Plenty of prolific designers started off on slightly different tracks than those on which they ended up, but rarely did they begin their careers in a totally separate industry like William “Billy” Haines did. Before he gained a reputation as a furniture designer and decorator to Hollywood’s biggest and brightest, Haines was himself a star of the silver screen.
After leaving his native Virginia as a young man, Haines earned modeling and acting jobs in New York City and then won a Goldwyn Studios talent contest in the early 1920s. The next frontier was California, where he would go on to appear in more than 50 films. His acting career was halted abruptly in 1933, allegedly because he refused to leave his partner, British footballer Jimmy Shields, at the request of his representation at MGM Studios. Whether it was the fact that Haines was one half of Hollywood’s first openly gay marriage or that there were other factors at play, MGM cofounder Louis B. Mayer canceled his contract.
Luckily for Haines, he had nurtured a side career that kept him on Hollywood’s radar: He was a prominent antiques dealer on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. Haines dedicated himself full-time to both dealing and designing furniture as soon as his tenure as a leading man came to an end.
Haines collaborated with the era’s biggest names in architecture and created a desert living room for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco that featured walls made of California Joshua wood and a painting by Georgia O’ Keeffe. He paid close attention to lighting design, employed hand-painted wallpaper and favored featuring Chinese ceramics alongside Chippendale chairs and ottomans for entertaining. His most famous clients included Joan Crawford, Carole Lombard, Betsy Bloomingdale and more. Crawford played a significant role in kick-starting his career when she commissioned Haines to decorate her entire home in Brentwood.
Haines was such an esteemed tastemaker that he’s among those credited with having cemented Hollywood Regency as a reputable design style. (Its origins are owed to influential interior decorator Dorothy Draper.) While he gravitated toward the look of chinoiserie and English furniture, his signature was low-level seating and giltwood accents. Haines’s interior design style was so in vogue that Nancy Reagan became one of his biggest fans and eventually enlisted Ted Graber, Haines’s successor following his death in 1973, to decorate several private and public rooms in the White House.
Find a collection of vintage William Haines lounge chairs, lighting fixtures and other furniture on 1stDibs.
William Billy Haines Biscuit Tufted Ledge Back Sofa
By William Billy Haines
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exceptional 122" long biscuit-tufted, ledge-back sofa by iconic mid-century designer William “Billy” Haines. Upholstered in high-grade velvet, the sofa is both luxurious and remar...
Wrought Iron
A Two Cushion Sofa on Runner Legs, William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This collection presents a rare opportunity to own a piece of Los Angeles design history. The house, originally designed by Paul Williams in 1933 was given the Haines touch when his clients a young family of five...
Fabric, Walnut
$10,845Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 62.6 in D 38.98 in
LOVELY HOWARD & SON'S / CHAIRS LTD TWO SEAT SOFA FEATHER FILLED SEAT CUSHIONs
By Howard & Sons, Howard Chairs Ltd., Howard and Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super comfortable Howard & Son's / Howard Chairs LTD sofa with the inside back left leg stamped Please...
Upholstery, Hardwood
$2,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 32 in W 72 in D 30 in
Mid Century Carl Malmsten Style Swedish Gold Velour Curved Back Tufted sofa
By Carl Malmsten
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid Century Carl Malmsten Style Swedish Gold Velour curved back sofa. Very nice designed Swedish sofa with tufted back. Gold Velour that shows fading otherise good vintage Condition....
Velvet, Wood
$4,800
H 30 in W 64.5 in D 30 in
Danish Midcentury Sofa Two-Tone Wool with Teak Legs and Wood Accents 1950s
By Kurt Olsen
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Very Classic and ultra cool Danish three-seat sofa epitomizing the 1950s and reminiscent of Kurt Olsen's design style. Built on a sturdy beech wood frame and raised on solid teak leg...
Wool, Teak
Vintage Italian Modern Curved Sofa on Brass Splayed Legs
By Gio Ponti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Italian organic-form sofa with sculptural, winged-arm rests and deeply curved back supported by four brass, splayed legs (ca. 1950s). Chic, modernist design, presenting well ...
Brass
Hudson Sofa Loose Seat Cushions, Box Legs
Located in Ridgewood, NY
Simple, clean lines and balanced proportions define this sofa. Dual back cushions compliment the single, long seat cushion in this modern remix of a Classic ...
Upholstery, Wood
$8,200
H 25 in W 85 in D 32.5 in
Biscuit Tufted Sofa by Maurice Bailey, Burnt Gold Velvet, 1960s Design
By Maurice Bailey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful 1970s Biscuit Tufted Sofa by Maurice Bailey for Monteverdi and Young in a burnt gold crushed velvet upholstery. In good vintage condition with a nice patina throughout. V...
Velvet, Walnut
$8,000 / set
H 28 in W 33 in D 27.5 in
1940s Modern Lounge Chairs by William Billy Haines, Upholstered Oak
By William Billy Haines
Located in San Francisco, CA
Two large scale lounge chairs designed by William "Billy" Haines. Each chair has an upholstered seat and curved tufted backrest which are joined by a gently curved tapering exposed o...
Upholstery, Oak
Adrian Pearsall Brutalist-Inspired Two-Cushion Sofa (1 of 2)
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates, Paul Evans
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A striking example of Adrian Pearsall’s bold design vision, this two-cushion sofa blends clean modernist lines with dramatic Brutalist detailing. Upholstered in rich black fabric, th...
Upholstery, Resin, Wood
$6,280Sale Price|20% Off
H 27 in W 89 in D 35 in
Magnificent Directional Biscuit Tufted Party Sofa Midcentury
By Milo Baughman, Directional
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent Milo Baughman style Directional biscuit tufted party sofa. This sofa was re-upholstered about 15 years ago and would be best-redone again-few pulls to the front of the ar...
Upholstery
Mid-Century Modern Pencil Leg 4 Cushion Sofa
Located in Wilmington, DE
Mid-Century Modern pencil leg 93" 4 cushion sofa Offered is an unrestored mid-century modern sofa, probably by Kroehler. The sofa very unique lines and is elevated on pencil legs representing that Mid Century Modern/ Jetsons era. The fabric needs to be redone, but still looks like it was a set extra in the Brady Bunch...
Fabric
Midcentury Ottoman Pouf in the Style of William "Billy" Haines
By Grosfeld House, James Mont, Dorothy Draper, William Billy Haines
Located in Houston, TX
Midcentury ottoman pouf in the style of William "Billy" Haines. This charming 32 inch round poof is newly upholstered in plush white bouclè fabric with a large center button. This ve...
Bouclé
$8,527
H 29.93 in W 61.82 in D 35.44 in
Børge Mogensen Two-Seat Sofa, Vintage Tan Leather, Oak Legs, 1960s
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Børge Mogensen two-seat sofa new upholstered with vintage tan full grain aniline leather. Legs of oak. Model 2212, made by Fredericia Furniture.
Leather, Oak
$6,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 28 in W 30 in D 33 in
Lovely Pair Billy Haines Style Large Scale Tufted Lounge Slipper Regency Chairs
By William Billy Haines
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent pair of Billy Haines style Biscuit tufted slipper chairs. These chairs are upholstered in a lovely high grade creamy white leather and look amazing. They measure 28"t x 3...
Leather, Wood
$3,250 / set
H 30 in W 31 in D 26 in
Sculptural Billy Haines Style Barrel Back Lounge Chairs Mid-Century Modern, Pair
By William Billy Haines
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Lovely pair of sculptural Billy Haines style barrel back lounge chairs. Upholstery is clean but is dated-reupholstery is recommended.
Brass
Modern Suelo Sofa, Turned Leg
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
This Modern Suelo® sofa - Turned Leg is beautifully constructed from solid wood in Ohio, USA. The sofa's silhouette is simple, modern, and sleek with comfortable reversible back and ...
Maple
A Quilted Chaise/Sofa designed by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This William Haines designed chaise/sofa is a classic example of Haines' design genius. A relatively simple form Haines would very often embellish the shapes by using a custom quilt...
Textile, Wood
Sold
H 33 in W 73 in D 35 in
Mid-Century Modern Channel Tufted Sofa by Billy Haines in Cream Bouclé Fabric
By William Billy Haines
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Billy Haines in the 1950s, this sofa exemplifies the "restrained modernism" for which Haines is renowned. Sitting on conical legs in ebonized walnut, this elegant sofa fe...
Bouclé, Walnut
Beautiful Biscuit Tufted Ledge Back Sofa by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A classic example of the work of William Haines this sofa is extra long. All the important Haines details are present, the deep biscuit tufts, the ledge back, the radius front corner...
Fabric, Hardwood
Custom Loose Cushion Sofa Designed by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A beautiful custom three cushion sofa designed by William Haines for Sunnylands, the winter residence of Leonore & Walter Annenberg in Rancho Mirage, ...
Wood, Upholstery
Sofa by William "Billy" Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An elegant sofa designed by legendary midcentury Los Angeles designer and decorator, William "Billy" Haines. The sofa has been recently upholstered in a beautiful Oyster fabric from ...
Upholstery, Wood
Custom Quilted Sofa by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A chic custom designed sofa by William Haines, designed for the Beverly Hills home of Dr. Herbert and Mrs. Rita LeRoy Roedling. It has been newly upholstered in a beautiful graphite ...
Custom Biscuit-Tufted Sofa by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A magnificent custom biscuit-tufted sofa by William Haines. This sofa is from the estate of 20th century Fox president, William Goetz and his wife Edie. Edie was the daughter of Louis...
Sofa with Integrated Parchment Side Tables by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This chic upholstered sofa with integrated parchment side tables was designed by William Haines for the home library of Anne Rutherford in 1942. It was originally placed with the par...
Custom Biscuit-Tufted Sofa by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A magnificent custom biscuit-tufted sofa by William Haines. This sofa is from the estate of Twentieth Century Fox president, William Goetz and his wife Edie. Edie was the daughter of Louis...
Custom Loose Cushion Sofa Designed by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A beautiful custom three cushion sofa designed by William Haines for Sunnylands, the winter residence of Leonore & Walter Annenberg in Rancho Mirage, ...
Wood
Large and Impressive Sofa by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A handsome sofa by William Haines from the estate of Ann Rutherford Dozier. The sofa has been reupholstered in a Holland & Sherry linen/silk blend fabric that's been quilted in one o...
Feathers
Two-Piece Sectional Sofa by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A two-piece sectional sofa by William Haines from the estate of Ann Rutherford that features modernist iron frames and Sunbrella upholstery. Can be used either indoors or outdoors. ...
Ledgeback Sofa by William Haines
By William Billy Haines
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A stylish Ledgeback sofa made by William Haines Designs for Leonore Annenberg in 2006 for the master bedroom at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage. The ...