A Glitter-Free Sanctuary: The Late Designer's Sunlit Los Angeles Home

Bob Mackie, the famed costumer known for sequined stage wear, kept his own Beverly Hills residence deliberately casual and comfortable, far removed from the glitzy aesthetic of his designs. The house, originally built to be flooded with natural light, featured interiors with a fresh, cheerful feel, including a primary bedroom with Balinese wood banana trees and Oaxacan animal figures against mirrored walls. Mackie, who died at 87, had lived in the home for five years when AD toured it in 1989, describing it as personal rather than nightclub-like.

The residence's architecture prioritized natural light, a deliberate choice by its original architect that Mackie embraced after moving in five years before the 1989 tour. Rather than commissioning a full redesign, he kept the existing library sofa and simply reupholstered it, supplementing with pieces selected over time with antiques dealer Robert Kelly of Baldacchino.

Personal touches included a striped wooden tiger from Paris, a ceramic shoe gifted by Cher, and bedroom decor featuring Balinese banana trees and Oaxacan animal figures set against mirrored walls. The dining room displayed Baccarat crystal and a Staffordshire statuette of Garibaldi, while show-business memorabilia was notably absent throughout the home.