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DOROTHY DRAPER - IN THE PINK

There probably has never been a more famous American decorator than Dorothy Draper. Most projects that she did were larger than life projects - huge mansions of the wealthy - and by far her most famous, The Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a landmark since the late 1770s.

In 1937, she was commissioned to decorate the 37 story Hampshire House on Manhattan's Central Park South. The results were so outrageously wonderful that the style became her signature and the media named it "Baroque fantasy."

I remember the first time I went to the Greenbrier with my mom and dad. It was about 1950 or so, and even as a child of ten I knew it wasn't like any other hotel. For most of his adult life, my dad would stop there regularly on his way back from a business trip to relax and horseback ride in the West Virginia mountains.

Over the years we visited the Mark Hopkins, the Drake, the cafeteria at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the San Francisco Nob Hill Fairmont, and the hotel that remains my favorite of New York hotels even today, the Essex House. All were decorated by Miss Draper. And there was her hotel apartment at the Hotel Carlyle, the most famous of the apartment hotels in New York.

Carleton Varney was Miss Draper's protégé for many years, and he took over as president of Dorothy Draper & Co., Inc., when Miss Draper retired. He has collected a compendium of Miss Draper's drawings and photographs of her works, and added a fascinating, comprehensive narrative. What fun seeing her weave her way to the top.

The book, In the Pink is a coffee table size book of about 225 pages. It would be a wonderful present for Mother's Day as well as a gift for those who are interested in commercial design.

Because of my memories as a guest in a number of the places Miss Draper decorated, I'm very appreciative that Mr. Varney wrote a personal note and signed a copy of In the Pink for me. It came a couple of weeks ago.

Again, the book is IN THE PINK by Carleton Varney. Published at ninety-nine dollars, it's on sale now at amazon.com for one-half that.

Posted by BILL CHERRY on 05/07/2008 03:56 PM

Comments (8)

greenbrier, dorothy draper, in the pink, essex house, mark hopkins, drake, hampshire house, carleton varney

Originally posted at: BILL CHERRY'S GREATEST DALLAS PARK CITIES REAL ESTATE BLOG: DOROTHY DRAPER - IN THE PINK

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8 Comments on DOROTHY DRAPER - IN THE PINK

MAY

2008

Bill... I saw a special about her not too long ago. It was facinating and VERY colorful

Miss Joanie,

It's so interesting how she totally created herself. She knew a lot about marketing, so it's an interesting read for those of us who depend on our marketing wits to make a living.

I wish I'd seen the special.

Bill

MAY

2008

Aloha Bill,

I'm always in awe when I see Ms. Drapers work. It's so vibrant and over the top. I visited the Greenbrier a few years back when I lived in DC and I was amazed at how they had maintained Ms. Drapers work. I've seen Pink and it's amazing to see her work in that perspective.

I Love the Carlyle but was completely unaware that she had lived there. Behmelman's Bar is such a throw back to classic Manhattan and I loved Bobby Short at the Cafe Carlyle, there is no replacement. I love Eartha Kitt but she's not Bobby.

Peace,

Kimo,

We've obviously followed the same footsteps.

Here'a Bobby Short Story. When Bobby was about 70 or so, one of the places on his summer tour was Galveston where I lived. For years I had traveled so much to Manhattan and had dropped in to the Cafe Carlyle so often that he and I had become first-name acquaintances.

So back to Galveston. My wife, Patty, and I were driving downtown on the Saturday afternoon before his engagement that night. She and I had only been married about a year. We stopped at a red light. I heard someone call my name several times, then they banged on the window. It was Bobby and his bassist, Beverly. I rolled down the window and we visited for a few moments.

Patty realized who he was and almost passed out. I guess I hadn't told her he and I were friends.

Bill

Kimo,

By the way, they've spent a couple of million remodeling the Cafe Carlyle. My friends tell me it just isn't the same. But at least on the walls they have Bobby's picture and paintings of him performing.

Bill

MAY

2008

Bill, nice ThemThem Post about Dorothy Draper, thanks for sharing with the Group.

Bill ~ I am a big fan of Dorothy Draper and even use one of her quotes on my website! Thank you for sharing your memories of her work.

Kathy,

It's really -- in the long run -- about who has flair and the ability to sell it. Everything Miss Draper did that I saw was as Big as Texas. The Greenbrier has been smart by keeping her concepts in place, with Mr. Varney updating things before they begin to wear thin.

I'm glad you picked her as one of your favorites.

Bill

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