Star Martyn Lawrence Bullard / RuPaul

Star designer and designer to the stars, Martyn Lawrence Bullard is well-known for his glamorous interiors characterised by eclectic styles and sophisticated comfort.

So, it comes as no surprise that when Hollywood entertainer RuPaul was looking for someone to design his palatial Beverly Hills mansion, he turned to Bullard.

“We’ve always loved Martyn’s aesthetic, so we trusted him,” says RuPaul. “I said, “Go for it. I can go as far as your imagination will take us.’”

And go for it, the designer did.

Today, the home is a careful yet exuberant study of pattern and colour, a larger-than-life design reflecting the homeowner’s larger-than-life personality.

“This is the house of Ru, a mansion of style designed as the centre stage for the world’s most famous and celebrated drag queen. It’s the ultimate runway for the supermodel of the world,” says Bullard.

Graphic black and white designs form the decorative base throughout the house: in the ballroom, the monochrome palette comes to life through bold patterns and glittering disco balls overhead, while in the kitchen black-and-white cabinetry and floors make an orange and gold cooking hood sing, along with stools upholstered in a vibrant floral print from Schumacher.

In the living room, a black-and-white fireplace and geometric rug, designed by Bullard for The Rug Company, are enlivened by jewel-hued sofas and chairs, and a turquoise étagères in a careful mix of old-school glamour and bubbly vivaciousness.

While in the entry hall, complete with a grand staircase, marble columns and floors, peachy pink walls and a red ceiling dome adds a softness to the expanse of black and white, and a psychedelic black-and-white striped ceiling and walls play with the mind in the outdoor dining area.