Esteemed decorator Dorothy Draper had an outsize influence that can be seen in hotel interior design around the U.S., but nowhere more so than at the Greenbrier in Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The sprawling resort opened in 1778, but became a beacon of good design when Draper renovated it in 1947 in her signature modern baroque style characterized by wide stripes, floral chintz, splashy colors, and black-and-white checkerboard floors. Since Draper’s death, all updates to the hotel have been carried out by her protégé Carleton Varney, the late president and owner of Dorothy Draper & Co., Inc.
The Carlyle Hotel by Dorothy Draper
Draper’s other most enduring work is none other than the Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel on New York’s Upper East Side. Opened in 1930, this New York City icon bears a distinctive Art Deco style that alludes to its rich history, though it certainly isn’t stuck in the past. Several other leading designers, including Renzo Mongiardino, Tony Chi, Thierry Despont, and Alexandra Champalimaud have put their stamp on it too. Its most recent update is the addition of Dowling’s at the Carlyle, but its most beloved space remains Bemelmans Bar, which features hand-painted murals by Ludwig Bemelmans, author of the Madeline children’s books.
The Terrace Plaza Hotel by SOM
In 1948, the emerging firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill was commissioned to create the Terrace Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati—America’s first new hotel to be built after World War II. Natalie DeBlois was the lead designer and used the hotel as a way to introduce modernism to the U.S., creating a landmark in the International Style and decorating the interiors with modern art by Joan Miró, Alexander Calder, Saul Steinberg, and Jim Davis. It was the first hotel in the U.S. to have elevators without operators, rooms with individual heating and cooling controls, and sofas that could convert to a bed at the push of a button. Despite setting the standard for modern amenities, the hotel fell into disrepair and was all but abandoned. In 2020, it was included on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of the 11 Most Endangered Places.
Parco dei Principi Hotel by Gio Ponti
