Buster Keaton Revisited an Illuminating Article

What do Buster Keaton, Gerald Olesker and set design have in common?  Several Years Back the “villa” was restored. We use the term restored loosely. During the first phase we were there. We walked the grounds and saw a gem.

Then the new owners engaged Lafia/ Arvin design. One of favorite firms to work with. Exciting progress began. Then Marc Appleton came on board to begin the addition to the carriage house. Seamless – just as when we worked on a Paul Williams for a current Studio head, every step with Appleton Architects made the portion of the estate look as if it were part of the original intention.

We approach the lighting the same way. At Architectural Detail Group, Inc our TEAM has been trained to review and understand that new light fixtures are not just a selection form a show show-room. Our Solution Based Manufacturing  (c) methods are if we where part of the original team making the fixtures in history.

Buster Keaton’s Italian Villa, (see link to restoration notes) one of the last silent movie star mansions still in existence, has been saved from the wrecking ball. Keaton built the 10,000- square-foot Mediterranean palazzo in Beverly Hills shortly after completing his masterpiece, The General, in 1926.

The comedian sold the estate in 1933 and it was subsequently occupied by a number of other owners, including Marlene Dietrich, Barbara Hutton and Cary Grant, and finally, James and Pamela Mason.  The first restoration prior to being sold to our client preserved many lights in the basement. the Video link lets us see a few of the attempts to bring the estate to life.

 Light fixtures are such a key element in any part of Architecture. And yes Architecture with a capital “A”. When all of the components come together this makes for a more appropriate and timeless score. This is why clients bring to us the parts of history and say “ADG can you please reproduce, please copy, please make it look like this.” Period Homes descriptive is a useful tool. People bring us torn out pages and say make this.  We help them with the process at ADG. Our purposes we say is Architectural Detail Group is a collaborative enhancing the built environment through positive relationships./

 Here is the Case Study of fixtures at the estate. Architectural Detail Group Buster Keaton pics case study of light fixtures

The TEAM at ADG Eco Lighting and Architectural Detail Group approach every project, new, historic or energy efficient modeling with this same Solution Based Manufacturing methodology.

As you can see the following are published articles with these elements form the Keaton Estate.  Even the new owners and design firm used ADG Lighting in other projects of theirs.

  for more information contact ADG at 818-597-9494.  Architectural Detail Group is the past licensee for the Hearst Castle Collection/ and private labels for many design collection. ADG has several lines available for purchase as well as custom manufactures.

Products are Manufactured in the USA. Lighting fixtures  manufactured in the USA by ADG Lighting.