This summer my reading list has included books about Sister Parish, Billy Baldwin, John Fowler, Mark Hampton and most recently,
Dorothy Draper. Her work in the design world was a true
tour de force.
New York Magazine's list of key elements of Dorothy Draper design:
1. intense use of color
2. florals/greenery -'as much a part of a decorative scheme as beautiful curtains,'she said
3. textured carpet -thick tactile rugs
4. striking details - a few bold accessories, not clutter
5. a fireplace
6. bold prints - over sized patterned wallpaper, fabrics
7. chessboard floors -black and white large tiles
8. large mirrors - the more ornate the better
9. romantic furniture- curves and some whimsy
10. color contrasts - opposites on the color wheel ie. red with green
In an interview in
Newsday, Dorothy commented on how to approach each project:
"1. an intelligent analysis of the problem
2. how to put it into production as economically as possible with emphasis on function, and
3. a sense of good showmanship, the capacity for seeing things as a picture."
all images via the Collection of Dorothy Draper and the Carleton Varney Group
