Barbara Barry partners with Kallista

May 1998

Barbara Barry partners with Kallista to design a powder room collection of simple elegance

Barbara Barry Biography

Born in San Francisco into a family of painters and artists, Barry comes by her sense of style naturally. She has transformed the homes of many of Hollywood's stars and power brokers, defining her style as "casual elegance." The spaces she has created reflect a genuine appreciation for history, a close attention to detail and a desire for comfort. Her work has been inspired by such designers as Jean Michel Frank, Nancy Lancaster and Albert Hadley, as well as such artists as Egon Shiele, Mondrian and Richard Deibenkorn. Recently, Barry was awarded the "Star of Design" Award for Lifetime Achievement in Interior Design at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles during WestWeek '98.

The Fall 1996 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, N.C., was the scene of an introduction of the new Barbara Barry Collection. At the High Point Market in Spring 1997, several pieces were added to this successful collection. As an elegant force behind these creations, Barry has combined her West Coast flair with an eye for traditional forms and charm.

New this spring, Barry has successfully carried her transitional design style to the powder room, debuting a collection exclusively for Kallista, a manufacturer of high quality, decorative plumbing products and a subsidiary of the Kohler Co. The Barbara Barry Collection for Kallista features sleek and refined products including a lavatory and faucet, Baker Furniture vanity and mirror, and bath accessories (toilet tissue holder and towel bar). The Barbara Barry Collection will continually evolve and introduce new products for the bath over time.

Barry works in a variety of mediums, from designing carpets for Tufenkian Tibetan Carpets, office-to-home furniture for HBF (Hickory Business Furniture), fabrics for HBF Textiles, table lamps for Boyd Lighting, and Barry is looking to manufacture a line of china, crystal and flatware in the near future.

Drawing upon the diverse talents of her studio, Barry begins the design process by creating watercolors and sketches. By using color, light, texture and design, Barry views her work as "breathing life into a room." Every project reflects the utmost respect for the client and their desires and needs. She believes that "above all, rooms must truly embrace those who live and work within them."

Although she has worked for over 10 years in Los Angeles, her design projects span the globe. She has collaborated with many leading architects, and one of her goals as a designer is to develop interiors that are respectful of the architecture and the landscape. Her talents have become much sought-after, and she has worked on some of California's landmark homes from a Wallace Neff estate to a garden home designed by Richard.