Today I attended an event at the local design center here in MN, International Market Square. One of the main speakers was Barclay Butera. He was a really a lot of fun to listen to after hearing all the buzz about him on the internet through design blogs and articles written about him.
Image found here.
His presentation was called Decorating in a New Economy. He brought up some good points about how good customer service really needs to be the cornerstone of your business. He spoke about things that he learned from his mother, also an interior designer, who had a very successful career. It was interesting to hear that when he presents his design proposal to a client, he line items everything out so that there are no surprises for the client. He says this works especially well when a client has a specific budget, but lets say they love the fabric used in the master bedroom and want to also use it in the living room. Barclay can then point to that line item and say okay we can do that, but here’s how much you will be going over budget. He says that it is a great way to get the client to agree to go over budget when they can see every line item in front of them and make informed decisions without having to guess that they must have been overcharged for something. He also shared many pictures of spaces that he has designed over the years and ones that have made covers of magazines, etc. I didn’t get a chance to take any pictures myself because I didn’t want to be that girl, but I found some of them to share with you.
This was a show house he did one year and said that it was the greatest compliment when the homeowner decided to buy the full suite of furniture that he designed for this house and he didn’t have to return any of it after the show.
This is the living room of one of Barclay’s homes. Barclay said that he incorporates some kind of animal print in almost all of the rooms he designs.
Barclay loves blue and white and you’ll see that combo in many of his rooms.
I love this one. Barclay likes to add unexpected design elements like the antlers above the fireplace. “Have fun with your designs, he says, there are no rules in design.”
I believe this one was on the cover of House Beautiful.
Many of his projects have gorgeous views. He mentioned that if there is a great view he will not use window treatments.
Blue and white again. I love the freshness of this one with the white and pops of blue with the dark wood contrast.
Can you imagine this view!!
This is Barclay’s home that he bought from Lucille Ball’s son, Desi. He wrote Desi a letter asking him to let him buy the house (there was competition) and that he would keep the integrity of the house and design in the time of his parents. The lights above the bed are the lights that Lucille bought her husband and are original to the house. The pictures above the bed are photographs transferred on to lucite and Barclay said they took a day to hang!
This was a 900 square foot space that Barclay designed so that you could appreciate the view throughout the whole space.
There was also a Barclay Butera book signing in Kravet today, but unfortunately I did not make it in there in time to see his new fabric line, but I hear it is gorgeous! Barclay also has a furniture line so many of the pieces in the homes he designed above are his own.
Images from Barclay Butera’s website.
Oh I love him and that is so cool you got to hear him speak! I loved reading this and how he line items everything. I also can't believe the client bought the whole bedroom from the showhouse, isn't that every designers dream?