When Parisian interior designer Romain Baty moved to DC in 2016, he wholeheartedly embraced the move. “I’ve always wanted to live abroad,” says the connoisseur, who’s now bringing his unique talent for stylish decor to homes throughout the region. “The idea of living in the United States always appealed to me, so when my husband was offered a position at the IMF, we took the opportunity.”
Baty cut his teeth in the world of haute couture as an art director for fashion shows and photo shoots. He collaborated with iconic French and Italian fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior, Prada, Gucci, Armani and more. “When you work with so many different personalities and talented people, you can’t stay in your comfort zone. You have to constantly reinvent yourself through your work,” he adds. Naturally, he was next seduced by the world of luxury beauty, finding the balance between creativity and business in retail development and brand marketing at L’Oréal Luxe, first at Shu Uemura and then at Yves Saint Laurent Beauté.
His career path changed again after attending the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs. Since then, he’s overseen a wide range of interior design projects from Paris to Biarritz. “I am really intrigued by the complexity of intimacy,” he says of his passion for residential design. “I like to understand and work on the relationships people have with objects, forms and materials in their private homes, both to offer them a place that fits perfectly with their lifestyles, but also to bring them to new territories.” Today, in addition to ongoing international projects, Baty has been designing homes with his impeccable taste and unmatched eye in DC’s Capitol Hill, Georgetown and Bethesda neighborhoods. When not at work? "I’m very French that way," says Baty with a smile. “I always link back to my interests, nourishing myself through travels, in museums or art galleries. Movies and paintings are major sources of inspiration for my work.” He also admires the architecture and culture of DC, he finishes. “I particularly enjoy finding the right balance between American taste and French style.”