The Great Lady Decorators: The Women Who Defined Interior Design, 1870-1955 by Adam Lewis and with a foreword by my dear friend Bunny Williams (amazon.com) is a great read and an inspiring look at the original 12 design stars. These women defined style for their generation and beyond. I am still in awe of De Wolfe’s interpretation of French decorative style and Sister Parish’s ability to combine colors and chintz with classic looks that informs my design decisions to this day (both professionally and at home).
These women were creative forces with a flair for the theatrical (and a little frugality). This book is a pleasure and I plan on pouring through it this weekend.
1 I love this bedroom by Frances Elkins, from the residence of Mrs. Marshall Field. The uniform of pattern is fantastic.
2 How sexy is this New York City bedroom by Rose Cummings. Is that a ceramic cat?
3 Syrie Maugham's Dining room for a London home reminds me of my old office.
4 Eleanor Brown's own dining room on Sutton Place, NYC, is simple and elegant. I love the color choices, crystal candelabras and marble accents.
5 The designs of my favorite, Sister Parish, taught me everything I know. The drawing room of Babe Paley's Fifth Avenue apartment says it all.
Kevin Sharkey 
From: Rowaida Flayhan | 2/26/10 at 8:49 am
Hi Kevin,
Greetings from London, thank you for recommending this book I made an order from amazon UK while here. Read your previous post, very interesting.
Good luck
From: catherine | 2/26/10 at 5:42 pm
You are so lucky to get these books before they are released. Now let me ask you..do you have Paper Illusions, probably since the exhibit came thru NY. It is just to die for. I was looking at it again the other day and meant to ask...you should have a book list at Amazon.
Catherine
From: Judy Bowls | 2/26/10 at 6:54 pm
It's a great book Kevin. I just love the drawings by Jeremiah. Have you seen his book Jeremiah a romantic vision? I know you will love it!
Judy
From: Merri Cvetan | 2/26/10 at 7:25 pm
I am looking forward to reading this book. I'm sure not too many people, including interior designers, know who started the industry.
I collect old design and etiquette books. Some of the old ones are really a hoot.
From: Garrett McCarthy | 3/1/10 at 10:49 am
"The great Lady Decorators" - is a book I look forward to reading. It will definitely be helpful for the line of work I'm in. Especially on photo #2 of 5...To integrate Trompe L'Oeil detailing with the style of the decorator. Thanks Kevin!
Garrett
From: antoinette | 3/1/10 at 1:05 pm
This is much a typical English style that pervades many country homes today.
Having lived in Colonial Africa, North America, England and Europe I have come to appreciate collective trends that remain the stamp of that region. It is quite interesting to recognize those tendencies when people from one region end up in another.Many find it hard to adapt to the local style and want to retain their "style". It is quite interesting to see this home-from-home tendency in many people working for multinational companies abroad.