Would you let someone redesign a room in your home without being involved in the process and if you would then who would you chose? I must admit I am a little type A when it come to home decoration and I definitely would not let just anyone in my home. My mind wanders thinking about all of those crazy episodes of Trading Spaces. I would’t want to come home to find hay stuck on my walls or my furniture attached to the ceiling like a modern art installation. Design television shows are fun to watch, but if it’s your home would you take that chance?
Even the talented Sara Richardson when interviewed on the Marilyn Dennis Show talked about a living room she and her team designed for a show where the color of the walls was a pale mint green. It was a beautiful room, but it turns out the homeowner was really not a fan of green. So I wonder did that homeowner repaint? The rest of the space was lovely so maybe they just kept the green. If you notice most of the shows on HGTV involve a key element: the homeowners have to agree to give up any control over the process.
My home is so personal to me and I love the design process so much that I would have a hard time giving someone that much control. However, If had to choose one designer I would trust it would be Barclay Butera. He is known for his love of blue and white and his California costal style. Although he has done some gorgeous modern and even rustic projects his classic beach homes are still the ones I am most drawn to. Butera has several design books, but my favorite is his Barclay Butera: Past Present Inspired which features all of the various homes he has personally owned over the last twenty years. I received this book as a present a year ago and I still love to flip through it and read about his homes. This picture below is from Butera’s first home in Laguna Beach. It reminds me of some of the things I loved and used in decorating my first home. Although this project was done nearly twenty years ago there are still many elements that I like and it was fun to see the evolution and changes in his style.
Another one of my very favorites rooms featured in this book his living room in his West Hollywood home. Red happens to be my favorite color but getting the right shade and balance when using it in a room is important. Some designers fear red because of its power, but Butera uses it masterfully. I just love the classic English styled tufted sofa juxtaposed with the modern Andy Warhol picture and the hollywood regency mirrored details. The gutsy purple accent chair adds just the right touch of color. The room sparkles with light making the red walls feel warm and inviting. The rest of the house is gorgeous and filled with so many pretty vignettes and details.
Finally, I thought I would show you his primary residence in Newport Beach. In his book Butera talks about finding this forever home and what he was looking for in his ideal house. This picture below is the entry to his home. Its a classic 1950s mid-century home but what he did with it is amazing.
These pictures below are from Traditional Home Magazine who has a great article featuring his beautiful home when he first designed it. His house reflects its coastal location with a sophisticated twist. The classic English style chairs and the dark mahogany furniture add a nice balance to the blue and white fabrics and seashells. Click on the links to see the full article and additional pictures of his home.
The book later features Butera’s remodeling of this same home which he redecorates with a more modern feel. Butera uses some of these pieces you see in the photos above in a new way and it was fascinating to see and read about the changes he made. Design blogger Fabianna of Ciao! Newport featured pictures of Butera’s updated home, which she saw in a local home tour. Click on the link to her blog and you can see Butera’s new design. You can also see and read more about Butera’s renovation in this wonderful book.
So if you could choose any designer to make over a room in your house who would it be? Leave me a comment because I would love to know.
