Martini and Milk modern meets vintage

Spring is in the air. Palm Springs is my affair. Like the quote from Bambi, “You might be looking neither to the left nor to the right when all of a sudden you run smack into a pretty face”. In my case, pretty desert. I was blogging from Palm Springs, darling!  I am only attracted to boutique hotels that have the vibe and style of glam. And love was in the air for sure there at the Viceroy Palm Springs, with interiors designed by the modern-glamour designer Kelly Wearstler! Especially, right where I was editing this post: at midnight, poolside. Steps from our room. I wanted to mark my territory in every corner of this ‘desert home’ of ours. Unfortunately, the hotel is not mine but I feel like it always is. I just pretend it is. No, actually, the fabulous flamboyant gentleman at the concierge told me that the hotel was my home and he welcomed me back when I arrived. So, I was home! My love at first sight with the Viceroy hotels sparked in 2005, when I moved back to the golden sunny state from New York. My heart always skips a beat when I hear the word “Viceroy”. This is the heart of my Hollywood Regency style. It is where I planted my love seeds for the shiny addiction. Where I first found my home decor design style. My place in the sun where I can always find, touch and stare at images of beautiful, glamorous things. And that is why I feel incredibly  happy when I am at the Viceroy! Staying over night or not. I need my own Viceroyship flag. With the sunburst design, too, of course, representing my paradise in the sun. Beams and all.

 

What is exactly the “Hollywood Regency” home design style? Well, according to Mrs. McM: it’s all about the drama of shine and glam. It is a glamour, chic and sophisticated decor style that originated in the golden age of Hollywood, back in the early 1920′s and 1930′s. A style that gives you that “regency”, Hollywood Glamour feel. It’s a style that is decorated fully by ornate detail of Baroque design, lovely lacquered furniture, luxurious, gorgeous fabrics such as silk, satin, velvet and fur, and lusciously paired with metallic finishes, the sparkle of crystals, glass and mirrors. Think: Dramatic. Glamour. Gorgeous. Old Hollywood. Film sets were created lavishly for movies during the 1930′s era. The sets were dressed with highly theatrical accents that often featured tall white plaster floor lamps, mirrored dressing tables and fainting tufted sofas upholstered in rich satin or velvet. The colors of set interiors were often vibrant even though the movies were filmed in black and white. Regardless, the movies produced beautiful, darling, glamorous images. Just the way I love it.

I pretend that I was Jean Harlow sometimes…fainting, of course.

Dinner at Eight

Some may say that the style may be going to be out of date. I’d say, “Choose your dazzle.” Hollywood Regency that is arising to popularity these days has brought a lot of refreshing elements to home decor by combining the classical regency style with a lot more fresh modern touch. To me, it is such a flexible design lifestyle, a classic approach that never goes out of style since it allows you to mix and match the modern and vintage pieces you find. The interior designers popular from Hollywood’s Golden Age were Dorothy Draper, William “Billy” Haines, Elsie de Wolfe, and today’s talented leading designers such as Kelly Wearstler, Miles Redd, and Jonathan Adler have reinvented the luxurious lifestyle with more fresh modern baroque style. The publicist for William Haines Designs once said, “The whole concept is that this is a suite of furniture for an individual,” she says. “It’s classic furniture that never goes out of style. It’s back because it’s luxurious and glamorous, and because you can create an individual look because it allows you to mix and create your own living space.” Didn’t I say, it never goes out of style? Exactly. So, not to worry, you’ll always be fabulous in it!

I am absolutely obsessed with Dorothy Draper’s color combinations, broad stripes, utterly polished checkered floors, over-scaled classic traditional rooms, intricate mirrors, lacquered doors and wide use of chintz and plaster molding! All became strong elements in the Hollywood Regency style. In 1923, Dorothy Draper established the first interior design company in the United States.

In the 1960’s Billy Haines mixed his early love of Neo Classical elements with modernism. Chinoiserie was added to the mix to create the true Hollywood Regency look we now connect with the name.

“Welcome back, Mrs. McManus to the Viceroy Palm Springs”! Why…Thank you!  I was planning on posing in the hotel lobby, exactly like Kelly Wearstler here. Actually, I had been planning for quite some time and it still didn’t happen at this recent visit. The first time we were here, I was 8-months pregnant. The second time, Keira was about six months old. And then now, Keira is two and a half years old. Somehow, I got busier by each visit. I was always occupied with something more important than posing fabulously by the time I stepped into the lobby to check in.  Yes, the picture below is where you are greeted by the fabulous cheerful staff at the concierge desk (the beautiful designer is not part of the staff, by the way, sorry!), toss your duffel bag on the stripe-y chaise, get your credit card and driver’s license out and take a deep breath. You’re about to enter MY desert paradise. Ok, yours, too. And you’re about to contribute more numbers on your next credit card statement. But, it’s worth it! Just remember, it’s paradise.

The following pictures are all the reasons why I did not want to leave my paradise in the sun…At our very first visit, pre-Keira days – it was actually our “babymoon” because I was about to pop – we stayed at the ever-so-fabulous Dorrington Villa suite. It was an utterly darling villa I’ve ever seen and stayed. The suite we stayed had a beautiful living room, a fireplace, a powder room, a one bedroom and bathroom and a cozy stylish kitchen that opened up to a beautiful dining room with fabulous wallpaper all around, including the ceiling. All with the same touch of modern and vintage that Kelly Wearstler magically and equally created throughout the property. At the last two visits, we have stayed at the Premium Studio Two Queens Pool View room with a “step-out patio” that gives you direct access to one of the three glamorous chic pools. I miss the Dorrington suite like crazy. But, every room is so serene and smashing that you can never go wrong with whichever room you pick!

I JUST LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the VICEROY. Abundantly.

 

I had never craved for being pampered SO, SO much until I arrived, saw the spa menu in our room and fell in love all over again with the…spa design logo! The logo tells it all. The spa was not only fabulous, but I also received a real star treatment!

Citron. The restaurant, the bar, my special “sunny-side-up”!

Did I tell you that one night I was blogging from my laptop right at the poolside below – which was the view from our patio -, exactly in the fifth chair from the left? At midnight? There I was, in my beloved Viceroy bathrobe, sharing everything about my paradise with you!

I love love love “Hollywood Regency” style in every possible element of my home decor “extravaganza”. The glamour of the old Hollywood era mixed with the “hotel” feel attracts me deeply to the bottom of my heart. Colors! Oh how I love colors and this style gets me. I love the ingredients that made the look of the 20′s through the 60′s. One reason why I am so happy in this style is because I just LOVE celebrating the fabulous old Hollywood, the glamour of that era and having company over to entertain, having cocktails, just like when TV was less important during those years! I have adorned our living room, bedrooms and my little office at home for quite a few years with Hollywood Regency style in mind. Besides, I like to pretend that I was a movie star, living in the past… you know, “oh, daaahrling“!  The bold and dramatic decorating style has influenced Mrs. McM a lot in refurnishing her “homework”.

This is where I put my book down before going to bed…when I don’t pass out in Keira’s bed! Pier 1 Imports carries beautiful Hayworth-style mirrored furniture! I’ve got my nightstand below and Keira’s 4-drawer chest from there.

 

The bold colors that are distinctive Hollywood Regency elements are known to be in the reds, oranges, yellows, teal, kelly or apple green, pinks. They are mixed with the basic colors of white, black, cream, and brown. Put those bold and basic colors in broad stripes and the look will be so chic. Choose tufted upholstered chairs, sofas or headboards.  Add repeated geometric patterns on the upholstery or the wall. Put a lacquered Queen Anne chair in by the hallway or a group of them in the dining room. Hang chandeliers and sconces made with crystals or glass. Think shiny! Everywhere. Pick a mirrored end table, dress your room with a mirrored nightstand or dresser. Use mirrors on the wall and on furniture. Did I say shiny? Yes, cover the whole wall with different-sized of hanging mirrors. Add drama to the rooms by hanging silk, satin or velvet curtains on the windows, doorways, and even for the bathrooms. I love curtains. No wonder I love Hollywood Regency! Curtains add drama and heavy ones create spectacular scenery. Throw furs and feathers on the sofa or get a rug with a lot of fuzzy furry things on it. (Faux of course!). That will definitely add a dash of opulence. And unusual surprising items are also part of Hollywood Regency characteristics. Layer in some chinoiserie pieces as part of the artwork, wallpaper and accessories, for example.

La Mill coffee boutique in Silverlake was designed by Rubbish Interiors, an interior design firm and store that can be your source for finding new customized Hollywood Regency style furniture or dramatic refurbished vintage pieces…

I found joyfully the round end table in the picture above at Target for $99! Yay!

When you feel blue, you might love these glam pieces from Grace Home Furnishings…

A Horchow Coffee Table

William Haines Bel Air Sofa

 

Someone else is as obsessed as I am! Tinyabode blog compiled these little darlings in its post on Hollywood Regency:

A year ago, a High School dear friend of mine Lydia gave me this amazing prescription created by the entertaining and talented interior designer Jonathan Adler. Life can be tricky sometimes. And I sure got the right remedy for it! Thanks, Lyd! What a sweet gift! I hope you know that I always adore your style, darling! And I definitely love this book! Especially, coming from the stylish you!

I just love the joy in Jonathan Adler’s reinvented version of Hollywood Regency. Shiny pink poodle, anyone? I want it!

 

I am getting a tad sleepy and will finally stop talking! A tad. I blame it on the chocolate I have been munching. Thank you for letting me pour my heart out to the fullest on my love for Hollywood Regency! Thanks for staying to read it

Oh, I almost forgot. I intend to keep this teal Viceroy keycard sleeve forever. The color matches my accent wall in the living room! Didn’t I tell you I LOVE the Viceroy? I LOVE! We’re so in sync! (For the wall if you dare like me, the color is “Peacock Tail” by Behr). Here’s my previous post about the wall: Nautical Time.

It’s REALLY time for me to wind down…maybe by watching an old movie and sipping a cocktail before taking off to my other paradise…the bed. I hope to see you in my dramatic dreams, beautiful people!

With love to you always, darling. May your style make you as happy as mine makes me. Rain or shine.

Mrs. McM. Mostly in the sun and mostly shiny.