DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT
THE LOOK OF LUXURY What does a show stopping champagne-hued living room in Hamptons and the Penthouse of Miami Beach’s Ritz-Carlton have in common? The magic touch of Britto Charette. The award-winning Wynwoodbased studio is responsible for the luxurious interiors of today’s most discerning global clients. But with the rising demand for tech integration and “smart homes,” has timeless luxury lost its luster? Brito Charette’s Principal David Charrete doesn’t seem to think so. Speaking from the forefront of Miami’s greatest interiors, Charette weighs in on his signature style. the meaning of luxury, and the relationship between good design and emerging technology.
The “Britto Charette look” is instantly recognizable. How do you define your signature style? The look has changed—we have a lot of neutrals now in a warmer tone/palette with brass, gold, stone. We use materials that are “luxury quality.” Our response to a project in LA, Aspen, NY will be different because we look at context. But what gives it the Britto Charette look is due to continuity: texture, layering, lighting. We keep elements simple so they don’t compete with each other. We often have one dynamic element that everything pivots around. What has been your biggest source of inspiration this year? I love how technology has made stone pieces much more accessible—from coffee tables to accessories. We’ve been experimenting with stone in our own industrial designs. I’m also inspired by the way it is becoming more acceptable for designers and artists in general to do a variety of things. Anything goes. You aren’t relegated to one way of looking at anything and that’s truly inspiring. How do you balance emerging technology with timeless design? We rely on tech but we make it subservient to the design. We don’t design rooms where the tech is obvious or unsightly. We encourage clients to hide the tech—whether in a headboard or within furniture. And we work with some incredible vendors who help us accomplish this.
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