House in Good Taste: Design Advice from America's First Interior Decorator

I am related to Elsie DeWolfe (maternal grandmother’s cousin) & I am a collector of her books. She was the first Interior Decorator & her ideas are still in style today as they were in the 1940’s & 50’s. Elsie has a sense of humour which is reflected in her writings.

I enjoyed reading about what was considered good taste in 1913 and comparing it with today's principles of design. While some may complain that this woman's almost unlimited resources made good taste easy, I valued seeing what one would do if money were no object. As Elsie de Wolf said more than once, having plenty of money does not guarantee good taste. Likewise, not having money does not mean that an attractive home is out of reach. What is timeless is having a home that reflects the dwellers within, one that is simple, where each item has a purpose and is not just for decoration. Then, as now, we like homes that are neat and clean and that comfort and refresh us.