Week 10/11

Rise of The Decorator

History of Women in Interior Design

In the early 20th century, the role of the interior decorator became more recognized and important. Before that, architects usually made decisions about interior spaces. Decorators, however, started to focus on the beauty, comfort, and personality of a room. Events like the 1925 Paris World’s Fair helped spread new design styles such as Art Deco. Decorator Elsie de Wolfe preferred light and elegant designs and Dorothy Draper was known for her bold colors and dramatic style. Billy Baldwin brought a cleaner, more personalized approach. These decorators helped shape the profession by showing that interiors could reflect a person’s style and mood, not just follow rules.

As interior design developed, women began to dominate the field in numbers, even though leadership roles were still mostly held by men. Well-known designers like Dorothy Draper, Frances Elkins, Petra Blaisse, Clodagh, and Laura Day each had unique approaches. Some focused on bold color and pattern, while others used natural materials and calming design to improve well-being. Many of them had little formal training but became successful through creativity and experience.


Past Applications

Elsie de Wolfe

Dorothy Draper

Billy Baldwin


Current Applications

Kelly Wearstler (with link)
Lily Scout Kwong (Lily Kwong-link)

Leanne Ford


One Step Further

Dorothy Draper was a pioneer in interior design and one of the first women to open a professional decorating business in a male-dominated field. She was known for her bold use of color, large patterns, and glamorous style, through which she helped define the Hollywood Regency look. Draper believed that bright, beautiful spaces could improve people’s mood and well-being. Her work on hotels, restaurants, and public buildings showed that interior design could be both dramatic and uplifting, helping to make the profession more respected and creative. 

  



Comments

  1. Cara VeenstraApril 5, 2025 at 8:59 AM

    Hi Ruth! Great summary at the beginning. I also love the images you chose for your current applications. It appears some pictures in the middle didn't load. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Professor VanderNoordaaApril 5, 2025 at 11:16 AM

    Ruth,
    Great summary and your current applications were great! Some images did not load- but you covered many great designers. Dorothy Draper was a perfect designer to highlight in "One Step Further". 50/50 points

    ReplyDelete
  3. Gina ChristopherApril 5, 2025 at 12:16 PM

    I really enjoyed this blog entry. Your current applications were great examples. Overall very nice job!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 2

Image
Japan and Japanisme Japanese architecture focuses on simplicity, natural materials, and a strong connection to nature. Homes are mainly built with wood and use sliding doors (shoji and fusuma) to create flexible spaces. Rooms are sized based on tatami mats, and decoration is minimal, often centered around a small display area (tokonoma) for art or flowers. Houses are designed to blend with nature, often including gardens. Because of earthquakes, buildings are made mostly of wood instead of stone. After Japan reopened to trade in 1854, Western architects became interested in Japanese design. They admired the simple forms, natural materials, and open layouts. Japanese styles influenced modern architecture, including designers like Frank Lloyd Wright. The Katsura Imperial Villa, with its clean design, inspired architects such as Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe. Japanese furniture, being low and simple, influenced Western home design, as did Japa...
Read more

Week 13

Image
  Modernism in America Part II Mid-Century Modernism ran from 1950 to 1960. This style was characterized by flat/low-slope roofs, open floor plans, and clean lines. It also involved a strong connection between indoor and outdoor spaces through wide glass walls. It was greatly popular on the West Coast and the style embraced both earthy and trendy colors. This style also utilized modern materials such as plastic, fiberglass, and laminates in both architecture and furnishings. Real estate developer Joseph Eichler played a significant role in shaping mid-century modern residential design by constructing over 11,000 homes using post-and-beam construction. He aimed to make modern architecture more accessible and affordable for the average American family, blending innovative design with practical living spaces. In furniture design, well-known designers like Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi helped shape the modern style by using creative forms a...
Read more

Week 14

Image
Postmodernism/Deconstruction Postmodernism in interior design and architecture emerged in the 1980s as a reaction against the simplicity and constraints of Modernism.  After the economic struggles of the 1970s, people were ready for more fun, and expressive design. The Memphis Movement was founded in Milan in 1981 by designers like Ettore Sottsass and Michele de Lucchi. It was a great example of the shift with bold, playful designs influenced by Art Deco and Pop Art. Ettore Sottsass A few key figures in Postmodern architecture include Robert Venturi, who rejected the simplicity of Modernism in favor of complexity and historical ornamentation. Michael Graves was a member of the New York Five, who emphasized color, decoration, and human-centered design. Others, like Charles Gwathmey, Richard Meier, and John Hejduk, explored the geometric complexity, white minimalist palettes, and psychological depth in architecture. The office environment also evolved, which was influenced by th...
Read more