Rise of the Decorator/ History of Women in Interior Design

 In 1900 a need arose for interior decorators, because of the eclectic architecture that lacked on that area. Interior decorators would add accessories, art, and furniture to create a cohesive interior aesthetic. Elsie de Wolfe was the first woman to pursue interior decorating by rebelling against Victorian interiors by creating bright spaces with French furniture. Wolfe made interior design become a separate entity from architecture. She valued comfort, beauty, and quality lighting. Some of her methods and materials she most commonly used were French furniture, the addition of animal prints on upholstery, and her interiors were inspired by nature, especially gardens. Wolfe not only separated interior design from architecture but has a style of how she decorated and created a way for women to enter the interior design profession. This was a difficult thing because like most professions it was difficult for women to be a part of one, especially in the world of design. In 1925 Dorothy Draper opened the architectural clearing house which was one of the first official interior design businesses. She focused on hospitality and large projects that focused on vibrant colors because she understood the effect of color on mental health.

One Step Further:

One of the interior designers that stood out to me was Billy Baldwin. Baldwin had more of a focus on American style that was neat and tidy. I think having an interior that isn’t overly decorative, but the decorations are organized and functional is very important. He also would mix new items with old items. This is another way Baldwin shoes functionalism and practicality through his interior design because he understands that clients will always already have some furniture or decorations that they want to keep. It allows clients to still be sentimental, and it is a realistic way to create a beautiful interior because you are still updating the space, but not losing the story of the client. The images below are some of Baldwins' interiors. The image to the right really shows the way he would mix new items with old, you can tell because the furniture looks outdated, but with it in an updated space with the white walls and neutrals surrounding the furniture, it makes it fit in well. 

Current application:

1.  This image below made me think of Clodagh's interiors because of their modern features. The use of natural materials is also apparent in this interior, with neutral and soft colors. Having more neutral colors was a lot popular for Clodagh because she was aware of the well-being of her clients, and didn’t want a space to give off anxiousness, but a calming spirit

2. This image reflects Laura Day’s style, which is more SOHO. She would play with different textures and patterns which you see in this interior as well. Colors such as yellow, white, red, blue are popular colors used in this style. You can see little e but of the red and blue in the bottom left patterned furniture and the yellow in the painting. Chandelier lighting is also widely used, which is seen in this image as well. 

3. In the image below I found a very modern way of doing a curtain with chains attached to the ceiling. I thought this was a very unique way to separate two spaces. This reminded me of Petra Blaisse who focused on creating fluid transitions between spaces and worked with unique curtains.