Pierre Dutel, Decorator

One of my favorite old-time decorators is Pierre Dutel. Based in New York, Dutel and his interiors were frequently featured in magazines during the 1920s and 30s. In the 1940s, however, his published work seemed to have tapered off. There is scant information about Dutel online, and the only tidbit I can find that might pertain to him is the death of a Pierre Dutel in New Jersey, 1975. If that's the same Pierre Dutel, what did he do during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s?

Now, I admit that while I like Dutel's work, I can't say that all of it was successful. Some of his interiors look rather contrived and even fussy, something that unfortunately describes many interiors from the early part of the 20th century. What I admire about him, though, was his unbridled enthusiasm for the then-new pastiche of the era: bamboo, colored mirror, and so-called "modernist" papers and fabrics. Just look at that photo of Dutel above. He looks so stern for someone who used bamboo trim with such abandon.

Take a look below for a compilation of his work.  While his work can't be described as novel or ground-breaking, it certainly was pretty snazzy.  And anyone who could concoct such elaborate and fanciful window treatments was obviously no slouch in the decorating department.  Let's just leave the colored mirror where it belongs: in the past.  

A Great Neck, Long Island home decorated in the early 1930s by Dutel. At top is the living room where a "bridge group" stands next to a window with mirrored cornice. The dining room has walls painted with espaliered trees.

A Directoire arrangement by Dutel. A Directoire barometer hung above a, yes, Directoire mantel.

A bathroom with walls "painted in the modernist manner" by Dutel, c. 1928.

A bedroom with a "modernist paper...The mantel and woodwork are candy pink and the swag draperies are green glazed chintz with white braid."

Another bedroom by Dutel, this one with a Directoire paper in peach and green, peach silk gauze curtains, chintz swags, and green silk rep bedspreads trimmed with peach grosgrain ribbon.

An illustration depicts a brown and beige drawing room by Dutel. The curtains were beige silk serge with brown fringe trim. The valances were made of brown glass and bamboo.

A depiction of a terrace decorated by Dutel.