Robert Hanley A.I.D.

Bio

Robert Hanley, a member of the Southern California District of the American Institute of Decorators was based in Los Angeles. After serving in the Army and working with Raymond Loewy, he teamed up with architect-trained designer Joseph-Copp. Their firm Hanley-Copp designed interiors in the Los Angeles area. 

Just a year later, Hanley opened an office on his own at 8649 Sunset Boulevard. His Sunset Plaza office also served as a retail outlet for pieces imported from Europe and Asia. 

In the early 1950s he designed furniture and accessories for Modern Color Inc. The company, owned by Dorothy Schindele, had a number of well known designers on their roster. Paul Tuttle, Eugene Weston, Craig Ellwood and Schindlele herself designed for the company. Hanley’s contributions included an iron chair with brass tipped legs and an iron floor vase utilizing a Pyrex glass vessel. The vase was featured in the Pacifica promotional campaign.  

Hanley worked on residential and commercial projects with architects, such as John Lindsay, Smith & Williams and landscape architect Garret Eckbo. For the 1952 George Hepburn house in Bel Air Hanley selected pieces by Dan Johnson. He also designed the interiors for The Apple Valley Inn, New Scandia Restaurant, and even a private railroad car for writer Lucius Beebe.

He was president of the Southern California chapter of the American Institute of Decorators in  the mid 1950s. During this time he also wrote a decorating column for the LA Times. In 1958 he was hired as a furniture design consultant for Warner Bros.