Elsie De Wolfe

Born in New York City in 1865, Elsie de Wolfe first worked as an actress before becoming one of the best-known tastemakers of the early 20th century. She is widely remembered as a founding figure in professional interior design, admired for airy rooms, pale colors, and a style that pushed back against the dark, crowded look of Victorian interiors.

Her decorating work for houses, clubs, and high-profile clients brought her international attention, and her book The House in Good Taste helped spread her approach to a broad audience. Later known as Lady Mendl after her marriage to Sir Charles Mendl, she lived a glamorous, highly visible life that linked theater, society, fashion, and design.

De Wolfe died in 1950, but her influence still shows in the way many people think about beautiful rooms: livable, bright, and carefully edited rather than overloaded. For listeners interested in design history, her story offers both personality and a clear turning point in how modern interiors came to be.