SURREALIZING OLD WORLD STYLE : A Fledgling Trend for the ‘90s Joins a Classic European Look With Modern Minimalism

A mix of classical, modern and surreal imagery, ARENA nightclub owner Christian Farrow’s pied-a-terre in West Hollywood reflects an already emerging ‘90s decorating trend: The look is new, eclectic and modern but with roots in the Old World--a purposefully incongruous note in Southern California. To wit, Farrow has painted black swags and shell motifs above his windows and doors to soften the stark, minimalist interior. He designed steel etageres with curlicue antennaes and used a combination of raw and polished steel on his sofa. A copper-finished squiggle design on both sofa and chair is derived from the hair and eyebrow motif of the large, surreal painting that dominates the living room. “L.A. is so new,” marvels Farrow, a German emigre. “I wanted the apartment to look very old and very modern at the same time.”