Hollywood Regency Style Exterior Design Ideas
By: Hannah Warne
If you want to transform your home, sometimes it’s best to look to the past for a bit of inspiration. And if you gravitate towards the glitz and glamor of old Hollywood, the Hollywood Regency style is a good place to start. This opulent design aesthetic favors bold prints, graphic patterns, and gilded details. The result is an extravagant and over-the-top final look. While you don’t have to use all these elements in your exterior at once, pick and choose different ideas to add a little extra flair.
Discover our favorite Hollywood Regency-style exterior design ideas to add to your own home.
No matter your preferred design aesthetic, our expert team at brick&batten can make your dream home a reality. From the maximalism of Hollywood Regency to the clean, sleek lines of Scandinavian design — and everything in between — our team will work with you to understand your style and bring it to life. Learn more about our virtual exterior design services.
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How do you identify Hollywood Regency?
Hollywood Regency is a design style first popularized in the early 20th century. This opulent, bold approach to design was inspired by the silver screen darlings of the Hollywood Hills, most notably Dorothy Draper.
While this style draws influences from other design approaches like Art Deco or mid-century modern, it is maximalist in the extreme with a more-is-more attitude. Bright colors, gilded accents, and glamor at every turn are required for a home to have a true Hollywood Regency aesthetic.
#1 // Artful arches
Bold, curved lines contrast with a home’s typically rectangular shape, adding a sleek and modern balance that exudes the Hollywood Regency aesthetic. Especially when used to frame picture windows or large paned windows as in the example above, these beautifully curved details add the glamor and grandeur required of a Hollywood Regency home.
While a bold color palette or gilded accents would make this more on-the-nose, keeping the color palette muted and neutral allows this home’s exterior to be Hollywood Regency-inspired without taking the trend too literally — instead, it has both an equally timeless and modern feel.
#2 // Dramatic scale
If you could only describe Hollywood Regency in one word, it would be “drama.” Playing with the scale of exterior details like windows, trim, and entryways is an easy way to infuse some of the fundamentals of this iconic design approach.
Adding double-height windows to your front facade not only makes a grand statement but also makes any home feel worthy of the Hollywood elite. In the example above, the geometric, paned windows also lend a slight Art Deco feel, giving the exterior an even greater infusion of Hollywood Regency elements. Slight arches at the top of each window complete the look, offering an elegant accent that perfectly captures this distinctive design style.
#3 // Intricate detailing
When designing in the Hollywood Regency style, the more opulent, the better. Opting for multiple exterior details like arches, trim, and metallic accents creates an extravagant, layered look that plays right into the maximalist aesthetic.
This elegant home features beautiful decorative molding around the doorway, an intricate wrought iron door, a trio of arched windows, and statement-making copper gutters and awnings above rounded windows surrounding the front door. Symmetrical planters and a well-manicured lawn complete the overall look to exude sophistication and style.
#4 // Opulent entrances
In Hollywood Regency-style homes, the goal is to make a statement — even before anyone steps foot inside. And what better way to do so than with a grand entrance? Adding dramatic exterior details like a porte cochere, a geometric stone walkway, and a double-height entrance will wow passersby and any guests immediately upon arrival.
The example above also has beautiful large-pane windows, a modern privacy screen, and artfully arranged landscaping to further emphasize the entrance, making it the stunning focal point of the exterior that won’t go unnoticed.
#5 // Mid-century influences
While mid-century modern and Hollywood Regency are two distinct aesthetics, there is a bit of overlap between the two. Mid-century design was popularized only about a decade later, so over the years, elements of this sleek and organic design style slowly worked their way into Hollywood Regency homes, too.
While Hollywood Regency is known for its elaborate styles, over-the-top extravagance, and more-is-more attitude, it tends to also favor clean lines and simple silhouettes when it comes to furniture selection — just like mid-century modern spaces. Adding some of these elements — like organic wood detailing or purposely minimal design accents like railings and light fixtures — can make a home feel even more authentic to the era.
#6 // High-contrast color palette
Hollywood Regency is all about the “wow” factor — and nothing makes a bolder statement than a graphic black-and-white palette. While this style typically leans into bold colors and vibrant patterns, it also favors this classic color combo in striking patterns like a checkerboard or wide stripes.
Draw inspiration from this approach for your exterior as in the example above and opt for classic white siding and black trim. White Dove by Benjamin Moore is a top-selling white hue with neutral undertones to maximize its versatility. On the other end of the spectrum, Midnight Dream by Benjamin Moore is an inky black, mysterious hue that exudes glamor. Arched windows are the final Hollywood Regency-inspired accent that ties it all together.
We always recommend sampling and testing paint colors before committing. Factors such as natural lighting, undertones, and your property’s fixed elements will have a significant impact on how a color will appear on your exterior. Our friends at Samplize offer extra-large 9 x 14.75 inch peel-and-stick paint samples of the colors we love for exteriors. Order your ‘Real Paint, No Mess’ samples from Samplize here.
#7 // Art Deco elements
Art Deco was the reigning design style before Hollywood Regency arrived on the scene. As such, it’s understandable that deco elements were still often found in predominantly Hollywood Regency homes. While there are similarities between the two (like a love of gilded details), Art Deco strongly emphasizes glamor through geometric shapes and sleek lines.
The home above, for example, uses bold, black-paned windows to create a stark contrast against the white exterior. Beautifully intricate molding can be found at every turn. It’s been added around the front door, the far left and right windows, and along the top of the home. Matching sconces flank the glass front door on their side, tying the entire look together.
#8 // Sculptural landscaping
When looking to add a Hollywood Regency feel to your exterior, don’t forget to factor in your landscaping. The design details and color palette you choose make a major impact. But switching up your landscape design to use this opulent approach can make a world of difference, too.
As in the example above, adding landscaping is one of the easiest ways to make a big impact. Tall palm trees showcase the height of the home. Meanwhile, expertly manicured shrubs lend an air of grandeur and sophistication. Finally, leafy bushes flanking the front door add additional texture and drama to the home’s exterior, giving it a lush and verdant overall look that beautifully complements the neutral color palette.
Adding Hollywood Regency style to your home exterior
Whether you want a small hint of glamour or a Hollywood Regency exterior that can’t be missed, these different design ideas are the ideal way to infuse regal grandeur into your exterior. Consider simple swaps like different landscaping or even larger overhauls like replacing windows or painting your siding. These changes, big and small, will have a huge impact. Opt for just one design element or combine your favorites to create a custom design that is one-of-a-kind!
brick&batten can help make your Hollywood Regency home or business exterior a reality. Our talented team of experts will partner with you every step of the way. They will work to understand and execute your vision, from helping you choose the ideal color palette to perfecting the finishes. Start your project today!
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