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greystone: the designersBarbara LazaroffThe designer behind oneof Greystone’s revampedbedrooms and its adjoiningbathroom and patio revealsshe’s got more on her platethan her dining creationsBy Steve BasiloneSitting in the sun-drenched breakfast nookof her Beverly Hills home overlooking herbeloved garden with her parrots talkingaway, Barbara Lazaroff is surrounded by a large, colorfulcanvas, fancifully painted ceramic vases andplates by artist Anna Silver and a piece by sculptorRobert Graham. One thing about this virtuoso ofBarbara Lazaroff outside Spago Beverly Hills. Photo by Jim McHugh.pigment is clear—her world is one that is mostunquestionably rich in color.“We see in color and people seem to want to make everything black and ing mural of oversized, whimsical flowers realized by fine artist Mimi Feldman, towhite,” says Lazaroff, the president of Imaginings Interior Design and a partner in vines and elegant butterflies conjured from Lazaroff’s own imagination. Her designthe Wolfgang Puck empire of fine dining restaurants. “There’s a reason why we also incorporates two photographic art canvases of seven-foot-tall poppies createdspecifically for Allegra’s room by artist Pip Bloomfield and an aquatic artsee in color; we should celebrate it.”Indeed, Lazaroff has never shied away from making use of every color availableto her extensive palette. Now this visionary presents her talents to the chil-The room promises to be a veritable wonderland full of butterflies, flowers andinstallation by Richard Bilow.dren’s playroom and terrace at Greystone Estate, where she is creating what she delightfully eclectic appointments.“I designed a dreamlike carpet of imagined flowerscalls “Allegra’s Allegory”, a fairytale bedroom for Lazaroff’s imaginary daughter. and creatures but the time was too limited to produce it,” she recounts.“I was disappointeduntil Minassian carpets lent me a glorious antique Chinese creation.” LazaroffShe is one of 27 interior designers and eight exterior designers who have providedtheir time and money to help in the annual restoration of this Beverly Hills will also display museum-quality art and antiques from her personal collection; furthermore,she has replaced the original fireplace mantel and is replacing various missinglandmark, which will be open to the public starting November 4th. All designersare part of the American Society of Interior Design (ASID).and damaged fixtures and elements in the adjoining bathroom and closet.With Greystone, Lazaroff is taking the same spirited approach that has been But her contributions to Greystone are only the latest addition to the Lazarofflargely instrumental for the overwhelming success of the Wolfgang Puck empire folio. Her vibrant designs have undoubtedly changed the dining lexicon and, in theand using it to transform the Doheny sons’ former bedroom into a storybook fantasyroom for her envisioned young girl. Never one to sit idly by, she has ardentness-partnerMr. Puck as the most recognizable name on the culinary stage.process, have been largely responsible for establishing ex-husband and still-busilyworked to create every facet of the room—from a vastly oversized book constructedby conceptual artist Kingsley to house Allegra’s bed, to the vaulted ceil-(home to legendary Oscar parties), Spago Beverly Hills, Malibu’s Granita, SantaThough a multitude of pioneering eateries such as the original Spago Hollywood,Monica108 2006 Issue 4