What do you think?
Rate this book
The Draper Touch: The High Life and High Style of Dorothy Draper
Traces the life of the influential interior decorator, looks at how she changed her profession, and describes her privileged background
- GenresNonfictionBiography
282 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
3 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 18, 2022
Vale Carleton Varney: Little did I know, he died at age 85 the day my review appeared. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carleto...
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Carleton Varney's name is now more recognizable than Mrs. Draper's is. At an earlier time, Mrs. Draper was IT in the world of fashionable design.
What mostly matters in looking at this book isn't familiarity with Mrs. Draper but an openness to learning about the essential skills of design and, frankly, all of life: Decide what you want and go get it. So simple! Except when it comes to doing it. Mrs. Draper was born with every material advantage a person could have. Her doom, in the ancient Celtic sense, was to be a frivolous ornament to a man's life. That might be what Society had in mind, but Mrs. Draper begged to differ, and when circumstances forced her hand she strode forward (a very, very tall person for any era, over six feet!) to meet the world on her own terms.
The design of this book is, unsurprisingly, the reason it exists. It's lush and luxurious. Dorothy Draper lived in a time before color photography was common...she died in 1969 at almost 80...so most of what we see isn't twenty-first century Technicolor Architectural Digest stuff that we're so accustomed to. But to counterbalance that, look at that list of famous early-twentieth-century photographers! These are beautiful images...though there are not a lot of room portraits, so get that out of your expectations early. Instead we have something more intimate, more revealing than the lady's public aesthetic: Portraits, snapshots, items that truly reflect Mrs. Draper herself, not only her work but her world.
You might well have read something of Carleton Varney's work before, being as he's a columnist and an author of long standing. His style is breezily companionable and approachable. He doesn't pull his focus to show Mrs. Draper, or her clients, only in soft lights...but he soft-pedals that drama that no doubt occurred all too often, without ever ignoring it. Big personalities make big enemies, after all, so pretending she was universally loved...well. It's not like Author Varney isn't offering a bouquet of vintage cabbage roses and a box of pâtisserie from Fauchon, he simply does so without dishonest concealment.
I saw this book and was instantly transported to my past. Mama was a Draper devotee, and I read her books...Decorating is Fun! and Entertaining is Fun!, now republished by Shannongrove Press...when a teenaged faggot. How much they influenced my mother was very clear, I only had to look around our house to see the myriad Draper touches. I never had a white wall in my home! Although there was entirely too much pink for my taste, thanks to Draper...a color I still abominate.
This read was a delight, a way to re-experience pleasant formative memories, and a very informative look at the life of a rare woman of business, boss of many men, in an era when they were uncommon entities indeed.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Carleton Varney's name is now more recognizable than Mrs. Draper's is. At an earlier time, Mrs. Draper was IT in the world of fashionable design.
What mostly matters in looking at this book isn't familiarity with Mrs. Draper but an openness to learning about the essential skills of design and, frankly, all of life: Decide what you want and go get it. So simple! Except when it comes to doing it. Mrs. Draper was born with every material advantage a person could have. Her doom, in the ancient Celtic sense, was to be a frivolous ornament to a man's life. That might be what Society had in mind, but Mrs. Draper begged to differ, and when circumstances forced her hand she strode forward (a very, very tall person for any era, over six feet!) to meet the world on her own terms.
The design of this book is, unsurprisingly, the reason it exists. It's lush and luxurious. Dorothy Draper lived in a time before color photography was common...she died in 1969 at almost 80...so most of what we see isn't twenty-first century Technicolor Architectural Digest stuff that we're so accustomed to. But to counterbalance that, look at that list of famous early-twentieth-century photographers! These are beautiful images...though there are not a lot of room portraits, so get that out of your expectations early. Instead we have something more intimate, more revealing than the lady's public aesthetic: Portraits, snapshots, items that truly reflect Mrs. Draper herself, not only her work but her world.
You might well have read something of Carleton Varney's work before, being as he's a columnist and an author of long standing. His style is breezily companionable and approachable. He doesn't pull his focus to show Mrs. Draper, or her clients, only in soft lights...but he soft-pedals that drama that no doubt occurred all too often, without ever ignoring it. Big personalities make big enemies, after all, so pretending she was universally loved...well. It's not like Author Varney isn't offering a bouquet of vintage cabbage roses and a box of pâtisserie from Fauchon, he simply does so without dishonest concealment.
I saw this book and was instantly transported to my past. Mama was a Draper devotee, and I read her books...Decorating is Fun! and Entertaining is Fun!, now republished by Shannongrove Press...when a teenaged faggot. How much they influenced my mother was very clear, I only had to look around our house to see the myriad Draper touches. I never had a white wall in my home! Although there was entirely too much pink for my taste, thanks to Draper...a color I still abominate.
This read was a delight, a way to re-experience pleasant formative memories, and a very informative look at the life of a rare woman of business, boss of many men, in an era when they were uncommon entities indeed.
June 29, 2022
When the story of someone’s life is written by another person it’s always nice to see it written by someone who not only knew them but took the time to research and interview to get the story right. It’s also nice to see it written with love, respect and honor. Carleton Varney has done all these in his newly released and updated book on Dorothy Draper. “The Draper Touch” contains newly discovered photographs, historical documents, and items from her family.
The photos are worth the price of the book alone, but to have commentary, stories and background included as well is icing on the cake. The book takes us through Dorothy’s childhood and early adult years when she was a member a wealthy family in the Tuxedo Park area of New York, one of the first gated communities in the country. You’ll read about how a young Dorothy disliked school and how her marriage, children and eventual divorce allowed her to become the Duchess of Decorating.
A few of my favorite stories revolve around the Greenbrier and the monumental task she had of not only restoring it after its repurposing as a hospital during the Second World War but making it into the grand showplace it is today. Stories of ghostly visits and her decision-making process give insight into her ability to bring life back to the resort. She found the décor to be dull and she was not fond of dark wood because it was brown and if there is one thing Mrs. Draper did not love, it was the color brown. One of my favorite quotes of hers told by Mr. Varney is, “don’t show me anything that looks like gravy!”
When it came to furniture her philosophy was simply that furniture was either good or bad. You liked it or you didn’t. The gentlemen from the railroad who were paying for the re-design at the Greenbrier were not thrilled with her vision and would often tell her no. She would ignore them and do it anyway. I think anyone who loves the Greenbrier is glad she did.
You’ll also read about her other projects in and around New York City such as the Carlyle Hotel. See and read about her design for Coty Cosmetic’s Hall of Perfumes exhibit at the World’s Fair in 1939. Pictures show the progress and end results, but the way Mr. Varney describes them in such detail you don’t need them to visualize the before and after of the project.
The book also gives a glimpse into the mindset and lifestyle of the wealthy and privileged. Where privacy was valued above almost anything else and seeking publicity was taboo. While Dorothy subscribed to much of these beliefs, she did push the boundaries set for her. A successful career, forming a social club that allowed both male and female members and having the ability to work alongside men were mostly unheard of in her day.
Varney is a gifted storyteller, and his words and descriptions keep the reader engaged. You can tell he has a genuine fondness and respect for Draper which makes this book a must have for any fan of interior design, the Greenbrier, or a well written biography.
The photos are worth the price of the book alone, but to have commentary, stories and background included as well is icing on the cake. The book takes us through Dorothy’s childhood and early adult years when she was a member a wealthy family in the Tuxedo Park area of New York, one of the first gated communities in the country. You’ll read about how a young Dorothy disliked school and how her marriage, children and eventual divorce allowed her to become the Duchess of Decorating.
A few of my favorite stories revolve around the Greenbrier and the monumental task she had of not only restoring it after its repurposing as a hospital during the Second World War but making it into the grand showplace it is today. Stories of ghostly visits and her decision-making process give insight into her ability to bring life back to the resort. She found the décor to be dull and she was not fond of dark wood because it was brown and if there is one thing Mrs. Draper did not love, it was the color brown. One of my favorite quotes of hers told by Mr. Varney is, “don’t show me anything that looks like gravy!”
When it came to furniture her philosophy was simply that furniture was either good or bad. You liked it or you didn’t. The gentlemen from the railroad who were paying for the re-design at the Greenbrier were not thrilled with her vision and would often tell her no. She would ignore them and do it anyway. I think anyone who loves the Greenbrier is glad she did.
You’ll also read about her other projects in and around New York City such as the Carlyle Hotel. See and read about her design for Coty Cosmetic’s Hall of Perfumes exhibit at the World’s Fair in 1939. Pictures show the progress and end results, but the way Mr. Varney describes them in such detail you don’t need them to visualize the before and after of the project.
The book also gives a glimpse into the mindset and lifestyle of the wealthy and privileged. Where privacy was valued above almost anything else and seeking publicity was taboo. While Dorothy subscribed to much of these beliefs, she did push the boundaries set for her. A successful career, forming a social club that allowed both male and female members and having the ability to work alongside men were mostly unheard of in her day.
Varney is a gifted storyteller, and his words and descriptions keep the reader engaged. You can tell he has a genuine fondness and respect for Draper which makes this book a must have for any fan of interior design, the Greenbrier, or a well written biography.
December 21, 2022
Dorothy Draper is considered the mother of interior decoration and design. Born in 1889, she grew up in the lap of Gilded Age luxury in the bedroom community of Tiuxedo Park in NY. She was different though: taller than the average female and male, and a free spirit to boot. To escape the confines of Tuxedo Park, she married and that marriage resulted in 3 children. Sadly, the marriage ended in divorce (much to her surprise). Her career started with her decorating her home and segued into a full fledged career/business. The height of her fame came in the 1930s and 1940s, and 4 major commissions stand out from the others: the Versailles club in NYC, the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia, the restaurant (the Dorotheum) in Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. Her career slowed down in the 1950s, due to her trademark style (bright colors, bold patterns, Baroque/neo-Victorian design) becoming obsolete. Her company was eventually purchased by this book's author and Dorothy ultimately died in 1969 from Alzheimer's complications. Over the course of 13 chapters interspersed with 4 sections of photos, Carleton Varney presents the life of Dorothy Draper in an interesting, sometimes humorous, and always insightful manner. He shows what a unique character Dorothy was: haughty and imperious, yet extremely insecure. She loved her design team and her grandchildren, but she was also self-absorbed and selfish. She had the very annoying quality of being unable to see any viewpoint but her own. Despite these flaws, her legacy as a designer/interior decorator lives on in the various commissions of hers still in existence, particularly the Greenbrier. Varney doesn't just provide a bio of Draper, but also a bio of American society. He takes us through several periods: late Gilded Age, WWI, Roaring 1920s, Great Depression, WWII, and post-war era. A book that combines three areas I enjoy: history, architecture/interior design, and biography. That makes this a triple threat read that is definitely worth getting.
December 12, 2023
I’d never heard of Dorothy Draper, perhaps because she is not so well known in the UK, and I found the exploration of her life and work really interesting. She was a talented, creative and charismatic woman who was enormously influential as an interior designer and decorator. She became a successful businesswoman with her own decorating company and much of her work remains to be seen today. Hers is an interesting story and this biography is a detailed and knowledgeable account, written by the man who knew her and later took over the business. Included are many photos, although these are in black and white so the reader can’t get an idea of Draper’s use of colour, for which she was most renowned. I suggest going to YouTube to have a look – there is quite a bit of material available there. I found the endless recounting of anecdotes a tad tiresome after a while, not least because many of them felt repetitious, and quite, frankly, not very pleasant. I don’t think I would have liked Dorothy Draper. However, I’m more than glad to have discovered her and her work and look forward to perhaps seeing some of what remains when I visit the States. I recommend the book to anyone interested in design and decorating, as well their history, and also as a well-constructed and informative biography of a quite remarkable woman.
July 6, 2022
It is entirely thanks to NetGalley that I know who Dorothy Draper is. There was a recently published novel about her and, for those who want a non-fiction account, there is The Draper Touch. I feel that the two titles very much complement each other. A plus of The Draper Touch is that it was written by someone who knew Dorothy well. There are also many photos in this work and I very much enjoyed looking at those.
This title is a reissue and I am so glad that it was put back in print. It offers a biography written by someone who knew and admired the designer and a chance to dwell in her most interesting world.
For those who do not know, Dorothy was friends with those in the highest echelons including President Taft’s daughter. She was married (and divorced) from one of FDR’s close friend. Dorothy was raised conventionally but wanted her own unique life. She became a well-known designer. One great achievement of her was her work on the Greenbrier Resort.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Shannongrove Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 29 Jun 2022
This title is a reissue and I am so glad that it was put back in print. It offers a biography written by someone who knew and admired the designer and a chance to dwell in her most interesting world.
For those who do not know, Dorothy was friends with those in the highest echelons including President Taft’s daughter. She was married (and divorced) from one of FDR’s close friend. Dorothy was raised conventionally but wanted her own unique life. She became a well-known designer. One great achievement of her was her work on the Greenbrier Resort.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Shannongrove Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 29 Jun 2022
June 22, 2022
As an English person I confess that I had never heard of Dorothy Draper. It is clear that she shaped a sea change in American design style for decades and challenged the status quo of both what a designer was and what they did. This was interesting to me. As you read on it becomes clear that Varney was an employee of Draper and has a great deal of admiration and love for her and has been deeply inspired by her life and work.
For me, this was rather uneven, as I wanted more meat on the bones and I felt that perhaps the author was, at times, too kind and uncritical of Draper and her methods. I would also have liked more on the work she did and less on the social life she led. There are quite a few photos, but I would have liked more on the interiors and more details, photographically speaking.
For me, this was rather uneven, as I wanted more meat on the bones and I felt that perhaps the author was, at times, too kind and uncritical of Draper and her methods. I would also have liked more on the work she did and less on the social life she led. There are quite a few photos, but I would have liked more on the interiors and more details, photographically speaking.
September 24, 2022
I absolutely fell in love with Dorothy Draper when I first encountered her in the fiction novel The Grand Design by Joy Callaway. I have been eager to learn more about her real life and designs so I couldn't want to jump into The Draper Touch.
I so enjoyed learning more about Dorothy Draper's personal life, her family, her contemporaries and of course her revolutionary designs. If you are interested in learning more about this female iconic designer that paved the way for women's careers in interior design, I recommend that you pickup this beautiful book. The photos are stunning and I enjoyed the opportunity to take a step back in time to the beautiful spaces Dorothy Draper created.
I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I so enjoyed learning more about Dorothy Draper's personal life, her family, her contemporaries and of course her revolutionary designs. If you are interested in learning more about this female iconic designer that paved the way for women's careers in interior design, I recommend that you pickup this beautiful book. The photos are stunning and I enjoyed the opportunity to take a step back in time to the beautiful spaces Dorothy Draper created.
I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2022
Raised in a wealthy American ‘aristocratic’ family in the Gilded Age in Tuxedo Park in New York, Dorothy Draper remained an Edwardian all her life, and imbued many of the places she decorated with Edwardian glamour and splendor but in a modern way. Raised to be a supportive wife and hostess, she became a businesswoman who revolutionized the new occupation of interior decorating. She designed smart black and white walk-ups as well as grand Southern hotels.
It wasn’t an easy life. Her husband suddenly told her that he wanted a divorce, her children rebelled as teenagers, and she had financial troubles. The writings of Norman Vincent Peale helped her through all this.
This book with its beautiful pictures tells her story in a charming way, especially interesting for budding interior designers.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
It wasn’t an easy life. Her husband suddenly told her that he wanted a divorce, her children rebelled as teenagers, and she had financial troubles. The writings of Norman Vincent Peale helped her through all this.
This book with its beautiful pictures tells her story in a charming way, especially interesting for budding interior designers.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 3, 2022
Dorothy Draper was larger than life and defied all odds to start her own company in 1925, becoming America's first female interior decorator. This book showcased her upbringing, her privileged life as a socialite and her deeply competitive spirit. Dorothy had a whimsical and unique sense of design, integrating bold color choices and arresting patterns with her iconic floral fabrics, always on the grandest of scale , The author writes, "fantasy and myth were her constant companions". I enjoyed learning the story of Dorothy''s life, but I would've loved to have seen more photos and illustrations of her work to better study and understand her extravagant and wildly sophisticated style.
June 15, 2022
After reading Joy Callaway's "The Grand Design" I was intrigued by Dorothy Draper. When I saw this book was available, I wanted to read it to learn more about this interesting lady!
What an incredible book this is - so much information about Dorothy and her designs. Maybe a bit too much history about her ancestors - I kind of skimmed that part, not what I was really interested in, but I can see why it was included in her story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
What an incredible book this is - so much information about Dorothy and her designs. Maybe a bit too much history about her ancestors - I kind of skimmed that part, not what I was really interested in, but I can see why it was included in her story.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
May 18, 2022
I was glad to read this book after I read a fictionalized account of her redesigning the Greenbrier.
It was a fascinating read that made me learn more about this great designer.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It was a fascinating read that made me learn more about this great designer.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 25, 2009
Fascinating story of a woman who was born into a life of luxury but then due to financial downturn was forced to make a living for herself and her family.
December 23, 2011
What an interesting life Dorothy Draper had. After visiting the Greenbriar in WV I just had to find out more about her. Loved finding this biography.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews