Mario Buatta: Anatomy of a Decorator

“Stuffed with never-before-seen archival material, correspondence, scrapbooks, and late-career projects, this tribute to the late Mario Buatta, known as the Prince of Chintz, is a must have for any design aficionado. But it isn’t for expert eyes only, the tome also includes tips from Buatta’s practice and details how the man himself shot to international acclaim without following the field’s traditional path. Whether you’re overhauling a room or plotting your own meteoric rise, this is just the inspiration you might need right now.” —TOWN AND COUNTRY“Design historian Emily Evans Eerdmans delivers an in-depth look at the design tricks and decorative life of Mario Buatta in this new authoritative assessment. The book follows the evolution of one of America’s most famous interior decorators from his humble beginnings to his very last projects.” —VERANDA“When Mario Buatta passed away in 2018, the design community mourned the loss of the “Prince of Chintz,” beloved for his maximalist interiors and irreverent spirit. Here, protégé Emily Evans Eerdmans draws from more than 80 scrapbooks and extensive archives for a peek behind the scenes.” —GALERIE MAGAZINE“The art of interior design often remains hidden from public view, but Eerdmans’ work peels back the layers, inviting us to enter the inner sanctum of Mario Buatta’s design philosophy. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Eerdmans uncovers the inspirations that fueled Buatta’s creativity. Readers are treated to an array of anecdotes and stories that reveal the essence of Buatta’s design approach—a harmonious blend of classical influences and contemporary sensibilities.Quite simply, Eerdmans paints a vivid portrait of Buatta’s life and creations. Her book is an invitation to step into the world of an extraordinary designer and experience the magic he wove into every space he touched.” —PARK MAGAZINE“The first authoritative assessment of Mario Buatta by a protégée of the decorator. Never-before-seen archival material is culled to present the design master as someone who remains impactful in today’s world of maximalist interiors” —ASPIRE

Emily Evans Eerdmans is a design historian and founder of Eerdmans New York, a fine and decorative arts gallery and consultancy. She is the author of Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Interior Decoration (2013), among others.

Patricia Altschul is an American socialite and art collector. Altschul has had several residences designed by Buatta.