Committee Member: Romain Baty
DC - Interior Designer
Parisian interior designer Romain Baty’s trajectory through his designer life has been anything but average. Beginning his career in the fashion industry as an art director for fashion shows and photo shoots, Baty worked for couture companies such as Gucci, Prada, and Dior to name a few, before transitioning into the life of an interior designer in DC. Baty notes that his upbringing molded him into the field of interior design, with his mother and grandmother both being antique dealers, this put emphasis and importance on both objects and furniture. Though Baty tends to miss his Parisian lifestyle, his life in the U.S. has affected the outcome of his work, “I particularly enjoy creating a balance between American taste and French style. This is part of my signature,” explains Baty. From fashion to interior design, Baty is keeping DC held down in style.
Biarritz, recently on everyone’s map with the G7 Summit.
Washington DC for everyday’s life and Paris forever.
I grew up in a family where objects and furniture were very important, both my mother and grand-mother being antique dealers. I went back to design after a first career in the fashion industry, when I joined the Art Décoratifs school in Paris. So both my early and late education play a great role in my interior design activities today.
Tennis and I’m in the Federer camp!
Skiing, since living in the US I have discovered the Colorado Mountains that can compete with the Alpes !
In Jordan, the archaeological site of Petra and the Wadi Rum desert are among the most incredible places I have ever been to.
Cruising down the Nile river on an old steam ship of Belle Epoque refinement.
A generous portion of Foie Gras made by my father (once a 2 stars chef of the Michelin guide) accompanied by a glass of Gewurtztraminer.
A Tiramisu, preferably on a terrasse in beautiful Sienna, Tuscany.
Mashed potatoes.
«Oeuf meurette en cocotte» which is poached eggs with a Burgundy sauce made from wine, bacon, onions and shallots, all cooked in a cast iron cocotte.
Already in my early ages, I have had the chance to taste the most incredible meals prepared by master chefs as my grand-father was the President of «The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs» which is the world’s oldest and largest international association of gastronomy. As a member of the Chaine myself, I recently really enjoyed a relecture of onion soup at the Willard hotel.
Through Arizona and California with:
Frank Lloyd Wright, the absolute master, to discuss architecture and design days and nights.
Catherine Deneuve, the great French actress, because it must be a lot of fun to travel with her.
My husband, partner in crime.
The Japanese manga Knights of the Zodiac.
Movies and movie sets have always been a great source of inspiration for my work. I should mention 2001 Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, The Leopard by Visconti, Mulholland Drive by David Lynch, Tess by Roman Polanski, Dancer in the dark by Lars Von Trier but also The draughtsman's contract by Peter Greenaway.
For the women, Bette Davis and Isabelle Huppert for their incredible irreverence. For the men, Jack Nicholson and Gérard Depardieu for their fiery tempers.
Gossip, Iggy Pop And The Stooges, MGMT. I recently discovered a great Turkish band at the Rock’n Roll hotel : Altin Gün. They are great!
One night at the Grand Rex in Paris with Grace Jones with art direction and stage design by the artist and photographer Jean-Paul Goude.
X3 BMW, boring I know but mine has a Champagne color!
I’d like to switch to an electric car to limit my carbon emissions, the Tesla Model X would do the job!
Being a Parisian for so many years I had no need for a car.
I sometimes still miss my good old Vespa.
Most of the time I’m wearing my Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso.
Jaeger Lecoultre Reverso Duo Face.
Royal Oak repetition minutes by Audemars Piguet.
Aperol Spritz.
A glass of a good Pessac-Léognan by the fireplace.
Champagne!
Champagne!
Cologne Indelebile made by legendary «noze» Dominique Ropion for Federic Malle perfumer.
Ideally a Bordeaux cru classé such as Château Troplong-Mondot Saint-Emilion.
A Bourgogne such as Nuit Saint-Georges.
Côtedes basques in Biarritz, truly amazing at sunset.
I love second-hand bookstores, such as Strand bookstores in NYC. I can spend hours curating old art books.
I also spend quite some time in antique stores.
Always question your work and reconsider, do not be satisfied with yourself too easily.
Meeting new people constantly with different backgrounds, views and stories.
I am an interior designer. My work is to accompany my clients to provide them with a place that fits perfectly with their lifestyles, but also to bring them to new territories. This has to do with my previous career path in the fashion industry, notably in Saint Laurent, where I have been nourished by a very creative environment. I particularly enjoy a current project on Capitol Hill, a wonderful house designed by architect Christian Zapatka.
I have been involved in the Washington DC Design House, a design event that benefits Children’s National Medical Center. This is a great thing to help a little by doing what you love. I hope that there will be another edition.
I particularly enjoy creating a balance between American taste and French style. This is part of my signature.
