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La Fiorentina Salon
by Billy Baldwin |
"The Rise of the Decorator" was a term used by John Pile, an Interiors Historian to explain the period when interior designers were in high demand by the elite and middle-class families due to an increased demand for houses that reflected the status of the people after the Second World War.
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Villa Trianon Interior, Versailles, France
by Elsie de Wolf |
It started with an actress, Elsie de Wolfe who was inspired by Sarah Cooper Hewitt and started her company in 1901 after she had gained great interest in interior design preceding the commending redecoration of her home she worked on. She didn't have any formal education in interior design but it wasn't too long until it had all her attention when she retired from acting completely in 1905. With the help of Stan White, de Wolfe obtained a project at the Colony Club in New York that helped start her career.
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House of Tomorrow Interior for the
Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago
by Mabel Schamberg |
In the 20th century, just like the modernists, the Victorian Design style was not appreciated but there was no clear way to apply French interiors and furnishings from the 18th century into the current times. De Wolf and others helped this become a reality while being respectful of the styles they used and white paint was very crucial for her at the time.
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The drawing room at Casa Amesti in Monterey CA
by Francis Elkins |
With de Wolf's help, interior design became its own separate entity from architecture and it developed into the stage where the profession developed academic programs and even had schools for it. The first school to offer interior design was the New York School of Art and Design. It was very much needed as there weren't a lot of architects interested or skillful in interiors at the time unlike the 18th century were the architects did interior work too.
Inspired by De Wolfe came many interior designers like Francis Elkins and Dorothy Draper who had connections like de Wolf. A common demand was the use of traditional pieces in a non-traditional way and Draper showed the 20th-century designers how to do that as well as incorporate patterned and decorative textiles into designs.
An important aspect of Interior Design was the door it opened to women and gays and lesbians alike who could now work openly without their sexuality being a hindrance.
Interior Designers had to fully furnish interiors including furniture, art, accessories, floor coverings and any other thing that was important in creating a cohesive interior design plan.
More Recent Works of Female Interior Designers:
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Interior of Residence in Beverly Hills California
by Barbara Barry |
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Kalamazoo campus of Western Michigan University interior
by Eva Maddox |
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Interior of St. Regis Aspen Resort in Aspen, CO
by Lauren Rottet |
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One Haworth Center in Holland, Michigan
by Eileen Jones and Eva Maddox |
More information and diagramming of the process, as well as renderings of this project, can be found in the links below:
One Step Further...
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The Stoneleigh Hotel's Presidengtial Suite Parlor
Dallas, TX |
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The Musser Suit in the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI
Designed by Carleton Varney of Dorothy Draper & Co. |
Reading about the Rise of the Decorator and women in interior design, someone who caught my attention right away was Dorothy Draper. What I saw in her works was not someone trying to play it safe or be subtle but a whole expression of design and what was inside her. She used such bold colors and patterns and yet it wasn't too overwhelming. I really enjoyed looking through her work on The Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia and it was all so amazing and beautiful and I would love to visit there sometime.
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Camellia House Restaurant Drake Hotel
Chicago, IL |
Her design style is daring and unique and she is certainly not afraid to put it all out there. There's some sort of energy and delight that can be found in her designs. I think the bright colors and bold pieces just keep you alive.
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| Hampshire House Lobby in New York, NY |
Dorothy Draper was born in 1889 to a wealthy family. She took a bold step as a woman at the time and established the first Interior Design company, Dorothy Draper & Company, in 1923.
She was educated primarily at home by a governess and tutor and she spent two years at the Brearley School in New York City. She got married to Dr. George Draper in 1912 and they had 3 children together.
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| Interior if the Greenbrier, West Virginia |
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| The Greenbrier Presidential Suite Staircase |
She was a modern artist who broke away from 'period room' styles of her predecessors and invented the 'Modern Baroque'. She loved working in public spaces because she believed people could come there and be elevated in the presence of great beauty. She liked to combine colors in ways they had never been done and she was known for combing dull white and shiny black. She used clear vivid colors and bold plastered moldings. She also used stripes and chintz fabric, especially her signature 'cabbage rose' chintz.
She was very confident and took control of her designs even down to design for menus and staff uniforms. Among the projects that made her famous were the Lithuanian Royal Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, The Carlyle, New York, and the Camellia House, Drake Hotel, Chicago.
My favorite quote from her is, "If it looks right, it is right".
I completely agree with you when you say that Dorothy Draper was bold and not afraid to use bright colors in her designs. I think her designs are so unique with the use of bright red, but like you said it is still not over powering and is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOnce again a top notch summary with great images. I am glad you added the education and academic happenings during this time. Dorothy Draper was a bold and wonderful designer who I deeply respect!
ReplyDeleteGreat entry!