Is there Polywood in Hollywood?

Hollywood – home of the stars. And what story does it have? In 1853, the only man-made structure in the area was an adobe hut. Then, in 1886, during their honeymoon, HJ Whitley and his wife Gigi coined the name Hollywood. The following year HH Wilcox used it officially for the first time in a deed as the name of his 160-acre farm.

The community began to grow when, around the turn of the century, cinema began to take off. The first Los Angeles studio was established in 1909 and then in 1910 director DW Griffith made the first motion picture to be shot in Hollywood. It was a one-reel melodrama about the Mexican colonial era in California and it was called “In Old California.” In the 1920s, Hollywood became world famous as the center of movie making in the United States.

And soon fashion, romance, intrigue, and adventure became synonymous with movie-making. Then, like today, people were intrigued with the stars. Everyone wanted to know what they did, where they went, what they ate, and how they decorated their houses. And many people began to incorporate the romantic themes of Hollywood movies into their own decor.

One of the most timeless furniture style statements to emerge from that era, the chaise longue is enjoying a resurgence in the 21st century. Loungers were first associated with Hollywood casting couches in the 1920s. And some people, in their minds, still see images of Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo lounging on them.

Traditionally made of wood and fabric, the lounger has evolved. Now there are not only bedroom loungers, there are outdoor loungers and lounger sofas. And on top of that, many are no longer made of wood. They are also built with polywood, a product made from recycled plastic packaging.

It seems like just about everyone is going green these days, so it’s no surprise these recycled milk jugs are taking Hollywood by storm. Polywood is pretty amazing. Although it looks like wood, it is actually a non-porous material that never needs to be painted, stained, waterproofed, scratched or coated. It will not crack, rot, splinter, warp or absorb moisture. To keep it clean you just have to add a little soap and water and it will shine like new.

You would be surprised how many actors, singers, dancers, directors and producers have polywood furniture in their homes and gardens. There was a rather risqué party recently, she may have read about it in the tabloids, where the entire garden was decked out in polywood Adirondack chairs and Adirondack furniture. And, if she had snuck into the bedroom, she would have seen a polywood chaise facing the king-size bed.

Yes, there is polywood in Hollywood. You can easily find a wide range of polywood pieces to enjoy in your home on the internet.