Darryl Carter

I know you've probably already seen all these pictures but I just had to express my love for Darryl Carter so here are some pictures of his work & his country home in Virginia.

BUT -- I'm torn. I LOVE his interiors and I also LOVE color. There's such a struggle going on inside me! Sometimes I want this all-white look (my friends make fun of me for how much I love white & neautrals!) and other times I want a really bold, gorgeous, colorful room.

I usually settle for neutral bases & then switch out my accents & certain furnishings seasonally or whenever I feel like it (I'm so bad I can't even decide between warm and cool!) to try to get the best of both worlds.

The above bedroom is just perfect to me. It's a base that I'd have to work from. Sometimes I'd want it all white like this & other times (like Christmas!) I'd love to inject a little color & fun.

I don't think I could ever be as much of a purist as Darryl Carter, but I seriously can't get over his interiors. Below, there's a bit more color & texure that I could live with year-round:

This picture (below) is from the Washington Post a few years ago. My grandmother cut if out for me & she's the one who introduced me to Darryl, saying she thought his style was similar to mine & that maybe I should call him. :) yeah.
His mixes are always perfect contrasts (modern-traditional, rustic-clean, rough-smooth, etc.)
The wisteria climbing the breezway is a dream of mine: (I could handle grape vines too.)


I LOVE his stacked log nooks. They're in so many of his rooms in 'The New Traditional,' his book. (I've now got two floor-to-ceiling log nooks planned to go on either side of my fireplace in my future house... that has yet to be purchased... or found... or saved up for... ;)


The painted white floors are amazing & would work for us because our dog is white & we have what we call "white dirt." (You know white dog hair, light dust bunnies, ets.) I think the best thing is to figure out the color of your dirt & decorate around it. (I love white upholstery too, so now we always have to get white dogs in the future so you can't see dog hair on the furniture... the sad part is I'm SO not kidding.)

Below, this is such a great dining area to me. (Table, anyone?? ;) ;) You could switch up your tableware & flowers Eddie Ross-style anytime you wanted with this neutral backdrop.

I love the modern-rusitc feeling of his countryside living room. I also hope to have a living room large enough to have two distinct areas like this one. Then the whole family can be in the room & be doing their own thing if needed. Picture hanging out, talking, watching movies on one side & someone reading or working on the other... love it

More of his sculptural simplicity:

And a very cool tub:
This dining room blows me away: the lines on the chandelier, the furnishings, the horse= so well thought-out

The white stairs are amazing. talk about rustic-modern look:

And, finally, check out this living room. He so effortlessly pairs a modern sofa with a traditional wingback & Queen Ann's chair & rustic-modern table. All in a sea of perfect white :) It's another perfect base room.
pics from Elle Decor & washington post
How do you feel about color vs neautrals & the "struggle"???
xoxo

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

OMG I want to move in to his house! it's so BEAUTIFUL!
xo
Eddie

Unknown said...

How sweet is your grandmother wanting you to call him?
I've never seen these pictures before, so thank you!
I have to admit I don't really struggle too much over the colour thing - I prefer to keep everything white or neutral, with only little pops of colour in accessories, and usually that's only because I get tired of my mum saying 'you need a bit of colour in here'! The way I see it, the world is full of colour and busyness, and I like to come home to a soothing sea of tranquility.

Jennifer said...

thanks for the advice on framing! your flea market finds are great! and it looks like we have a lot in common -- I'm visiting an antique market in Atlanta with Eddie Ross this weekend, and I'm slightly obsessed with Darryl Carter (and will be nabbing all of these pictures!). I love your blog and will be checking back often. have a great day!

High-Heeled Foot in the door said...

Thank you for posting this! I love all of these pictures.

I want to live in that house. Those white painted floors! Ah! I die. I so want to do that in my home.

I am so torn between neutrals and color. I love how all these pictures look and I love the look of the all white furniture. Amazing. It looks very swedish/scandanivan and I adore that type of style, but I don't think I have the proper home for it right now. So for right now I'm sticking to color with lots of white doors and trim.

I wish a could have a different home for all my design loves. How amazing would that be, because I totally love this style and I agree with your Grandma that you both have a very similar design style!

LindsB said...

Love these pics! All the white is so beautiful. I always have a struggle between neutrals and using more color, its just so hard to pick one. Even with color I have a hard time sticking with either warm or cool tones, I love them both! Maybe thats my hang up with decorating my own house, I like to throw all my favs in there... a little red and orange but then I love green and blue too, so I have to have those- its just so hard.

The funny thing is when my friends ask for advice on colors or decorating their houses I never have an issue with picking things for them, its so easy to do. But with me I can never just settle on one thing, I'm always changing my mind. Its like I'm scared to make a choice because as soon as I do, I know I'm going to hate it in a month, know what I mean?

Wow, that was long- didnt realize till I finished typing. Anyway- beautiful post!

paula said...

i just came across your blog and i love these images. i am sure i will be back.

Lauren said...

Eddie- me too!!

Catherine- yeah, my grandmother is my my #1 fan & thought it would be no big deal to just give ol Darryl a call.. hahah but she's the best. I do have your urge sometimes to keep my house totally calm bc the life's just so busy & crazy... Totally get it.

Jennifer- You'll have the best time!! Eddie & Jaithan are so much fun!

Camila- I totally feel you on wanting different houses for different styles!!! :) It's so hard to pick!! ahhhh

Lindsay- I change my mind all the time too which is why I'm totally okay (and thank goodness my husband's okay too!) with our home constantly evolving... not in a wasteful uncontent way, but just switching it up all the time, bringing new fun pillows out & swapping accessories & all that... keeping always fun & fresh. And I'm so with you on the warm-cool thing.. I'm always changing my mind!! I tend to go with pale grays, aquas, greens, blues.. but I love a warm room too!! arggg!! what to do?!

No.35style said...

I have the same issues, but have no problem helping other people! I do think houses lend themselves to certain colors, etc. I know I see white walls in magazines, etc. but I know for my house it just doesn't fit/work except my white kitchen and one day redone bathroom.

Lauren said...

#35 & Lindsay- It IS just so much easier to make decisions for other people than ourselves!!! hahaha so sad but true!

Sarah's Fab Day said...

I actually love both. Currently I'm living with color, I think because I grew up with white. I'm sure when I get the opportunity I may have to switch it up a bit though.

cathypentonatelier said...

Thank you so much for dropping by my blog I so appreciate it...These images are amazing, loved coming for a browse....Take care cathy xx

Romana said...

great images, thankyou! I have posted the tub pic on my blog, it is awesome (and I hahave a "thing" for rustic tubs at the moment ;)).

Great blog :)