Elsie de Wolfe referred to herself as a "rebel in an ugly world." During Elsie's heyday from 1926 to her death in 1950, the rest of the world just called her Lady Mendl.

In 1913, Elsie wrote what may have been the one of the first great books on interior design, The House in Good Taste. She became well known in New York, Paris, and London, and was believed by some to be the person who first invented the profession of interior design. Whether or not that's the case, Elsie de Wolfe could include some very influential people among her clientele, such as Ann Vanderbilt, the Duchess of Windsor, and Adelaide Frick.

Elsie's decorating style often featured light, fresh colors, and she was responsible for brightening the interiors of some of the most impressive Victorian homes of her era. She was NOT a fan of the dark nature of traditional Victorian d