L.A. Is My Beat: Regency Obsession. Vintage Photo Friday

West Hollywood Home, 1962. Hollywood Regency Style, remodeled from Spanish Revival

I am obsessed with Hollywood Regency-Style Architecture. When I was a child my Dad was in the building business. He often drew plans for friends to remodel their homes. His main job was as a sub-contractor, supplying doors and wardrobes for various buildings in and around the Los Angeles area. I would drive around town with Dad on Saturdays (pre-yachting days) when he would check on his various jobs, door deliveries, etc. He would always point out the different architectural styles of the buildings we passed. This was in the late 1950's, early 1960's. The popular remodeling style at the time was Hollywood Regency. I have detailed the progression from Spanish Revival home to Hollywood Regency-style here. Our little Wilshire Vista bungalow is the perfect home for this type of remodel! One day, this will happen:

Let's transform Ellen's & Larry's House!!

Traditional Regency architecture is explained here. Basically, it's classic European style architecture from the 19th century...lots of columns, mansard roofs, wrought iron, black and white color schemes with manicured landscaping. Hollywood Regency is another story! The designers of the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s took what was popular during their decade and added their own glitz and glamour for a sophisticated look. Think, Fred and Ginger set design in their movies of the 30s and 40s. My fave era is the combination of mid-20th century modern design with Regency, using a combination of the antique with the modern. Take a drive through Trousdale Estates in Beverly Hills, Ladera Heights, old Palm Springs or any other area developed during the 50s and 60s.

French Regency Style, Elvis Presley Home, Trousdale Estates, Beverly Hills, b. 1958.

I came across this lovely, current-day condominium development in West Los Angeles the other day. I think it's a perfect combination of today's styles with 1960s Regency sensibilities. This building could use some black wrought iron details and cypress trees, but I could live here.