Recently Josh, Iris, and I visited the historic Greenbrier
Hotel in West Virginia while we were vacationing. I went into the prestigious
resort essentially blind, not knowing anything about the Greenbrier before our
visit except that it has something to do with golf. I am embarrassed to say
that I was incredibly underprepared for the visit, with the exception of making
sure to wear a dress and sandals, thanks to stumbling upon an article the night
before our visit that clued me in to the dress code of the resort. (La-di-dah!)
I also happened to see a recent guest’s comment that “day visitors” of the
stroller-pushing, backpack-toting variety (ahem, us) were bad for the prestige
of the resort. (La-di-dah-DAH!) I wasn’t offended by this because let’s face
it, we’ve all seen the decline of social decorum with the rise (and hopefully
now the fall) of the athleisure trend, and I would feel the same way if the
public had free license to use my neighborhood’s gated pool. So, in the spirit of “when in Rome…” I decided
it was for the best if I tossed on the wrap dress that I packed for church instead of cargo
pants and a tank top. I also made like Miranda in SATC when she brings baby
Brady to Samantha’s swanky Hamptons party by putting Iris in an iconic American
label and double-diapering her bottom. ;)
On the way to the resort, I decided there was no time like
the present to learn a few things about where we were heading. As a rule, I usually do some online sleuthing
about the people we will be dining with when Josh has work-social functions,
but in the case of a vacation that this busy SAHM barely had time to pack for, I’ll
give myself a little grace for not researching the Greenbrier properly in
advance. It’s probably for the best because if I knew the blogger’s paradise we were heading to, I would have driven Josh crazy
asking him to take my picture in every room in all manner of cute outfits. I
can’t wait to go back someday with a suitcase brimming with clever dresses and
accessories.
So, yes, in the car on the way to the Greenbrier I google
searched a bit about the resort, and just in the nick of time, I learned that the
Greenbrier is actually a Very Big Deal, rich in history with the reputation of
being America’s resort since 1778. For nearly 250 years the Greenbrier has played
host to half of the American presidents plus countless other dignitaries and
celebrities. It even has an underground
bunker that was kept secret until 1992! AND, it was designed to hold all of
Congress in the event of nuclear war! AND you can tour it! Also yes, the
Greenbrier is home of the prestigious Greenbrier Classic Golf Tournament, which
I *sort of* already knew.
I beg the Greenbrier’s forgiveness for not knowing how
amazing it is. Sort of like meeting Jennifer Aniston or [insert any famous
person’s name here]and asking, “So what kind of work do you do?” SMH. And I
felt worse when I text friends about the place and they chimed in, “Oh, I LOVE the Greenbrier.” Clearly, I have
been a rock-dweller related to the G.B. Anyone else live in a rock colony like
me? Please say yes. ;)
Lack of background knowledge aside, I am the happiest person
to confess that my life changed the moment I stepped through the doors of the
historic hotel, when my world went from the Dark Ages to total Enlightenment at
the hands of the work of Dorothy Draper, interior designer extraordinaire. To wax a bit
dramatic, it was like a missing puzzle piece just appeared, making the whole
picture of my life clearer and more complete. It was like when things go from
black and white to technicolor in Pleasantville. Flowers bloomed. The sun shone
brighter. Birds began to sing. Cloaked in Dorothy Draper’s daring taste and
aesthetic made me feel entirely at home in a place I knew nothing about mere
moments before. Come to think of it, Josh had mumbled something in the car about
famous wallpaper or fabrics but I barely heard it over Iris’s joy-infused squeals
as she force-fed me Cheerios in the backseat.
Who is Dorothy Draper? Again, please tell me that I am not
alone in not knowing her before my watershed visit to the Greenbrier? … Anyone?
Here’s what the Greenbrier’s website has to say about Dorothy:
Dorothy Draper was a
pioneer in interior design, dominating the field from 1925 to 1960 when she was
named the most influential tastemaker in America. The high-society interior
designer was hired to renovate the resort after it was used as a hospital during
World War II. She left the hotel with a bold new personality, using color and
oversized patterns to paint a picture that reflected the luxury of space,
elegance and sense of history in every detail. As a result, America's Resort
remains a one-of-a-kind property with guestrooms, suites and cottages unlike
any other in the world.
Let me sum that up in terms that we can understand today: Y’ALL,
Dorothy Draper was the JoAnna Gaines of the middle of the last century. (Albeit
with a different aesthetic than farmhouse chic)
Dorothy’s taste is bold. It’s punchy. It’s vibrant, playful,
COLORFUL. A smart mix of Hollywood
Regency and Palm Springs with tropical overtones. It will remind you of Kate
Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, Draper James—all brands that Dorothy Draper no doubt
influenced. Overnight, I have been converted to a Dorothy Draper koolaid-chugging
fangirl because, even though I didn’t know who she was until last week, it
turns out that she’s influenced my style my whole life and possibly all of
yours too with her bold stripes, piping trimmed pillows, banana leaf prints, bamboo
armoires, Chinese Chippendale chairs, and crisp white molding punctuated with
pops of color. My guest room, aka the
Lady Cave, is decorated with touches of Dorothy’s style, I just didn’t know
they were Dorothy’s signature before. Hello Dorothy, long lost sister, distant
relative, pen pal I’ve finally gotten to meet in person. Dancing hugs and cheek kisses, girl.
Here’s another article that will confirm that Dot Draper (we are so close now that I
feel I may call her Dot) is spirit animal to all of us. Bonus: the article
includes the names of Dorothy Draper paint colors from Benjamin Moore. Benjamin,
you’re so good to us!
Before I introduce you visually to my new bestie Dorothy,
let me preface by reminding all of us that it’s important to get a change of
scenery every now and again to shake things up and inspire something new inside
of you. You must go somewhere that you have not been before. You must go breathe different air, walk on
different soil. If you can, please go sleep in a bed that you don’t have to
make in the morning. Go as far as your wallet will let you go, even though it
means breaking the kids from their nap schedule and dealing with lots of
laundry when you and your family get home. I don’t know about you, but it’s
easy for me as SAHM to feel like my world consists of four awfully small walls
at times. It’s easy for me to forget about all that extends beyond my little
sphere. As an individual but especially
as a mother, you must find a way to go someplace else to gain the necessary
perspective to come back and see your home, family, and purpose with fresh eyes
and to develop a renewed sense of determination and appreciation, which is exactly
what happened with our vacation to West Virginia. I confess, I kept my
expectations in check about our vacation, wondering a bit cynically if I would
essentially be doing my usual daily routine with only half of my usual resources,
and instead, I discovered what turned out to be an inspiring new place that
left me all atwitter with new visions and goals as a wife, mama, homemaker, and
creative creature. Much of this
inspiration and energy came from seeing Dorothy’s design during our visit to
the Greenbrier, which filled me with excitement for summer’s vivid hues, clever
prints, and bold stripes.
Are you certain that you’re ready now to meet Dorothy, AKA our
grandmother’s Jojo? Because you must be prepared mentally for the jolt that you
cannot unsee. Her in your face design changes you. Consider yourself warned! Now let’s take a peek
at her décor sensibilities and some sweet summer looks that her work inspired.
When you walk through the doors of the Greenbrier, which is
white, stately, and a bit self-important looking from the outside, you are
immediately thrust into the world of Dorothy Draper. Pool. Peacock. Pink. Pistachio.
Painted ceilings. Patterned carpet. Ornate
regency-era chandeliers. Gilt mirrors. Oversized florals. Striped arches over checkerboard
floors. What occurs is a sensual
experience that makes the hairs on your neck stand up! You know instantly that
you have arrived someplace fun and spirited where things happen. What things you’re unsure of but you know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that this is a happening place where you’d be content to live
out your life as a fly on the vintage blue wall.
It’s easy to see how the entryway and foyer of the
Greenbrier make a lasting impression. One that stayed with me ever since we got
back from our trip and rooted itself in my subconscious. As I was pulling looks for the shoot, I kept
coming back to Dorothy’s color palette of turquoise, red, and classic black and
white. Add vintage-look sunglasses and a Sophia Loren style top that would have been right at
home among Dorothy’s design. You can shop the look here.
STYLE NOTES:
Skirt is from Ann Taylor Factory, available in
Petite and Misses, and on sale now for $49.99.
Factory doesn’t offer online shopping currently, so if you don’t have an
outlet near you, call Melissa Smith and she will ship to you, easy peasy. (843) 839-9099. You’ll be so glad that you
did because the styling options with this skirt are limitless.
Dress below: Ann Taylor Factory available in Petite and
Misses. Wrap dress style that is unbelievably versatile. Dress it up or down,
layer it for 12 months of continuous wear. (Pardon my Casperian legs!) Isn't that large-scale print carpet so cool? It goes in a room with high ceilings or it won't have the breathing space that it needs, but if you have a tall living room, you could definitely ground the space with oversized leaves.
Photo above (wide shot) is from David Colman’s
article in the WSJ January 2015 http://www.architecturelab.net/design-inspiration-from-dorothy-drapers-greenbrier-resort/
The robin’s egg blue ceiling
of the Lobby Mezzanine is every bit as inviting as a turquoise swimming pool,
and the light streaming in the floor to ceiling windows radiates off the
white floor tiles to create an invigorating glow that I would give up coffee
for as I am certain it would work just as well to put some life into my eyes and major pep into my step each morning.
The pom trim clutch is so fun for summer and is a steal at just $19. You can shop the look here.
The pom trim clutch is so fun for summer and is a steal at just $19. You can shop the look here.
In this stunning yellow room, we saw famed two story tall bow curtains. Imagine yourself just a bit taller than the lamp in the picture and that gives you a feel for the scale of the room. This room has the most southern, Lilly Pulitzer feel. Here is where I met the friendly and
exuberant Lauren Vandiver whose blog Vandi Fair is of major influence (check out her IG @vandifair to see her much more amazing pictures of the Greenbrier, including those of the stunning guest rooms and ballrooms. They are next-next-next level!). Lauren cheerfully approached us with an offer to
take a picture of the three of us together, which is every mom’s joy since we rarely
get a picture of the entire family unit. In spite of feeling a bit slapped together, I really like how this picture
turned out! We are all wearing happy
faces even!
This scene is so perfect. Add a tray of hot tea and a snuggly cat and you’ve achieved nirvana.
Lauren and her mom were visiting the Greenbrier to promote the
venue on her blog (blogger goals, y'all!), and when we spoke she was photographing a really cute lemon circle skirt.
We exchanged bemused giggles that we both thought the curtains in the room were
lemon-patterned but turned out to be yellow roses instead, which reminded me of this adorable
LOFT dress tucked in the recesses of my closet. You can find similar looks on Etsy and
Modcloth. Shop similar styles here.
The indoor pool at the
Greenbrier looks like the set of a fun stylized Target commercial or a
well-executed window display for a brand like Tory Burch or Draper James. In fact, it would be an amazing window display with live models swimming and sunning themselves! This whole throw-back scene makes me want to sip on a madras while I
pore over a light summery book.
Here I’m wearing a breezy little off the shoulder dress from Charming Charlie and a chunky coral necklace from Downtown Diva in Edenton, NC. I love coral style necklaces and this one really caught my eye. In fact, I ordered it in the car after we had just left the Greenbrier. It was an impulse buy, but it was so worth it. This necklace arrived just as I left the house to shoot these pics, and it is chunky and funky and substantial. It’s priced at $30 and it is worth every penny. Shop the look here. For this specific necklace, contact Downtown Divas at 252-482-0144.
Here I’m wearing a breezy little off the shoulder dress from Charming Charlie and a chunky coral necklace from Downtown Diva in Edenton, NC. I love coral style necklaces and this one really caught my eye. In fact, I ordered it in the car after we had just left the Greenbrier. It was an impulse buy, but it was so worth it. This necklace arrived just as I left the house to shoot these pics, and it is chunky and funky and substantial. It’s priced at $30 and it is worth every penny. Shop the look here. For this specific necklace, contact Downtown Divas at 252-482-0144.
Just past the indoor pool is the gym and around the corner
is the bowling alley (yes!) and spa. While we didn’t stop in for a treatment,
we loitered outside of the facility for a long time because Iris was hypnotized
by the shiny floors while I couldn’t get enough of the wallpaper printed with
flowers bigger than my head.
This minty gingham off the
shoulder top reminds me of Reese’s brand Draper James but at a teeny tiny
fraction of the price (just $25!). It’s southern, sweet, and perfect for lunch
with your bestie or drinks on the water with your sweetheart. Shop the look here. I love this top with dark denim and pretty pumps or with scallop hem shorts and some Jack Rogers kind of flats.
Nothing says summer like watermelon slices! Here’s a look that was inspired by the dazzling pink flowers that popped beautifully against the checkerboard floor between the pool and the spa. Also how beautiful is that vase?
I feel confident that Dorothy Draper would approve of the marriage of stripes and a punchy watermelon print as she loved layering prints, and she’d most certainly approve of the hot pink clutch and wide brim hat to protect her face from the sun.
This watermelon top is just $9 and comes in blue or white. I
loved the way the pink jumped off of the blue background and added another
color to the look. It’s from a company called She In (https://www.shein.com) This was my first time trying
out the brand known for cheap fashion, and I admit that the shirt is cheaply made
with an unfinished hem and tattered polka dots by design. It sort of looks like
a very OCD moth got ahold of the top and nibbled perfectly spaced circles all
over the fabric. Bless. Still, I am willing to overlook that because I love the
turned up cuff on the sleeve and the adorable summer print. I don’t expect this
shirt will survive many washings so I will likely hold off as long as possible
and simply give it a bird bath in Febreeze. Once a proper washing is imminent,
it will go on delicate in a mesh lingerie bag. Must baby the $9 tee. ;)
The pink clutch is my new Tons of Funds crossbody wallet from Melissa Burns, Thirty-one Gifts rep with so much helpfulness and sass (get acquainted with her here and you'll have a friend for life!). She and Dorothy would surely have been friends back in the day. The wallet has plenty of room for the essentials which for me includes ID, debit card, gum, lipstick, cell phone and car keys. Who doesn’t love being hands free when trying to sight see or shop, especially if those hands are actually occupied by the kiddos?
Shop the look here.
Before I leave you, ladies, you can learn about style and décor
from Dorothy Draper herself in her book Decorating is Fun, found here. (Also check
Amazon for deals and pre-owned copies of the book plus others by Dorothy Draper including
Entertaining is Fun.)
Just like JoAnna Gaines, Dorothy is cheerful, helpful, spirited, and glad to share the secrets to making a great statement with your décor. And if you’re looking for a unique place to visit this summer, give the Greenbrier a ring to book a cottage or stay off site and make a day trip (toting your backback and stroller!) to see the sights, the décor, the shops and get some lunch on property. I'd love to know what room is your favorite and what Dorothy Draper's style inspires in you!
Just like JoAnna Gaines, Dorothy is cheerful, helpful, spirited, and glad to share the secrets to making a great statement with your décor. And if you’re looking for a unique place to visit this summer, give the Greenbrier a ring to book a cottage or stay off site and make a day trip (toting your backback and stroller!) to see the sights, the décor, the shops and get some lunch on property. I'd love to know what room is your favorite and what Dorothy Draper's style inspires in you!
Your writing is as delightful as the red and white striped lounge chairs on the patio of The Greenbrier :) the photos are teensy glimpse into the grandeur of the hotel, and your descriptions bring it life! Love your blog, Sarah!!!
ReplyDeleteThose chairs are pretty delightful so I must say thank you so much for the compliment!! I wish we could pack our bags for the summer and spend the next two months gabbing by the pool about the Dorothy ways we would like to decorate our houses! :)
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