Interior Designer Barclay Butera Inspires Life, Style and Giving

Los Angeles Designer Barclay Butera has created a one-of-a-kind pillow and set of votive candles for AIDS Project Los Angeles. He recently spoke with APLA's donor magazine OPTIMIST about his design philosophy and charitable giving.

Designer Barclay Butera’s philosophy in design and life is the same: “Yours, Mine, Ours.”

In design, it means his clients should select and keep key, beloved heritage heirlooms which he will then combine with furnishings, accessories and lighting to complement and honor these items, while adding a fresh and new twist to the room. What results is an integrated, personal haven for the client that is beautifully elegant and livable.

In his personal life, a similar approach works. Barclay chooses to become involved with organizations with a strong, positive cause, to which he brings his talents to bear in creating something that is ‘ours’ – for the common good of a community. Says Barclay: “Whatever my success, I want to recognize people and organizations and communities in need.”

Barclay was eager and proud to design something very special for APLA’s donors, the lifeblood of the organization. The result is a lavish, white-on-white pillow made from heavyweight, high quality linen and containing 4,000 stitches that form the AIDS ribbon and the words “Angels in L.A.” These are the kind of signature details that define Barclay’s fashion for the home approach to design: it’s all in the details.