My Favorite Room: Adrienne Maloof’s guests run to the Bat room
The main living spaces in Adrienne Maloof’s Mediterranean-style house were inspired by the opulence of Versailles: pale blue and ivory silk furnishings, crystal chandeliers, gilt-framed throne-like chairs.
The former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member bought the 14,025-square-foot house, located off Mulholland Drive, three years ago, drawn to what she describes as the “magnificent bones of the house, the feng shui and flow.”
“It felt soothing,” she said. “I felt it would bring good luck.”
From her home, she oversees businesses such as Never Too Hungover, a liquid vitamin formula designed to stave off that dreaded morning-after feeling. She also has a new television and film production enterprise and will soon announce a venture in entertainment technology.
Although much of her residence is filled with grandeur, when Maloof wants to unwind, she heads upstairs to hang out with whoever might be crashing in her favorite room: the Batman guestroom, designed with the help of her three sons.
Why Batman?
My sons love Batman. Who doesn’t? When people visit my house, this is the first room they want to stay in. I wanted to make it warm, welcoming and fun.
It could have been kitschy. How did you avoid that?
From the minute you walk in here, it’s got the awe factor. There’s depth and detail. I used customized wall paper created by animators who work at Disney. We embedded lights in the image of a bridge in Gotham City. There’s a huge image of Bruce Wayne, and of Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman. I wanted the decor to be close to the characters but come alive.
The room looks very striking.
I was going for something urban and cool. The floor is concrete, and the ceiling is wallpapered to look like concrete. The bed is metallic leather; I saw something like it in an issue of Architectural Digest, and I tracked one down. A retro-styled red leather chair adds a pop of color. We have black window shades. Even the metal lamps were chosen to continue the theme. All the touches tell a story about Bruce Wayne as someone who is captivating and epic.
Who has stayed in the room?
I’ve had guests aged 5 to 60, male and female. Everyone loves it because it’s fun. I didn’t want it to be “Batman for kids.” It needed to be seamless and ageless. I have other themed rooms, but this one is everyone’s favorite.
What are some of the others?
I have a very cool skateboarding room. My boys love to skateboard, and my family used to be in that business. And we have a princess room, which is more glamorous and elaborate. And the travel room shows different parts of the world, and planes, trains and automobiles.
Does design come easily to you?
I love it. I think it’s always been in my blood. In the business world, you have to be creative.
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