“The one rule I’ve always stuck to is to be honest. There’s no point in creating a decorative scheme on or around something you don’t believe in… to be a straight shooter is always the best policy. Then you know where you stand and can create something beautiful together.” -Martyn Lawrence Bullard
This designer to the stars is consistently at the top of “best of” lists for interior designers. Designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard is known for his versatility and a broad range of decorating styles. The looks he creates maintain a sophisticated feel while celebrating eclectic charm. This multi-award winning California based interior designer is one to watch.
Child Prodigy: Born with an Eye for Design
Martyn Lawrence Bullard displayed a skill for design very early in life. Born in Lewisham, London, he began his successful design career as a young teenager. Accompanied by his father, the young Bullard was a regular at the Greenwich Antiques Market where he had a stall. At the young age of 13, he was buying and selling what he dubbed as “oddments.” He had a keen eye for high-end items that were desirable decorator items. Bullard had a clientele of prominent dealers and collectors, including the head buyer for Ralph Lauren Antiques, by the time he was 16. He used his earnings to pay for an acting school and later to fund his move to Los Angeles in the United States.
Interior Design
The younger Bullard came to Los Angeles to become an actor, and he had some initial successes. It was his role in Ed Wood’s I Woke Up Early the Day I Died that changed the course of his acting career. One of the film producers was so impressed by the decor in Bullard’s home that he was hired to decorate the producer’s office. The impressive quality of his interior design work led to more projects for Hollywood Elite. As word spread about his impressive skills, he found work with the likes of Cheryl Tiegs, John Stamos, Christina Aguilera, Cher, and many, many more.
Television Success
Currently, designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard is a star in the Bravo series Million Dollar Decorators. The show is a documentary-style series which explores the work of high-end interior designers. Bullard is frequently on the show with his celebrity clients. His theater training and acting career make him a natural for television. He also stars in the reality television show Hollywood Me. This show takes unsuspecting Brits out of their homes while Bullard redecorates them. He has made multiple guest appearances on a variety of shows and programs over the years.
Celebrity Clients
“Celebrities live their lives in the spotlight. As such, it’s vital for their homes to be sanctuaries – places for complete relaxation and privacy. My one great joy with my celebrity clients over the years has been their passion to live out their fantasies, be it an Indian palace in Hollywood, a Tuscan villa in Malibu or an English country cottage in New York City. I’m here to be their enabler and make these fantasies into decorative reality.”
Bullard’s A-list clientele is a veritable list of who’s who. Celebrity clients, in addition to the ones listed previously, include the Kardashians (Khloe and Kourtney), Tommy Hilfiger, Ellen Pompeo, and Eva Mendes. Premier hospitality properties overseen by Bullard include The Sands in Indian Wells, Chateau Gütsch in Lucerne, Switzerland, and The Residencies at Seafire in the Cayman Islands.
Designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard is a sensation whose star is still rising. He is definitely one to watch for interior design inspiration. For more fantastic decorating ideas, see our story about our favorite luxury interior designers.
