Backstage at the 2012 Oscars: Architectural Digest's Greenroom

Ever wonder where Oscar presenters and honorees kick back and relax behind the scenes during the awards? For the past 10 years, celebrities have been hanging out in backstage lounges produced by Architectural Digest and Hollywood's hottest interior designers. This year Waldo Fernandez was selected to create the 2012 Oscar Greenroom and his dark, relaxing retreat didn't disappoint.

Cuban-born designer Waldo Fernandez has long-established ties to Hollywood and working with celebrity clients. While studying architecture and design at UCLA, Fernandez worked for Academy Award-winning set designer Walter M. Scott, creating sets for the well-known Planet of the Apes and Dr. Dolittle. His first major interior design job was for the Oscar-winning film director John Schlesinger -- not a shabby start for a then-budding designer. Over the past 30 years, Fernandez's portfolio has grown to include celebrity clients like Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves and Elizabeth Taylor.

The backstage lounge for the 2012 Oscars was inspired by Hollywood's glamorous era of the 1930s and '40s. The design is said to reference the work of film actor turned interior designer Billy Haines, who decorated director George Cukor's Beverly Hills home, the location of many legendary Hollywood parties.

The greenroom features a spacious living room with an outdoor terrace just off the main lounge. The dark room and cozy furniture arrangements are sure to provide a relaxing environment for Oscar honorees. According to Architectural Digest, champagne will be served in the greenroom from a custom-designed bar for the first time ever.

Fab features of the 2012 Oscar Greenroom

Fernandez's design delicately balances masculine and feminine aesthetics while giving a nod to old Hollywood glamor. Here are our favorite parts of the sophisticated decor -- and tips for recreating the look.

1. Gray walls. The deep-hued walls were selected by color specialist Donald Kaufman. The dark color creates a cozy space that allows colorful accents to stand out. Get the color used in the Oscar greenroom, DKC 98, from Eagle Paint & Wallpaper, Inc.
2. Custom book jackets. We're loving the whimsical library with movie-themed book covers. The book collection here was custom-created by Juniper Books and features images from the archives of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. The look could easily be re-created at home with decorative wrapping paper.
3. Soft lighting. Lighting often gets overlooked in design, but can make a world of difference. Circa Lighting provided a combination of overhead lights, wall sconces, chandeliers and table lamps to create an overall glow in the room while still highlighting the artwork and fabulous 1930 Bathing Girl sculpture by William Zorach.

Fernandez joins the ranks of other top designers like Michael Smith, Roger Thomas, Stephen Shadley, Dorothy Draper & Co., and Dorothy and Roy Christopher, who have previously designed greenrooms for the Oscars.

Up next: Past Architectural Digest Greenrooms at the Academy Awards >>