In Residence: Rose Uniacke
by NOWNESSApr 02, 2020
by NOWNESSPublished on : Mar 28, 2020
“When we first came to the property we felt it just had such incredible energy,” says prestigious American interior designer Kelly Wearstler of her iconic, two-story LA home. “It has a warm spirit and I feel the energy of the family that lived here for 55 years before me.” The family in discussion is Cubby and Dana Broccoli, the original creators and custodians of the James Bond franchise. Before Wearstler moved in with her husband and two sons, the Broccoli’s wanted to make sure the new owners were capable of upholding the legacy of the Beverly Hills property.
The home’s cineaste credentials don’t end there; the three-and-a-half acre estate was originally built in the 1920s for silent movie star Hobart Bosworth and later sold to actors William Powell and Carole Lombard. After their divorce, Powell was rumored to have proposed to reclusive Swedish starlet Greta Garbo in the chapel, which Wearstler has now converted into a gym.
“I love the classical detailing, moldings and hardware which is all original to the house,” says Wearstler, who has left vast parts of the house unchanged. “I wanted to honor and respect the original architecture, so I looked at what we could do to just give it a new spirit.”
The LA property was built in the Georgian Revival style with a barrel-vaulted entry fit for the arrival of any Hollywood luminary. As a designer, Wearstler’s home reflects her artistic practice and finely honed sense of color and shape. Throughout the rooms, visitors can spot goat hair upholstery, graphic runners, bold silhouettes and a treasure trove of artisanal furniture, all enclosed by high-gloss white walls.
The tastefully muted grandeur of her home is also reflected in her work for commercial residences, celebrity homes (clients include Cameron Diaz and Gwen Stefani), products and hotel interiors. Wearstler is recognized as instigating the rise of designer hotels and has become a long-term collaborator with the Proper Hotels and Residences group.
“I would say my design aesthetic is free-spirited--anything goes,” says Wearstler, whose carefully crafted home exudes modernity, backstory and innovation. “The client, the program, the interior architecture are all my muse.”
Next up, In Residence: Rose Uniacke
To see more episodes from the series In Residence, click here.
For more details, visit Nowness
by Akash Singh Mar 17, 2023
Employing principles of adaptive reuse, Studio Atakarchitekti designs the IGI Library, in a Czech Republic neighbourhood, as a democratic public space.
by Pooja Suresh Hollannavar Mar 16, 2023
The airport design project focuses on Iceland’s progressive goals, establishing a relationship between economics, employment opportunities, and sustainable development.
by STIRworld Mar 14, 2023
The ambitious project in Rotterdam involves the adaptive reuse of the Provimi warehouse into Danshuis or dancing house, celebrating the beauty of movement and performing arts.
by Amarjeet Singh Tomar Mar 13, 2023
With Saltviga House, Kolman Boye Architects create a poetic intervention, making use of thousands of wooden offcuts in Grimstad, Norway.
get regular updates SIGN UP
Don't have an account?
Sign UpOr you can join with
Already signed up?
LoginOr you can join with
Please select your profession for an enhanced experience.
Tap on things that interests you.
Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch
Please enter your details and click submit.
What do you think?