Emphatically in contrast to the concise forms in rich materials for the office designed by his own Styling staff, Harley Earl's office, designed by Eero Saarinen and Associates, is a luxurious enigma dominated by the large rounded bulks of his desk and the two build-in sofas. In the solid, hand-crafted cherry desk are a wealth of gorgeous gadgets, like the light and temperature control panels, built-in waste basket, TV control, and a desk light that rises from its flush prone position at the push of a button.  

The bulky rounds of the solid cherry sofas and desk in Earl's office were designed as commemoration of the wood molds once used to form the car bodies. The built-in sofas are set on recessed perforated metal bases. Finn Juhl desk chair, above, was modified by GM Styling with cherry and chrome swivel base. Special ceramic planters are by Mia Grotel; the Natzlers did the ash tray.   

Then there is the cherry wall paneling ribbed with aluminum extrusions, and in contrast to this, a ceiling covered in a beige fabric, cross-hatched with cherry strips. The beige and brown-tone room is punctuated with the orange and turquoise fabrics on the the two built-in couches that face each other diagonally  at either end of the room. 

A continuous curve of travertine framed in cherry wraps around one of the couches, and continues to a narrow shelf along the window wall behind Earl's desk. It is supported by tapered chromed legs ending in round feet. The other couch, on the same wall as the desk, has a continuous tapering counter that joins to the desk in a sensuous , tapering curve. 

Above pics; 1) William (Bill) Knudsen - 2) Harley with Grousehaven Gang (see details below) - 3) Charlie E. Wilson

The following excerpt is from a 1999 book by Dick Lattimer titled, I Remember Papa Bear: The Story of the Legendary Fred Bear

Military Muscle at Grousehaven

Grousehaven was a 3,000-acre prime hunting area adjacent to the Rifle River Recreational Area in the forests of northern lower Michigan. The roads in Grousehaven were named after famous people who had hunted there. There was Arthur Godfrey Drive, Hoyt Vandenburg Circle, Munger Alley, Boutelle Circle, Curtis Acres, Alger Road, Everett Circle, Harley Earl Road, Remington Road, Winchester Drive, and, of course, there was Fred Bear Circle.

This was property owned by Harold R. “Bill” Boyer of Grosse Pointe, Michigan , a former General Motors vice president who had been in charge of their GM Cadillac Cleveland Tank Division and the architect of GM’s Air Transport Division during World War II. Mr. Boyer helped manage the nation’s aircraft production during World War II and the Korean War. In the Korean War he was in charge of all aircraft production. His official title was Chief of the Aircraft Manufacturing Branch of the U.S. War Production Board from 1941 to 1943, and Chairman of the U.S. Aviation Production Board during the Korean War.

He had also been the GM vice president in charge of the Defense Systems Division and in the early 1960s he supervised tests on experimental vehicles for possible use on the moon. General Motors later built the lunar rover that the astronauts used on the moon during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions.

It was at Grousehaven that Fred taught such people as Gen. Curtis LeMay (who would later run for president of the United States ) to shoot the bow and arrow. At the time Fred first met him, Gen. LeMay was the Commander of the Strategic Air Command and later U.S. Chief of Staff. Others who were among the regular Grousehaven gang were television personality Arthur Godfrey; Harley Earl—head stylist at General Motors for 35 years whom you might have seen portrayed in Buick television commercials; Dick Boutelle, the head of Fairchild Aircraft; Larry Bell of Bell Aircraft; Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg (for whom Vandenberg Air Force Base is named); and four-star Gen. Hank Everest, head of T.A.C. The current president of GM at the time would also join in the annual hunt.