of these fixtures caught my eye at first sight. Upon closer examination, I realized that these pendant light fixtures were made from something organic with an interesting texture. That organic something it turned out was un-processed silk cocoons which are either left their natural color or dyed with a non-toxic fabric dye. The cocoons are woven with wire to create the shape as shown. There is also a version shown at the bottom of the photo crafted from Mulberry tree bark. Remember that silkworms eat mulberry leaves, which ultimately become the raw material for the silk fiber in the cocoon. The fixtures are handcrafted in Thailand where of course silkworms and mulberry trees are plentiful. These pendants would be terrific in a contemporary or modern interior.

P.S. – if you’re interested, here is the link to a short YouTube video which shares the process used to produce silk in Thailand.

Modern lighting from Thomas Cooper Studio

If you haven’t guessed it by now, I have a thang for all things sparkly, especially lighting and I found two fixtures from Thomas Cooper Studio that fit the bill. I wasn’t familiar with the company but learned that it is a local Los Angeles based firm run by a husband and wife team. Their design philosophy is built around original materials and artisanal processes. The first fixture I was drawn to is named the Sophia which comes in a few different flavors – you can get it as a pendant or a flush mount version which you could mount on the ceiling or as a sconce. It is also available in different sizes with either a polished bronze or polished nickel finish. The second fixture that caught my eye is called the Brutale. Made from organic glass, the hand-crafted glass baubles are strung with fine jewelers chain which adds to the elegance of the piece.

Fine Jewelry for the bath from THG Paris

Design legend Charles Eames was quoted as saying that the details make the design. The faucet sets from THG provide headlining details for a luxurious bath. I photographed a sampling of these while at the show, but THG provides a range of high-end faucets with exquisite handle designs from Baccarat, Bernardaud, Daum, and Lalique to name just a few. The various crystal manufacturers have rendered their designs in a wide range of colors. For example, the Baccarat Pétale de Cristal shown is available in a deep red, noir or black, a deep blue or clear. If that isn’t luxe enough, the hardware can be plated in a variety of finishes, including polished, matte, or rose gold. Seriously, with these crystal handles, I don’t think you would want polished chrome or brass…I’m not judging, I’m just sayin’. These sets are the equivalent of fine jewelry as opposed to costume jewelry if I use a fashion metaphor. I honestly have no idea of the price, but I have one of those little Halcyon Days enameled boxes from England which wisely states “never economise on luxuries.”

Revisit the stone age with Green River Stone Company

This is a unique offering that can be used in any number of ways. Green River specializes in recovering limestone fossils in Wyoming and them crafting them into murals, backsplashes, countertops, furniture, you name it. Basically, you give them an idea of the type of piece you want and the size. They then search through their inventory of fossils and prepare the slab to your specifications. I only photographed a couple of their pieces, but if this type of material appeals to you I’d encourage you to take a look at their website for more inspiration.

Mineralize your environment with Brenda Houston

So here is another geological find, but without the fossils. At the Brenda Houston booth, I saw three types of products either inspired by or crafted from minerals.   First are the tables and shelves, a couple of which are pictured here and make for stylish accent pieces. Second are the lamps (there I go again with the sparkly lighting). Finally, there are the wallcovering and printed textiles which are basically renderings of the minerals used in their hard surface products. A look at Brenda’s website to further explore the possibilities is a must!

 

Naturally, there is a lot of great stuff to see at the show with so many (over 140) manufacturers gathered in one place. If you’re in the LA area next fall, a trip to the fair is a great source of ideas and inspiration.  You can stay up to date on the event at the Westedge site.

So there you have my top five picks. Let me know what you think and where you fantasize about using these offerings in your upcoming design projects.

 

An Introduction to Hollywood Regency Design – Part I

The purpose of this post is to begin an exploration of the style we now refer to as Hollywood Regency.  We’ll start with its roots, the design principles, social environment, and interior designers who initially popularized the style during Hollywood’s golden age. We’ll then move on to look at current 21^st century interpretations of the style as

 

A beautiful room setting from the Jonathan Adler website

 

demonstrated by design luminaries such as Jonathan Adler, Nate Berkus, and Kelly Wearstler.   Elements of the style are all around us in contemporary interiors.  Perhaps even in your own home.

Regency style – The Saloon at the Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton

One of the best definitions of Hollywood Regency style that I’ve seen was offered by Michael Berman in a 2006 interview published in California Homes magazine. Berman defined this mid-century period as one that was “essentially created by the movie industry and takes the best motifs and decorative ornaments from the Regency, Georgian and even oriental genres and exaggerates them for a new classic styling.”  When we think of the original Regency design style, we’re looking at a period from 1790 to 1837.  The style was based on classical design elements, formality, opulence, as well as Greek and Egyptian influences such as columns and cornices.  It is viewed as an extension or continuation of the Georgian style which preceded it.

 

The period known the “Golden Age” of Hollywood gave birth to Hollywood Regency and is the era from the introduction of sound in 1927 through 1949 when the motion picture industry was forever changed due to a 1948 Supreme Court ruling.  During this era, the industry was dominated by eight companies, which included 20^th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, United Artists, and MGM.  Movie stars at the time were major celebrities with glamorous lifestyles that were in the public eye.  Famous actors of the era included Cecil B. De Mille, Humphrey Bogart, Judy Garland, and Clark Gable to name a few.  Many movies from that historic era remain as classics today, including films such as Gone With the Wind, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, and It’s a Wonderful Life.

One of the first references to Hollywood Regency design that I discovered was a collaborative effort between Dorothy Draper who is thought of as a pioneer in the interior design world, and Paul Williams, a Los Angeles based African American architect to the stars.  Williams is a noteworthy design figure, and I’ll plan a post dedicated to his contributions to architecture and design in the near future.  In 1939, Williams was the architect of the Arrowhead Springs Hotel, and Draper was selected as the interior designer. The two were brought together on the project by Jay Paley.  Paley was a wealthy businessman who had previously hired Williams to design his Beverly Hills residence.  According to a 1940 article in Time, Paley recruited a number of his Hollywood pals, including Claudette Colbert and Al Jolson as investors in the hotel. Time describes the 69 room hotel as “late Californian with a Southern Georgian trace.”  The Draper Exhibition catalog from the Museum of the City of New York describes the project as:

“An informally laid-out complex of stucco-clad structures with flat or low hipped roofs, the buildings featured large windows, classical pilasters, and a semi circular colonnade, all decorated with delicate curvilinear ironwork. In its theatrical mix of modern and classical elements, this “Hollywood Regency” style was a Southern California version of the Draper Touch and thus the ideal setting for Draper’s equally fanciful approach …”

Given the Hollywood connection, there is no surprise that the grand opening featured a number of movie industry stars including the Marx Brothers and Judy Garland. Esther Williams was a frequent guest and several of her movies were filmed on-site. The hotel’s swimming pool was later named after her.

Prior to the 1949 court ruling, the studios were run using what was then known as the “studio system”.   As vertically integrated businesses, the studios controlled all aspects of film making, from production through distribution.   Film stars were under contract to the studios, and naturally, these contracts were written for the benefit of the studio, not the performer.  These contracts included “morals clauses” which would not be tolerated in our modern society.

Hollywood’s leading man in 1930, based on box office draw, fell victim to the studio system but went on to reinvent himself as an interior design legend. Enter stage left, William Haines, more commonly known as “Billy” who was forced out of acting at MGM by Louis B. Mayer in 1933 because of his openly gay lifestyle.  Haines later said that being forced out by Mayer was the greatest thing that was ever done for him.  We’ll chat more about Haines and his enormous design contributions, such as the Brentwood chair in Part II of this series.  Also on the blog, The Seven Elements of Hollywood Regency Style.  Be sure to sign up for e-mail notification of new posts so you don’t miss a thing!

The Brentwood Chair by legendary designer William Haines is a Hollywood Regency classic

An Introduction to Hollywood Regency Design – Part II

In Part I of this post, we discussed a definition of Hollywood Regency design and its history. A racier definition if you’ve not read Part I, was provided in a 2005 LA Times article where the author describes Hollywood Regency as a “promiscuous mix of Georgian, Federal, and Second Empire flourishes.” True or not, it sure sounds exciting, and these interiors really can be exciting. Speaking of, I will be sharing in a follow-on post what I believe are the seven key elements of the style for your consideration.  In addition, follow me on Instagram as I’ve posted a number of relevant images to illustrate the style with more to follow.  We left off at the rise of William (AKA Billy) Haines and his contributions to this style and to design history. The Haines legacy is an important one as evidenced by the recent auction at Christie’s of The Private Collection of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan.

I was recently able to attend a panel discussion and preview of the Reagan collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).  A major focus of the event was Haines’ design career, his contributions to Hollywood Regency, and notable pieces of his in the Reagan collection.  Haines designed his furniture for comfort, and the Seniah chair pictured below is a great example.  It was a staple of his which he used in many projects, and it remains in the company’s product line today.  They were so comfortable and well made that his clients were known to simply re-upholster them — often remaining true to the original Haines design by using the same upholstery fabric.  By the way, if you’re wondering about the name Seniah, it is simply Haines spelled backwards.  My personal favorite piece of Haines furniture is the Brentwood chair which was featured in Part I of this post.

A common feature of Hollywood Regency is Chinoiserie design elements.  Haines truly loved Chinoiserie, as well as Chippendale and Georgian pieces which he combined with modern pieces of his own design. Chinoiserie is an important genre within the world of design and is often evident in current day interiors. Think of Chinoiserie as design elements which are clearly drawing on Asian influences and motifs, but originally designed for the European market going back as far as the 18^th century. Examples might include foo dogs, ginger jars or cherry blossom motifs. A great example can be drawn from the Regan auction where I noted that there were 16 lots of lamps included in the auction which were designed by Haines or his business partner Ted Graber who had the lead on the Reagan project.  I have included six pairs of lamps below as examples.

These lamps were predominantly Chinoiserie in style (note the neoclassical exception top right) and sold for top dollar at auction. By my calculations, the 16 lots of lamps (all but two  lots were pairs), sold for just under $6 million. The lamps shown are timeless in their beauty and would fit happily included into just about any home today.

Floral Chinoiserie lamp from Horchow.com

I’ve also included a contemporary Floral Chinoiserie lamp from the John-Richard Collection for comparative purposes.  Notice that the lamp base has a more modern shape and the floral design is more abstract and modern.  Regardless, it would look fantastic paired with the bright yellow daybed shown below.

Haines designs included some gorgeous modern accessories using materials which were new at the time, such as lucite. The William Haines Company lives on today and continues to produce Haines’ designs for 21st-century consumers. You can see some of their work on Instagram @williamhainesla or on their website. Some of the aesthetics you’ll observe are the very modern design, low seating, tufted surfaces, metal arms and legs, and glass surfaces. Images below from the Haines website from the top are the Prism Vase, the Valentine Daybed, the Seniah Chair and the Angelo Chair.

Image Source William Haines Company website

If we consider that these furnishings were designed decades ago, it is amazing how timeless they really are. As an example, Haines designed the Warner mansion (Warner as in Warner Brothers Studios) in Beverly Hills. The mansion was constructed and designed from 1926-1937, so this is a project which concluded nine decades ago — it will be 80 years ago next year. The mansion was featured in a 2005 article in Architectural Digest.   If you look at the screening room as shown here, you really would not know that it wasn’t designed last year but for the many advances in home theater technology. I mean really — the screen was raised with a water driven pump.  You’ll notice that “promiscuous mix” where you see modern furniture design paired with Neoclassical architectural elements, a Budha’s head, and a Chinoiserie-styled wall covering.  There was a recent article in the New York Times titled “Why Won’t Midcentury Design Die?”.  When you look at Hollywood Regency, I think the secret to its success is that it draws upon multiple genres so that you see fresh, unexpected combinations.  The article quotes Jill Singer, a founder of the design magazine Sight Unseen “Nobody wants to see a room that’s all midcentury….But when you have a beautiful, interesting piece, it doesn’t seem tired.”  The pieces shown here from Haines’ collection are far from tired.

Image source Architectural Digest

Haines’ Hollywood network of friends and colleagues did serve him well. In addition to Warner and the Reagans, his client list included stars and influencers like Carole Lombard,

Image source Architectural Digest

Joan Crawford, the Annenbergs, and Betsy Bloomingdale. His biographer Jean Mathison described his style as “Hollywood Deluxe, a sumptuous amalgam of Deco Moderne and Regency Neo-classism” although others have simply described it as Hollywood Regency.

Another early Hollywood Regency architect was John Woolf. Credited with introducing the Mansard roof to southern California, and considered a master of scale, Woolf originally came to town from his native Georgia looking for a role in Gone with the Wind.  His design clients included John Wayne, Cary Grant, Judy Garland, and David O. Selznick to name a few.  It has been said that a Hollywood Regency revival began with a 2002 article in the New York Times written by restaurant and hotel entrepreneur Sean K. MacPherson. MacPherson purchased a home designed by Woolf in 1995 and wrote an entertaining article about the “livability” of Woolf’s architecture. He describes Woolf as someone who “brought pomp to a city of circumstance” The article included an amusing quote which compares Woolf to Le Corbusier:

“A house is a machine for living,” said Le Corbusier, whose mind was often on public housing. John Woolf, whose mind seemed to be on Marie Antoinette, designed machines for living well. Certainly the architect himself lived well. ”There was always a Baccarat tumbler with ice cubes and Scotch and a lit cigarette,” Woolf’s friend David Naylor recalls.

The MacPherson residence pictured below was listed for sale in 2013 with an asking price of $2.95 million.   At the time, the home was occupied as a rental by designer Nate Berkus and his then fiance Jeremiah Brent.  Harper’s Bazaar featured the couple and their home in July 2013 which was described as equal parts Mad Men and ultra modern.

 

Another Beverly Hills home designed by Woolf.  Image circa 1960 from Slim Aarons/Getty Images

The Hollywood Regency style fell out of favor in the 70’s, and as we fast forward to the present, a shared experience between several innovators of the original Hollywood Regency style and its current grande dame, Kelly Wearstler is working on Hollywood movie sets. The use of proportion and the grand scale theatrical bent of designers like Haines and  Dorothy Draper are carried forward in Wearstler’s interpretations.  Draper’s 1954 design of the restaurant at the Metropolitan Museum of Art shown at left has similarities with Wearstler’s more recent design work at Bergdorf Goodman’s New York City restaurant which is shown at right. Draper’s use of black and white accented with a bold lipstick red color, slick leather upholstery, dramatic light fixtures and columns would be perfectly appropriate for a current incarnation of Hollywood Regency style.

 

Image from exhibition catalog, The High Style of Dorothy Draper

Image from Bergdorf Goodman website

So now that we’ve covered the history of Hollywood Regency design, and some of its key contributors, it is time to explore what I think of as The Seven Elements of Hollywood Regency Style that you can apply to your interior design projects.  Thanks for taking the time to read these posts.  I hope you find the information useful and would love to hear your questions and comments, as well as ideas for future posts.  I anticipate a similar series of blog posts on Spanish Colonial Revival in the near future.  Be sure to subscribe so that you’ll be notified of new posts.

The Seven Elements of Hollywood Regency Style

These in my mind are the seven big ideas to take away when you think about how to achieve a Hollywood Regency look. Don’t feel like you have to do all seven of these, but some combination of them will get you there. You’ll probably notice that in most cases the images I have selected exhibit multiple elements. That is the beauty of Hollywood Regency – it allows the “promiscuous mix” of design elements we talked about in my blog posts titled An Introduction to Hollywood Regency Design. If you have not seen them, here are the links to Part I and Part II. In addition, I am developing a series of Instagram posts with additional images selected to illustrate the best of this style. You can follow along on Instagram by following me — social links are embedded in this page.  Note that I cannot take credit for most of the images shown here. I identified the sources wherever possible, and for the most part found them through simple Google searches.  There is a lot of design porn here and out there on the internet for your enjoyment and creative inspiration.  My goal is to provide you with examples so you can see what to look for and what works with this style of interior design.

1. Play With Scale. Scale in this context refers to the size or level of something in comparison to what is average. When thinking about Hollywood Regency interior design, we could have furnishings, architectural details or other design elements that are larger or smaller than average. For example in a room with higher than average ceilings, you might have larger than average doors or decorative panels. When it comes to furnishings, you might have items that are lower to the ground. My beloved Brentwood chair as an example has a seat height of 15” which is a bit lower than average, while a canopy chair with its very tall back which provides additional visual height. Note the slideshow  images here from Kelly Wearstler’s 2006 book titled  Domicilium Decoratus which provides rich interior design eye candy with a mix of scales (and super elegant interiors). Mixtures of scales that are appropriate for your space are the first element of the Hollywood Regency style.

Brentwood Chair from William Haines website

Valentine Sofa from William Haines website

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2. Don’t Be Bashful — Color Boldly! Bold pops of color are used freely in these interiors. It may be used on an accent wall, key pieces of furniture, art or accessories. The options are almost endless. Just be careful to know when enough is enough (or not). In addition to the Domicilium Decoratus images above with that beautiful bright orange, here are two additional examples. The first is an image from Jonathan Adler that features a kelly green sofa against a creamy background with pops of black (yes, black can pop). The second image takes an entirely different approach by using a black background and the color pops come from the white sofa and accessories as well as the Kelly green patterned rug. The key is a bold jolt of color, and when used against a black background even white can be a bold choice.

From Jonathan Adler website

3. Use Patterns With Impact. Hollywood Regency interiors often get big impact through the use of pattern. If you look back at the black room from point two above you’ll notice the neo-classically patterned floor rug and side chairs combined with the subtle damask like wall covering.  The image below also shows the use of a large bold geometric pattern on the floor combined with a smaller scale geometric print on the chairs at left. Note also the bold pops of turquoise blue on the campaign chair and accessories combined with the deeper ocean blue on the sofa.  This is all set within a mid-century interior (the fireplace is a dead giveaway).  Notice also in the adjacent space the bold, complementary orange accent wall.

4. Accent With Chinoiserie. I will confess, I am deeply fond of Chinoiserie. Although my home décor doesn’t adhere to enough of the elements here to be considered Hollywood Regency, there is a place for Chinoiserie in many different interior styles. There are a number of ways to incorporate Chinoiserie elements. For example, you can use decorative items like ginger jars, lantern styled lighting fixtures, Chinese Chippendale chairs or beautiful hand painted wallcoverings. Here are some beautiful examples. Note the bedroom scene uses a couple of panels which are a lower cost way to introduce more expensive hand painted papers.  Notice also the pair of turquoise foo dogs on the bench.

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5. Bring On The Gloss. Glossy lacquered furnishings are so appropriate to the Hollywood Regency style. The little apple green chest in the slideshow above is a “three-fer”.  Not only does it have a glossy lacquer finish, but it features Chinoiserie motifs and a bold pop of color.  These are the types of pieces which really “bring it” from a style point of view.  Some of my favorite lacquered pieces at the moment are from Jonathan Adler a few of which are in the slideshow below. I love that he has a number of different pieces that have great hardware and can be made to order in as many as five different colors. He also offers lacquered Chinese Chippendale chairs which would give you a “twofer”.  Another approach is to use a high gloss paint on walls, old furniture or woodwork which is an inexpensive way to go. Yet another option would be a piece of furniture with a more exotic hardwood finish.   Naturally, there are many decorative accessories you can choose from to bring a bit of gloss into the room.

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6. Touchable Tactile Textures. There are a lot of ways to bring textured textiles into the room and delight the senses– textured wallcoverings, plush velvets on the sofa, silk pillows, leather, and fur throws are just a few. If you scroll back through the images you’ll find these in many of the previous examples in addition to the ones shown below.

7. Pretty Shinny Things.  Bring additional sparkle into the room with items like mirrors (may include mirrored furniture), lighting fixtures and reflective surfaces.  These items add instant glamor and drama, especially when the room is lit.  Don’t forget to create layers of lighting as they are needed in every room design regardless of the design style.  The four basic layers are ambient, decorative, task, and accent — I look forward to explaining these further in an upcoming post.  Your biggest bang (from a “sparkle” point of view) is likely to come from effective decorative and accent lighting.  This is very important, however with Hollywood Regency as these interiors are meant to be dramatic and glamorous.  If you look back at the previous images, you will see examples in addition to the ones shown below.