Based in
Newport,
California, interior designer
Barclay Butera calls upon influences from Old
Hollywood and
West
Palm Beach while creating spaces for his
clients. Butera seems to effortlessly capture American coastal style by
layering classic and comfortable textures, colors, textiles, and patterns. By mixing
more than he matches, Butera keeps his tailored interiors interesting and
timeless. He typically tops off his seaside spaces with nautical accents, including
ships and shells. The combination of these bold elements compliment each
other so well that they result in elegance that is only slightly understated—or,
Barclay's signature style of approachable elegance. Butera approaches design as a
well-rounded wardrobe and believes that "We all love our Gap t-shirt mixed with a great
pair of designer jeans.”
For those of us on a budget, we may not be able to hire
Barclay Butera, but the following suggestions may help you successfully recreate
his signature style.
Consider reupholstering accent chairs with linen or even
burlap. Cover an accent wall with toile paper, or treat windows with bamboo
blinds. You can even consider covering a ceiling with grasscloth (Butera dares
to do it—so can you!). Throw in some bold batik pillows, such as John Robshaw’s,
and add a model ship to the mantle or some shell sketches to the wall. If all else
fails, finish off your room with Butera’s book, Living on the Coast, an educational and sophisticated addition to any
space!
Here, I have made a humble attempt to recreate the Butera
look with the following budget-friendly items:
The inspiration:
The recreation:
It's not Scalamandre, but it'll do:
China Toile Wallpaper
I love the texture of this table:
Coffee Table
Some softer textiles, such as the upholstry on this accent chair or the inviting area rug, will compliment bold textures, such as bamboo, that are often used by Butera.
Armchair
5' x 7' Animal Print Area Rug
A round mirror with a solid frame for above a mantle:
36" wide mirror
Porcelain Vase
Beautiful shell prints--the perfect addition to any beachy abode!
Shell Print
Sea Shells Wall Art
And if you don't have the time or budget to reupholster furniture, just cover it with John Robshaw or Les Indiennes pillows:
John Robshaw Pillows
Pretty Printed Les Indiennes Pillow
A couple of cobalt vases.
If these two get snatched up, Etsy has quite the supply...
Cobalt Vase
Cobalt Vase
A beachy basket for your Coastal Living collection:
Wicker Baset accent
And, of course, a clam bowl!:
Clam Shell Bowl
If you don't have a fireplace to work with, I feel your pain, but a cheapy floating shelf like this one from Target will do the trick here:
Floating Shelf (but in white)
Fresh flowers:
Orchid
(Or you can buy a more affordable faux orchid like this one:)
Faux Orchid
And last, but certainly not least, this book will be your best Butera-esque purchase yet:
Living on the Coast
Stack it with a pile of other fabulous books, top it off with your clam bowl, and voila! Vignette! ;)
Here is how it comes together:
Enjoy!
Emilie
