This month's Elle Decor has a beautiful townhouse decorated by William Diamond and Anthony Baratta. When modern art is on the walls, it can be hard to compete with color and pattern, so the design duo put all of the flashy stuff on the floor...in the custom rugs that reflect the owners' taste in art. Frank Stella tones of gray and blue, Matisse inspired runners, and nods to Mondrian abound.
For us, this kitchen has a really refreshing, new look (which is hard to do with kitchens). The gingham pattern is going to be our new go-to pattern when putting in kitchen floors.
We are also intrigued by the upstairs bath, which has "reverse painted mirrored walls. Fabulous.
This is the first Diamond/Baratta interior I have really liked. Primarily, because I looked at the shots and thought "I wonder who did this?" Which is NOT the typical response to the normally highly identifiable designers.
Could these over the top boys be (nicely) mellowing?!?
I'm usually more eloquent than this, but when I first saw this article, I wanted to vomit. The kitchen and bathroom are atrocious and uninspired.
PS. I left the copy I had on top of my building's trash can for two days and it's still there.
Too cold and sterile. I would assume the occupants to be the same.
I'm sorry, I take great offense at "Thomas's" remark. D&B is one of the most creative and talented design firms in the world, constantly reinventing design to create completely custom interiors for each and every client. I know. I worked for them for almost 10 years before starting my own firm. No other designer goes to such tremendous effort to painstakingly design every detail in a home, from the architectural details to rugs, fabrics, furniture and trims. What other designer does such a range of design as well, from American to French to Asian, contemporary as well as a fresh take on traditional? It was an uneducated comment, in my opinion.
It's funny. I was just thinking how overall impressed I was with this current issue of Elle Decor, especially since the mag seem to be embracing more eclectic design styles and applications. Ironically, the Diamond/Baratta townhouse was my least favorite. (Not at all my taste, for starters. And it seems to read a bit nouveaux riche/"piss-elegant" to me.) Despite what's stated in the article, it seems to reek more of the designers' stamp than the owners', imo. This is exactly the type of interior that bores me to tears; and seems like a better editorial fit for a more staid shelter publication like Architectural Digest. Or The Robb Report.
I was much more impressed by Rayman Boozer's self-decorated East Village rental, which I found to be truly inspirational--oozing distinctive style on a more reasonable budget and grounded in a real-world context. I also loved Texas socialite Jamie Stream's palatial digs in San Miguel de Allende, but purely for aspirational reasons. That shit was jaw-droppingly stunning with a well-curated collection of interesting art.
I think those colors for the kitchen doesn't seem accurate but it looks too plain to me. Seems like someting is missing there.
Using the sky blue and white for a bathroom yes, but kitchen I wouldn't think of doing it.
I do like the colors they used for the bathroom, very bright.
Seems like my favorite picture is the living room. Like the neutral colors.
As someone who loves "cool" colors and loves stark modern interiors, I have to say that my gut reaction to this kitchen is that it seems frigid and depressing.
I think maybe the shades of blue they used are just too gray and cold to stand alone with white.
To ammend, append and otherwise clarify--
This was my favorite *Diamond Baratta* interior I've seen. It's not my favorite Elle Decor story from this issue, or my favorite interior ever. :)
And the pics stand up to better scrutiny in the print version than they translate here online.
I stand by my comments. I can understand someone disagreeing as I stated my opinion in fairly strong terms. The fact that everything (from the rugs to the wood trim to the built-ins, etc...) was custom made for the home merely reinforced what I perceive to be a complete design miss. Note that I usually don't post much as I tend to be in sponge mode (absorb and learn) when browsing, but when I saw the layout on this site after going through this particular Elle Decor issue, I had to comment. I don't think I've ever had such a negative reaction to a pictorial before in my life, so I decided to write from the gut.
It's one thing if this impersonal and unimaginative space was designed and completed by a semi-professional or hobbyist, but this is a project implemented by a large and well-known design firm with what I assume to be a commensurate budget. On further thought, none of the entrants in the Smallest/Coolest Apartment contest bothered me anywhere as much as this townhouse. Most of the said entrants beat this project hands down in terms of creativity, personality and cohesiveness of vision.
Btw, I'm fairly well educated (both generally speaking as well as specifically in interior architecture and design).
Cheers!
Thomas. Re: Gayle's comment. Consider the source. She states that she worked for Diamond & Baratta for 10 years before starting up her own design firm. So, she could be a bit biased because of her personal connection to the designers? But I do think your opinion is as valid as hers, regardless of either of your design pedigrees. And I too stand by my original assessment of the space, which left me wholly underwhelmed (especially in the context of the other editorials in the current issue).
I work for the production team that recently shot "Devil Wears Prada". We used Diamond Baratta's Effron house as a location shoot for Meryl Streeps character. Amazing. For some reason from the posts, it seems like the pics are coming of "sterile", "unimaginative",etc. I have to say, after seeing the house in person..it truly is amazing. Drop dead. Check it out in the movie before you form too many negative opinions. And..this should be a lesson that Elle Decor doesn't do justice to some of the most beautiful homes in the world.
I applaud the vibrant use of color that this firm has the courage to use...seldom seen in such quantity and variety...however I do find the sense of scale and pattern poor and irresponsible. The aggressive and predictable format seems indicative of the design firm's own ego and desire to signature "stamp" projects. Perhaps a more delft hand and open ear to the client will go far to position this firm for the top-tier status and reputation it seeks [and can/should earn].
This 'Rhapsody in Blue' in May 2006 Elle Decor is beyond compare,so musch so we would love this team to come and do our 16th century cottage here in England.There is just so much to love about this house in Manhattan and yet Diamond Baratta Design have made it even more so,and so livable in.Please say yes to our project!.
Sarah and Gerry