Holly Holden (born Helene Kirkpatrick Holden) is an American interior designer, author, and Emmy-nominated television host and producer. She is recognized for her expertise in traditional interior design and her work as the host and producer of the PBS series You Are Cordially Invited. Holden is the author of two books on interior design, The Pretty & Proper Living Room and The Pearls of Palm Beach.[1]
Early Life and Education
editHolden was born in Kansas City, Kansas, and spent much of her early life in various locations, including Germany, Taiwan, Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, due to her family's frequent relocations. She credits her exposure to extraordinary houses, gardens, and museums during her childhood for sparking her interest in interior design.[2]
Holden attended St. Catherine’s School and Douglas Freeman High School in Richmond, Virginia, before completing an Associate of Arts degree at Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C. She was one of the first three women to graduate from the University of Richmond's Robbins School of Business.[3]
Career
editHolden began her professional career in interior design as a partner in Holden-Peterson Decorative Interiors, where she worked on projects including Lincoln Properties' first commercial venture in New England.[4]
In 1994, she founded her own company, Holly Holden & Company, Ltd., and became an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). Her work is known for its classic, elegant style, influenced by her Southern upbringing and European aesthetic.[5] Her design projects have appeared in prominent publications and showhouses. Her home, Fox Hall (c. 1803) in Farmington, Connecticut, was included in the Rizzoli book Great Houses of New England, and its gardens were documented for the Smithsonian Institution's Archives of American Gardens.[6]
Holden is also recognized as a television host and producer. She created and hosted the PBS series You Are Cordially Invited, showcasing historic estates around the world. She received an Emmy nomination for an episode filmed at Highclere Castle, the setting of Downton Abbey.[6]
Publications
editHolden authored two books on traditional interior design. Her first book, The Pretty & Proper Living Room, offers insights into creating timeless living spaces and is in its second printing.[1] Her second book, The Pearls of Palm Beach, highlights the distinctive style of Palm Beach and became a top seller at local bookstores.[7] She also publishes a weekly newsletter, Secrets to Lovely Living, where she shares her design philosophy with a global audience.
Design Collaborations and Collections
editHolden has expanded her creative work into fashion and home decor, collaborating with Gramercy Atelier NYC to create the Holly Holden Collection, a line of bespoke silk dresses. Additionally, she designed the Equestrian Collection of porcelain plates, reflecting her passion for horses and classic design.[2]
Philanthropy and Public Service
editHolden served as Chair and Commissioner of the Historic District Commission of Farmington and Unionville, Connecticut, for twenty years. She has served on the boards of the Hill-Stead Museum and the New Britain Museum of American Art. In Palm Beach, she is a board member of the Salvation Army of Palm Beach County and chaired the organization’s Centennial “Paradise Ball” in 2022.[8]
She was honored with the Salvation Army's "Hearts of Gold Award" in 2024 for her charitable contributions. She continues to support philanthropic events, including co-chairing the “Christmas in Paradise Ball” and organizing a 2024 event in England titled "Live Royally" for CEO.org.[1]
Personal Life
editHolden is married to R. Stuart Holden, Jr., and resides in Palm Beach, Florida. They maintain a historic home, Fox Hall, in Farmington, Connecticut, and a ski residence in Stratton, Vermont. Outside her professional and philanthropic pursuits, Holden is an accomplished equestrian and is learning to pilot a helicopter. She is a member of the Beach Club in Palm Beach, the Metropolitan Club in New York City, and the Palm Beach Yacht Club.[3]
Awards and Recognition
edit- Emmy nomination for You Are Cordially Invited (PBS)
- Featured in Great Houses of New England (Rizzoli)
- Honored with the Salvation Army’s “Hearts of Gold Award” (2024)[1]
Bibliography
edit- The Pretty & Proper Living Room (Second Printing)
- The Pearls of Palm Beach
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Emmy-Nominated PBS TV Host Holly Holden to Speak at Greenwich Benefit". HamletHub.
- ^ a b "Holly Holden's Guide to Farmington, Connecticut". Palm Beach Illustrated.
- ^ a b "A Sunshine State of Design". Richmond Magazine.
- ^ "Lunch Honors Planners of Salvation Army's Upcoming Ball at Mar-a-Lago". Palm Beach Daily News.
- ^ "Channeling Old Palm Beach to Old Miami". New York Social Diary.
- ^ a b "CPTV Pilots Series on Masterpiece Homes". Hartford Courant. Cite error: The named reference "courant" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Society Gala Recalls the Golden Age of Mar-a-Lago, but with Mermaids". Palm Beach Daily News.
- ^ "Society Gala Recalls Golden Age of Mar-a-Lago, but with Mermaids". Palm Beach Daily News.