contributed by Sheree Schold [ASID & IIDA student member / ID journalism dabbler / owner, Haberdash Designs]


The Greenbrier, one of America's oldest and largest resort hotels, is undergoing extensive renovation between January 3 and April 1, 2007. The bold color and style imprinted upon “The Old White” (as it is fondly known) by the legendary, internationally known Dorothy Draper is being pushed aside for interiors more suitable to the current global luxury hotel client. The transformation raises the question: Is this a good thing or a bad thing? This is not just another hotel project – it’s a remarkable National Historic Landmark. So what exactly is the responsibility of the design profession when called upon to renovate a building so steeped in social, cultural, and political history that it could never be “just another resort hotel?”

It would take a BIG book to explain the relationship of this marvelous property to American history, but I’ll give you the CliffsNotes version. The Greenbrier…

     • was occupied by both sides during the American Civil War;

     • housed Nazi foreign dignitaries during World War II;

     • served as a hospital to rehabilitate some 20,000 soldiers;

     • has always been a summer playground for the wealthy: first for the southern plantations, then for the northern industrialists and foreign royalty, and now for whomever can afford it;

     • contained a secret bunker (now open for tours), which acted as an emergency escape hold for American leaders up until 1990;

     • held one of the United States’ most well known grand opening parties – which lasted for days and brought together great historical figures – the likes of which has never been done again; yes, “he” and/or “she” has probably “slept here” if they are among the “Who's Who”;

     • gave American railroad tycoons a place to wheel and deal, wine and dine (in fact, they owned the place for most of it's history, and a railroad company still owns it today);

     • and played a pivotal part in the history of the interior design profession due to Dorothy Draper’s omnipresent reach, which touched everything from the chandeliers and door frames to the china and guest soaps.

The resort occupies a setting so ethereal and so vast of acreage that Martin Luther King's eloquent phrase "I have been to the mountain top and I have seen the promised land" comes to mind. Adding to its unique qualities and charm, transportation to the semi-remote resort has always been quite small and private, evolving from horse-and-buggies to stagecoaches, then on to trains (still operating today), automobiles, and small planes. This multi-starred resort, regardless of who does the starring, provides unquestionable top-notch service, but in a non-pretentious, laid back southern style reminiscent of when wealthy socialites spent entire summers there.

Now that you know a little history, check out the hotel website and browse these other related links, some related to the renovation led by Draper’s own protégé, Carleton Varney, who bought her business when he was 29-years-old and she in her 70s:

          • current Dorothy Draper & Company, Inc. website
          • Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame listing for Varney
          • Carleton Varney by the Yard – Varney’s to the trade fabric line
          • “The Greenbrier Announces Major Renovations for 2007” press release
          • “The Greenbrier - Resort Of The Month” article
          • “Greenbrier To Close For Makeover” article
          • “The Greenbrier Gets Ready to Open to Public” article

If these spark a design history interest, try a dive into Varney’s book The Draper Touch, then do some “Googling” and see what others around the world are now saying about the Greenbrier, Draper, Varney, and even luxury hotels.

Ah ha! Now you understand why articles have been popping in such places as Architectural Digest; why the Texas Women's Museum is hosting the "In the Pink" exhibit of Draper and her work from December 15, 2006 through March 31, 2007; and why The Greenbrier held a Designer's Weekend last autumn, inviting designers from around the globe to be the first to see renovation plans, which were presented by Varney himself.

This is truly history in the making, but how can you be a part of the excitement?

STEP ONE: Take a look at my personal album of photographs, which are made up of both the official renovation display boards and my “before” photos taken right after Christmas 2006, before the resort closed for the first phase of renovations.

STEP TWO: Let us know what you think. Some questions to ponder and get you started…

     • Are the plans submitted by Varney in keeping with the Draper style as he claims?

     • Can softer color tones seriously be called Draper style? Or is this just a marketing ploy to help us accept the changes?

     • Are lowered ceilings and dark woods in keeping with the architecture of the building? Should changes be in keeping with the architecture?

     • Are the planned renovations justified to bring in business? Will a more modern look destroy the “Old South” ambiance the hotel complex has maintained since before the Civil War?

     • Is the hotel moving toward a “Vegas” look? (FYI: The attempt to bring gambling to the resort has been struck down time after time. The local county voted NO on gambling once again, even though the state legislature finally gave approval.)

Let us hear from you! Be a part of history and share your remarks. Email contact@plinthandchintz.com, putting “Greenbrier” in the subject line. PLiNTH & CHiNTZ will publish the comments collectively in a future issue.

Whatever happens, let’s hope that Varney follows the directive of his pioneering former boss: "The Greenbrier will be done in only one style… Great Beauty!"