dorothy draper: design legend

dorothy draper

In 1923, Dorothy Draper was the first person to professionalize the interior design industry by establishing the first interior design company in the United States called Dorothy Draper & Company. Dorothy Draper’s style was very unique because she stayed away from the “period rooms” that were common at the time. Using bold colors and patterns, she created a design style that was unique to her and her brand.

greenbrier

One of Dorothy Draper’s most famous design projects is the Greenbrier which was a hotel that she began redecorating in 1946. This project was the largest design project to be done in the United States up to this point! She opened up the common spaces which really allowed people to admire her design as a whole because you could practically see from one end of the hotel to the other.

color & pattern

Bold colors and patterns are a Dorothy Draper staple, and she had such a unique and individual style that appealed to so many people. Along with large scale patterns, Dorothy often stuck to color palettes consisting of reds and greens which can be seen throughout most of her designs!

black & white

Dorothy Draper commonly used black and white elements among her colorful palettes to create contrast and add a modern touch, and believed that every room needed a touch of black! We see this mainly in her use of large black and white checkered tiles that can be seen throughout many of her designs.

dorothy draper’s legacy

Much of Dorothy Draper’s work has been displayed in museums over the years including New York City, Dallas, and Fort Lauderdale. She was a true artist and continues to inspire interior designers almost a century after she began her design company!