Monday, December 24, 2007

The Father of "Hollywood Regency"



David Hicks (1929-98) has emerged as the most influential interior designer of his generation. His signature style has inspired contemporary designers of both fashion and home, and yet many individuals in and out of the design biz don't seem to be familiar with his work.

Often, popular interior designers Kelly Wearstler (kwid.com) & Jonathan Adler (jonathanadler.com) are credited with the "Hollywood Regency" look which has exploded in the mainstream in the past few years. And although these designers are brilliantly talented at what they do, they are more or less creating spaces that are an homage to the look that David Hicks created decades ago.

Long before the look was coined as "Hollywood Regency", David Hicks was creating beautiful spaces across the atlantic in England. He launched his career with the decoration of his own house in London in 1954, and soon began to design interiors for aristocracy, media and fashion (Vidal Sassoon, Helena Rubinstein, the Duchess of Rutland and Mrs Condé Nast).

In 1960, Hicks married Lady Pamela Mountbatten and was soon making carpets for Windsor Castle and decorating the Prince of Wales' first apartment at Buckingham Palace.

The resurgence of his design aesthetic can be found all over L.A. today. The Viceroy and Roosevelt hotel are two prime examples of Hicks style, so next time you're there compare the interior spaces with the photos of Hicks work; circa 1970's (above).

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