Mario Buatta may be renowned for his pattern-on-pattern style, but that doesn't begin to describe it. The layering isn't just about pattern and color or his signature oversize floral chintzes and vibrant stripes, but of styles and historic periods, antique and contemporary. It includes function as well; He insists on creature comforts like end tables that double as bibliothéques or a tufted chair and ottoman that transition to a chaise.
The premise of all this, however, is much simpler. As he once explained to Traditional Home, "If you continually surround yourself with what you like, changing it as you find things you like better, your home will always be alive." Buatta's decorative extravagance is grounded in knowledge. He knows his design history, and his impressionistic use of color reflects his study of how Matisse, Bonnard, and Vuillard blended their vibrant hues.
What's astonishing, of course, is how fresh the entire effect can be, how unstuffy and unassuming. Celebrated for more than 30 years for his timeless interiors with an unstudied look, Buatta is after a lavishness, not just of design and ornament, but of spirit. He knows that true opulence comes from collecting and layering and loving the things we live with.-Akiko Busch
Mario Buatta’s Phone:
212/988/6811
