You may remember that I mentioned a recent trip to LA for a Home Depot meeting. Martha insisted that if I had some free time that I must, must, must visit the Virginia Robinson Gardens in Beverly Hills. Martha Stewart Living magazine had produced a story some 15 years ago on the gardens and it turns out Gael Towey had been the art director on the shoot. So, Gael and I took a few hours to tour this most magnificent property and it did not disappoint. I was so inspired and as usual, the estate informed my personal design aesthetic as well as gave me ideas for the magazine and product development. It never ends.
The historic estate sits right behind the Beverly Hills Hotel and stretches over 7 acres, which includes a mansion, garden and pool pavilion. Gael and I were lucky enough to have a private tour with the property’s superintendent Timothy Lindsay, who was a delight. He is both informative and patient as Gael and I asked questions, took photos and soaked it all in.
Virginia and Harry Robinson were retail giant, owners of the Robinson department stores, and the estate is listed on the national Registry of Historic Places. Of course it is listed because of the garden and home, but it is also a bit of Hollywood history. Mrs. Robinson hosted elaborate parties and everyone from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to Elvis Presley and Sofia Loren were guests. Such glamour. I love it.
The trip was such a success that it deserves two days of posts. First, I will take you on a tour of the gardens and then, tomorrow, inside the house. Of course, all of this got me thinking about my own home and my choices.
Check out the Martha blog for her photos from the L.A trip, which includes antiquing!
1 My first experience of the garden. Little did I know what was in store for me.
2 Talk about a first impression. Gorgeous. And there's Gael, too.
3 What a glorious and fanciful front door.
4 I am in love with this concrete urn. It's European Revival from the 1920s.
5 The front lawn is actually terrazzo.
6 The most beautiful garage doors I have ever seen.
7 A very charming view of the back garden.
8 A view of the pool house.
9 Looking toward the mansion.
10 I was struck by the trunk of this tree and how it replicates rope.
11 This urn appears to float.
12 But they are actually on pedestals.
13 Look at this beautiful stairway.
14 One of a pair of lions from Florence, Italy. It is almost 200 years old.
15 Here is the other one.
16 This beautiful camellia japonica 'Virginia Robinson' is named for Mrs. Robinson.
17 My new favorite flower, Birds of Paradise. I fell in love with them in South Africa.
18 One of the many stunning camellias. It is perfect.
19 It looks like stone but it is actually a succulent.
20 This flower structure from a King Palm tree feels like something out of Jurassic Park or Avatar.
21 This cactus has become part of the architecture.
22 Mrs. Robinson brought back a small Bougainvillea plant from South Africa in the 1920s. Today, well, it is amazing and the scale! Here's Gael standing in front of it.
23 A detail of the magenta chaos.
24 Another urn I love.
25 My parting view is all about unbelievable colors.
Kevin Sharkey 
From: NeatNicole | 3/17/10 at 10:07 am
WOW! What beauty.... And I laughed when I saw the Bougainvillea and it's caption. I can't imagine how glorious the inside is!
From: MMC in San Diego | 3/17/10 at 11:38 am
Great blog post, Kevin! How nice for you guys to have a couple of spring days in So Cal.
Interesting to see the Robinson estate. Our family shopped at their Pasadena and LA stores for years. Such memories . . . the Pasadena store is now a Target!
From: Mae Brewer | 3/17/10 at 12:41 pm
Wonderful photos, Kevin! The garden is beautiful and the flowers are breath-taking, but your photography is stunning! Great job! What type of camera did you use?
From: Claudia | 3/17/10 at 12:51 pm
Hi Kevin, the bouganvillea reminded me of the ones we saw in a trip to Sevilla in Spain beautiful Hanging on walls of buildings with amazing different colors, you should go there, you will fall in love with the place. Talk Martha into going there!!!
Love your post.
From: Leslie Tillmann | 3/17/10 at 4:01 pm
I'm so glad you enjoyed it...we all work very hard to keep this special place as wonderful as it is! Please ask everyone to visit the Gardens for a tour (just like you all had) or if around in May, we have our "..into the Gardens" tour which is a great opportunity to visit 5 private gardens in the Beverly Hills, and immediate Los Angeles area, then lunch, floral displays in the residence by the areas finest florists and decorators, and wonderful boutique items on the tennis court! Check out the Friends of Robinson Gardens website (www.RobinsonGardens.org) for more details. Many thanks for the nice comments, Leslie Tillmann, Restoration Co-Chair, Friends of Virginia Robinson Gardens.
From: joann | 3/17/10 at 5:37 pm
Loved it Kevin can't wait to see tomorrows blog!
From: Jennifer White | 3/18/10 at 2:01 am
What an absolutely amazing garden...I can't imagine how wonderful it smelled! Thank you for sharing the fabulous pictures...looking forward to tomorrow's post as well, Kevin.
From: Rowaida Flayhan | 3/18/10 at 4:36 am
So Beautiful and glamorous! love it
From: Kate | 3/19/10 at 6:15 am
Wow. Formal elegance and yet a feeling of warmth and charm all at the same time! Thank-You for sharing memories of your tour with us. You certainly have a photographer's eye as I found your photos, capturing the amazing array of forms and textures, to be absolutely breathtaking. Especially fascinating were the stone-like succulants, the "rope" tree, the architectural cactus and the king palm. Do you have any idea what type of vine/tree is growing up and over the entrance to the home?
From: nursery decor | 11/8/10 at 2:26 am
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