Oscars' greenroom to have cool, Hollywood Hills vibe

HOLLYWOOD — Film stars will chill out California-style in the Oscars' backstage lounge/waiting room in the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.

The Architectural Digest Greenroom, shown exclusively here, will convey the feel of an airy Hollywood Hills home, says Roman Alonso, a partner with the design firm Commune, which designed the space with actress Julianne Moore.

"We wanted a room that felt glamorous whether you were wearing a bikini or a gown, a room that goes from day to evening, like somebody's home," says Alonso.

The ultra-exclusive room, located just a few feet from the stage, will host black tie- and gown-wearing show presenters and winners from the 87th Academy Awards (ABC, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT).

In past years, the space usually reflected prestige and allure, "but we felt that people already look glamorous there, so let's give them a place to feel comfortable," says Alonso.

The designers thought of a narrative, imagining that it was actually novelist/screenwriter Joan Didion's mid-20th century Hollywood Hills home, "and she invited you over for a drink before the Oscars. What would that feel like? That was the kind of look we went for," says Alonso.

This is reflected in a cream-colored banquette, suitable for 16 people, in the middle of the room, surrounded by green plants near a two-seat Caesarstone quartz bar.

"It's about gathering people together, making it an intimate space," says Commune's Pamela Shamsiri. "And it's easy for people to sit on a banquette with a gown."

A view from the Hollywood Hills of Sunset Blvd. (which will include a pre-recorded sunset in real time) will be beamed on a wall made up of 16 screens to give the feel of a large window.

There will also be a Twitter cam for stars to send out pictures with the hashtag #ArchDigestGreenroom.

Moore was brought on board to help design even before she started receiving awards and an eventual best actress nomination for her role in About Alice. Alonso says the actress "wanted something casual, cool with retro-glamor." When picking out colors, Moore shot down one peach fabric, calling it, says Alonso, "too '80s.''

Moore also came up with the idea of placing a white loafer in a water display, an ode to the 1968 comedy The Party, where Peter Sellers' character loses his shoe at a Hollywood party.

Moore "loves this world," says Alonso. "And she's the one that's going to be in the room to enjoy it, so that's pretty cool."