McMillen Inc.

The Sixties

During the 1960s and 1970s Mrs. Brown began to allow individual designers at McMillen, such as Ethel Smith and Marion Morgan, to promote their names and to receive credit for published work. Joining them and coming into prominence during these years were Nathalie Davenport, who had worked at McMillen on and off during the war years, and Betty Sherrill, who came in 1952 to help with the Paris '52 exhibit. Grace Fakes continued to run the design department until her retirement in the early 1960s, after which it was headed by her assistant, Tom Buckley.

Also trained at McMillen in the 60s and 70s were Albert Hadley, Mark Hampton, and Kevin McNamara, who went on to become important designers of the late 20th century. A number of iconic McMillen rooms were photographed at this time, as well as those that were typical of design in the 1960s, such as the porch overlooking the ocean, or the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. J. Frederic Byers.

Instagram Pinterest Facebook
Back to Top