Interior designer, set decorator, sculptor, jewelry designer...there were few art forms the late Tony Duquette didn't explore.
Discover the stunning interiors, fanciful furnishings, and glamorous past of a design icon.
Making Waves
In 1935, when Duquette was just an art student, Bullock's department store asked him to redesign its lobby with a fresh seasonal look. Upon seeing his work, legendary decorator Elsie de Wolfe uttered the fated words, "Who is this kid, I've got to meet him." De Wolfe took Duquette under her wing and sent his career soaring.
The Creative Hub
With his prestige and notoriety on the rise, Duquette needed an amazing space to match. In 1952, he moved into the grand West Hollywood Tony Duquette Studios and it quickly became the social elite's preferred stomping ground. "If these walls could talk," says Wilkinson, "they would scream." Influential figures like Greta Garbo, Aldous Huxley and Mary Pickford were drawn to the Studio for its creative energy, lavish setting, and convivial crowd.
Residential Projects
Duquette's over-the-top approach to luxury design landed him numerous residential projects around the globe. His style was typically classified as "organic baroque," but he was no one-trick pony. This Bel Air residence shows off Duquette's more modern side and his ability to adapt to the needs of a diverse client roster.
Set & Costume Design
Duquette also turned his creative energies toward the Hollywood stage. "He designed tons of sets and costumes for MGM musicals that he didn't even get credit for," says Wilkinson, "but the films that he designed from beginning to end like Kismet, Can Can, and Lovely to Look At put him in the history books."
The Ranch
Finding himself in need of a space to relax and dream freely, Duquette bought a 150-acre ranch in the mountains of Malibu and created Sortilegium—a fantastical vacation home that he and his wife, Elizabeth, spent decades building. It was comprised of 22 structures, all in different styles, including "Asian, Indian, modern, and plenty of other styles only Tony could dream up," says Wilkinson. "It was a very magical place."
Dawnridge
Duquette lived off and on at his legendary Los Angeles house, Dawnridge, from the time he was a newlywed in 1949 until the day he died in 1999. Today this wildly creative assemblage of rooms and gardens is home to Tony Duquette Studios, now celebrating its 70th year in business.
Under the creative direction of Hutton Wilkinson, Duquette's mesmerizing designs and unforgettable style continues to make its mark.
Tony Duquette Event
Bring home the design icon's signature glamour with the furniture, fabric, and lighting in our exclusive Tony Duquette Tastemaker Tag Sale.
Photos courtesy of Tony Duquette Studios
