Local Color: Anthony Baratta’s Colonial Palette
All colors are from the Benjamin Moore Williamsburg Color collection.COUNTRYLIVING.COM / NOVEMBER 2019 ƂƂ
When a New York City
Designer Moves to
Colonial Williamsburg
A
s a child, interior designer
Anthony Baratta loved donning
a tricorn hat and taking in the
sights and sounds of Colonial
Williamsburg. So years later,
when he received a call to become the town’s
first-ever Designer in Residence, he says
it felt like winning a lifetime achievement
award. The brand-new title came with
some very old-school digs: a 264-year-old
home where he was invited to live and work,
transforming it from a well-appointed beigebox to a space bursting with period-
inspired colors and patterns. While the
house underwent some pretty dramatic
changes, so, too, did Tony. “I live in a
museum, so half my life is 18th century.
The carriage rides start fairly early in
the morning, then the band marches by at
1 p.m., and the ghost tours end at around- It’s a full day of activity,” he says. “I may
not be able to get Chinese food delivered,
but it sure has been nice to slow down and
live in this fantasy world.”
“Dark green
is almost like a
forgotten color, but
a spruce-y green
is very charming.”“It is the most
gorgeous color and
really made an
impact in the living
areas.”“I have always
loved red—it’s my
favorite color. And
this is an excellent
one. I used it in
the broom closet.”“I generally never
work with gold, but
this one really
shines in the dining
room.”“Much of the millwork
in the Colonial
Capitol is painted this
color, and it inspired
me to use it on
the baseboards.”Azurite Goodwin Green VGermillionreenhow^ DamasGoldk^ MopBlacboardk^Tour (^) the
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written by LAURA KOSTELNY photographs by ANNIE SCHLECHTER prop styling by STACY KUNSTEL