California Dream

by Alexandra Gordon

Fashion bridal and (now) homewares designer Monique Lhullier opens the door to her fabulously grand LA home.

“I was seven months pregnant when we purchased the house and I told my husband that all it needed was a coat of paint,” recalls fashion designer Monique Lhullier, of the five-bedroom, seven-bathroom mansion in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles (between Bel-Air and Beverly Hills), that she, husband Tom Bugbee, son Jack “and some staff” now call home. “But once we started the process, I decided to redesign it all.”

“It’s no wonder the process was a more involved one considering Lhullier is so well-known for her creative pursuits. She first made a name for herself as one of the world’s leading designers in bridal wear, creating dresses for celebrities such as Britney Spears, before launching a ready-to-wear collection in 2003 which now boasts an equally high-profile following including Sarah Jessica Parker, Angelina Jolie and Sharon Stone.

Although the floor plan remained the same throughout the 20-month renovation process, the house was given a complete stylistic make-over. All finishes were updated, every room was reconfigured, front and back gardens were re-landscaped, and wiring for security, lighting and entertainment systems were installed. “Every surface was changed, every room was redesigned; from the archways leading into them to the flooring and floor coverings to the furniture pieces and accessories,” says Lhullier.

As the project grew in scale, Lhullier enlisted the help of friend and decorator Jennie Abbott. “We collaborated to turn my vision into reality. It was fun and, for me, it was like putting a collection together.”

Lhullier likens the rigorous decision-making process relating to finishes, colours and fabrics to the way she approaches her fashion collections each season. “I started the process, then showed Jennie storyboards and she took it from there.”