Profile
For over forty years, Thomas Britt, has been an icon of the interior design industry both nationally and world wide. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, his designs draw on the European classicism of balance, harmony and scale. His extensive travels of the world provide another influence in his sense of design. Combined with his bold sense of color, luxurious use of textures and an eye for detail, his artistry has created some of the world’s most beautiful homes. Mr. Britt holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from New York University and graduated from The Parsons School of Design in New York. After graduation in 1959, he worked with interior designer John Gerald for five years before starting his own firm in 1964.
In addition to his design activities, Mr. Britt collaborated with famed South American furniture designer, William Piedrahita of Bogotá, Colombia for five years, forming a business showcasing his designs with showrooms in California, New York, Texas, and Europe. Mr. Britt continues to create custom furniture for his clientele and he deftly combines these designs with fine antiques and artwork that he sources from around the globe.
Mr. Britt’s work has been published prolifically. He has been extensively featured in Architectural Digest, and has also appeared in several other domestic publications such as Avenue, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, House and Garden, The New York Times, Quest, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Washington Post, and W Magazine. In addition, Mr. Britt has been featured in international magazines including Italian, Polish, and Russian Architectural Digest, South African House and Garden, and Audrey Magazine.
His clients include U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Charles Price and Mrs. Price, Count and Countess John Forgach, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Milstein, Mr. and Mrs. Jorge Larrea and Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Zapata of Mexico City, Her Highness the Raj Mata of Jaipur, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Solomon, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. Steven Tananbaum, Princess Priya Ransit of Thailand, and Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Woolworth.
Currently, Mr. Britt’s New York firm has a staff of 10, developing projects from entire estates to individual rooms worldwide.
Honors and Awards
Smithsonian Institute, “Giants of Interior Design” 1987
Who’s Who In The World
Who’s Who In Interior Design
Architectural Digest “The Deans of American Design”
Architectural Digest “The AD 100” every year since the award’s inception
Architectural Digest “100 Years of Design, the 20th Century”
ASID Honorary Member
House Beautiful “Top 100 Designers”
House and Garden “Top 100 Designers”
Interior Design Magazine “Hall of Fame” 1990
New York Magazine “The City’s 100 Best Architects and Decorators”