o.g. glam

much as we abhor the phrase, there is a reason the term "hollywood regency" gained so much traction, as there really is a tradition of "hollywood" in the regency, and the style is strongly associated with golden age of hollywood glamour of the 1950's.  john elgin woolf almost single-handedly invented the architectural style here in the 1940's and because of the style's early association with celebrity chic, it was hugely popular here in the 1950's and early 1960s, ending up being knocked off all over the place for retail, residential and rental buildings.  it's neo-classic meets mod panache instantly conveyed glamour and sophistication, and made everyone  feel like a movie star upon entering a building built in the style...

one such glammy woolf-style knock off was this beverly hills apartment building we chanced upon the other day.  built on the cheap in 1964, but with an eye for style,  the building's minuscule lobby features a black and white fornasetti style wall mural and white patent and black lacquer bench (too dark and cramped for photos, sorry). each apartment is entered through tall, skinny threshold to ceiling  double doors (originally burnt orange, now updated in glossy black like the front door) and inside each unit, the living room is popped out to about 10 feet high, and has a mirrored wet bar behind bifold closet doors for complete cocktail swank.

we only hope the well preserved facade once had a long, skinny french-french lantern in the central arch above those fab extra tall double doors.  that disk treatment on the iron grills running up the facade is going in the "style file" for future reference, too- such a unique, yet simple, ornamental motif, we'd love to steal it for something, someday...

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