The Gilbert Millers in London

If you've ever read Billy Baldwin Remembers, you'll recall the chapter that Baldwin wrote on his great friends and clients, Gilbert and Kitty Miller. Gilbert, the famous theater producer, and his banking heiress wife were noted for their great style and their strong personalities. I have to admit that after reading Baldwin's book, I don't get the sense that the Millers were terribly nice people, but perhaps it's their larger than life personalities coupled with their good taste that still has us talking about them.

Because I'm mostly familiar with the work that Billy Baldwin did for the Millers, I was pleasantly surprised to find photos of their London townhouse from 1934. Unfortunately, the article gave no indication as to who decorated the West End home. You can see that the interiors were more formal, though no less stylish, than those later created by Billy Baldwin. This was 1934, though, so this sense of formality was in keeping with the times. What is evident is that no matter the era, the Millers were always keen to create a lovely home in which to live and to entertain.



The Chippendale and Queen Anne guest room, a replica of a room in the Victoria and Albert museum.



A pickled pine clad entrance foyer.



The "After-Theater" room, also in pickled pine, boasted a bar on one side of the room and a refrigerator on the other.



The all-white drawing room in which the rug and curtains added touches of blue.



The russet and brown colored library.

The photo of the Millers from Billy Baldwin Remembers. All other photos from House Beautiful, May 1934.