At Home with William Powell

One of my favorite actors from the old days is William Powell. He could be suave and debonair, had a way with the witty repartee and the ladies, and displayed a wicked sense of humor, all the while being downright likable. I always thought it would have been fun to play Nora to his Nick Charles. And since he was a star during Hollywood's Golden Era, you wouldn't expect his home to have been anything less than glamorous. His Beverly Hills manse, featured in the February 1936 issue of House & Garden, was designed by architect J.F. Dolena and decorated by that decorator to the stars Billy Haines. Whether Powell played an active role in the design of his home is anybody's guess, but I suppose that doesn't really matter as he at least had the good sense to live in a Dolena house. While the interior looks a little dated, I think the architecture of the home- Regency inspired- was divine and completely befitting a Hollywood star of Powell's caliber.


Powell's terrace with intricate wrought iron detail.


The courtyard with a bay window that was really a two-way bar. How great is that? I also love those metal patio chairs.


The pool house. Fabulous metal canopy above the door.


The recreation room decorated by Haines. The walls were knotty pine, the curtains were blue cashmere, and the fabric on the furniture ranged from blue and white plaid to blue, green, red, and white striped. Hmmm. What I do like, though, is the fireplace to the right with blue and white delft tiles.

(All images from House & Garden, Feb. 1936)