When legendary interior designer Mario Buatta died last year, His last project was just published in Architectural Digest so this seems like the perfect time to remember the cheeky and talented designer. I remember sitting next to him at a dinner at least 10 years ago and being unaware of what was in store for me and was definitely not prepared for the famous plastic cockroach. In an industry that can sometimes take itself too seriously, Mario Buatta was a breath of fresh air. What I love most about old school school decorators like Buatta is that they know how to create homes that are meant for entertaining but are so comfortable and  enveloping, as well as flattering. There is always a cocktail table where you might want to sit your drink, an extra chair to pull over and join in a conversation, and a little desk on which to write invitations and thank you notes. The layered and collected look was inspired by English county houses further developed from his meeting John Fowler of Colefax & Fowler. This final project is the embodiment of a lifetime of experience which means it’s absolutely perfect. Mario Buatta always did know how to make a great impression.

To read the article and find credits, pick up the March issue of Architectural Digest or click here. For further reading, order Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Interior Decoration by Emily Evans Eerdmans.