author
Ogden Codman
1863–1951
Best known for co-writing The Decoration of Houses with Edith Wharton, he helped steer American interiors away from Victorian clutter and toward a cleaner, more classical style. He was also a sought-after architect and decorator for elite clients in Boston, Newport, New York, and France.
1 Audiobook
The Decoration of Houses
by Edith Wharton, Ogden Codman
About the author
Born in Boston in 1863 and raised largely in France, Ogden Codman Jr. became an American architect and interior decorator known for refined Beaux-Arts taste and a strong dislike of overcrowded Victorian rooms. After a short time at MIT and work in architectural offices, he opened his own practice and built a reputation designing elegant houses and interiors for wealthy clients.
His lasting fame rests on The Decoration of Houses (1897), written with Edith Wharton. The book argued for order, proportion, and architectural logic in domestic interiors, and it went on to become a classic of American design writing. Codman also designed notable residences, including commissions in New York and the celebrated Villa Leopolda on the French Riviera.
Later in life he spent much of his time in France, where he died in 1951. For listeners interested in design history, he stands out as a sharp, stylish voice who helped define how tasteful American interiors were discussed at the turn of the twentieth century.