Hollywood Regency architecture emerged from the glamour of the silver screen in the 1940s, blending French, English Regency and Greco-Roman influences into a style of theatrical elegance. Connoting culture, sophistication and affluence, it became hugely popular in residences, hotels and fashionable businesses before declining in the 1970s with the rise of Postmodernism.
The Palm Springs area frequently looked to Hollywood for design inspiration, embracing Hollywood Regency alongside Midcentury Modernism and the Ranch style. in the 1950s and '60s houses, country clubs and condominium colonies adopted and adapted its distinctive vocabulary to desert environs. Surprisingly resilient, Hollywood Regency roared back into fashion in the early 2000s—and many of its treasures remain hidden in plain sight. Here, we reveal where you'll find them.