Looking for some inspiration for your next renovation project? We’ve put together a list of the most influential female interior designers throughout history. Every woman mentioned has influenced the design world with their unique vision, immaculate taste, and ability to transform a room with the perfect décor.
Andrée Putman
Andrée Putman was a French interior and product designer whose legendary design legacy lives on with Morgan’s, the first boutique hotel in New York. She’s also remembered for her film set designs for British director and screenwriter Peter Greenaway. Putman also designed for Veuve Clicquot, Christofle, Louis Vuitton, and Air France’s Concorde.
Elsie de Wolfe
This iconic designer is often hailed as “America’s first decorator.” She found her calling as many other contemporary actors do – De Wolfe’s trailblazing approach to style started to overshadow her film performances, which motivated her to take it on full time. De Wolfe is best known for using an anti-Victorian approach to her design. This technique is what lead to the opportunity for her to design for the Colony Club (all-women social club in New York City).
Dorothy Draper
Dorothy Draper is a popular American designer from the early 20th century. Draper’s style stood out – bright colors and large prints were some of the main factors of her designs. Draper’s aesthetics can be seen at the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art cafeteria, the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins hotels in San Francisco, and in her extravagant redesign of the Greenbrier luxury resort in West Virginia.
Kelly Hoppen
This modern British interior designer has been leading the design industry for over 40 years. Hoppen has provided warmth to commercial and private residences around the world and has collaborated with brands such as Samsung and Charbonnel et Walker Chocolates.
Kelly Wearstler
Kelly Wearstler is another modern designer with notable projects such as the San Francisco Proper Hotel, the Four Seasons Anguilla, and the BG Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman. Wearstler has put together quite the impressive portfolio and continues to push boundaries in design while honoring tradition with her materiality, forms, and color choice.
