Peter Lorimer

View of Los Angeles from above, with streets, buildings and mountains visible in the background.

The American dream

From spinning records

To Selling Sunset

Flexing the creative muscle

Leeds native Peter moved to America in the late 1990s, after enjoying a fruitful career in the European dance music industry. As an artist and a producer, he had scored more than 20 Billboard Club Chart No.1 hits, working with household names such as Pink, George Michael, Sting, Enrique Iglesias, and Girls Aloud, to name just a few.

“I lived life to the fullest in my 20s and 30s and was lucky to find success,” he says. “But after nearly two decades in the nightlife industry, I felt it was time for a break.”

“I already had a few contacts Stateside, and I loved the laid-back rhythm of things here. I could already see myself growing old in the sunshine, but there was only one problem: I was far too young to retire! Very soon I got itchy feet and just couldn’t help myself not be hungry for more…”

The first thing Peter did after moving to Los Angeles was invest his music royalties in the local property market. Soon, he’d caught the bug and instead of buying and selling houses for himself, he decided to do it for others too.

“I never expected to kickstart a new career in the US,” he explains. “But there’s something so exciting about the residential housing market. These are spaces we project our hopes and dreams into. That’s why they can also be so incredibly varied and different, especially in Los Angeles. Every day I’m lucky to get a private tour of some of the most incredible Modern, Postmodern and contemporary architecture in the world – it’s impossible to get bored.”

For Peter, the link between music and design is evident: both depend on trusting your own taste. In addition to his real estate business, he’s also recently started an interior design studio, called Mad Dogs and Englishmen Design, where he and his team help customers to infuse their living space with personality.

“When I left the music industry, I never thought I’d use my creative muscle again,” he remembers. “I used to spend my time going through records, listening to the vinyl, checking the beats, but as it turns out, in design it’s exactly the same. Instead of going through records, I’m going through patterns and fabrics, with the same feeling. It’s like: ‘No… no… no… yeah! That’s great, let’s use that!’”

Peter Lorimer driving his Bentley Arnage R.

Peter Lorimer's Bentley Arnage R driving (monochrome).

Vintage charm

An unconventional choice

Fully on-brand

Gut instinct also led Peter to his 2005 Bentley Arnage R. Despite having been a fan of the brand since he was a boy, his first real foray into the world of the Flying B was with a brand new Bentley Continental GT a few years ago.

“I absolutely loved the GT but when the lease came up, I was looking around at my local dealership when I suddenly happened upon the Arnage,” he explains. “It was love at first sight. I couldn’t get over how perfect it looked: from its striking white and chrome exterior to the tan and walnut inside. It completed a mental image of the car I imagined driving as a lad when I grew up.”

His wife Cindy and three children were also surprised when he drove the Arnage home. They couldn’t understand why he hadn’t gone for a new model, but for Peter there was no looking back.

The Bentley Arnage was first launched to critical acclaim in 1998 and remained in production until 2009. It marked the brand’s first all-new design since 1980 and set the bar for both luxury and performance.

“You can’t help but feel special when riding around in this car,” Peter adds. “Despite their initial cynicism, my wife and kids quickly changed their tune when they first got inside. Nothing prepares you for the comfort of this car. It sails over any imperfections in the road and just makes you feel like a million dollars when reclining in the smooth leather seats. It’s just so special.”

Peter Lorimer's driving his Bentley Arnage R driving around a bend.

Peter Lorimer and his Bentley Arnage R on a hill, with the sunset in the background.

Undeniable performance

A driver's car

A long way from Leeds

Despite all the luxury and comfort, the Arnage R is no slouch. The Bentley boasts a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8, delivering around 450bhp, so it certainly doesn’t lack performance and that’s something Peter loves about his daily driver.

“Even though I mainly use it in town and rarely go above 50mph, it’s great to know the Arnage can really pick up speed when you need it to,” he explains. “Sometimes, to seal a deal, I need to get across town fast, so I need to know my car can back me up. Other times it’s just fun to embarrass people at the lights – in a city full of supercars, nobody expects such a large limousine to be a threat. But when I flip it into Sport mode, I can drive it like a car that weighs half as much.”

For Peter, there’s nothing he likes more than taking a road trip in his car. As often as he can, he drives up to his winery in Paso Robles with Cindy, the kids and his dogs. Other times, he takes a drive away from the city and into the Malibu Hills to clear his mind.

In the fading light, the Arnage glides over the tarmac and makes little work of the snaking roads that lead to the summit. Then as darkness engulfs the world, Peter parks up to admire the last of the light disappearing behind the hills and out over the ocean.

“When I think about it all, I’m an extremely lucky guy,” he says. “It’s important to remember that. When I look at the life I lead, the family I’m blessed with and the amazing car I drive, I sometimes have a word with myself to say: ‘You’ve come a long way from Leeds, Pete!’”