I had the great privilege of hearing Barbara Barry, Designer speak at the Design Bloggers Conference in Los Angeles. I don’t believe I have ever been so enamored with anyone as I am Barbara. She is as beautiful, inside and out, as the beautiful interiors she designs. She spoke with such reverence and eloquence. A true lady in every sense of the word. Barbara mentioned that beauty is the driving force in her life. I clung to every word said because her words were so closely aligned with Hadley Court’s philosophy of enjoying the simple pleasures of every day life we so often overlook. Barbara says the “idea is to see the simple things in our daily lives-to really look to see what is right in front of you. They draw me in and center me.” Everything she spoke was like listening to a finely tuned symphony. She spoke of seeing a lovely agave leaf on a walk and how the scallop edge of the leaf was her inspiration for her china pattern by Wedgewood. Barbara believes that our emotions don’t need an education. Design is not something you do for others, but it is something you do for yourself. Our homes can be our respite-our private domain. In our homes, design has the ability to support our deepest needs.
Barbara signed her new book for me. Look how beautiful her handwriting is. She called me a “kindred spirit.” SWOON!
As you can see – I am simply starstruck. Barbara talked to me as if there were not another person in the world she would rather talk with. She is such an absolute treasure. I recommend you buy her book Around Beauty today. Barbara says that it is such an honor to be a designer. I see it differently – I believe the world has been honored with the beautiful spirit of Barbara and the evocative designs she bestows upon us.
