Barbara Barry Desks
Barbara Barry intends for her furniture designs to connect people to the splendor of the natural world around them. Her lounge chairs, tables and other pieces reflect the influence of the Hollywood Regency style as well as Barry’s admiration for organic materials and the subdued color palettes of the great outdoors. Simple and calming, her furniture is quietly elegant and has garnered Barry renown worldwide as a leader in interior design.
A native of California, Barry was surrounded by artists from the moment she was born and credits her mother with instilling a strong sense of confidence in her. Barry’s mother, a painter, encouraged her to nurture her creative impulses. The designer initially pursued a degree in art — she is an active painter today — but quickly eschewed the norms of formal education, leaving school to travel through Europe.
While traveling, Barry fell in love with the wines and cheeses of the cities she visited, inspiring her to open her own cheese shop in Mendocino upon her return to California. Her predilection for interior design quickly began to show itself as she went about setting up and running her store, and Barry began drawing designs for her own furniture. She moved to Los Angeles and established her own design firm in 1985.
Working with small local businesses to get her pieces made, she became more passionate about expressing herself through her furniture and quickly amassed a following for her work. Today, for its thoughtful merge of clean lines, 1940s Hollywood glamour and the soft palettes of the sea, sky and foliage of her state, her understated furniture is an international success.
Barry is expressly opposed to the use of patterns, opting instead for solid neutrals that pair well with warm brass or vintage bronze lighting fixtures and allow for the colors in a painting on the living room wall to pop. She is focused on bringing harmony and order into a space, and her minimalist designs — acid-washed mahogany side tables, armchairs with dark stained rattan backrests — are sought after by A-list celebrities, politicians and leading manufacturers alike. Barry has created exclusive furniture collections and home decor for legendary brands including Baker Furniture, McGuire Furniture Company and others.
Find Barbara Barry decorative objects, seating, case pieces and more on 1stDibs.
Late 20th Century American Modern Barbara Barry Desks
Mahogany
Early 2000s American Art Deco Barbara Barry Desks
Metal
Early 1900s Antique Barbara Barry Desks
Leather, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Barbara Barry Desks
Rattan, Wood
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Barbara Barry Desks
Gold Leaf
20th Century Hollywood Regency Barbara Barry Desks
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Barbara Barry Desks
Brass
Late 20th Century American Modern Barbara Barry Desks
Glass, Wood
1980s American Louis XV Vintage Barbara Barry Desks
Brass
1990s American Modern Barbara Barry Desks
Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Louis XVI Barbara Barry Desks
Wood
1980s American Federal Vintage Barbara Barry Desks
Burl
Late 20th Century Modern Barbara Barry Desks
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Hollywood Regency Barbara Barry Desks
Chrome
Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Barbara Barry Desks
Wood
20th Century American Art Deco Barbara Barry Desks
Nickel
2010s American Modern Barbara Barry Desks
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century North American Barbara Barry Desks
Cane, Ash
Late 20th Century Barbara Barry Desks
Nickel
