The Beverly Hills Courier newspaper
April 2006

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American Society of Interior Designer Guest Columnist: Suzanne Furst

Greystone: New Beginning for Landmark Site
By Suzanne Furst ASID, CID

Some of the best things in life happen unexpectedly. Such was the case when my son and daughter-in law decided to get married at the Greystone mansion. We had enjoyed bringing our children there when they were young because of the beautiful grounds and were delighted to reminisce on such a memorable occasion.

However, during the wedding planning stages, I learned of the inability to use this grand mansion’s interiors due to the disrepair and decay over time of the electrical, plumbing and structural systems. As it is one of the most beautiful and historical landmark homes on the West Coast, I felt the need to become involved in its restoration. It just happened that at the time I was incoming president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. I felt this would not only be a wonderful community serving project for our professional organization to help create public awareness of the need to restore Greystone, but would also provide an opportunity to enlighten the public of the level of standards provided by professional interior designers. Thus, our unique showcase house was born.

Now entering our 4th year, ASID is working closely with Beverly Hills to refine, upgrade and expand our ever growing event. It is growing momentum through the generous support of media.

More importantly, our public audience anxiously awaits the rare opportunity for a glimpse of the luxury lifestyle and elegance that only the truly wealthy could afford in the era of the early 1900s, as interpreted through the visions of today’s professional designers.

I myself have done several spaces: the grand living room; the Doheny suite, dressing room and bath; and the upper west hallway. Through my research of the Doheny family’s lives, their love of travel and efforts to provide furnishings for their estate through European acquisitions, I used those guidelines to create warm, comfortable and elegant rooms using fine antiques, artwork, opulent fabrics and old world Trompe L’Oeil and faux finishes. Blending the old world style with today’s ideals of comfort and design trends gives those times a new interpretation of refined elegance.

It is a rewarding feeling to play a part in the creation of an event that brings so much pleasure to so many people because we have provided that connection to history usually associated with European landmarks. Hopefully we are creating the awareness necessary to attract interested benefactors to help us achieve our goal-the restoration of Greystone mansions-so we all might enjoy it more fully for many generations to come.

Suzanne Furst is an active member and former president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. She was founding chair of the Beverly Hills showcase house at Greystone and has orchestrated many professional programs. She has appeared in books, on TV, and in magazines as an expert on Interior design, and can be contacted at: www.suzannefurstinteriors.com