The Glamorous Hollywood Regency Style

We posted last week a primer on Mid-Century modern, a gorgeous style popularized in the 50s and 60s and making a strong comeback today. There’s another style with roots in decades past that has also been popping up in interiors lately, only it looks nothing like Mid-Century modern! But while they may appear completely different at first glance, Mid-Century Modern and the subject of today’s post, Hollywood Regency, have more in common than meets the eye.

Hollywood Regency is a style of interiors and exteriors that is synonymous with the adjective “glamorous”. Used today any time a room needs “glamming up”, the style sports a wide array of looks, but definitely includes similar elements throughout its designs.

Hollywood Regency first took hold in the cinema’s golden years of the 1920s and 30s and continued right on prospering all the way into the 60s and some 70s. It was and still is shaped by several designers who made the style what is today, such as Dorothy Draper, David Hicks, Billy Baldwin and Billy Haines. Originally representing glamour, movie stars and the ultimate luxurious lifestyle, today the Hollywood Regency style exists as a full and exciting alternative to a more minimalist approach to design.

While the style encompasses many looks, specific elements are known to be Hollywood Regency, such as chinoiserie, or the use of Asian-inspired décor and black, white and bold colors used daringly through out. Faux bamboo plays an important role, popping up as mirror frames and furniture accents. You can’t have Hollywood Regency without a little glitter, and that’s why metallic colors like gold and silver and mirrored furniture pieces play an important role. Animal prints as well as the occasional fur piece also factor into a Hollywood Regency interior and keep in mind luxurious textures and prints always have a place. Lighting can make or break a Hollywood Regency room; placing many gorgeous lamps in a room helps create the right lighting mood.

Though all these elements can factor into a Hollywood Regency decorated room, keep in mind that the one thing that Mid-Century Modern and Hollywood Regency have in common is carefully edited spaces. There might seem to be a lot going on in these sorts of rooms, but every item is intentional and well thought out; there’s no room for clutter in Hollywood Regency!

Homeowners looking to incorporate the Hollywood Style in their homes stand to learn a lot from studying the masters of then and especially now, like Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler.

Images used from the portfolios of Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler, as well as historic photos of Dorothy Draper, Billy Baldwin and William Haines interiors.