The Glam Pad

elegant living and interior design

Patricia Altschul’s Manhattan Maisonette: Designed By Mario Buatta

Before she moved to Charleston and became the grande dame of Southern Charm, Patricia Altschul lived in a fabulous Fifth Avenue maisonette once owned by design legend Sister Parish. Decorated by another design legend, Mario Buatta, Architectural Digest has featured the before and and afters. I am obsessed with all things Patricia Altschul and Mario Buatta, so of course I was thrilled and intrigued to see these…

Mario Buatta

Before

After
The living room, as throughout, has “a relaxed Anglo-American feeling.” Clarence House velvet on fireside chair. Brunschwig Fils floral pillow fabric and drapery trim. John Boone wall lights.

Before
The living room, which had been redecorated since Sister Parish lived there, was done in a strong yellow palette.

After
Buatta cooled and quieted the space with a silver-leaf wallcovering, from Donghia, but preserved the squares of antiqued mirrors that Parish had hung. The painting is by Maximilien Luce. Brunschwig Fils white sofa fabric. Colefax and Fowler crystal lamps. Scalamandré green chair brocade. Clarence House velvet on open-arm chairs. Leopard print from Cowtan Tout.

Before

After
“By day the table is covered with books,” Buatta says of the entrance hall, which doubles as a dining room. “For entertaining, the table is set, and the big banquette provides extra seating.” Brunschwig Fils fabric on banquette, with Samuel Sons trims. Newel chinoiserie cabinet.

Before

Buatta enveloped the walls of the master bedroom in a patterned wallcovering, then hung a collection of 18th- and 19th-century English and French needlework pictures. The four-poster is a period Chippendale design. The shield-back chair is Regency. Colefax and Fowler wallcovering and bed and drapery chintz. Stark carpet.

Before

After
A secretary Buatta placed at one end of the master bedroom offers Altschul “a place to write letters,” he remarks.

“We freshened it up,” Buatta says of the master bath. Kentshire antique dressing table mirror. Lantern from Vaughan. Chair suede from Lee Jofa. Colefax and Fowler drapery sheer, with Brunschwig Fils trim.

Such fun to get a behind the scenes glimpse of Mario Buatta working his magic! If you don’t already own his book, Mario Buatta: 50 Years of American Interior Decoration, I highly recommend it. It is one of my favorites. To tour Patricia Altschul’s Charleston home – also decorated by Buatta – please click here and here.

This feature originally appeared in the February 2008 issue of Architectural Digest. Before photography by Billy Cunningham; after photography by Scott Frances. Captions are from Architectural Digest.

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