March 2006

Soho House LA chooses Florence Broadhurst for Oscar week

For the past three years, one of the hottest invitations during Oscar week has been to Soho House LA. The chain of private clubs (New York and London) rents a 10,000 square foot house in the Hollywood Hills and throws US$250,000 at an ultra-talented interior designer who has a week to transform the place. This year and last year, the chosen designer was expat Brit Amanda Masters.

This West Coast outpost of Soho House – an ultra-modern, hip hangout – is then open to members, guests and invited industry A-listers and becomes one of the most prestigious award-season destinations known as ‘swag houses’. It’s also the semi-official destination of the post-Vanity Fair Oscar party.

The LA Times reports the designer of the swimming pool area last year, Bryan Rabin, as saying:

“Décor is becoming a huge part of Oscar week. The guests are highly-sophisticated people who live in beautiful homes. They are accustomed to luxury and well-executed design, so you not only have to make them feel comfortable but also that they are living out the fantasy.”

Amanda describes the thrill of being given such a great opportunity:

“It’s a showcase for adventurous designs, I can be what I feel like. When I have to transform a big house or room, there’s nothing like a strong wallpaper.”

This year, Amanda went for a moodier palette with more dark-wood furniture, aiming for a clubbier vibe. She told Womens Wear Daily that she was after the kind of place where you go in and say, “Hand me my slippers! Hand me my Sobranie cigarettes!”

She chose Florence Broadhurst wallpapers because they are used in Soho House in both New York and London. And decided to use Peacock Feathers because:

“Peacock feathers are in vogue at the moment, so I had some fabric and had wallpaper made up by Signature Prints. This year I used gold Mylar to make it really warm, in 2005 I had silver Mylar which was very cool and summery, so I did something different this time, it had a wonderful cosy feel.”

Amanda used Floral 100 wallpaper (product code FBW CO59) in Storm Blue on matt brushed Gold Mylar and Peacock Feathers in a custom colourway; Black and Charcoal on Cream Silk Slub.

Amanda Masters

Amanda Masters Design
8157 Laurel View Drive
Los Angeles 90069
USA

Work phone: +1 (0)323 848 8040
Website: www.amandamastersdesign.com

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email: helenl@signatureprints.com.au

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