ALBERT HADLEY, INTERIOR DESIGN ICON DIES AT 91

ALBERT HADLEY

One of the Greats, Albert Hadley, an interior design icon, died on Thursday in Nashville. He was 91. His design aesthetic leaned modernist and somewhat spare but he insisted on mixing ideas, drawing on a deep knowledge of design history.

Mr. Hadley has been quoted saying, “So many young decorators are trying to reinvent the wheel, and the results are sometimes dubious. They’re striving to do things that have never done before. Quite often it is done without authority, without knowledge, and without a background in taste. They need to be educated about the past, and they need a richer vocabulary.”

Below are some images of designer Diana Quasha’s Manhattan apartment, which was designed by Albert Hadley and Britton Smith of Albert Hadley Inc. and Tim Greer of Roger Ferris + Partners Architects. You can see the mix of modern, vintage and understated glamour. (pics from Elle Decor)

Mr. Hadley was fond of saying, "Never less, never more." "A beautiful decor can have a beneficial influence on our lives."