Did you know that the Graystone Estate in Beverly Hills is one of the first properties to be listed on the City’s register of historic sites?  Did you know that for 60 years the Graystone Mansion sat empty on a hillside overlooking LA? Beverly Hills will reach a 100 years of cityhood on January of 2014. Many events and celebrations will be held over the next year to showcase Beverly Hills’ past, present, and future.

The Design House International showcased recently 29 world-renowned interior designers and paired them with a room to bring to life a theme revolving around a business titan, whether it be an influential person in technology, music, fashion, or aviation.  Some of those iconic figures are no longer with us, but the passionate designers brought to life the unique historical spaces to tell a story.

Entitled “Titans of Business & the Best of Design,” we were dazzled by fascinating design inspirations as we toured many rooms inside the Graystone Mansion, which is normally not open to the public. Room designs revolved around clients or historical figures, such as Stevie Wonder, Valentino, Jim Henson, John Astor IV, Francois Jantzen, Alexander McQueen, Coco Chanel, Julia Child, William Randolph Hearst, and more. Since the Grayston Mansion was built in 1927, the incredible historical space offered the designers a unique way to share their talents.

Some of the highlights included Eric Brand, a furniture designer, in collaboration with Airen Holbrook turned the children’s playhouse bedroom into a bright, sunny, and lively room inspired by Muppets creator Jim Henson. Lisa Turner with Interior Obsession, a full service Boutique Design Firm, specializing in high end residential and commercial design took a dynamic space (the Music Room) that overlooked the terrace and created vivid blue walls with Stevie Wonder inspired pieces. The dog room with its numerous framed photos of dogs was airy and white with plush white beds for dogs. Another room had all white frames next to each other displaying black and white photos of models from the past and present.

I  loved the Doll Room created by Kelly Morgan of Kelly Morgan Interior Design.  She chose Dougherty Laser Vision as her design inspiration, who is one of the world’d top vision correction surgeons.  Morgan had an two entire walls covered in what appeared to be a black and white photograph of an elegant woman juxtaposed with some traditional elements and dynamic colors. Please see the photo above. There was even a bowling alley in the basement next to a hideaway Prohibition bar. The bowling alley was lined with red Valentino dresses and is a known for the scene in the film There Will Be Blood.

The Friends of Greystone founded in 2001 is comprised solely of volunteers, which is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise funds to restore, preserve, and protect Graystone Mansion and park, owned now by the City of Beverly Hills. Please consider becoming a member by clicking HERE. To learn about the history of Graystone Mansion click HERE. To see the numerous movies that have been filmed at Graystone over the years, click HERE.