06/05/2026
BEHIND THE ARCHITECT | PAUL R. WILLIAMS
Before Hollywood and Los Angeles became global symbols of glamour, one architect quietly designed the lifestyle behind it.
Paul R. Williams shaped the look of modern Los Angeles by bringing elegance and livability to architecture while also breaking racial barriers as one of the most successful Black architects of the 20th century — designing homes, hotels, landmarks, and neighborhoods that would come to define Southern California living.
One of the most versatile architects of his era, Williams mastered nearly every major residential style of the time. From Spanish Colonial Revival and Mediterranean estates… to French Normandy, English Tudor, Hollywood Regency, Ranch homes, and even postwar modernism, his work brought grace and livability to every project.
You see it in the homes he designed for Hollywood icons like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Bert Lahr otherwise known and the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, and Cary Grant. He would also design landmarks like the Beverly Hills Hotel and, alongside a team of architects, the iconic Theme Building at LAX.
But Paul R. Williams wasn’t just creating beautiful structures — he was quietly building the image of modern Los Angeles. More than a century later, his influence remains woven throughout Southern California, not just in the buildings he left behind, but in the vision of Los Angeles he helped create.
Modern Living LA is a real estate team that specializes in well-designed homes filled with character and style, including architectural, historic, and classic Los Angeles homes. We love to provide interesting content around design and architecture, well beyond real estate. If this is up your alley, we would be thrilled if you followed our Instagram page or checked out our website!
Brian Courville with Modern Living LA Group | Compass | DRE:01496206
