The Greenbrier

We leave today for a family trip to West Virginia to visit the Greenbrier hotel.  One of my best friends from high school goes often so I have known of its existence for a while, but it was only after I started blogging that I learned about its famous interior design by Dorothy Draper.  Us interior design bloggers just love Dorothy Draper, her color combinations, her furniture designs and her fabulous fabric and wallpaper designs. So it will be such a treat for me to visit. I have heard it is bright in there and since it will be really chilly during our stay I will look forward to all those vibrant colors.  And hopefully we get some snow so we can take a horse drawn sleigh ride. Fingers crossed.

The history of this hotel is very interesting.  It was founded in 1858 as a go-to summer destination since it was located nearby some natural mineral springs.  Then during World War II the U.S army converted it into a hospital.  After the war was over the owners turned to the famous Dorothy Draper to redesign the entire place.  Every. Single. Last. Inch, which she turned from drab to fab with a budget of $4.2 million, which was astronomical back then. In 1948, at the Greenbrier's, reopening, the hotel counted with Bing Crosby and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as their guests. Dorothy Draper was then established as the country's most famous interior designer. 
 

Dorothy Draper was born to a wealthy and privileged family in 1889 and she is said to have been the first person to make interior design a profession.  She established the first interior design company of the United States in 1923.  Imagine, the first interior design business in the US run by a woman!  She was quite a character indeed.  She is well-known for her vibrant and lively color pairings as you will see in the following photos.

Her advice on antiques and oriental rugs? Paint the former and dye the latter. “Just don’t be dull”. Dull she never was.

They have an indoor pool, ice skating, movies for the kids, cooking lessons, and lots of dancing.  I don't think we will be board.  I hope to take my own set of photos and show you next week.

Wishing you all an amazing Valentine's Day Weekend!  I hope you are loved and pampered plenty!

[images via]