Tom Britt, Designer of Larger-Than-Life Interiors, Dies at 89
Nytimes reports that Tom Britt, a maximalist designer known for lavish, theatrical interiors, died on Jan. 4 at his home in Astoria, Queens. He was 89. His death was confirmed by Julie Britt, his former wife. Mr. Britt’s rooms often evoked French chateaus, Italian palazzos and other opulent periods; one critic called his work “operatic décor that was also slightly bonkers.” His interiors featured elements such as Venetian grotto–style dining chairs, silver lattice panels modeled on the Taj Mahal, blue‑black lacquered walls that required 20 coats of paint, gold‑leaf ceilings, tented rooms, many mirrors, Roman busts, curtained beds and Napoleonic prints.
He wrote in the introduction to his book Fabulous!, “Why be ordinary?” Trained at the Parsons School of Design and N.Y.U., Mr. Britt was mentored by Rose Cumming and built a career dressing homes for wealthy clients and collectors.
United States, Astoria, Queens