Recently I went to a party at Fortuny launching a collection of pillows by Malcolm Kutner. Fortuny pillows are great in almost any form because of the subtle pattern designs and colors of their textiles, which meld handsomely to almost any interior. We have used them everywhere, from the most august drawing rooms to sun porches. The examples on display are super duper models, some with elaborate beading or fabric trims, that demonstrate that sometimes one can make a great thing better.

I think it is interesting how these seemingly minor elements of a room can have such import: their role is certainly larger than their size.  I learned this early in my career from my mentors, some of whose dictates I regularly recall and share with the designers in my office. These include: never deliver a sofa without the decorative pillows –the client will not grasp the full effect you are trying to achieve without them; lacquer colored (a lush red) silk velvet pillows improve virtually any room; they are not to be called “throw” pillows under any circumstances; pillows made of old and exotic fabrics visually settle a new room; they must be larger than 18 inches; details such as Turkish corners add interest;  “poofy” pillows are comforting (that advice comes from the 70’s); and the style of the pillows, despite our best efforts, always dates a room.    

I offer a short cavalcade of photographs over the decades of rooms with pillows, starting with a late Victorian room by Elsie De Wolfe with heaps of pillows (a type of space that almost every American house of quality had at that time, and the first time Americans really embraced the piling on of pillows), a mid 20th century streamlined room with modern pillows, a Sister Parish room with contrasting pillows, the balloon effect of pillows in a 1980s room  and a view of two of my rooms, one with fantastic pillows made for the Duchess of Windor by Jensen. 

Now that I have been fully wearing the mantle of a decorator, I too can say with complete conviction that pillows are important.

Photos:

Top 2 images: Fortuny Pillows by Macolm Kutner

3rd Image: Elsie De Wolfe’s Irving Place interiors (early version)

4th Image: 1962 Park Avenue Duplex by Albert Hadley

5th Image: Sister Parish’s NYC apartment

6th Image: Living Room of a River House apartment by Kevin McNamara

7th Image: Thomas Jayne’s Soho loft, a pair of Duchess of Windsor pillows on bed.

8th Image: Thomas Jayne’s Soho loft, Cabinet Room