SUPERSTAR INTERIOR DESIGNER
MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD
SHOWS US AROUND HIS PALM SPRINGS RETREAT AND SHARES A-LIST TALES
Martyn’s taste for colour and design drama is no surprise, considering his work for clients including Cher (together left)
Martyn (top right) at his villa, a gem of mid-century modernism –a US design movement favouring clean lines and airy spaces.
‘I knew I wanted this house to have a little bit of I Dream of Jeannie, Rat Pack-type glamour’
He was worked his magic on some of the most stylish celebrity homes. But when it came to decorating his own luxurious weekend retreat, award-winning designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard – who counts Cher, Gwen Stefani, Tommy Hilfiger, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne and most of the Kardashian family among his many clients – wasn’t sure what to do.
The mid-century modern house in Palm Springs, California –a 90-minute drive from British-born Martyn’s main home in Los Angeles – was brimming with architectural gems but needed a huge renovation to bring it back to life.
“I have been decorating houses for people for 30 years, but when it came to my own, I would sometimes second-guess myself,” Martyn tells hello! in an exclusive interview from California. “So many things have influenced me from my work, it was hard to decide exactly what I wanted. But my one rule with interiors is to always let the architecture speak to you.
“I knew I wanted this house to have a little bit of I Dream of Jeannie, Rat Pack-type glamour.”
Built in 1963, the exquisite home was designed by architect James McNaughton; previous residents include Roger Moore and Hugh Hefner. It features dramatic colonnades of 20ft arches and a centrepiece sunken living room looking out over the pool and spa.