Man About Town: Robert Burke
by habituallychic
09 . 14 . 07
Just one more fashion related post. Oh, who am I kidding, I might have a few more left. But they’re all fabulous so you can’t be too bored.
The man of the hour this time is the always fashionable Robert Burke, who used to do something terribly important and have a ridiculously long title at Bergdorf Goodman until he decided to go out on his own and start Robert Burke Associates, a luxury consulting firm. If you live in New York, you can often catch Robert’s commentary on Full Frontal Fashion. I’m pretty sure I could consult about luxury fashion too. I wonder if Robert is hiring.
Anyway, not only is Robert always well dressed and fashionable, his apartment is pretty handsome also. I wonder what it means that I always like the men’s apartments best. I’ll have to check into that.
Robert had a little help in the decorating department from his fashionable friend, Todd Romano. Todd actually used to work where I work now but that was before my time. I’m not exactly sure everyone here is genuinely happy for his success but that is a story for another day.
I love the mix of warm and cool colors as well as the fun accessories and personal accents as usual like the vintage glazed terra cotta tree stump side tables above.
The Louis XVI secretaire and the watercolor above it are from the estate of Bill Blass. Someday, I’m going to have to do a post about all who has what from the Bill Blass estate. His antiques have ended up in a lot of fashionable homes. 
The photograph, Horse Neck (3 in a series of 4), above is by the famous fashion photographer Steven Klein. You have probably seen his photos of Madonna and Tom Ford in W Magazine. 
The stuffed calleo bird and framed stick insect are from Deyrolle who not only have a shop in Paris but now sell items at Bergdorf Goodman. There is a really funny story about how Robert Burke got stopped at customs coming back from Paris once and in his bag were couture dress samples and stuffed birds from Deyrolle and the customs agent shook her head, said she had never seen anything like that and waved him through. Gotta love it!
I love one really dark room in a home. It’s something we’ve been seeing a lot of lately, in addition zebra rugs, but hey, if ain’t broke, why fix it? Right?
Robert, who travels much of the year, had one request for the bedroom, for it to feel as luxurious as a 5-star hotel room with all the conveniences to match. I’d say a Ralph Lauren bed and nicely ironed Leontine linens looks pretty luxurious to me! And if you look really close in the bedroom, there is a collage of black and white photos of Diana Vreeland on the bedside table from Sentimento. The chic worship the chic obviously!
Photos by William Waldron
21 Comments
goodness, darling. Rober and Todd seem to have a lock on high style that seems effortlessly comfortable. I’d let Todd add his design prowess my home any day after seeing how he added unique flourishes to Robert’s international pad. Fabulous, dear. Fabulous.
Oh and who are you kidding? You’re in New York… you won’t be able to hold back on fashion infused posts! 😉
You sure know how to pick the truly gifted men and women!
Another great post,they are getting better by the day!Have a great weekend!
RJH dl H
I love the fashion infused posts. Im in love with his apartment, Im still holding onto the magazine his apartment was in. I think it was Elle Decor.
Franki, I’ll could do fashion related posts everyday! There are so many fashionable people with fashionable homes. That’s why I love New York!!!
Thanks RJH dl H! You’re always so sweet! Sometime, you’re going to have to tell me what those fabulous initials stand for 😉
Wes,
It was from ELLE Decor. The one with Candace Bushnell’s apartment on the cover. I saved it too but then I was bad and ripped out the Robert Burke article. Shame on me!
Yet another great post HC!!! I’ve loved your version and coverage of fashion week!!
Thanks Ronda! Aren’t you so excited that you’ll be here soon to experience New York?!
This is one of my all time favorite apartments!! Great post 🙂
~Kate
I love the dark room – if they look that good, I won’t tire of them.
ok, this is my favorite so far, maybe. I just loved this apartment when I saw it first. Is that a Patti Smith picture in the bedroom? That wallpaper is to die for or is it fabric? Love everything about this, love, love, love.
Joni
Kate, Thanks for the sweet remarks!
Mrs. Blandings, I can’t wait to live in a bigger apartment so I can have a really dark cozy library room for myself!
Joni, you have a good eye. The photo is Patti Smith and was taken by Steven Klein and the walls in the bedroom are the same fabric as the curtains, which we can’t see in the photo. Doesn’t say where they’re from though.
Really funny update to this post! I was in Rizzoli on Saturday looking at design books and I swear Robert Burke was standing next to me! Although, I wasn’t exactly sure because he was wearing jeans and sneakers and had a sporty backpack hanging off one shoulder. So either Robert Burke has a really casually dressed doppleganger or he dresses way down on the weekends. My only other thought was maybe he had just come from the gym. Either way, I wasn’t positive it was him so I didn’t talk to him. I’m kind of kicking myself now but oh well. It still makes for a good story.
I love, love, love this apartment. Great post. And regarding the Todd Romano story, do tell!
You have done a wonderful indepth posting on this article. I love to read your version on it. It is better than the original. You comment on things from and Interior Designer’s perspective. Something that is missing in magazine articles.
Okay, this is a huge generalisation but I generally like a man’s apartment too – possibly because they tend to be less frilly than a woman’s and I do like a simple approach. That’s also making a big assumption on taste!!
The blue room is beautiful.
Patricia, You are so sweet to say that. I really love this apartment so it was easy for me to talk about it!
Alice Olive,
I recently saw an apartment of a youngish girl in NYC who’s mother decorated her apartment in all frilly girly colors including a pink bedroom that was shot with a big white standard poodle on the bed. I am really! What man in his right mind would ever feel comfortable hanging out there. I wouldn’t even feel comfortable in it! I like a space that is appealing to men and women.
That’s appalling! People should be issued a license before they’re allowed to inflict their taste on the world!! (Ha ha!)