The field of interior decoration emerged during the American
Until the late nineteenth century, American
architects played a minor role in interior design. Architects
designed homes in collaboration with their clients, but clients
typically selected their own interiors after the homes were
Some architects, such as Richard Morris
Hunt, designed interiors for the homes they created, contracting
out the interior work to firms like Jules Allard et Fils.
However, interior design followed no uniform standards.
Different firms were often hired to design
different rooms in the house. In addition, styles were often
selected without consideration for the exterior design.
Beginning in the 1870s, architects worked
closely with artists to create a more unified effect. Art
periodicals in the 1870s and 1880s published articles on carpet
design, tapestry painting, and various decorative styles.
The Associated Artists, Herter Brothers, Augustus Saint-Gaudens,
John La Farge, and Stanford White designed furniture and interiors
A concern for historical accuracy led
to the import of European furnishings for home décor.
Tapestries, both originals and copies, became popular at the
end of the nineteenth century. Mural painting and stained
glass developed a following.
John La Farge received a patent in 1880
for opalescent glass, a unique type of stained glass. Architects
and decorators used stained glass in churches, homes, and
public buildings. Ceramic tiles were also popular.