What You Never Knew About Mario Buatta

Posted by Jennifer Sergent Thursday May 08, 2008 - 02:00 PM

Renowned designer Mario Buatta is known for many things, from his heavy English-country style of decorating, to his penchant for all things chintz, to his love of dog portraits.

But stand-up comedian? Who knew? Those who came to the Georgetown House Tour benefit last week looking for a dissertation on design must have been deeply disappointed – and drowned out by all the laugher – because most of Buatta’s one-hour talk consisted of improv, from making fun of his Italian name to needling members of the audience – and making note of who the pretty ladies were.

In between the repartee, however, he did let slip some nuggets of design advice:

  • Don’t worry if your space isn’t instantly “done.” “A house grows with you during your life. It’s never finished.”
  • If you collect decorative plates (or vases or deer antlers), display them together. “Things look better in a collection rather than sprinkling them all over the room.”
  • Don’t worry about dust. (A real tip, or part of his comedy routine? You decide.) “I think of dust as a protective coating for fine furniture. It doesn’t move, so I don’t move it.”
  • Look to items you already own for inspiration. “Having things that you have in your family is a nice way to start a room.”
  • Even if you have to install a fake one, put a fireplace in your space. “I have four fireplaces in my apartment, which I haven’t used in 30 years, but they’re so nice to have as a focal point in a room. Then it’s a real room.”

Despite Washington’s traditional bent when it comes to décor, Buatta could barely count on one hand the number of clients he’s had here since he opened his business 45 years ago.

“I don’t socialize here,” he says simply. But he had a lot of nice things to say about the region.

“I love it down here because it’s sort of close to the South. They’re very comfortable. They have a Southern comfort about them.” The stately homes of Washington grand dames Evangeline Bruce and Oatsie Charles come to mind, he adds.

“It’s a much more gracious way of living than in New York. It’s sort of city and country at the same time. There’s something very gentile about it.”

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