“Dorothy Draper was to decorating, what Chanel was to fashion. The woman was a genius; there’d be no professional decorating business without her”

– Carleton Varney, Interior Designer

Dorothy Draper was a pioneer in the field of Interior Design and is often credited with opening the first Interior Design company in 1925 called the Architectural Clearing House. This was quite the feat for a woman in the 20’s –  pioneering an entire profession in a male dominated workforce takes incredible vision and drive. With her exquisite taste and bold design aesthetic, Draper enlivened an otherwise drab design community while inspiring a generation of housewives to express themselves through design.

Draper’s design aesthetic is often referred to as “Modern Baroque” or “American Baroque”  – a style of design attributed to her use of classical pieces mixed with bold, statement color palettes and patterns. Her style, while incredibly glamorous, was often eclectic and loud; high contrast colors (often black and white) and large-scale colorful patterns were effortlessly juxtaposed in her most iconic work.

Dorothy Draper Dining Room

Dorothy Draper Powder Room

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Dorothy Draper-esque Living Room

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Dorothy Draper’s Greenbrier Hotel Stair

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Draper Style Entryway With Bold Stripes

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Dorothy Draper Sitting Room

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Dorothy Draper “Brazilliance” Wallpaper

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Dorothy Draper Inspired Bathroom

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Dorothy Draper Spiral Stair

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