In Residence: Kelly Wearstler

“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.”

03 mins watch

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

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