Phyllis Morris (furniture designer)
Not only did the residents of L.A. take note of Morris and her colorful marketing technique, but famed newspaper columnist Walter Winchell eventually wrote "Who's the wise guy that said 'beauty and business don't mix?'
"[1] Shortly after opening a lighting showroom in 1955 on Melrose Place in Los Angeles, Morris began adding her own furniture designs to round out the offerings.
Initially these furniture collections drew upon the Spanish Colonial look with dark woods, large carved scrollwork and baroque elements as well as other Mediterranean-inspired styles.
As the 1960s approached, Morris included more modern styles using lacquer and exotic finishes and materials and moved to a larger showroom on nearby Beverly Boulevard in 1961.
The "swinging sixties" fueled by a youth culture fascinated with music, fashion and alternative arts and religions ushered in a freer social attitude towards lifestyles which gave Morris and others in the design profession an opportunity to shake up the interior design world (which still relied heavily on English and Colonial American influences) with her distinctive vision of how colorful and eclectic interiors could be.
During personal appearances and media interviews, Morris would offer provocative quips or do something seemingly outrageous which provided never-ending material for the press and often made headlines around the globe.
[6] In addition to designing furniture for residences in Los Angeles and around the country, Morris enjoyed creating pieces for high-roller suites in Las Vegas, Nevada where her opulent style was a perfect match.
Morris also provided furnishings for Elvis Presley's 4,000-square-foot (370 m2) suite at the Las Vegas Hilton in the mid-1970s with its black carpeting and furniture upholstered in white and yellow silk.
Newton-John later appear in a risqué photo taken in the Phyllis Morris's showroom by renowned photographer Helmut Newton, who posed the singer topless for her 1985 Soul Kiss album artwork.
After cityhood was achieved due to the efforts of Morris and others in the design district, she went on to serve on the board of directors for the West Hollywood Marketing Corporation.
The late famed fashion commentator Mr. Blackwell wrote of Morris, "Her showroom has been the scene for raising literally millions of dollars over the years for worthy causes...she has become one of the great hostesses in town.
"[10] In the 1980s, Morris wrote a long-running column which appeared in the Beverly Hills Courier, the Baltimore Sun and the Orange County Register appropriately named "Living in Style," in which she dispensed advice on decorating ranging from the practical to the extravagant.
Because of their dramatic design and presence, many Phyllis Morris pieces have been featured in both films and television shows ranging from Dynasty in the 1980s to Oceans 12 in 2004 as well as music videos in 2007 and 2008 by Mariah Carey and P. Diddy to name a few.
