David Easton

David Easton is considered to be one of the world’s most sought-after interior designers. While he has made his name as a neoclassicist, his erudition within the realms of architecture and decoration is wide-ranging.

Easton received his architecture degree from Pratt Institute, in 1963, where he studied with Sibyl Moholy-Nagy—the widow of one of the founders of the Bauhaus, László Moholy-Nagy. Upon graduation, he received the Fontainebleau scholarship, which enabled him to travel and study in Europe. When he returned, he took a position with the New York designer Edward Wormley, whose Dunbar furniture line is now part of the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art. In 1967, he joined the venerable firm of Parish-Hadley, where he worked in both the architecture and decoration departments. There, he admits to being “seduced by decoration.” Easton founded his own firm in 1972, and quickly gained recognition for his classically inspired, traditional interiors. In the 1980s, his opulent English-style interiors became emblems of the age.

In recent years, he has shifted to a more streamlined, contemporary aesthetic—a response to his own shifting tastes and those of his clients. “It’s necessary to move forward,” says Easton. “I see a desire to simplify life, and for simpler interiors. I think the future will be about a more intelligent use of resources and a more intelligent support of lifestyles.”

In addition to his residential work, Easton has designed collections for Lee Jofa (fabrics and upholstered furniture), Safavieh (carpets), Guy Chaddock (furniture), Walters Wicker (outdoor furniture), Cole and Son Ltd. (wallpaper), and Visual Comfort (lighting).

David Easton was named to the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1992, and has twice been presented with Classical America’s Arthur Ross Award. Most recently, his peers honored him with the “Lifetime Achievement” Award at London’s Design and Decoration Awards. Architectural Digest has included Easton in its Top 100 Designers in the World a record nine times.