White House and Grand Hotel Decorator Shares His Adventures

Mr. Color Knows How to Make it Pop

By Shelby Hodge // Nov 7, 2018

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Albert Wilson, Carlton Varney, Ken Kehoe

Courtnay Elias, Marie Flanigan, Lucinda Loya

Allison Eden

Jennifer Cope, Jamie Beckwith, Allison Eden, Ellen Blakeley, Rhonda Reinhart

Trisha Thornton, Courtney Elias, Lila Malone

Diane Cowen, Missy Stewart

Olivia Farrell, Brimsley Matthews

Susan Hansen, Teresa Reissig

Mary Vu, Allison Eden

Julia Rudin, Courtnay Elias

Ken Kehoe Showroom

Design books for everyone.

What: Decorative Center Houston Spring Market

Where: Throughout the design center on Woodway

PC Moment: While it wasn’t exactly a tell-all, morning headliner Carlton Varney, aka “Mr. Color” and president of Dorothy Draper & Company, shared tales of working with such vaunted clients as Judy Garland and Bette Davis and recounted his adventures decorating at prominent addresses such as the that of The Greenbriar, the famed Grand Hotel on Michigan’s Mackinac Island and the White House. He also allowed that his childhood box of crayons inspired his love affair with color. Setting for the talk and reception was the Ken Kehoe Showroom.

The afternoon keynote presentation featured Modern Luxury Interiors Texas‘ associate publisher Jennifer Cope and editor in chief Rhonda Reinhart in discussion with artists Jamie Beckwith, Ellen Blakeley and Allison Eden. Their topic: the evolution of design.

Talented Houston designers Lucinda Loya, Courtnay Elias and Marie Flanigan drew an SRO crowd to the new showroom Ornare, where they discussed the challenge of transforming closets into beautiful showcases.

Designing men & women: Laura Umansky, Christopher Suffrendini, Martha Lurie, Diane Cowen, Ken Kehoe and Albert Wilson, Cheryl Baker, Mary Vu, Jennifer Cope, Missy Stewart, Julia Ruden, Olivia Farrell, Brimsley Matthews, Susan Hansen, Teresa Reissig and Trish Thornton.