Martyn Bullard Designer to the Stars

MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD HAS BEEN DESIGNING A-LISTER HOMES FOR YEARS. IN HIS NEW BOOK, STAR STYLE: INTERIORS OF MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD, HE SHARES INSIGHTS INTO THE HOMES OF CHER, SIR ELTON JOHN, SOME OF THE KARDASHIANS AND EVEN RUPAUL. HE SPOKE TO INBOUND SA EDITOR GAVIN PRINS ABOUT CURRENT HOMES HE IS DESIGNING.

Congrats on your new book!
Which celebrity home are you currently working on?
Thanks. I’m currently working on a new home in Palm Beach for Sylvester Stallone and his wife Jennifer Flavin. I am also working on an LA estate for rock star Machine Gun Kelly, a Mustique beach compound for Tommy Hilfiger and a mid-century beach house for actress Ellen Pompeo, along with the Four Seasons residences in Los Angeles and a chain of restaurants for a master chef, as well as fashion boutique concepts for a major design brand.

Wow, that’s quite a lot. What is it like working for celebrities?
The celebrities are just like the rest of us. They love their homes and want to personalize them and make a nest for themselves and their families. The only difference is, unlike the rest of us, they need more privacy and security.

Leading a public life can be difficult, so home must be a sanctuary; a place where all your needs are catered to. Customization has its greatest power in formulating a look that’s deeply personal, works for all the family needs but also services the requirements of their careers and the many facets that holds.

You design all kinds of spaces. Which is your favourite?
Private homes are the favourite part of my career as I am designing a space that fits a personality; that is shaped so very exclusively for that client and becomes a magical expression of them produced by using all my design skills; a perfect cocktail of personality and performance.

Hotels are also a wondrous aspect to my design career. A hotel is a space that is crafted to bring fantasy, design that is breathtaking, luxurious, and fanciful.

It must give you a sense of place whilst transporting your senses, leaving a memory that is beautiful and draws you back.

I love all my projects for different reasons, but my current favourite must be RuPaul’s wild and wonderful house. When you get to design for the world’s most famous drag queen, you know you can go wild with dramatic abandon. And that’s what we did, culminating in a magnificent home that captures the essence of who he is and what a spectacular career he has achieved. It’s a centre stage for him to shine in!

What does designing entail?
My design process is very much about understanding the clients’ needs and decorative desires. It’s about getting to know them, how they live, how they want to live and what gives them joy.

Once I understand all the elements that they want for their dream home or project, I start to piece it together to make a truly special and one-off interior that is customized to the most minute details.

What are the trendy colours these days?
I love green, in all shades. It’s a beautiful colour, a tone that is so easy to mix with all other colours, and always provides a fresh and luxuriant palette.
As I love natural fibres and textures, I’m also a huge proponent of linen, especially for drapery. The natural texture of the fabric and the way light reflects from its surface is at once spellbinding and timeless.

Finally, how do you keep the creative juices flowing?
I keep myself fresh by constantly being open to learn new things, to investigate every trend and design that comes on the market, to travel as much as possible, see new things, meet new people, and experience new surroundings, smells, food, and ambience.

The day we stop being open to learning is the day our inspiration dies, and I won’t stop learning until the day I die!