Bob Richter (born July 9, 1970) is America's Vintage Lifestyle Expert, as well as an author, TV personality, and interior designer. Bob is known for his starring role in the PBS series Market Warriors.[1] He is also the author of A Very Vintage Christmas, Vintage Living, and A Very Vintage Holiday. Bob is regularly featured on outlets like Good Morning America,[2][3] TODAY,[4][5] CBS News,[6] Hallmark Channel,[7] The New York Times,[8] Parade Magazine,[9] The Huffington Post,[10][11] and Entertainment Weekly.[12]

Bob Richter
Born
(1970-07-09) July 9, 1970 (age 54)
Occupation(s)Author, TV personality, and interior designer
Notable workA Very Vintage Christmas, Vintage Living, and A Very Vintage Holiday
Websitehttp://www.richterdesign.net

Biography

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Born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Bob grew up in the family interior design business, which ensured he always had summer employment and set the stage for his appreciation of textile and color. Heading up the family business, Bob's Grandmother trained his eye and helped to form his aesthetic at a very early age. Until her death at age 97, Bob's grandmother continued to be a touchstone for him, and he still considers her one of his greatest sources of inspiration.[13][14]

Bob studied at NYU, where he earned his BA in Communication, and then his MA in Education. During his studies, he also worked for an antiques dealer, acquiring knowledge in the area of art and antiques in addition to his formal education.[14]

Bob then began a career in public relations, eventually launching his own firm, Richter Media. Simultaneously, he continued to keep his passion for design at the forefront of his life, frequenting auctions, flea markets and thrift shops. Over time, he began to apply his expertise to interior design jobs with the launch of Richter Design.[14][15]

On the charitable front, Bob is a supporter of Housing Works, for whom he's designed rooms, and in return, raised money for their cause at the annual event, Design on a Dime. In the years that Bob has been a featured designer, he's worked alongside television personalities including Ty Pennington, Jaclyn Smith, Charlotte Moss and Miles Redd.[16][17][18]

In addition to his other endeavors, Bob also teaches Undergraduates at NYU,[19][20] and works as a voice-over artist.[21] His voice has most recently been behind such brands as Comcast, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Chase and Labatt Blue, and was also used in the 2013 feature film Bert and Arnie's Guide to Friendship.[22]

Career

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Interior design

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As a designer, Bob’s work has run the gamut from Texas ranches and mid-century Pennsylvania country homes to Manhattan pied-a-terres and brownstones.[15][23]

His work has been featured on HGTV’s Design Happens, The New York Times, and other major publications. He’s been known to encourage homeowners to take risks, experiment with color, and "go with their gut when it comes to what [they] love.” His design projects also tend to place a massive emphasis on antiques and reclaimed items. He has cited Tony Duquette[13][24] as his design hero (adopting the tongue-in-cheek mantra, “More is more” as a nod to him).

An avid collector of antique Christmas ornaments and a self-proclaimed "Christmas Fanatic", Bob was, in December 2010, featured in a front-page story of The New York Times Home Section, alongside famed Designers Mary McDonald and Vern Yip.[25]

He has been featured as an expert Martha Stewart Living Radio’s Home Design program on Sirius XM Radio, as an expert on flea markets, auctions, and tag sales.[26] The program is hosted by Kevin Sharkey, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia's ExecutiveVice President and Executive Director of Design, who is often described as Stewart's right-hand man.[27]

Bob also creates editorial and video content about antiques, art, flea markets, books and world travel. Popular shopping site One Kings Lane[28] also features Bob as a TasteMaker.

Television

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Bob is known to TV audiences for his starring role in the PBS series Market Warriors and as host on Minute Makeover. He also makes frequent appearances on ABC, CBS, and the Hallmark Channel (particularly Home and Family) where he is known as "America’s Vintage Lifestyle Expert," offering suggestions on how to collect and decorate with vintage finds.

Writing career

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As an author, Bob has written 3 books, A Very Vintage Christmas, Vintage Living and A Very Vintage Holiday.

Bob also has an extensive presence in online publications, such as in his frequent contributions to the Home, Style, Arts and Travel sections of the Huffington Post,[29] as well as Guideposts where he shares his spiritual take on holiday decorating and living the vintage way.[30][31][32]

He also contributed to The Christmas Book.

Bibliography

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As author

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  • A Very Vintage Christmas (July 2016, Globe Pequot, ISBN 978-1493022144)
  • Vintage Living (March 19, 2019, Rizzoli, ISBN 978-0847865314)
  • A Very Vintage Holiday (Forthcoming, September 5, 2023, Globe Pequot, ISBN 978-1493072828)

As contributor

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Filmography

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Interviews/features

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References

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  1. ^ "Meet the Cast: Bob Richter | Meet the Cast | Market Warriors". PBS. August 14, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  2. ^ "Holiday decoration tips that won't break the bank".
  3. ^ "Video Gifting and decorating the vintage way". ABC News. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  4. ^ "Check your shelves! These ceramic Christmas trees could be worth a lot of money".
  5. ^ "The history and meaning behind traditional Christmas colors". TODAY.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Flea Market Finds With Vintage Expert And Interior Designer Bob Richter". CBS News. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  7. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Watch Bob on The Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family" : A Very Vintage Christmas Feature. YouTube.
  8. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (July 15, 2012). "Bob Richter and Kevin Bruneau of 'Market Warriors' on PBS". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "Market Warriors' Bob Richter: Have 'A Very Vintage Christmas'". December 21, 2016.
  10. ^ "Dar Dowling: PBS's Market Warriors Star Bob Richter Opens Up About Life And Antiquing". Huffingtonpost.com. November 29, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  11. ^ "Bob Richter: Planning This Year's Summer Vacation? Add a Local Flea Market to the Itinerary". Huffingtonpost.com. June 13, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  12. ^ Bacle, Ariana. "Tonight's Best | TV". Ew.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  13. ^ a b Person McSmith (July 20, 2010). "Designers: Bob Richter | Design Happens". Blog.hgtv.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c Bob Richter. "Bob Richter". Richter Media. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  15. ^ a b Bob Richter (January 25, 2013). "Bob Richter". Richter Design. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  16. ^ "Design on a Dime 2013 — Housing Works". Housingworks.org. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  17. ^ "A Flair for Living". Charlotte Moss. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  18. ^ "cosa verde is no more". Cosaverde.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  19. ^ "Adjunct Faculty — Faculty — Media, Culture, and Communication — NYU Steinhardt". Steinhardt.nyu.edu. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  20. ^ "Bob Richter — New York University". RateMyProfessors.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  21. ^ "Stewart Talent Agency — New York : Voiceover : Commercial : Men". Stewarttalent.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  22. ^ "Bert and Arnie's Guide to Friendship". IMDB. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  23. ^ Wadler, Joyce (December 23, 2009). "A Buff Santa With Stuff Designed to Sell". The New York Times.
  24. ^ Person McSmith (June 10, 2010). "Weekly Tour: Bob Richter's Eye-Popping Kitchen | Design Happens". Blog.hgtv.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  25. ^ Wadler, Joyce (December 22, 2010). "For the Hyper-Neat, the Holidays Present a Particular Strain". The New York Times.
  26. ^ "Home Design". www.marthastewart.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2011.
  27. ^ "Archive for Kevin Sharkey — Home Design with Kevin Sharkey". Homedesign.marthastewart.com. July 25, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  28. ^ "Bob Richter". One Kings Lane. March 5, 2013. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  29. ^ "Bob Richter". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved August 18, 2013.
  30. ^ Richter, Bob (October 12, 2022). "His Vintage Ornaments Inspire Warm Christmas Memories". Guideposts. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  31. ^ Messner, Roberta (October 26, 2021). "Finding Faith at the Flea Market". Guideposts. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  32. ^ McCauley, Celeste (December 21, 2021). "Bob Richter on the Healing Power of Christmas Decorations". Guideposts. Retrieved February 17, 2023.