Baldwin, Billy

Baldwin (1903-1983) was an internationally known American interior decorator. Born in Baltimore, he attended Princeton University for two years, but left for a series of temporary jobs. His first job in interior design was as a stockroom assistant with C.J. Benson & Co. in Baltimore. From 1935 to 1950, Baldwin was a design assistant with Ruby Ross Wood, Inc. Upon Miss Wood's death in 1950, he opened his own firm, Baldwin, Inc. which later became Baldwin, Martin & Smith. In 1973, Baldwin retired and the firm was dissolved. Baldwin's clients included Greta Garbo, Jacqueline Onassis, Cole Porter, Diana Vreeland, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. An interior decorator with a firm belief in the importance of American style, Baldwin's philosophy of interior decoration advocated a mix of time periods, styles, and nationalities. He served as a consultant to the Cooper-Hewitt Museum and on the faculty of Parsons School of Design. Baldwin authored autobiographical works and a book highlighting his designs.