Hollywood Regency - LA cool meets Palm Beach 1950s meets Joan Crawford

Hollywood Regency has definitely made a dramatic return to interior design because of the likes of Kelly Wearstler , Jonathan Adler (who's manifesto is the funniest thing I've read in a LONG time) who've established it as the decor du jour.

Designers from Hollywood's Golden Age, like William Haines and Dorothy Draper, encouraged Hollywood movie stars to decorate their home with overtones of glitz and glamour, a new design style emerged. The 1930s Hollywood Regency style was a favorite of celebrities ranging from actress Joan Crawford to the Rat Pack.  I can remember seeing Faye Dunaway in "Mommie Dearest" and Joan Crawford's love of white and mirrors, she was definitely obsessive compulsive!

Because of the popularity of the style things like chinoiserie chairs, brass ornaments, and pieces like William (Billy) Haines pieces, this seems like a totally accessible (if not expensive) decorating style to adopt.  What annoys me is that everybody calls anything mid-century EAMES ERA.  Puh-lease.  Charles & Ray Eames were designers mainly of furniture, and logos (IBM) and various designs, but I don't think they'd slip into the Hollywood Regency category.  They were way more 'down home', and slightly more Frank Lloyd Wright.

Here's my very amateur take on it:  think LUX, LUCITE and lashings of LACQUER.  Colour, colour everywhere with silks and dramatic fabric designs, plush thick carpets and rugs. Or we can go further with some other themes:

• Lacquered Furniture
• Lucite Tables and Chairs
• Mirrored Furniture and Mirrors
• Fabulous and Bold Wallpaper
• Chinoseirie
• Dressing Table
• Lilly Pulitzer Palm Beach style

Nothing says glamor more than a chandelier. Glamor table lamps have crystal stems and fancy shades in white or black. Or add lamp shades in the color of the accent you have chosen to carry the theme throughout the room.


RESOURCES
Read more: How to Decorate Hollywood Regency Style
Some shops that sell the Hollywood Regency style online:

Jayson Home & Garden

Inside Avenue

Brocade Home

655 Home

Councill Furniture

Chloe Sevigny's apartment decorated in Kelly Wearstler's "Imperial Trellis"

Dorothy Draper Chandelier and wallpaper

Beautiful use of green, black and white.  Kelly Wearster, Viceroy Hotel, Santa Monica

White with green highlights - Kelly Wearster, Viceroy Hotel, Santa Monica

Moroccan glass panels look great stacked with display. Kelly Wearster, Viceroy Hotel, Santa Monica

White & lucite - note the plates again (a personal fave)!

More plates complementing chinese regency style

Kelly Wearstler at Bergdorf Goodman

Mirrored tile ceiling

Billy Haines 'Seniah' Chair - love that fabric!

Gramercy Park Hotel - Ian Schrager (lux ++)

Schrager, Adler, Wearstler & Billy Baldwin - all hotel decor

Jonathan Adler - Chippendale in pink