Written by the couple who were given the opportunity to ‘invent’
Hugh Hefner’s style as it relates to his living and working environments. Back in the early 60’s, a young couple who owned a local Chicago design and architecture firm were asked to bid on designing the new Playboy compound on Lake Michigan. They were honored but they were a small outfit and since all the bidders had agreed to provide several months of their time pro bono, the couple, Ron and Suzanne Dirsmith (owners of The Dirsmith Group) had to withdraw from the competition.

Three months later a Playboy representative contacted the Dirsmith’s to ask them to put together a proposal for Hugh Hefner as the large conglomerates were unable to appeal to his vision. This time they did, and they were rewarded with not only the contract to design the Chicago mansion but every single development that Hugh Hefner acquired along the road to super-stardom as the purveyor of the Playboy aura, including the DC9 Big Bunny and the world-famous Grotto.

Over the past 30 years the Dirsmith’s have come to know Hugh Hefner in a way that no one else has ever publicly discussed. They were charged with creating the tangible results of his legendary vision and throughout it all have been privy to the man behind the legend.

About the Author
Written by the couple who were given the opportunity to ‘invent’ Hugh Hefner’s style as it relates to his living and working environments. Over the past 30 years the Dirsmith’s have come to know Hugh Hefner in a way that no one else has ever publicly discussed. They were charged with creating the tangible results of his legendary vision and throughout it all have been privy to the man behind the legend.