Anthony Baratta

Interiors by Anthony Baratta



Known for his bold use of color and scale that honors tradition while defying predictability, Anthony Baratta is one of the most respected interior designers of the day, with a global following of loyal fans. Justly named “the king of East-Coast chic,” his design work has graced more than fifty magazine covers worldwide and his own homes have appeared in the New York Times magazine on three separate occasions.  A celebrated designer and author with exquisite taste, Anthony’s interiors reflect his clients’ aesthetics and the location of each home, often blending style periods to achieve comfortable spaces. For this article, Anthony shares details of some of his projects, from a Manhattan townhouse to a ski lodge in Deer Valley, Utah.


Eastside Art Collectors

This is the home of a family of art collectors and aficionados who know a masterpiece when they see one. In their Manhattan townhome, they wanted elegance, glamour, and high style, with the occasional fun twist. This latter request was answered with details seen in the rugs and upholstery as well as in select pieces of furniture and accessories. 


In order to work this modernist abstract-expressionist painting by Joan Mitchell into the entry foyer, Anthony designed the architectural millwork of the room around it so that it fit like a glove. The modern bench is from Ralph Pucci; the custom rug, from Stark Carpet, was inspired by Frank Stella’s stripes paintings. 



A combination of rich wood tones, luxurious velvety textures, and bold strokes evokes a 1940s French aesthetic that is both sophisticated yet contemporary. The cobalt chandelier is from Mallett at Bourdon House and the Biedermeier-inspired chairs were a custom commission created by Frank Pollaro.


The vintage midcentury cobalt blue Fontana Arte mirror is from Mallett & Son, and surmounts a striking nineteenth-century Empire commode from Windsor House in London. Stunning blue and white Chinese porcelain from Kevin Page Oriental Art adds the finishing touch.


The clients wanted to be completely surrounded by their favorite art, so the rug in this living room was modeled after a Mondrian painting and made by Edward Fields. The furnishings were kept zippy and modern by taking French and Italian forms from the 1940s and 1950s and making them bold and simple. The settee and pair of club chairs are from Paul Andrews in London. The high-back French armchair is from Bizarre, London. The pair of cobalt glass lamps is from Kevin Page, London. The distinctive black lacquer and brass coffee table is by furniture designer Ron Seff, who was known for his luxe Deco-inspired pieces, incorporating materials such as shagreen, lacquered goatskin and metal inlays.



Hamptons Modern

When the same family bought a home near the ocean in Sagaponack, New York, this time, they wanted the design to be looser and more colorful, but most of all modern! It’s a 180-degree shift from their city home but it still reflects their love of great art and its influence throughout the house.


Not for the faint of heart, this room, with its insanely colorful Frank Stella painting, remains one of Anthony’s most iconic. It has an updated 1970s vibe that only he could make modern and relevant in the twenty-first century. The serpentine coffee table, inspired by Royére, was made by Ron Seff, and the pair of vintage 1950s Italian boomerang armchairs came from London antique dealer Bob Lawrence.


In the same living room, an entirely curved sofa inspired by Italian designer Ico Parisi sits catty corner to the fireplace. It’s decked out in custom pillows with Gio Ponti motifs. In front of the sofa sits a vintage lucite and glass cocktail table from London’s Talisman Antiques.



The library speaks for itself:  It’s “calm, cool and collected.” With chocolate brown walls and blue accents, its sophisticated look doesn’t sacrifice comfort. As modern as this room looks, it’s filled with antique treasures from around the globe. A custom area rug, inspired by the work of English textile designer Lucienne Day, was commissioned to Anthony Monaco Carpet & Textiles. The swoop chair covered in cowhide is from Guinevere Antiques in London. The kidney shaped table is from Domus. The pair of double swing-arm sconces is from David Weeks Studio.


At this seaside home, the dining room makes you feel as if you are right on the water. It’s wallpapered with a life-size mural of the shore at a local beach. The braided rug, made to resemble a Japanese sand garden, is from Country Braid House. The dining table was commissioned and built by Flammang Woodworking. The chandelier was custom made by Mathieu Lustrerie, and the chairs, with their wave-shaped backs, are by JM Upholstery.



Southampton Transitional 

For more than thirty years, Anthony Baratta has designed homes for this longtime client. In this latest Southampton home, the grand living room has two major seating areas and two over-scaled fireplaces. The couple are lovers of antiques, English furniture, and, most of all, great design.



Inspired by the designs of English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, this house displays a grandness in both construction and furnishings. The color combinations were influenced by the sea and the sand. Anthony wanted to combine exaggerated scale with a softness in color, and to fill the rooms with the rich, warm patina of traditional English furniture. This room features a double height ceiling with two large fireplaces. The pair of sconces are from Jalan Jalan in Miami, and the panelled mirror is from Charles Saunders in London. The antique inlay coffee table is from Lars Bolander.

Oval shaped rooms are a favorite of Anthony’s. This one (the tiled niche in particular) was inspired by Box Hill, architect Stanford White’s home in St. James, Long Island. The chairs by De Angelis are meticulously detailed with two-tone soutache braid on backs and seats. The tiles are from Solar Antique Tiles. The chandeliers are from Price Glover. The lantern sconces are from Charles Edwards, and the dining table is from Thomas Newman Cabinetmaker.




East Side Transitional 

This interior from a spectacular Manhattan townhouse on the Upper East Side was designed for the same client when he was single. As a bachelor pad, the client wanted it to display a masculine flair. With this in mind, Anthony transformed the flat into a true traditional gentlemen’s club, filled with bold English antiques.






A gentleman’s townhouse should be filled with remarkable antiques. This one is. This room is clad in Baltic pine and filled with English antiques; a favorite of the client’s, who loves to be surrounded by such furnishings. The portrait of a young man holding a golf club is especially enjoyed by the client, who is himself an avid golfer.




Deer Valley Ski Lodge 

In the world of ski lodges, this one is the pièce de résistance. It’s the crowning glory of Anthony’s long career in design. This was a full gut-renovation of a cabin-style home atop a ski hill in Utah. It features lush patterned fabrics and a scale to blow the mind.



The quilt pattern motif runs throughout the house. Custom-designed quilt-inspired tiles by Solar Antique Tiles were used as a backsplash in this kitchen. The custom-built pizza oven features tiles with motifs of snowflakes, lodges, skiers, and the family’s initials. The “Racing Red” range is from Viking, and the floors are by decorative painter Adam Lowenbein.


Anthony wanted to go above and beyond in this house, with overscaled patterns, overscaled furnishings, and even the mantel was blown up to over seven feet high. The goal was to be bold but simplified, in an all-American style.  The interior has a controlled color scheme and classic lodge details. The furniture was made by De Angelis, with fabrics by Ralph Lauren, and mantel sculpture by Mark A. Perry.



Westchester Seaside 

On the shores of the Long Island Sound, this house speaks to nautical lovers in an understated way. It’s classically elegant, yet with a fresh take on what it means to do coastal design.


This client loves color! A longtime fan of Anthony’s exuberant style, she finally had the perfect opportunity to let him work his magic, and very much enjoyed being involved in the process. The color palette is a classic seaside scheme, blue and white, with a sandy-toned carpet to echo the beach, and Anthony’s signature red punch. The painting over the mantel is by Karl Soderlund.


Photographer: Annie Schlechter

A once mostly dark-wood room became airy and bright when woodwork and floors were painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove. A hooked rug depicting a multi-masted schooner purchased at Thomas R. Field Antiques, looks down from the first flight of stairs. The stunning wooden lantern suspended from the ceiling is by Charles Edwards, beneath which is an American chest of drawers with painted detailing. The classic American wing chair is covered in luscious green wool felt from Holland & Sherry. An ever-growing collection of nautical paraphernalia is dotted around the house.

Anthony Baratta is the coauthor of two books, Diamond Baratta Design (2006) and The Exuberant Style of William Diamond and Anthony Baratta (2009). He has been celebrated in the Cooper-Hewitt Museum’s National Design Triennial, Inside Design Now (2003), was named one of Traditional Homes “20 Design Icons,” and awarded Benjamin Moore’s coveted “Hue Award” for lifetime achievement in design. In 2017, Anthony launched a collection of rug designs with classic rug manufacturer Capel Rugs, and a signature bedding collection with Wildcat Territory to complement his bedroom furniture collection. He also designs for Lee Jofa Fabrics and Stark Carpet. His latest furniture collection, with the Thomasville Brand, consist of a forty-plus collection of upholstery, case pieces, mirrors, and accent furniture.