John Barman
Meet the lauded New York decorator with a flair for color and contemporary design
Photo by Eric Laignel
Meet the lauded New York decorator with a flair for color and contemporary design
Photo by Eric Laignel
John Barman’s mother was an interior designer, so he grew up surrounded by fabric swatches and paint chips. It was practically fated, then, that he would follow in the family footsteps. Today, his namesake studio continually tops Best Of lists.
“I’m perhaps best known for color,” he muses. Which is what he brought to the remodel of a 19th-century Connecticut barn—with a funky retro twist. Wanting a strong element to juxtapose the dark wood, he opted for zesty orange and green, in midcentury designs. “Sometimes neutrals expand a space,” he admits, “but this was so large we needed to make it more inviting.” In the kitchen and bathrooms, he chose Cambria countertops. “I love it—it looks fabulous and the design choices are unlimited. Plus, you have the durability,” he says. Taken together these elements make this centuries-old farmhouse feel entirely modern. Call it the Barman touch.