Bullard reveals he first discovered Palm Springs when he was asked to design a small boutique hotel there, the Colony Palms, about 10 years ago. The magic of the location lies not only in its desert terrain, but in the majestic San Jacinto Mountains. His partner, Michael Green, stumbled upon this mid-century marvel while looking up properties online. It immediately tugged at their heartstrings. Designed by James McNaughton—the Hollywood set decorator-turned-architect to the stars— the house was a spaceship-like formation of 20-foot classical arches surrounding a vast glass bow window in high mid-century architectural splendour.

Boasting terrazzo floors inside and out, and even wrapping the pool and spa and a sunken James Bond-esque sitting room with an indoor re pit, this place was far too unique to pass up. In a complete state of emotional bliss, the couple bid on the house after only viewing it once—and they didn’t see it again until the day they were given the keys.

Originally built in 1964, this house was once home to several Hollywood legends, including Roger Moore and Hugh Hefner, during the 1970s. Located in an area known as the Movie Colony in old Palm Springs, its illustrious list of neighbours has included Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor, and Liberace, to name a handful—all with homes designed by iconic architects like Richard Neutra and John Lautner. Surrounded by so much inspiration, Bullard felt there was only one direction for the design aesthetic of the house. “The colours are bright and reminiscent of Palm Springs style in the 1960s and ’70s, which is highlighted by my collection of vintage furniture from that period,” he says.

Even the art Bullard has collected for the space—with masterpieces by Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Richard Serra, and Jean-Michel Basquiat—are of the period, juxtaposed with works by Damien Hirst and modern photography to give it a curated but fun twist. “It’s all about having fun and entertaining, so the furniture pieces are all very comfortable, mostly covered in indoor/outdoor fabrics so all the spaces blend together to create a really relaxed atmosphere,” he explains. “I keep the mid- century era vibes going with specially mixed music selections and fragranced citrus candles that capture the air with their fresh notes.”

In addition to being his personal sanctuary, this abode was also built for entertaining. Bullard confesses that he particularly enjoys having small groups of eight to 10 guests over for dinner. “Although I personally can’t cook, I love to create beautiful tablescapes and make the house special for guests to enjoy,” the consummate host reveals. “I have favourite chefs we bring in to conjure seasonal menus, and I match cocktails and ambience to the food choices.”

Bullard’s ideal guest list also reflects his sentiments on creating the perfect interiors—he always mixes things up to keep them interesting. “My list includes old and new friends, and clients—always an eclectic group, which I believe keeps the parties exciting and the group engaged,” he reveals. “I mix in age groups for varied opinions and people from different walks of life to provide fascinating conversation. I often invite one new person or couple that no one else knows to bring some intrigue into the mix. Just like a cocktail, the result is a perfectly delicious blend
of flavours.”