Paul Laszlo (1900-1993) was born in Hungary. Educated in Vienna, Laszlo later moved to Stuttgart, where he had established a successful decorating firm by 1927. Alarmed by the increasingly anti-Semitic political climate in Germany and a clash with Albert Speer, Hitler´s architect, he abandoned his business and fled to New York in 1936.
Laszlo made his way to Beverly Hills shortly thereafter, where he reestablished his studio and quickly rose to prominence. His work attracted a celebrity clientele including Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Billy Wilder, Barbara Stanwyck, Debbie Reynolds and Ronald Reagan. In fact, his clients in general were so well-heeled and powerful that a 1952 Time magazine article nicknamed him "the millionaire´s architect."
In addition to designs issued under his own label, Laszlo produced a variety of furniture for mass production. In 1948, Herman Miller hired him to create a collection for the middle class market; he also collaborated with Glenn of California and Brown Saltman.
Although noted for their sumptuous materials and fine craftsmanship, Laszlo´s furniture and interiors were tastefully understated. And, because Laszlo designed every detail from fixtures to textiles, his spaces were always remarkably cohesive. He was also noted for his ability to create harmonious schemes out of disparate and unexpected colors. Notable interior projects included department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Ohrbach's, corporate interiors, hotels, and the interiors of Howard Hughes' Las Vegas casinos. Other slightly more unusual ventures included a swanky bomb shelter for the United States Air Force, and "Atomville", a futuristic underground city.
Laszlo was known for rejecting clients if he believed the he would be unhappy with the relationship. He turned down Elizabeth Taylor at the height of her career in 1960 because she insisted on having input into the design process. He later refused to design for Barbra Streisand for the same reason.
From lostcityarts.com
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Chair for Brown Saltman
tribu-design.com |
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Chest for Brown Saltman
1stdibs.com |
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Credenza
1stdibs.com |
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Club chair for Harry Finer residence
1stdibs.com |
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Desk for Brown Saltman
1stdibs.com |
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Lounge chairs for Herman Miller
1stdibs.com |
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Mahogany and laminate credenza for Brown Saltman
worthpoint.com |
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Mohair and leather chairs
1stdibs.com |
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Pair of lamps
porterandplunk.com |
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Sofa for Glenn of California
1stdibs.com |
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Night stands
1stdibs.com |
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Walnut and cane chairs with ottoman
1stdibs.com |
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Lamps attributed to Paul Laszlo
1stdibs.com |
