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Special Events
Crazy for Chinoiserie: Billy Butchkavitz Creates Chinese Chic for HBO Emmy Party
Special Events Staff Sep 28, 2017

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Welcome to the 'Royal Pavilion'
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

"Grandeur" was an overriding theme of the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards after-parties. This gave longtime HBO designer Billy Butchkavitz the opportunity to create a look that paid homage to the Royal Pavilion palace in England and the interior design style of chinoiserie--a blend of Asian and European decorative arts.

Sumptuous scene
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

As night fell, lighting further defined the environment’s main design elements--the gold lions, the pagoda and a central dragon chandelier. The venue: The Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. Agile Eye Solutions created the large-scale decor pieces, pagoda, custom tent skin embellishments, and the step-and-repeat.

Getting started
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

Prep for the Sept. 17 party started a full week earlier. Here, subflooring and tenting are going in over the fountain at the Pacific Design Center. Town and Country Event Rentals provided the custom tent, carpeting and rentals.

Prepping the pagoda
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

Getting closer to the day of the event with the pagodas installed. Special Event Contractors installed the elevated subfloors, perimeter walls, elevated walkways, and decorative railings.

Bridge across the 'pond'
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

A pond going across the space was outfitted with 16-foot-long bridges designed in the style consistent with the chinoiserie elements of the Royal Pavilion, which inspired the look.

Glowing pagoda
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

The main 30-foot diameter pagoda was also an entertainment hub. The dramatic lighting was provided by Images by Lighting, with projections handled by Bart Kresa Design.

Playing with pattern
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

A combination of textiles and patterns captures the style Butchkavitz was honoring.

Exotic tabletop
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

Tabletop details brought the design down to eye level.

Fabulous focal point
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

Larger-than-life elements--such as these 12-foot-high guardian lions--kept guests looking up. Note more textures, more patterns upon patterns. Even lighting projections added another layer to the look.

Dramatic dragon
Photo by Gabor Ekecs

The ultimate reason the guests looked up: a 20-foot-long dragon holding a sparkling, intricate chandelier. A replica of the one that illuminates the Royal Pavilion’s banquet room, it was given center stage in the massive tent. With details such as this, it’s no wonder that the magnificent English palace has remained in Butchkavitz’s imagination for 30 years.

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