Eye For Design: Romantic Chintz Interiors.......The Mario Buatta Way

AHHHHH.....romantic chintz. Who doesn't love it? Beautiful florals and patterns that coordinate so wonderfully together. And nobody delivers a chintz filled interior quite like Mario Buatta. Buatta is called "the Prince of Chintz" and designs some of the most classic, romantic rooms anywhere. Although he is know for his work in chintz, he uses many other luxurious fabrics in the most beautiful ways. He is know for layering pattern and texture and his rooms are always fabulous.

Chintz was originally a woodblock printed, painted or stained calico produced in India from 1600 to 1800 and popular for bed covers, quilts, and draperies. The finish varies; some chintz fabrics are very coarse and rough, while others are smoothed and almost glossy.

By 1680 more than a million pieces of chintz were being imported into England per year, and a similar quantity was going to France and Holland. With imported chintz becoming so popular with Europeans during the late 17th century, French and English mills grew concerned, as they could not make chintz. In 1686 the French declared a ban on all chintz imports. In 1720 England's Parliament enacted a law that forbade "the Use and Wearings in Apparel of imported chintz, and also its use or Wear in or about any Bed, Chair, Cushion or other Household furniture".

Interiors decorated with chintz are usually considered romantic and garden like.

Hopefully you can get some ideas for your interiors from these images by the master......Mario Buatta.

Mario Buatta

One thing you will certainly notice as you view the following images of his designed interiors.....there will always be a bit of chintz somewhere!

Mario Buatta

Buatta interiors do have a sense of the romantic. I think it is the way he can make spaces seem intimate. Even in large room he would break them up into individual, almost private spaces centered on conversation. One of his favorite tips is to “arrange your furniture so it's talking to each other before your friends arrive".

Mario Buatta

Plus the chintzes and other fabrics he chose were so pretty and that lends itself to the romantic feel of the room.

Mario Buatta

While in England Buatta fell in love with the idea of layering fabrics and accessories........

Mario Buatta via architecturaldigest.com

and to the antique clutter and generational collections of English homes. All this can be seen in his interiors.

Mario Buatta

Mario Buatta chintz filled interiors are so colorful and exciting. So much attention is given to his choice of fabrics that we tend to overlook his ability to pick just the right furniture.

Mario Buatta via pictureofelegance.blogspot.com

I love this space with it's lovely blend of masculine and feminine. Who would have thought of pairing floral chintz and tartan plaid.....but it works so well!

Mario Buatta via robbreport.com

The Buatta room always looks like it has been decorated over time......today we call it curated. I love the mix of leopard, paisley, and of course the chintz.

Mario Buatta via designschematic.com

Mario Buatta believes, as I do, that the best rooms are curated over time. He was quoted in Life Today magazine in 1992 as saying “A room or a house has to come together the way a garden grows—a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow, and the rest when the spirit moves you.”And his garden like rooms filled with chintz flowers ALWAYS come together.

Mario Buatta via 1stdibs.com

Mario Buatta via Architectural Digest

Mario Buatta designed Mariah Carey's New York apartment. This was her pretty bedroom with it's violet chintz

Mario Buatta via architecturaldigest.com

Mario Buatta via archtecturaldigest.com

Mario Buatta designed bedrooms always have an air of femininity about them. He uses beautiful colors and has a way of making a space look so comfy. The chintz keeps it light and air.