The Weekend Design: Albert Hadley

Albert Hadley

Albert Hadley, one-half of the esteemed Manhattan design firm, Parish-Hadley, died this past weekend. He was on the list—as mentioned in our review of Bunny Williams—to discuss. So, now, I thought we would review his vast contribution to the design world.

Hadley had an early interest in fashion and antiques as a companion to his mother on her adventures purchasing and decorating various houses. Hadley studied at Parsons where he was also a young professor. He soon joined a prestigious design firm, Macmillan, where he was later introduced to Sister Parish. Sister Parish, was his counterpart at Parish-Hadley. Sister Parish was known for formal interiors steeped in tradition (and chintz!). Parish-Hadley become known as a synergy of the traditional (Parish) and the modern (Hadley). They partnered together from 1976 to 1994 when Parish passed. Bunny Williams and David Easton (to name only a couple), worked at Parish-Hadley and attribute their expertise to Hadley’s tutelage.

Hadley continued designing after Parish’s passing, as his namesake, Albert Hadley, Incorporated. He was known for his opinions, his finesse, and, of course, his design.

HIS WORDS

“Never less, never more…glamour is part of it, but glamour is not the essence. Design is about discipline and reality, not about fantasy beyond reality”

“Its all about acquiring a richer vocabulary”

“Flair—a primitive kind of style—may be innate, but I think knowledgeable taste is learned, the result of travel, experience, living, and education.”

“Nothing comes cheap, though the educated eye will always spot very nice things for the least money.”

HIS WORK