Design Lesson
Holiday decor: A Dorothy Draper Christmas
Image: Donna Griffith | Produced by: Jessica Waks
Design Lesson
Holiday decor: A Dorothy Draper Christmas
Legendary decorator Dorothy Draper boldly declared in one of her tomes that “entertaining is fun!” We took her sentiment to heart and translated her signature interior stylings into a holiday soiree fit for the doyenne of design herself. With a mix of Dorothy’s go-to motifs, such as flowering chintzes, black and white stripes and a heaping dose of gold, here are some ways to bring a hit of Hollywood glamour to your own festive season.
Think beyond classic red and white and go for bold instead when it comes to your stockings. Mixing and matching hits of chintz, sumptuous jewel-toned velvets and black and white ribbon really catches the eye.
“Don’t forget fresh flowers and vases of greens. It’s the things like that that make for hospitality.” — Dorothy Draper
Enthrall guests with fanciful desserts designed to complement the decor, from sculptural flowering cupcakes to a cake with a hand-painted chintz motif.
“Every good hostess has a sense of showmanship.” — Dorothy Draper
For our own spin on Draper-style holiday cards, we cut out blooms from cheery floral-patterned wallcoverings, layered them with stripes and borrowed the classic scroll design from the covers of Dorothy’s cherished books, Decorating Is Fun! and Entertaining Is Fun!
Lay the foundation for a fabulous dining table with linens that command attention – and what’s more eyecatching than a black and white stripe? An antique architectural piece displays a favourite motif of Dorothy’s: a dramatic swag. Gold antique Chiavari-style chairs are popular for entertaining because their small scale makes it possible to squeeze additional guests around the table. More is more!
“When it comes to setting the table for Christmas dinner, let your imagination run wild!” — Dorothy Draper
Gilded antique china and stemware add retro sparkle and flair, alongside crystal-adorned lustres and a compote holding a bouquet of bright-hued roses that look like they leaped right off a floral fabric.
Who said a Christmas tree has to be green? Dorothy was all about unexpected combinations and thinking outside the box. The result? A tree that emulates the look of a contemporary chintz by way of mixing bright faux blooms with jewel-toned ornaments on frosty white branches. Black and white striped wallpaper is the perfect graphic backdrop to offset the sumptuous flocked Christmas tree.
“Nothing adds so much to the beauty and happiness of this world as colour.” — Dorothy Draper
In a nod to Dorothy’s love affair with wallpaper, we layered swathes of colourful wallcoverings and solid papers with luxe satin ribbons to fashion custom wrapping paper.
Image: From the archives of Dorothy Draper & Co.
Dorothy Draper's timeline
1889 - Born on Nov. 22 in New York; née Tuckerman.
1912 - Marries Dr. George Draper, personal physician to Franklin D. Roosevelt.
1923 - Starts her own firm, Architectural Clearing House, the very first interior design company in North America.
1930 - Receives her first major commission to decorate New York City’s The Carlyle hotel.
1939 - Her iconic decorating manual, Decorating Is Fun!, is published.
1941 - Her second book, Entertaining Is Fun!, is published.
1946 - Redesigns West Virginia’s historic Greenbrier resort, a 1778 National Historic Landmark.
1969 - Passes away on March 11.
2004 - Entertaining Is Fun! is reissued and becomes a bestseller; Decorating Is Fun! follows in 2007.
Today - Her protege, Carleton Varney, continues her legacy as CEO of Dorothy Draper & Co.
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