The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon

The homes of American aesthete and philanthropist Bunny Mellon (1910–2014) and her husband Paul are among the ultimate references in the art of living. These interiors, where rare antiques, personal mementos and masterpieces—such as a Van Gogh casually placed unframed on a mantelpiece—coexisted, exuded inimitable refinement and charm. In 1970, Bunny Mellon commissioned artist Snowy Campbell to immortalise several of her properties in paint. This meticulous documentation work, carried out in watercolour, spanned six years (1970-1976), during which Snowy Campbell captured the soul and evolution of these exceptional places.

This book, a project that was started by Bunny Mellon but unpublished until now, reveals Snowy Campbell's paintings. The artist accurately captures the light and unique atmosphere of the rooms and gardens, while enhancing the details of the furniture and the complex patterns of these spaces, designed with the help of renowned decorators John Fowler and Bruce Budd. Through an exploration of three residences—New York, Washington D.C. and Upperville, Virginia—social columnist James Reginato deciphers the Mellon style and the way the couple lived in each of these exceptional places.