Their work was commemorated in the book Traditional Interiors: Leta Austin Foster, Sallie Giordano & India Foster by Brian Coleman (Gibbs-Smith 2015) which is now in its second printing. They have been featured in numerous publications including House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Elle Décor, Traditional Home, and House & Garden.
Guided by the belief that every detail should be as considered as the overall design and working in close collaboration with their clients, Leta Austin Foster and her daughters Sallie Giordano and India Foster create rooms and homes that are as individual as the people who live in them.
Leta Austin Foster established her influential Palm Beach interior design firm in 1975 and expanded to an office in New York City in the 1990s.
The Legacy of Leta Austin Foster
Intentionally avoiding trends, Leta Austin Foster and her daughters design interiors that stand the test of time in a mix of styles from traditional to contemporary. They focus on quality from construction to curation to commissioning of one-of-a-kind pieces created by the finest artisans.
They have designed countless homes across the United States including airy ocean-front retreats in Palm Beach, chic and elegant apartments in New York City, historic homes in Virginia with fine art and antiques, and rustic lodges in New England.
In 1990, Leta restored space in a building originally designed by Addison Mizner and opened her store. She was motivated to share the kinds of quality products that are hallmarks of her interiors classic designs with a rich story and remarkable craftsmanship using traditional techniques.
The Shop
Leta Austin Foster
Founder and Partner
Leta Austin Foster, or Letsy, as she is universally known, grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, the great-granddaughter of one of the earliest pioneers in the state, who had come down from Virginia to make his fortune in phosphates and cattle. Her beloved grandmother was a world traveler who instilled in her an appreciation for European art, history, and culture, which she would continue to explore and research her entire life.
About Leta
Sallie Giordano
Partner and Principal Designer
Having grown up in a world of fabric and design, it was an easy transition for Sallie Giordano to switch gears from journalism to interiors in 1993, eventually taking the helm of the New York office, from where she oversees projects throughout the Northeast.
About Sallie
India Foster
Partner and Principal Designer
India moved home and joined the family firm in 2006, after several years working at the renowned San Francisco design studio, Tedrick & Bennett, She quickly developed a reputation for creating timeless interiors with a comfortable appeal. “You want the people living in the house to feel like they are part of the place.”
Work by India
