In certain aspects of life, comfort is often sacrificed in favor of style and vice-versa. For instance, the fashion industry's most glamorous garments typically appear to be the least enjoyable to wear due to their complex and waist-pinching designs. However, this struggle between comfort and luxury is not viewed the same way within the world of interior design – especially not by the "dean of American decorating," Billy Baldwin.

Baldwin was a firm believer that not only could comfort and style coexist in an interior space, but that each required the other for maximum appeal and effectiveness.

"First and foremost, furniture must be comfortable" Baldwin famously stated. "That's the original purpose of it, after all." He favored clean, sophisticated designs in sofas and lounge chairs that showed little to no exposed wood at the legs or armrests. For him, the plumper the furniture, the better. Baldwin saw every part of furniture as an area meant to be comfortable and, by extension, visually appealing.

Baldwin was also a strong proponent of designing with his clients' own interior preferences firmly in mind. He reasoned that even the most comfortable leather chaise lounges, club chairs or plush sofas wouldn't count for much if they conflicted with the homeowner's aesthetic sensibilities.

"Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style," Baldwin claimed. He saw how trend chasers could land themselves in hot water when fashions inevitably shift, leaving their homes outdated and unrepresentative of their personal style. The truly comfortable home is not just about soft fabrics or plump leather cushions, but a private sanctuary where the homeowner's individuality is on display all around.