Red: regal, majestic, royal, and ceremonial, this seemingly old-fashioned hue is as timeless and compelling as the most enduring human dramas. Don’t be daunted by its bold presence; just let these ingeniously chic spaces by legendary tastemakers show you how it’s done.
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In the late 1950s, California design pioneer Michael Taylor brought Hollywood glamour to the Bay Area. In his showroom, pictured in Inventing the California Look (Rizzoli). dramatic red carpet, upholstery, and velvet curtains—hung from the ceiling—make white cast-plaster accents pop.
FRED LYON -
Albert Hadley was a notable proponent of a bold red room, lacquering the entry hall of his New York apartment in the hue.
FERNANDO BENGOECHEA
Christian Dior’s private mansion at 7 Boulevard Jules-Sandeau in Paris proved that modern art and theatrical reds are bosom companions.
LOOMIS DEAN/ GETTY IMAGES-
For Diana Vreeland’s legendary Park Avenue home, Billy Baldwin painted the front door in a high-gloss red that melts seamlessly into a matching carpet.
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Juxtaposing textures—glazed cotton with scarlet silk damask—add baroque decadence to David Hicks’s canopy bed.
JEREMY WHITAKER
At Yves and Michelle Halard’s home in Provence, blue-tinged plaster walls complement the cool undertone of a red tablecloth.
FRANÇOIS HALARD-
“I love this potent Chinese red,” said Richard Keith Langham of the hue he chose for his own Ultrasuede-wrapped bedroom. “It’s so vibrant and stimulating.”
LUIGI MENDUNI -
Creamy white millwork tempers the drama of rich crimson walls and furnishings in this Luis Bustamante–designed space.
RICARDO LABOUGLE
THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN VOLUME 11 OF FREDERIC MAGAZINE. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!
