Mary Douglas Drysdale, a name synonymous with Washington, D.C. interior design, has spent her career showing that beautiful interiors are not about superfluous decoration. They are about how we live.
She has been named among the top 100 designers by House Beautiful and among the top 100 American women designers by Interior Design Magazine. Her work has been published on the cover of more than 75 prestigious books and magazines, and has
profoundly shaped the local, regional, and national design scene.
What was the inspiration for her love of beauty and design? Mary attributes it to growing up in the charming college town of Charlottesville, VA. She remembers playing on the lawn of the University of Virginia, where her father taught law. She spent her childhood surrounded by the natural wonders of the Blue Ridge Mountains and historical, classical landmarks designed by Thomas Jefferson.
“It wasn’t as crowded then, so whenever anybody came to town, we would get the private tour of Monticello,” said Mary.
The rich history, beauty, and classical architecture of Charlottesville deeply influenced
Mary’s sense of style. It also influenced her sense of adventure, because when she was 19, Mary decided that she, like Thomas Jefferson, would also go to France.
However, “my father thought that was an impractical idea,” she said.
But during her first year in college, Mary got a job at Lord & Taylor’s and, working evenings and weekends, managed to earn enough money to buy a plane ticket to Paris.
When her father saw that she would not be dissuaded, he relented and wished her well.
What started as a summer studying at the Sorbonne became a three-year tour of Europe as Mary continued her studies at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Her time in Paris further shaped her view of design, fashion, and city living. When she returned to the States, she attended Parsons School of Design in NYC and graduated from George Washington University. She has been living and working in Washington, D.C ever since.
The combination of history and classicism of her Charlottesville upbringing, combined with her experience in Paris as a young adult, has contributed to her classic-meets-modern aesthetic. Today, Mary’s approach to interior design is to create spaces that cultivate understanding, respect, and compromise.
Discovery in Paris
One of the most surprising things she discovered during her time in Paris was that good design doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. “You could shop at Pres Unique, which is probably the equivalent of Walmart, and buy a pair of trousers, or a sweater, or a pair of shoes. They weren’t the most expensive, certainly weren’t made by designers, but they really had style!”
For Mary, it was a revelation: good design wasn’t necessarily about luxury. It was about the principles that help people live comfortably and beautifully in their spaces.
This includes planning, order, balance, a sense of proportion, vision, and art. “Above all, in whatever you do, there needs to be some intentionality. Some care. And some courtesy that’s reflected in your gestures.”
This can look as simple as plain white plates and napkins with rings, with a splash of green apples and flowers on the table for color. For artwork, you can always frame photos of your loved ones or favorite sketches or drawings. Good design, Mary believes, is ultimately about hospitality and thoughtfulness—organizing a space in a way that makes people feel welcomed and cared for.
A Visionary in the DC Interior Design Scene
At the start of her career, Mary was hugely criticized for wanting to mix traditional with modern design, especially in DC. Design at the time was very conservative, with interiors reflecting traditional styles with no big art. But, Mary was a believer that even though you may live in a historic house that goes back hundreds of years, “your house should represent what you are doing today.” Mary persevered in this belief and in her work. Over the years, Washington has become far more open to art, modern design, and the kind of thoughtful, lived-in interiors Mary has always championed.
Thoughtful Design for Our Sanctuaries
When explaining why interior design matters now more than ever, Mary points to the fact that we don’t live in a simple world anymore. In our modern, noisy, 24/7 world, we still need rest and a place to find our equilibrium. Building personal spaces where you feel protected, happy, and relaxed is more important than ever. Mary says that with beautiful design, family life and modern work are compatible. All it takes is creative solutions, a bit of organization, and intentionality. Our homes are our sanctuaries. In a fast-moving world, thoughtful design helps make those sanctuaries possible.
“You could shop at Pres Unique, which is probably the equivalent of Walmart, and buy a pair of trousers, or a sweater, or a pair of shoes. They weren’t the most expensive, certainly weren’t made by designers, but they really had style!”