Mario Buatta’s cheerful florals earned this decorating grandmaster the sobriquet the “Prince of Chintz.” A close friend recalls his exuberant style—and his inimitable wit.
THIS FALL, THE DESIGN WORLD lost a member of its royal family: H.R.H. the Prince of Chintz, Mario Buatta. Mario possessed an incredible drive and passion that made him one of the first celebrities in the field. He astonished many by running his business virtually single-handily and, in later years, by his resilience in bouncing back from various ailments. His last moments were peaceful as a few of us gathered around him in the intensive-care unit, the sounds of Peggy Lee, Blossom Dearie, and his latest favorite, Melody Gardot, emanating from an iPhone speaker. The next day, as I was hit by the absoluteness of his loss—there would be no more phone calls, no more jokey e-mails—I found great comfort in the outpouring of admiration from his legions of fans.
This story is from the January/February 2019 edition of Elle Decor.
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This story is from the January/February 2019 edition of Elle Decor.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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