Known worldwide for her appreciation of arts and culture, American philanthropist and aesthete Bunny Mellon’s signature imprint on interiors is yet again reinvigorated through a new compilation of never-before-seen renderings in The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon: Paintings by Snowy Campbell. We are honored to host a discussion with three of the key contributors to the book, renowned designer Charlotte Moss and Sir Peter & Elinor Crane of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, who helped bring to life this wonderful project that Bunny commissioned and started, but ultimately never saw to completion.
If you are unable to attend the event, but would like to purchase one or more copies, please visit Buxton Books here.
About the Book
The refined rooms of American philanthropist and aesthete Bunny Mellon (1910–2014)—interiors influential for their ability to combine magnificent collections of fine and decorative art with an ambiance of comfort and ease—were documented by artist Snowy Campbell, a lasting tribute to Mellon’s impeccable taste.
The houses of Mellon and her husband, Paul, have become icons in the field of interior decoration, filled with fine antiques, blue-chip works of art (a Van Gogh left unframed and propped on a mantel), personal mementos, and exquisite objets d’art, all displayed in Mellon’s inimitably sophisticated yet charming way. Campbell was employed by Mellon in 1970 for six years, just after college, to document in paint several residences of the Mellons—presented here as a group for the first time.
This book presents Campbell’s paintings that capture the colors, light, and ambiance of rooms and gardens, as well as intricate patterns and details of furnishings in spaces put together with help from renowned decorators John Fowler and Bruce Budd. Three residences—in New York City, Washington, DC, and Upperville, Virginia—are the focus, with texts by society chronicler James Reginato describing Mellon’s decorating style and the ways the Mellons used each property. Opening the doors to a life of superb connoisseurship, this volume is an homage to the interiors of a renowned couple and the extraordinary work of a young artist.
About Sir Peter Crane FRS
Peter Crane is President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Virginia (
osgf.org), an estate of Rachel Lambert Mellon that includes an exquisite garden as well as an exceptional library focused on the history of plant science, plant exploration, and the development of gardens and landscape design. Previously Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, he is known internationally for his work on the diversity of plant life – its origin, fossil history, current status, conservation, and use.
About Elinor Crane
Since 2016, Elinor Crane has worked as a volunteer at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, contributing to numerous public engagement initiatives, as well as undertaking archival and inventory research. Her work has been featured in Smithsonian Magazine and by The White House Historical Association. She advocated for the publication of the Snowy Campbell watercolors commissioned by Mrs Mellon, and undertook much of the research included in The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon.
About Charlotte Moss
Since launching her eponymous firm in 1985, Charlotte’s name has become synonymous with Southern warmth and hospitality. She has designed private residences and executive suites across the United States and abroad, and her retail stores have achieved wide acclaim. She has used her experience culled throughout her career to design licensed collections with Century Furniture, Fabricut, Stark Carpet, Pickard, P.E. Guerin, Soicher-Marin, IBU Clothing, Artemis Design Company and more, and her work is celebrated across eleven volumes, the most recent title with Rizzoli publications: Charlotte Moss Flowers (2021) and Home: A Celebration: Notable Voices Reflect on the Meaning of Home (2021) which benefits the non-profit, No Kid Hungry. Charlotte supports a variety of causes and sits on several boards; she is Emerita Trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, on the Board of The Bone Marrow Foundation, The Madoo Conservancy, The Garden Conservancy, and the International Council of Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens. Charlotte’s designs have been featured in many major publications. Accolades include the New York School of Interior Design’s Centennial Medal, The Royal Oak Foundation’s Timeless Design award, and Elle Décor’s Grand Master’s Listof Designers.Charlotte holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree from The New York School of Interior Design as well as Virginia Commonwealth University, her alma mater.
