Dorothy Draper was a trailblazing American interior designer who revolutionized the way Americans thought about decorating both public and private spaces. Her distinctive style—defined by bold colors, oversized patterns, and theatrical Modern Baroque flourishes—helped establish interior design as a viable and aspirational career path, particularly for women.

During the Great Depression, Draper began transforming hotels, restaurants, and nightclubs into vivid and fantastical environments. Rather than using the subdued pastels and neutrals that were popular at the time, she embraced saturated colors like chartreuse, crimson, and sky blue. Her interiors featured expansive checkerboard floors, ornate plasterwork, elaborate moldings, and signature cabbage rose chintz fabrics—creating cheerful, dramatic spaces that offered a much-needed escape.

Draper’s early success designing the Carlyle Hotel in New York led to commissions across the country, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art café, the Hampshire House Hotel, and most famously, the Greenbrier Hotel. Her legacy paved the way for contemporary maximalists like Jonathan Adler and Kelly Wearstler, who continue to embrace color and whimsy in their work today.

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