Interior designer
Barclay Butera, is a Los Angeles and Paris-based interior designer. He spoke to Who's Who in America about design trends and how to create a world of comfortable elegance.
What inspired you to become an interior designer?
First, I always wanted to, and still love, owning my own business. Second, I've always been able to create an environment that people really enjoy. Even in 1994 when I started, I was able to be a strong trendsetter at a very young age. This along with my reputation has been compounded over the last 15 years, thus creating a brand. What's been a key element, too, is that I've created my company on my own with no external money. As a result, the creative has always been done without any external constraints, and true to my vision.
And then there are my parents. At the end of my new book, Barclay Butera: Living in Style, I wrote: "Having grown up in the interiors industry with my [designer] mother, Karen Butera, I learned from a young age the value of hard work and integrity. My father, Richard Butera, was a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit and taught me to always go after my dreams. Together they pushed me to reach for more in everything I did."
Do you have any favorite architects or designers?
Because I'm a classic American designer I really love Robert A. M. Stern. He's the Dean of Architecture at Yale, and I think he is a symmetrical architect, but with flair. He is drastically different from other architects in the U.S. Others are grounded in more transitional design and he represents American classicism.
Where do you find your influences?
Fashion, travel, fabric design.
Are there any emerging trends in design that you're excited by?
I think there is a trend in which we like to be closer to home. People are traveling – mostly within driving distance – within two-to-three hours around their residence to 'get away' and use a resort spa experience within close proximity. Currently, people are less likely to get on a plane and go far – we are nesting.
There is also a trend to recreate the spa experience in our homes, and I've kind of always done this by creating homes as a haven – a retreat. I applied this residential haven/spa experience recently to my creative direction on the $25 million renovation of L'Auberge Del Mar hotel in Del Mar, California. It was great fun and I'm looking forward to my next hospitality project.
How about the opposite: are there any trends/practices in design or architecture that you dislike?
I hate design that lacks any kind of interest in the interior environment, such as white on white on white with Lucite and white laminate furniture.
Any tips for amateur interior designers?
I think one can be inspired by home stores. I'm a big fan of visiting other home stores. You can get a lot of ideas from home magazines, too. Creating a tear sheet binder is a great way to start. It helps to create a palette, and then you can use a design staff – like at one of my showrooms – who can help make your ideas cohesive.
Have you ever changed direction midway in a project?
I've gotten to the point where I've disappointed myself. My Beverly Hills house, which I bought from Desi Arnaz Jr., in the end lacked depth after the redesign. We started again with more depth in textures and fabrics and wallpaper and brought it alive. I was trying to fit myself into a style of architecture that dictated an interior that didn't reflect me, and once I realized that, I had to refurnish. The core of the house remained, I just had to add texture and depth to the interiors.
Are there any projects of yours/your firm that you are particularly proud of?
The guest suite in the Bel Air showhouse for House Beautiful three years ago. It had perfect balance and symmetry, represented an isolated era in time and appealed to both the male AND female aesthetic. It remains the most popular picture I have in my entire portfolio. It was a really fun project and was a defining moment in my design career.
Any suggestions for enlivening a space on a budget?
Be creative. Mixing resources is sometimes a nice surprise.
What's your favorite vacation spot?
Mexico, because of its accessibility. I don't have one spot, though. I like to try different cities, and love the diversity throughout the country.
Do you have a favorite restaurant at the moment?
The restaurant at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, which also has my favorite maitre' d Dmitri.
If you could give an aspiring designer one word of advice, what would it be?
Dare to be different.
The economy is in some trouble. What does that mean for you? As one who has seen many economic cycles play out over the course of his career, do you have any words of advice or warning?
I think these times mean we are going back to a nesting period, as I mentioned earlier, where individuals are spending more time in their homes. We're in a situation where the purchasing of homes, I think, will be more prevalent, actually. Because of such adjusting in the realty market, new design opportunities will be more available, too, for new homes and remodels both. My mantra is Positive Thinking.
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