dear ada: hollywood regency, or is it?

hollywood regency, or is it?

Am I the only one who thinks the designers Kelly Wearstler and Jonathan Adler owe a lot to the venerable British designer, David Hicks?

Wearstler and Adler have been two of my favorite interior designers over the last few years. I love the mix of modern and glam, boldness of color and homage to the 50's and 60's that helps characterize their work. I think their work resonates for me personally because I grew up in LA in the 60's where the groovy glam meets hippie chic meets mid century modern aesthetics thrived.

So imagine my delight a few years back when I discovered Kelly Wearstler's work, first through the hotels she designed (the Viceroy LA and Palm Springs, Maison 140, the Avalon) and then later, in her book "Modern Glamour". Her work is so bold, so fresh, so tart. And p.s., she has a new book coming out in April.

And of course, I fell in love with Jonathan Adler's organic ceramics first and then later his interiors. Sharing some of Wearstler's love for bold colors and both classic and modern furniture shapes, Adler's sensibility is far more humorous and cheecky. His new book "My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living" is a great way to see more of his approach to interiors.

Both still make me very happy even though they have been around for a bit.

And then I discovered a great book about designer David Hicks written by his son Ashley Hicks and my jaw dropped. So that's where all the great bold, graphic rugs and metallic wallpaper first appeared on the interior design scene. Hicks used shiney metallic and lacquered surfaces, simple, modern furniture pieces mixed with glass and mirrored tables, ceramic horse heads and buddha busts as accessories. All within boldly colored rooms mixed with traditional classics and drippy, baroque styled furniture painted stark white with upholstery of brightly colored fabrics. Mix, mix, mix of old and new to create something thoroughly modern and fresh. All through the 60's and 70's. Yes, I think it's fair to say that Adler and Wearstler owe alot to David Hicks' approach to design.

And then my friend said something really smart when I mentioned this to her. She said that maybe it was actually Mr. Hicks who owed them the most. Because of Kelly Wearstler and Jonathan Adler's fresh take on the aesthetic movement he began, they are ensuring that his legacy lives on for another generation to update and enjoy. They are in essence, proving that his modern design principles are relevant far beyond his own lifetime. I think she is right of course. She usually is.