wood and white

today’s post finds its inspiration from this rustic loaf of bread and sculptural white asparagus…rough-hewn wood floors may echo the uneven tone and texture of the bread while a clean-lined white sofa may take its cue from the long lean form of the asparagus…interiors with a complimentary palette and textural content…enjoy!

happy weekend!

photos from Lonny Magazine, Veranda, The Gifts of Life via tumblr, Rose Uniacke, Haynes-Roberts, Henrik Busk via skona hem, Alexandre de Betak via T Magazine, Darryl Carter, and Studio Ko

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zorn palette

 Today’s post focuses on the humble yet sublime palette from In Wikström’s Studio painted by Anders Zorn in 1889. Layered earth tones of stone, clay and putty provide a subtle backdrop for his female subject’s luminous gold skin and vibrant red hair. To some, this palette may appear quite neutral, void of “color” if you will, but for me, this highly sophisticated canvas speaks to all that I love about color and texture. It has opened my eyes to an infinite number of artistic possibilities…

Feau & Cie

Mariann Johansen Ellis

photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Elephant Seal Mother and Pup ~ Yva Momatiuk and John Eastcott

photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Anne Packard

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Silk Road, Kyrgystan ~ Vincent Bonnin

Antique egg print

Feau & Cie

Winter ~ Arkhip Kuindzhi, 1895

Nicole Franzen via the gifts of life

Provins, France ~ Jules Gervais Courtellemont

hybridlava.com

Feau & Cie

Snow and Mist ~ John Atkinson Grimshaw

Jac for Valentino Fall/Winter 2012

Antique egg print

Libeco

Lioness, Kenya ~ Ramesh Ratwatte

via the gifts of life

pashtundukhtaree.tumblr via the gifts of life

Pamela Pierce

Dior Homme “Shadow” Fall/Winter 2012

Darryl Carter

Artists, Dordogne River ~ Jules Gervais Courtellemont

Haynes-Roberts

Pagoda Steps, Nepal ~ Bas Uterwijk

Charles Spada

African Spurred Tortoise ~ Glenn Nagel

Andy Newcom

Death Valley National Park ~ William Lee

Belstaff Spring/Summer 2013

Antique egg print

Photography by Miguel Flores-Vianna

Cheetah Cubs, South Africa ~Dumith Fernando

Bobby McAlpine

photography by danielle boudrot

Anders Zorn’s studio in Mora

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darryl carter ~ celebration and appreciation

The October air in DC reminded me of a balmy summer night in Maine…the kind of atmosphere that encourages outdoor celebration, ice cold flutes of champagne and long memorable conversations…time is fleeting yet seems to stand still…I know for myself, the entire evening is a bit of a blur, but there are moments that will live with me forever…the unified row of valets standing curbside when my taxi arrived, the golden glow of light from within the pristine glass front window, the magnificent bronze lion sculpture whose presence represents the classic yet rustic aesthetic of the visionary designer himself…this bounty of first impressions set the tone for an evening of celebration and appreciation…a celebration of Darryl Carter’s artistic talent, vision, patience, and hard work..and a tangible appreciation for all the artists, architects, craftsmen and tradesmen that made this dream a reality…four-years of painstaking restoration is now complete! Darryl’s signature blend of the rough and refined is fully realized and elevated to a whole new level…his brilliant juxtapositions breathe life into the grandest and humblest of objects…art as seen through the eyes of a rare and gifted talent…and it’s only the beginning…

My heartfelt thanks to Darryl and Julia! Congratulations!

Darryl with dear friend and neighbor, Mary Haft

Darryl with the principals of Glass Construction (Tom Glass) and Wnuk Spurlock Architecture (Steve Spurlock), with members of their staffs

Art by Joanna Blake

Smiling faces from Darryl’s team ~ Anne Marie Hauer (left) and Rebecca Dickson (right)

Topped with a piece of Carrera marble, the sculptural driftwood table serves as art and furniture

Gwenwood Hang from Darryl Carter’s new line of lighting for Urban Electric

Signed copies of Darryl’s gorgeous new book The Collected Home were for sale at the party…the glass doors of the Bibliotheques are reclaimed and hail from the historic Dumbarton House in Georgetown

Above ~ Detail of a reclaimed stone arch from an estate on the Potomac in Virginia

The party in full swing!

Sidra Forman, a close friend of Darryl’s, catered the event…she created a visual and edible feast for the senses!

Architects Michael M. Franck (far right) and James Martin (far left) from the Washington DC architectural firm Franck & Lohsen

I had a fabulous conversation with the Kravet’s! Two of the kindest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting! I hope their home in New Jersey was spared by Superstorm Sandy…my thoughts are with them

I met the wonderful team from luxe. interiors + design (magazine) ~ Sean Grace with his wife Kristen (left), Emilia Philip and Charlotte DeFuria (right)

Guests gathered in the courtyard to applaud Darryl’s new boutique/design studio and new book The Collected Home…remarks were given by Jack Evans, City Council member, Trish Donnally, who collaborated with Darryl on the book, and seated next to Darryl is Barbara Harrison, Washington NBC news anchor who conducted a thoughtful Q&A

Below ~ Detail of a wall relief by artist Margaret Boozer

Some quiet moments at the end of the evening…

An antique plaster relief hangs in the courtyard

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

If you’re interested in learning more about the restoration, click here to view my post from April 4, 2012

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an edward hopper moment…

Still working on my post from the party! Almost there!

In the meantime, please enjoy one of my favorite photographs from the end of the evening…I was looking out a window, much like the window you see in the photo…a warm breeze washed over my face and for a moment, I felt like I was living in an Edward Hopper painting…

photography by danielle boudrot for a thoughtful eye

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invitation only!

On 10/1/12, I received an invitation from Darryl Carter to attend a private gathering on Thursday evening 10/25/12 celebrating the launch of his new boutique/design studio and new book The Collected Home! To say I was elated beyond words is an understatement! I leave for Washington DC bright and early tomorrow morning to embark on an adventure I’m sure I’ll remember for a lifetime…I promise to bring back exclusive photos and personal insights from this very special event…until then, please enjoy this sneak peek of wares from the new boutique published in the October 2012 issue of Elle Decor…imagine being greeted by this magnificent bronze lion? I already have butterflies in my tummy…

photos from Darryl Carter’s new Washington DC boutique via Elle Decor

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man’s (or woman’s) best friend

Whether you love them for their grace and beauty or for their unwavering loyalty, dogs are truly a man’s (or woman’s) best friend…here is a sampling of some of my favorite designers with the love’s of their life

Bobby McAlpine with his Greyhound Joe

Darryl Carter with his German Shorthaired Pointer Otis

Robert Couturier with his Shih Tzus Henriette and Chuck

Alfredo Paredes’ Labrador Retriever Sid

Tara Shaw with her Whippet Jack

John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross with their Great Dane Cooper

Grant K. Gibson with one of his two Westies

Todd Romano’s miniature dachshund Bunny

Stephen Shubel’s Papillon Coco

Nate Berkus with his Border Collies Henry and Emma

Fitzhugh Karol with Olive

Yves Saint Laurent with his Chihuahua

Michael S. Smith’s Wheaton Terriers Chubbs and Shortcake

Greet Lefevre with Mango! (ok, not her dog Ralph but most definitely a huge love of her life!)

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a tudor revival for the 21st century

Washington D.C. based architect Donald Lococo and interior designer Darryl Carter fused their talents to create a Tudor revival for the 21st century…flowing spaces and sun-washed rooms echo the wants and needs of a modern family while the raised paneling, oriel window and Gothic-style fireplace offer architectural gestures from the past…the clean, neutral palette provides a serene backdrop for Carter’s thoughtful mix of antiques and custom furniture…

Who knew a Tudor could be bright and inviting?

photography by William Waldron for Architectural Digest

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darryl carter ~ modernity meets tradition

On the heels of yesterday’s post, I thought we would continue our journey to New Hope, PA and visit the cover story from the June 2012 Elle Decor…designer Darryl Carter collaborated with his client and longtime friend David Morey on this 4,000 square foot home just steps from the Delaware River…built in the 1940s with local stone on a turn-of-the-century foundation, the light filled, airy home boasts glorious views from almost every room…after devouring the article multiple times, what I found most extraordinary about this project was the way Carter re-imagined his clients’ family treasures…he created new works of art from beloved personal pieces by infusing a bit of modernity with tradition…take for example the coffee table in the living room (pictured below)…the Nakashima inspired cherry table, built by Morey’s father in the early 1960s, was enhanced by a Carter designed white metal structure…wrapped on three sides, it brings this family heirloom into the 21st century…how wonderful to see such an artful approach to preserving the past yet with a thoughtful eye to the present

Perfect for a quiet weekend get-away or for entertaining large crowds, this home brings to life all that Morey hoped for…a Zen life by the river…how extraordinary!

To read the entire ED article, click here

above ~ Homeowner David Morey in front of artwork created from salvaged metal skids

photos and resources from Elle Decor

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imperfection = perfection

His favorite country pleasure is listening to the sound of raindrops on the metal roof…here, he can relax and read…be with his beloved dogs…decompress…

Located just 50 miles from the hustle and bustle of Washington DC, designer Darryl Carter discovered this charming country retreat…an 1840s stucco-and-clapboard farmhouse nestled in the rolling hills and horse farms of bucolic Fauquier County…gently restored to reveal its humble origins, the beautiful imperfections are what make this home sing…rough walls, creaky old doors, and an absence of fanciful moldings result in a textured and tactile environment…in fact, one section of wall in the master bath was purposefully left unfinished, the underlaying lath exposed as art…ceilings, walls and floors are painted in Benjamin Moore whites, a uniform backdrop for his treasured architectural salvage, English and Italian antiques, and rustic curiosities…

A farmhouse getaway as only Darryl Carter could envision…imperfection = perfection

photos from Elle Decor, to read the ED article click here

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darryl carter ~ vision and patience

He loves old doors, shutters, bricks, and stones…in his capable hands, these found objects, with a past and a story, become art…to re-invent a humble throw away as sculpture is as comfortable for him as breathing in and out…the visionary? The one and only Darryl Carter…he pushes the boundaries of design in ways that wake up the senses and inspire new thinking…it seems fitting then that he would look to a crumbling building in the Shaw neighborhood of Northwest Washington DC to further his vision…it is the site for his new store and studio…a forlorn 19th century structure with missing windows and no working plumbing would scare most people away but for Darryl, it embodied the magic he was looking for…he encouraged the crew to, “do the opposite of what everyone else is doing…leave the nails in the boards!” The interior is being restored with a collection of salvaged materials, including granite blocks from Baltimore’s Druid Hill and arched glass doors from Georgetown’s Dumbarton House…the flooring is being milled from reclaimed timbers from the former embassy of the Central African Republic…slated for completion this fall, the shop will sell antiques, curiosities and accessories as well as furniture designed by Darryl himself…he envisions “a neighborhood gathering place” where customers can sip a latte from the espresso bar while shopping for unique finds…how wonderful! He’s giving this building new life, and to think, he’s using found objects to do it! I’ll keep you posted with the progress and if all goes as planned, I’ll be heading down to photograph the grand opening of this extraordinary re-birth in person!

above ~ Darryl Carter’s living room (notice the glorious wooden shutters)

below ~ a work in progress

top photo from Darryl Carter, all other photos from The Washington Post

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