Book Review: 'The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon'

Artist Snow Campbell's watercolor illustrations immortalize Mellon's singular decorating style in a new book.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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A collection of over 100 watercolor paintings by artist Snowy Campbell documenting the interiors of Rachel Lambert 'Bunny' Mellon's homes in New York City, Washington, DC, and Upperville, Virginia, between 1970-1976 has been discovered in the Oak Spring Garden Foundation library. The paintings, which showcase Mellon's 'nothing should be noticed' approach to design, offer a rare look inside the Mellon's primary homes and have been compiled into a new book titled 'The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon'.

Why it matters

Mellon's decoration style, long admired for its ability to create rooms where 'it was easy to relax and feel calm, even among exquisite art and furnishings,' is difficult to experience today as her New York and Washington homes have been sold and much of her collection auctioned off. The book provides a unique opportunity for designers, decorators, and design enthusiasts to get an intimate look at Mellon's singular approach to interior design.

The details

The book features 90 of Campbell's watercolor renderings, mostly on full pages, that offer wide vistas of complete roomscapes as well as tighter vignettes, corners, and views from one room to another. There are also 'studies' in varying degrees of completion, with a single object or two painted while the architecture is drawn in pencil. The book also includes paintings of Mellon's table settings and studies of her porcelain and ceramics collections. Importantly, the paintings immortalize Mellon's unique approach to hanging her vast collection of fine art in her homes.

  • The paintings were commissioned by Mellon between 1970-1976.
  • The book 'The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon' will be published in 2026.

The players

Snowy Campbell

An artist who was commissioned by Bunny Mellon to paint watercolor illustrations of the interiors of her homes.

Rachel Lambert 'Bunny' Mellon

A renowned American socialite, horticulturist, and art collector who was known for her 'nothing should be noticed' approach to interior design.

Nancy Collins

The assistant librarian and archivist at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation library who discovered the collection of Mellon's watercolor paintings.

Elinor Crane

The head volunteer at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation library who worked with Nancy Collins on the discovery of the Mellon watercolor paintings.

Charlotte Moss

A designer who, upon seeing the Mellon watercolor paintings, suggested they be made into a book.

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What they’re saying

“These have to be a book.”

— Charlotte Moss (Oak Spring Garden Foundation)

“Snowy's watercolors are a beautiful record of a time in which Mrs. Mellon's personal aesthetic, and her influence as an iconic arbiter of style, were fully realized. They reveal why Mrs. Mellon's taste continues to be greatly admired.”

— Tony Willis, Head Librarian, Oak Spring Garden Foundation (The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon)

“The Bonnard paintings hang there because Bonnard liked the way his paintings looked with fabric behind them.”

— Bunny Mellon (Oak Spring Garden Foundation)

What’s next

The book 'The Enchanting Interiors of Bunny Mellon' is scheduled to be published in 2026.

The takeaway

The discovery of Snowy Campbell's watercolor paintings of Bunny Mellon's interiors provides a unique and intimate look into the legendary decorator's singular style, which emphasized creating spaces that were both exquisite and comfortable. The book will be a valuable resource for designers, decorators, and design enthusiasts seeking to understand and emulate Mellon's influential approach to interior design.