After 100 years, the  Dusty Pink and Green  colors of the Beverly Hills Hotel still hold a special place in our collective hearts. While color combinations may go in and out of style every decade, these colors are  the  hallmark of a hotel that are instantly recognizable. From the buildings exterior pale pink, to the striped green and white ceiling of its entrance, to the fabulous Martinique wallpaper lining portions of its interior, this color combination oozes class and style. Recent renovations have adhered to that color palette, along with the use of the banana palm trees throughout the interior and exterior gardens. The use of hot pink pillows on the sofas and chairs in the Hotel Lobby, create unity with the exterior color palette, while also letting the lobby remain fairly monochromatic. Strategically placed hot pink orchids add just enough life to the interior to keep it from being boring.

I’ll never forget visiting the Polo Lounge after the ‘Pink Palace’ reopened in the 1990’s. Their cotton dinner napkins were also the palest of pink, and quite large. I just knew a friend of mine in Seattle  would fall in love with them for her pink and green dining room. Since they didn’t offer them for sale,  I managed to talk one of my friends into putting a couple of them in her purse. Now I don’t recommend this kind of behavior on a regular basis, but I will tell you that my friend turned the napkins into the most stunning sofa pillows, complete with green fringe.

The original structure was built in 1912 by Pasadena architect Elmer Grey in the Mediterranean Revival Style, and the east tower and iconic signage designed by Paul Williams, was added to the main building in the 1940’s. Completely renovated in 1995, the hotel is currently owned by the Sultan of Brunei, and is managed and owned by the Dorchester Collection, organized to manage the hotel interests of the Brunei Investment Agency.

By the way, did you know that you can still buy that distinctive banana tree leaf wallpaper designed by Don Loper in 1942? Follow the link to check it out: Designer Wallcoverings