Birds Are So Much Wiser Than We; Don't Be Sheep

"Birds are so much wiser than we.  A robin builds a robins nest.  A seagull builds a nest for seagulls.  They don't copy each other - or build themselves nests as described in The Bird's Decorating Magazine."  Dorothy Draper


This quote comes from the doyenne of 20th Century decorating.  She invented the profession in 1923 by establishing her own firm.  When most of the interiors of the time were done in period style she introduced splashes of color.  Furniture she produced or designed was painted in high gloss turquoise, white and black.  She designed wall coverings with large dramatic patterns and used bold black and white stripes.  Bold trellis patterns in citrus green were common in her interiors for hotels and homes.

If all of this sounds new and contemporary it would be because of the revival in recent years of all of her new concepts from the 1920's and 1930's.  Painted furniture in turquoise, white and black have been in vogue for the last five years.  Most of us have been tempted to paint something we own in gloss black, white or turquoise.  There  is even a blog called " Everything Turquoise".

These are photos of Dorothy Draper furniture pieces from her collection.  She started her design firm in 1925.

An original Dorothy Draper interior that holds up today.

This is a Dorothy Draper style that is much copied today.

These are current products that are on the market that copy that Dorothy Draper style.

My interpretation of Dorothy Draper's quote is do your own thing.  Don't be a sheep.  Sheep follow where told to go.  Most interiors that last throughout time are those where the designer and client have followed no one.