Built in 1929, the owner of this elegant traditional Georgian in the Shadow Lawn neighborhood of Houston remained true to the home’s roots when it came to restoration. Materials used inside were kept in line with what they would have been in the 1920s. New or repaired walls were covered in plaster rather than sheetrock, unlacquered brass hardware was installed so it could age naturally, William Morris’ “Bird and Pomegranate” wallpaper – an archived block print that dates back to 1926 – was installed in the powder room, and dining room murals by de Gournay were custom painted to depict 1920s Houston. Beautiful paneling in the foyer was extended into other rooms, carefully researched to remain authentic to the period. A kitchen addition was demolished and replaced, shutters that had been removed over the years were reproduced and reinstalled, reclaimed slate was used where needed for the roof, and the home’s original Cordell red brick was tracked down through salvage yards and used for a new garden wall addition.
The construction and restoration to the 6,500-square-foot home took three years, and was overseen by Lucas/Eilers Design Associates interior design, architect Dillon Kyle of Dillon Kyle Architects, and builder Bill Rademacher of The Artisan Group. The team did a beautiful job of taking the well-cared-for but aging home back to its original condition – referencing drawings by the original architect Cameron Fairchild – yet thoroughly updating to perfectly suit modern-day life. Let’s take a look inside!
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look at the new collaboration between colonial Williamsburg and Schumacher, and the world of Jane Austen now on Netflix. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
A Collaboration 80 Years in the Making
The storied town of Williamsburg became the capital of Virginia in 1699 and quickly became a stately marvel for the newly formed colonies. Named after England’s King William III, the city was built in a traditional English manner with classical portions, clean lines, and meticulously planned space. Home to great statesmen such as Patrick Henry, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, the city fell into disrepair during the Revolutionary War and shortly thereafter was no longer the state’s capital.
The decades following proved trying for the once gleaming capital as it remained largely left to the elements. It was not until the early 20th Century that industrialist John D. Rockefeller Jr. rallied to restore the town. He transformed the once forgotten beacon of our nation’s history into a living museum. With the aid of historians, architects, and numerous designers, buildings one by one were brought back to their full splendor with accurate interiors. Today, Colonial Williamsburg even brings on a designer in residence to further the influence of colonial interiors and historic significance. Notable interior designer Heather Chadduck Hillegas holds the reigns as the institute’s current designer in residence.
Since Colonial Williamsburg first went under renovation, the historic institute made a point to collaborate with American companies and tastemakers. Eighty years ago Schumacher first partnered with Colonial Williamsburg to create textiles inspired by the former capital. Now, Schumacher reunites with Williamsburg once again to bring us a collection filled with American charm and traditional sophistication. Entitled Homecoming, the collection has been brought forth by non-other than Virginia native and interior designer, Charlotte Moss.
In perfect fashion, Moss used historic colonial tidewater home, Westover, as her backdrop to display and experiment with the collection. And what a perfect setting! Take a look…
Poring over images of Williamsburg and exploring Schumacher’s new collaboration reminds me of the inspiring world of Jane Austen. While the inception of Williamsburg was before the era of Jane Austen, the novelist lived and wrote from an England similar to that of colonial America. As a Jane Austen devotee I was quite ecstatic for the release of Persuasion on Netflix, a new rendition of the book and previously produced movie.
Released on July 15th, the film was less than stellar. Although, no matter the quality, competing with the original text of Austen is no easy feat. While I longed for the depth of narrative and emotion generated by Austen, I was enchanted by the sets. The Faye Brothers, who worked on the sets of Downton Abbey, The Romanoffs, and other sumptuous series, brought the world of Jane Austen to life. Formal yet not pretentious, perfectly pleasing to the eye yet not too done up, each scene felt aesthetically interesting and accurate.
Meet husband and wife design duo Odom and Kate Stamps. Founders of Southern California design firm Stamps & Stamps, the pair are Anglophiles at their core with a Californian sensibility. Their work combines classical English details and layers with a coastal flair making for perfectly appointing interiors with charming ease. Since 1991, Stamps & Stamps has built a distinguished reputation for reviving historical homes and creating beautiful gardens.
The pair met at Tulane University, Odom, an architecture student, and Kate, art history and English literature student. After graduation, the couple married and remained in New Orleans for ten years working at separate design firms. It was in New Orleans the couple had their daughter Emma and when she was three, the Stamps moved to Los Angeles.
As seasoned professionals with distinct perspectives, Odom and Kate joined forces to establish their eponymous firm. Both avid travelers with an English design sensibility, their work feels timeless and collected. Each space is saturated in life offering a sense of discovery. The Stamps have mastered the fine balance of comfort and restraint. And wonderfully so, this tension makes for interiors that are not place-specific or trend-driven. The pair have completed projects in Argentina, Canada, Norway, England, and Ireland just to name a few. In the United States, their projects span from coast to coast.
Take a look at the magnificent interiors and travels of Stamps & Stamps.
A gardens glimpse taken by Stamps & Stamps
Calke Abbey taken by Stamps & Stamps
Buscot Park taken by Stamps & Stamps
The English countryside taken by Stamps & Stamps
Linley Samborne House taken by Stamps & Stamps
Saltram House taken by Stamps & Stamps
The Vyne taken by Stamps & Stamps
We just adore the magnificent world of Stamps & Stamps. To discover more, please visit Stamps & Stamps and follow @stampsandstamps on Instagram for ongoing inspiration. We also highly recommend their book, Stamps & Stamps: Style & Sensibility which was released in 2021.
In the midst of this Texas heatwave, I have been daydreaming of lovely Newport, Rhode Island. On Monday, Bettie Bearden Pardee shared with us a glorious tour of her Newport rose garden, and today we will take a further look at one of the last bastions of American high society. Newly released, A Newport Summer is an intimate love letter to summertime in Newport from photographer Nick Mele, the “modern-day Slim Aarons,” and interior designer Ruthie Sommers.
The mansions of Newport – originally called “cottages” – were built as summer homes in the 1850s to 1900 by wealthy tycoons and represent America’s illustrious Gilded Age. The grand homes perched atop oceanside cliffs and lining storied Bellevue Avenue remain largely untouched by contemporary renovation and taste, and family heirlooms continue to be passed down from generation to generation. Indeed, Newport has an understated elegance that sets it apart from other resort towns.
Life behind the facades of these elaborate mansions is rarely revealed, but now, Mele and Sommers – both lifelong Newport residents – share their entrée into the parties, lawn tennis matches, beach clambakes, and family gatherings that make up the glorious days of a Newport summer. Picture the foggy mornings of June, the traditional yacht races of July, the annual meeting of old friends at Marble House in August, and the melancholy close of the season after Labor Day. Through Sommers’s personal, evocative text and Mele’s exquisite photographs of people, parties, beaches, and houses, the intimate charms of A Newport Summer come poignantly to life. Let’s take a peek inside with images courtesy of Vendome Press.
A Newport Summer is available for purchase via Amazon or Vendome Press. And if you haven’t already seen Bettie Bearden Pardee’s tour of her glorious Newport rose garden, you won’t want to miss! Click here for her feature on The Glam Pad and here for the video tour.
Welcome to TGP Tidbits where we round up the happenings and our musings of the design industry each week. This week we take a look into the Ann Getty estate auction at Christie’s, the interiors of New York hotel Nine Orchard, and the Leta Austin Foster collection for Waterhouse Wallhangings. Written by Natalie Aldridge.
Christie’s To Auction the Getty Estate
When renowned decorator, philanthropist, and socialite Ann Getty passed in 2020 the interior design community fell to shock and wonderment over what would happen to her extensive estate. Born to a farmer in 1941, in Gustine, California to diary farmers, then Ann Gilbert would go on to meet Gordon Getty, son of Getty Oil founder J. Paul Getty, at a bar in San Francisco. The two married in 1964 and Getty’s humble beginnings would forever be an emblem of the past.
Following the passing of J. Getty, the couple’s income rose astoundingly. They then purchased a five-story neoclassical mansion built by architect Willis Polk around 1906, perched atop the storied San Francisco neighborhood of Pacific Heights. Getty enlisted the famed interior design firm of Parish – Hadley to transform the mansion. The grand dame Sister Parish herself and Getty spent many a trip abroad sourcing antiquities and rarities alike for the home. Known for her jet set lifestyle, Getty would fly the globe in her private Boeing 727 complete with two bedrooms.
Years later with a sharpened eye, Getty opened her own interior design firm and quickly became an acclaimed designer known for her distinctive global flair and opulence. For decades following, the famed socialite grew an illustrious business while becoming an avid patron of the arts and a celebrated philanthropist.
From October 20th to the 23rd Christie’s will auction Ann and Gordon Getty’s personal collection obtained around the world throughout their marriage. The collection includes almost 1,500 works of decorative and fine artworks of significance. The estate is so extensive it will take four total days to complete the auction. Proceeds of the auction will benefit the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts. Take a look at some of the pieces on offer and do not forgot to pre-order a collection catalog.
La place Pigalle (étude) by Renoir (1841-1919) via Christie’s
George II Black-Japanned and Parcel-Gilt Armchair by William and John Linnell (Circa 1752-1755) via Christie’s
A chic new haunt has hit the Dimes Square neighborhood of New York City. Residing in the landmarked Jarmulowsky Bank Building built in 1912 by William Lawrence Rouse and Lafayette A. Goldstone, the Nine Orchard hotel embodies downtown glamour.
The historic building, once the tallest structure in the neighborhood, sat empty for years collecting dust and falling into the annals of history. In 2011 the building was purchased by DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners and slowly but surely restoration of the Beaux-Arts beauty began with the aid of architectural firm Studio Castellano. Over many years and painstaking attention to detail, the ornate structure was brought back to life. A once destroyed tempietto atop the roof even made its way back through a replica of the structure approved by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The 116-room hotel has now opened its doors and has begun entertaining visitors and New Yorkers alike. Offering several different dining options, the showstopper is the Lobby Lounge. With soaring ceilings and details rivaling Grand Central, the experience of sipping on a cocktail in a space with such grandeur is truly unmatched. The ornamentation alone could leave one’s jaw gapping for air. And the decor itself perfectly compliments the architecture. Not a single fabric, wood panel, or metal trimming feels out of place or in competition with its surroundings. Every inch of the historic building was well thought out and repurposed. Guests check in through the former teller window of the Jarmulowsky Bank.
The Glam Pad is always on the pulse of our favorite designers new feats and releases. This week Palm Beach native and award-winning interior designer Leta Austin Foster has released her first-ever wallpaper line in collaboration with Waterhouse Wallhangings. The collection boasts 70 hand selected prints from the Waterhouse Wallhanging archives that were restored with the expertise and eye of Foster.
Waterhouse Wallhangings specializes in the reproduction of original wallpapers designs and prints imported from Europe that were first used in the United States around 1700-1895. These wallpapers originally adorned the walls of the noble and wealthy of Europe and then found a place in American decorative history. Leta Austin Foster’s playful flare and whimsy mixed with the tradition of Waterhouse makes for a superb dichotomy.
Take a look at a few TGP favorites from the collection!
One of the best things about summer is the glorious flowers we get to enjoy, particularly the roses. Today we are in for a very special treat, as award-winning rosarian, noted author, and lecturer Bettie Bearden Pardee of Private Newport is joining us to share a tour of her enchanted rose garden!
Bettie’s exquisite French-inspired home, Parterre, is located in Newport Rhode Island, where Bettie and her husband reside year-round. The land was formerly part of the Belmont Estate, home to the illustrious Rosecliff mansion. When planning her garden, she meticulously ensured that it would be glorious throughout every season – including during Newport’s icy winters – and she graciously shares highlights on her popular Instagram account @privatenewport.
Flower magazine recently published a lovely article that uncovers the impeccable vision and inspiration behind Bettie’s heavenly garden. “I like to think of Parterre as a collection of smaller gardens created in the French tradition, with an American accent and a Newport sensibility,” she told the publication.
Let’s take a moment to stop and smell the roses! For Bettie’s guided video tour, please visit here. And below is a Guest Post written by Bettie herself, originally published on her website, Private Newport, and now republished with permission at The Glam Pad. Enjoy!
Roses at Parterre
Written by Bettie Bearden Pardee
We built our home, Parterre, twenty-three years ago this month. Can’t believe it’s been that long!! When creating the gardens we kept in mind that this would be a summer garden–late June through October, not a spring garden. And what says summer better than roses?? As a novice gardener, I shied away from having a rose garden specifically and focused on the use of this jewel as a landscape feature and design punctuation. Please join me on a stroll through Parterre’s gardens.
The Orangerie (a surprise Christmas gift from my husband when we were just breaking ground) is the centerpiece of the property. Of course it had to be draped with roses, encircling the antique leaded glass windows.
Looking across the lawn from the Orangerie to the pergola, where a pair of large stone planters placed either side of the steps show off a bamboo tuteur of David Austin ‘Charles Darwin.’
David Austin’s ‘Falstaff,’ in delicious merlot red, lines the wall to the Cutting Garden and provides a breathtaking scene as you move from the back courtyard to the interior garden rooms.
Designed just for roses, the latest addition to Parterre, a tall, 20′ long lattice, is the west-facing wall of the Cutting Garden. Here, the aroma of ‘Deelish,’ ‘Sweet Mademoiselle,’ climbing ‘Peace,’ and ‘Pink Enchantment’ remind you that summer at Parterre is all about roses.
Just a peek inside the Cutting Garden, where many rose bushes have supplanted other plants (like peonies, which now have their own bed across from the rose chain). Here are David Austin’s ‘Boscobel’ and ‘Ancient Mariner’ cavorting in their cobblestone-edged bed.
When designing, I reflected back on my original wish list for our gardens. One detail was an arch (which could be covered in roses). A perfect spot presented itself, the wrought iron arch holding up the lantern that lights the entrance to the back courtyard.
But the star of the season is the 82 ft. long rose chain planted with ‘Crown Princess Margaretha’ (feature image above). It was actually David Austin, Jr., who suggested this specific rose when he visited Parterre during the Newport Flower Show many years ago. It’s such a yummy shade of warm apricot (a bit like an Aperol spritz).
I love the way it dresses up our back courtyard, which we drive in and out of many times a day.
But also the way the roses cluster, or as the Austin catalog says, “are produced with exceptional freedom and regularity” which makes each individual bush look so full.
And in the late afternoon, the setting sun filters through the trees, casting a romantic glow.
The back drop to this rose chain is a glorious weeping European beech. I always welcome any opportunity to quote a friend who once said, “if Newport were a tree, it would be a beech.”
A big surprise awaited me after the horticulture judging at the Newport Flower Show last weekend…our ‘Carding Mill’ shrub rose (David Austin) won Best Rose in the Show.
Thank you, Bettie, for this delightful tour, what a wonderful way to begin the week!
Bettie is a dear friend and a favorite here at The Glam Pad. To learn more, please visit her website and blog and follow @privatenewport on Instagram. You might also enjoy the following articles from The Glam Pad…
Will Huff of the design firm Huff-Dewberry was delighted when he received a call from one of his Atlanta clients saying she and her new husband were building a home on Amelia Island. The husband runs his business from home and frequently holds meetings on Amelia Island, and as active philanthropists, the couple also wanted space to hold fundraisers. The esteemed Architecture firm, Spitzmiller & Norris, designed the home to exude a sense of substance and permanence. Furthermore, the light and airy feel transports you from the big city into a heavenly retreat that captures spectacular views of the surrounding marshes and Intracoastal Waterway.
“She wanted the house to reflect a casual, happy, and sophisticated feeling with fine things sprinkled throughout,” Will said of his client to Southern Home magazine. “And she wanted it all in shades of blue.”
The master bedroom was designed in ethereal blues and creams to create the feeling of being in a cloud. And custom latticework was made for the adjacent hallway to give it the feeling of a garden room.
Let’s take a look inside with photography by Jessie Preza.
What a beautiful home! Classic and serene. To learn more, please visit Huff-Dewberry and follow @will_c_huff on Instagram for ongoing inspiration.
Last month we gave a glimpse inside the romantic interiors of Hill House Home’s SoHo office. Brimming with prints, zippy florals, and feminine frills, the interiors perfectly reflect the fanciful image of the brand. If the Nap Dress Nation headquarters were not enough to put a smile on your face, take a peek at the company’s latest venture 0n the island of Nantucket.
Running through the end of the Summer season, the Hill House Home pop-up is making waves on the historic East Coast island. More than just a pop-up store, founder Nell Diamond is using the shop as an opportunity to bring together Nap Dress Nation enthusiasts and other brands Hill House Home supports. Nell is a seasoned Nantucketer making the location a perfect homage to her vision.
From July 26th to the 27th longtime TGP favorite, Mrs. Alice will be at the Hill House Nantucket pop-up for a “pop-in.” Mrs. Alice will be showing her latest ready-to-shop pieces with the beautiful backdrop of Hill House prints and Nantucket’s cobblestone streets. Stop in to say hello!
If you are lucky enough to be on Nantucket this summer, take full advantage of the Hill House Nantucket Guide compiled by Nell herself. The list includes all of Nell’s favorite island summer rituals for the Nap Dress Nation.
Amid all the Nantucket excitement, Hill House Home has launched its latest collection. Inspired by the Amalfi Coast, the collection features a whole new set of Nap dresses perfect for the Mediterranean.
Hill House Home has also launched a special collection two years in the making this week. Hill House Shoes and Jewelry! Feminine, playful, and spunky, the collection is reminiscent of those candy-colored dress-up costume shoes and jewelry in the best possible way. And Nell Diamond seems to agree with a large image of said costumery posted on the Hill House Instagram.
Run, do not walk! Back by popular demand, the ever-fabulous Celerie Kemble collection for One Kings Lane is back in stock. We have to admit, the collaboration is a TGP all-time favorite, especially the outdoor collection. The Palm Beach native and famed designer never disappoints. Celerie has an inherent understanding of design needs like no other.
The collection ranges from classic Palm Beach-inspired furniture, staple linens, and other odds and ends certain to make a statement. Shop our top picks below!
Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is here! The Glam Pad needs little excuse to shop… but this is a pretty good one. The annual sale has earned the reputation of being one of the very best sales of the year. With everything from home goods, linens, womenswear, menswear, and more, now is the time to stock up on staples or splurge on that one item you have been eyeing.
Back by popular request, Atlanta-based Instagrammers @covermeinivy and @stuffymuffy have again joined forces to present another delightful garden tour and guest post for The Glam Pad! You may recall the exquisite tour of a 1920s Buckhead garden they shared this spring, and today we return with the dynamic duo to beautiful Buckhead…
A designer known for her thoughtful approach to interiors practices the same discernment in the landscaping of a quintessential Buckhead home.
The spring season in Atlanta breathes life into its lush terrain, revealing grand garden schemes on most every residential street in Buckhead. The landscape of a 1937 Colonial Revival-style home tucked in Haynes Manor echoes the effort exercised to maintain such flourishing grounds. For 26 years, homeowner and designer Beth Ervin has collaborated closely with Louise Poer of Louise Poer Landscape Design to create a garden that envelopes the residence in charm. “It was important to me to have my yard look green and lush. Flowers come and go, but green looks great in Atlanta all year long,” Beth notes.
The mingling of climbing varieties and pruned hedges creates a harmonious balance of natural and manicured. During the month of May, rose trees boasting bold hues of pink and orange introduce color while hydrangea bushes blooming later in the summer offer texture. The touch of an interior designer is evident in the vignettes and intricate fretwork throughout, lending structure and aesthetic interest. Establishing a warm and inviting feeling are the meandering pathways and opportunities to sit and soak it all in. “We love to entertain on our porch and blue stone terrace throughout the year,” says the consummate hostess. After many seasons of cultivating the land, the result is a garden retreat in keeping with the home’s classical architecture.
For ongoing inspiration, please follow @covermeinivy and @stuffymuffy. And if you haven’t already, click here to tour their first garden tour, Bellemonde.
Our hearts are breaking today at The Glam Pad as we learned the news of Carleton Varney’s passing on the evening of July 14, 2022. In memorandum, we are reposting an interview conducted with the legendary designer, known affectionately as “Mr. Color,” back in 2019 during the Dorothy Draper Design Weekend. (You can also click here to read excerpts from the lovely presentation he gave that weekend.)
Mr. Varney’s client, screen legend Joan Crawford, once told him, “You remember one thing: I invented me and you can do the same.” I asked him what was the impact of these words in shaping his life? He responded, “I carried it through my entire career… I am still reinventing and will do so until I pass into heaven where I hope I’ll settle in a sky blue and white cloud atmosphere.” And that is exactly where I picture him now. Rest in peace, Mr. Varney. You will be forever missed, but the impact you made in this world will stand the test of time. ~ Andrea
(The following is reposted from May 22, 2019) This spring I attended the Dorothy Draper Design Weekend, which was the opportunity of a lifetime. Hosted by the legendary Carleton Varney and his team, I cannot more highly recommend this unforgettable decorating experience! It was incredible to be able to spend time with Mr. Varney, one of the world’s most celebrated interior designers, and I am delighted to welcome him to The Glam Pad today for a Q&A.
Carleton Varney (aka Mr. Color) is one of America’s best-known interior designers and the president/owner of Dorothy Draper & Co. Inc. As Dorothy Draper’s protégé, his work serves as a continuation of her legacy. Mr. Varney has decorated the residences of the entertainment, fashion, and business elite, and he is associated with the restoration and decoration of countless hotels and resorts worldwide. He has decorated various Governor’s Mansions and the U.S Ambassador’s Residences in Tokyo and Dublin. He restored and redecorated the Official Vice President’s Residence in Washington D.C. during the George H.W. Bush administration, and was a consultant for the Carter Presidential Library and various White House events during the Carter administration. He also redesigned and decorated the Carter residences in Plains and Ellijay, Georgia.
Mr. Varney’s versatility in design can be seen in the wide range of products that bear his mark, ranging from dinnerware, crystal, eye wear, home accessories, to scarves, including the 2017 Newbridge Silverware of Ireland home collection that bears his name. He has designed furniture collections for the Romweber and Kindel Furniture companies as well as for Ficks Reed. Since 1962, he has been creating designs for Dorothy Draper Fabric & Wallcoverings, which grace the rooms of some of America’s and the world’s most beautiful resorts and residences. Mr. Varney also writes a weekly decorating column, “Your Family Decorator,” in the Palm Beach Daily News, also known as ‘The Shiny Sheet’.
In 2005, Architectural Digest named him as one of the 30 “Deans of American Design.” In 2015, the Las Vegas International Market awarded him the Design Icon of 2015. He is a member of the Interior Design magazine Hall of Fame, and he has been awarded countless interior design awards. Welcome Carleton Varney!
Q: With a career that spans over five decades, what is your secret to remaining timeless and fresh?
A: I always have a sense of color and new spirit from all the things I see around the world and the different things other people are doing. They affect me because nothing is stagnant… decorating is never finished! I am always traveling and seeing new things, liking new things, and soaking in as much as I can of every beautiful thing I see. We shouldn’t lock ourselves away from change. I am in constant change improving color, changing pictures, lighting, table cloths, curtains. It is something that makes me feel alive and fresh in the world. You have a wardrobe filled with many things, and you don’t stop buying clothes, so why should you stop decorating your home? It’s never over until the fat lady sings.
Q: What role does the past play with interior design?
A: People want to know their roots. In order to be secure in your home, there has to be something rooted there… where you came from, an old photograph, memories from the past. Every home has to have a past, present, and a future.
Q: In today’s world of disposable furniture and design, how do you create interiors with a sense of permanence that will last?
A: Classics will always last, trendy designs tend to disappear. Go to a flea market to find treasures to combine with the latest trends.
Q: What are the essential classic pieces that you recommend investing in?
A:
A drop leaf table… they are so versatile.
Nesting tables (any type whether modern or prairie style).
A comfortable and well-made chair and ottoman that can travel with you forever.
A beautiful rug, not a cheap thing but woven, maybe Indian or Pakistani, or a tapestry.
Chinese lamps – export and figural lamps made from jade or crystal.
Q: Do you have a favorite project or one you are most proud of?
A: My favorite project is always the one I’m working on right now!
Q: Where are your favorite places to travel, and how do they inspire you?
A: I love to spend time in Ireland. Inspiration comes to me from the Far East, Bali, and Bora Bora.
Q: Are there any items you love to collect? How do you incorporate collections within your designs?
A: I collect Staffordshire dogs and glass vases, you can never have enough vases in all sizes for flowers.
Q: What are the key elements within a Carleton Varney-designed room?
A: Color, color, and more color and not be afraid to mix them. Plus Carleton Blue as my favorite background color.
Q: Your client Joan Crawford once told you, “You remember one thing: I invented me and you can do the same.” What impact did these words have on your career?
A: I carried it through my entire career and I am still reinventing and will do so until I pass into heaven where I hope I’ll settle in a sky blue and white cloud atmosphere.
Q: What were the key lessons you learned from Dorothy Draper?
A: The importance of scale and it can be larger than life, use no colors that look like gravy, and black and white is always right.
Q: How did the Dorothy Draper School of Decorating come about?
A: It started with my original school, the Carleton Varney School of Art and Design at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. People asked if I could teach at other locations so now I can travel around and teach in our beautiful hotels.
Q: What is in store for the future of the interior design industry? And what does the future hold for Dorothy Draper & Company?
A: More combinations of new and old, new ways of buying, a future in hospitality, new restaurants. Perhaps an online store and retail shops in resort hotels.
