This post was written by Cheryl Draa for Collins & Dupont Interiors.
Barclay Butera and Cheryl Draa
Living in Style, the Barclay Butera Way
By Cheryl Draa
Barclay Butera has always been an Interior Designer that I have admired for his classic taste in home design. He works out of Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Park City and New York. I recently bought a cabin in the mountains, so I’ve poured over pictures of some of his work in Park City for inspiration of my own. I am always pleased when I look at the body of work that he performs for his clients. They are cohesive looks pulled together with his own fabrics, accessories, upholstery, and careful placement of furnishings, art and rugs. The designs always inspire.
Kravet Fabrics has recently partnered with Barclay Butera to have an exclusive line of fabrics available to designers. They launched his new book “Living in Style” and an introduction of the fabrics with a seminar led by Barclay and held in their showroom. I was privileged to attend the seminar and speak with him afterwards. Barclay titled his speech, “Keeping Clients For Life”…and I like him even more now. He stressed that if we do a great job with our clients, they want to keep working with us as their designer. So in theory, when a client moves to a new home, or downsizes, or right sizes…for whatever reason (and there are so many reasons) they will still come to their same interior designer for help on that next home. We build relationships with our clients that tend to last through several generations, and it becomes a mutually beneficial experience. I know personally, I have several clients who signed with me in their “starter home” and now 3 or 4 homes later, we all appreciate each other even more for what we can do for each other, and also how GOOD interior design can influence and change a home and affect the personalities that reside in that home.
I had a chance to ask Barclay Butera what he was most proud of in his career. I really think he could have told me about one of his recent installs, or his licensing agreements, or his latest book. His answer impressed me with him as a businessman….”Having a company that feels like a family, and keeping that family in tack for over 20 years.” Here is a man who practices what he preaches. Not only do his clients have loyalty to him, but so do the people that form his business team. That is actually living in style. Surrounding your self with good people and good design to promote a mutually beneficial life.
Check out Barclay Butera’s Book, “Living in Style” for more inspiration and beautiful fabrics available through Kravet, and your own personal designer. Form a relationship with that designer, to promote a stylish home for yourself. Take care of the people around you, and along the way, go out and live the good life!
Oct 12, 2010 |