Louis Cataffo, Designer Known for Elegance in Hotels, Dies at 42

Louis Cataffo, an interior designer known for his work on such luxury hotels as the Bel-Air, the Westin Century Plaza Tower and the new Four Seasons in Los Angeles and Le Meridien in Newport Beach, the Remington in Houston and the Fairmonts in San Jose and Chicago, has died.

He was 42 and died of encephalitis in a Los Angeles hospital, said Darlene de Monfreid, director of operations of Intradesign, a firm he founded in 1978.

Cataffo, whose own home was featured in Architectural Digest, worked for William Pereira Associates from 1973 until opening his own firm, which has expanded from a staff of 3 to 45.

One of his penthouses at the Westin Century Plaza Tower measures 8,000 square feet which Cataffo designed as the “ultimate suite” with antiques and art works.

Last year he was named one of California’s top 100 executives.

Survivors include his mother, Lillian, a sister and his lifetime partner, Terry Schwarz.

Donations in lieu of flowers are asked to AIDS Project Los Angeles or CHEER.

A memorial service will be held at the Four Seasons Feb. 19 at 2 p.m.