William Caroll Pahlmann was one of the leading American interior designers of the mid-twentieth century. Pahlmann was known for an "eclectic" style that combined materials and decorative elements from many time periods and cultures, everything from antiques to modern laminates, and for bold color and texture combinations. This approach typified much of the private residential and commercial construction of the period and stood in contrast to the austere modernism of contemporary architects. Pahlmann also played a major role in organizing and elevating the status of interior design as a profession.