Decorating legend Elsie de Wolfe revolutionized interior design at the beginning of the 20th century by boldly sweeping out the darkness of Victorian clutter to usher in the warm light, soft luxury, and connoisseurship we now consider essential qualities of modern interior design. Striped wall papers in subtle shadings, painted French 18th-century furniture and leopard-patterned upholstery became notable de Wolfe trademarks.
In Elsie de Wolfe, the Birth of Modern Interior Decoration, noted decorative arts scholar Penny Sparke presents in-depth profiles of 29 prominent de Wolfe projects for important and discerning clients. Rare archival photographs, newly restored and reproduced in duotone, combine with color renderings to evoke the sunny, airy elegance of de Wolfe interiors.