This exhibit is curated by guest curator and certified interior designer Holli Limbach and is one of the first to take an in-depth look at the life and work of Hugo Huber, a key member of the New York design community at the turn of the 20th century, and the man who created the detailed interiors of the Manor House at Stan Hywet. Huber was well-known in his day and one of the earliest professionals in the field of interior decorating in the late 19th century, yet until now his accomplishments have been largely forgotten. Prior to the emergence of the interior decorator, it was typically an architect who, through his complete set of working drawings and specifications, set forth in detail an interior environment and décor that harmonized with the architecture. Growing prosperity after the Civil War until the end of the 19th century dictated larger and more complex residences, with interiors becoming distinct from exteriors. The gap widened between the roles of the architect and interior decorator -setting the stage for the emergence of the professional interior decorator of the 1880s and 1890s.
Discovering the Elusive Hugo Huber is included with all tours of the Manor House; for more information, click here.