Denning & Fourcade, Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Interior design |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Founder | Robert Denning, Vincent Fourcade |
| Defunct | 2006 |
| Headquarters | New York City, Paris , United States, France |
| Products | Interior design services |
Robert Denning & Vincent Fourcade, Inc. (1960–2006) stood as a premier interior design company known for its lavish and extravagant interiors, operating out of offices in both New York City and Paris. Celebrated for their distinctive "Proust-must-have-slept-here" ambiance, they specialized in serving clients who favored refined, European-influenced aesthetics over typical American styles.
History
Established in 1960 by American designer Robert Denning alongside French designer Vincent Fourcade, the firm swiftly rose to prominence. Denning, who trained under Edgar de Evia, partnered with Fourcade, a member of a French banking dynasty linked to the Rothschild family. Their early clientele included notable figures such as Lillian Bostwick Phipps and Ogden Phipps. Their projects were frequently showcased in leading magazines like Architectural Digest, House & Garden, and Town & Country. A notable reference to their work appeared in the 1990 film The Bonfire of the Vanities, where Henry Kravis’s residence, designed by them, was humorously depicted.
The company was known for creating iconic "decorator rooms" for retail venues like Tiffany's and exhibitions including Decoration and Design (1961), utilizing sumptuous materials such as silk Fortuny textiles and raccoon fur accents. They also crafted opulent interiors at historic properties such as Old Westbury Gardens. Many initial clients originated from Fourcade’s elite social network, including financiers like Michel David-Weill.
Denning & Fourcade specialized in comprehensive temporary transformations for high-profile occasions, outfitting clients’ apartments with bespoke fabrics, ornamental plants, and gilded seating. They orchestrated events for prominent personalities including Gloria Vanderbilt and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, notably designing the ninth annual Opera Ball held at the Smithsonian Institution.
Their design philosophy often entailed significant architectural alterations, illustrated by their own residence at Manhattan’s Lombardy Hotel where structural elements were modified prior to applying luxurious finishes. Their portfolio extended to commercial spaces as well, such as the Lombardy Hotel lobby renovation (1996) and the Etoile Restaurant (currently Table 12), where Denning’s custom furnishings and artwork were incorporated. Additionally, they furnished offices for the Carlisle Collection, established by client William Rondina.
Their distinguished clientele encompassed influential individuals including Countess Rattazzi—who commissioned Denning for 15 residences globally—Henry Kravis, Charles and Jayne Wrightsman, Henry Kissinger, Oscar de la Renta, Jean Vanderbilt, the Ogden Phipps family, Phyllis Cerf Wagner, Lynette and Richard Merillat, Marlene and Spencer Hays, and Henry P. McIlhenny. Two patrons have museum collections named in their honor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Wrightsman Galleries and The Henry R. Kravis Wing—both featuring acquisitions originally sourced through the firm.
The company also engaged in philanthropic efforts supporting organizations such as Friends In Deed (providing AIDS and cancer counseling) and contributed to fundraising initiatives like decorating the foyer of the von Stade mansion for Southampton's Rogers Memorial Library event.
Referred to in New York as "...the Odd Couple," Denning was regarded as the diligent pragmatist while Fourcade carefully gauged social dynamics before embarking on creative decisions. After Fourcade succumbed to AIDS in 1992, the firm persisted under Denning’s leadership until his death in 2005, after which it ceased operations.