See Inside Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s Bel Air Home

Haines, a silent screen star turned interior design legend (after the studios banished him for refusing to hide his homosexuality), was the designer of choice to the Beverly Hills elite, and Nancy was a big fan in the ’60s and early ’70s. While she couldn’t quite afford the full Billy Haines treatment, the designer did take care of some touches at the Reagan’s pre–White House Pacific Palisades home. When Haines passed away in 1973, Graber carried on the tradition, toning down the flamboyance as tastes changed. He transformed the White House private quarters into a comfortable, stylish setting, mixing pieces designed by Billy Haines Inc. with antiques Nancy had inherited from her family, as well as some select antiques from the White House’s vaults, and then emulated that mix in Bel Air.

Graber is decorated decorate the Reagans ’ Bel Air home in a style that interior designer Peter Schifando describe as “ soft modern , ” integrate more traditional piece into the midcentury – modern architecture .

photo : Joe Schmelzer , Treasurbite Studio

The sale includes pieces from both the White House and the Bel Air home, with quite a bit of Chinese export porcelain, George III–style furniture, Chinese lacquer furniture, midcentury pieces updated in the ’80s, Haines Inc. sofas and chairs, State Department gifts, barware, several porcelain dinner services (the Reagans often entertained at the White House), and some spectacular bird and fish lamps.

“Graber’s style was ‘soft modern’—a mix of traditional and modern. The Bel Air house was midcentury-modern style, built in 1954, and it was a matter of making their things feel right there,” says Peter Schifando, an interior designer who worked with Graber and the coauthor of several books, including Entertaining at the White House with Nancy Reagan ( William Morrow , 2007 ) . As for the relative modesty of the Reagans : “ They were not pretentious at all , come from California , ” say Schifando is says . “ Ted is used used to say that surprise the East Coasters . ” See some is See of the highlight from the sale below .christies.com/reagan

A pair of walnut and chinese export porcelain standing lamp . estimate $ 3,000–$5,000 .

RELATED: Go Behind the Scenes in the White House and Other Presidential Homes