My New Favorite Designer: Darryl Carter
by habituallychic
04 . 12 . 08
I’ve seen a little of Washington, DC based interior design Darryl Carter‘s work before but it’s his own Virgina getaway in the new Elle Decor that has me drooling! It passes my “I could move in today and be blissfully happy” test with flying colors. Carter calls his style “new traditional” and has used the phrase for his new book that will be released later this year. I can’t wait to see it but until then, I will continue to pour over the photos of this home.
Carter’s work is definitely American but also seems to have a Swedish feeling to it with it’s white walls and floors and simple elegance. But unlike the Swedish who use paler furnishings, Carter uses black and dark brown to great effect.
The sofa in the living room was designed by Carter and upholstered in oatmeal linen. The warm colors of the fabrics, rugs and wood keep the interior warm and inviting.
A silversmith’s table is used as a console in the foyer.
The farm table was actually designed by Carter and is made of reclaimed wood. I love the horn handled carafe and the pale shades of pottery on the built in shelves.
More reclaimed wood becomes shelves in the kitchen while an 18th-century table becomes an island. It’s funny that the modern appliances blend in nicely and don’t actually look out of place here.
I love the simplicity of the 19th-century portrait above the fireplace.
A painted barn door creates over sized art in the dining room and reminds me of a Steven Klein horse photograph.
The studio is one of my favorite rooms. I love the sculptural quality of the antique gurney and banyan bark partition from Indonesia. I also printed this photo out for inspiration for a client project. They are thinking about installing ceiling fans in their summer house and the dark version here looks like a more interesting alternative to white.
The outside of the studio.
A simple guestroom dressed in duvet and shams of Rogers & Goffigon fabric.
The horn chair looks like something I’ve seen at Nina Griscom’s shop and also looks like sculpture in the simple setting.
Another beautiful guestroom. I bet Darryl Carter has many visitors to his beautiful home every weekend. I know I would inviting myself if I lived in the area.
Carter designed the bed in the master bedroom and created a vanity in the bathroom from an oak demilune table below. All in all, the home looks like a welcome respite from Carter’s daily grind in DC. Sometimes it’s nice to get away from color and pattern that one encounters at work in the design world and escape to a sea of white and soothing colors. I know I would! 
Photos by Simon Upton
17 Comments
This is wonderful, and it’s the reason i just picked up this magazine. All the solid black shapes on white remind me of a Donald Sultan painting.
The boar’s head and simple plaster fireplace are just perfect.
I love the last photograph, the master bathroom picture … so intelligent to put a mirror in front of a window, so you can actually shave/makeup in natural light. And I love that light fixture just casually plugged into the wall with no fuss or pretension! (Though, he surely thought even that small gesture completely through.)
Yes! I did a post on this last week and his house is amazing. One of my favorites.
i loved this one as well. i love how fresh and inviting it seems even though it is mostly white which people always say is sterile.
All of his pieces have a great texture and patina. You can tell a lot went in to the selection process.
I was struck by this interior too. I really love an all white pallette punctuated by wonderful antiques and quirky finds. I can’t seem to be disciplined at my own house not to have a bunch of color. Sigh.
Jonathan, I think this was one of Elle Decor’s best issues. I loved everything. And the boar heads are so unique and interesting.
An Aethete’s Lament, I liked that the mirror was tall and narrow. Perfect for in front of a window and much better than a tiny little shaving mirror to the side. I especially loved the demilune table/vanity. Divine!
Stacy, I’ll have to check out your post. I think Darryl Carter is going to be very popular now!
Mackenna, White can be sterile if the furnishings are all modern and hard edged. I think Darryl Carter’s home looks so inviting since it’s filled with so many warm colored wood and upholstery and pops of black. The mix of textures helps as well.
BA, it’s filled with great vintage pieces but it doesn’t look like a flea market which is the key. I love it!
KatieDid, I’d love to see Darryl’s main home. I wonder since this is his weekend home he was able to be more disciplined and stick to a very neutral palette. Some creative types like a place to rest their eyes when they’re not working.
I have seen Darryl Carter’s work in the Washington Post over the years, and each one of his designs feels like.. I could move in this afternoon.
Post article
I love that house,very simple and elegant in a subtle way.
Darryl’s work was also featured in the Washington Post last year, this time showcasing his home in DC:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/11/AR2007041100560.html
And here in O at Home magazine:
http://www2.oprah.com/presents/oathome/200511/entertain/entertain_401.jhtml
There was also another feature in O at Home of a house he did in Potomac Maryland but I can’t find a link to it.
(can you tell I am a fan!)
I agree, he has quite an eye for creating soothing but contemporary and elegant spaces! Love it!
I have already pre-ordered the book which is coming out in August. I really love his style.
Hi HC, I recently became addicted to your blog so please continue to make time for it. I like Daryl’s work a lot, and I seem to recall seeing pictures of a very nice upscale furniture line, but his Thomasville furniture is a little disappointing. See what you think. It’s not bad, but I think it is challenging to “get the look” of top designers via a relatively low-priced line. I’ve found I do better looking for antiques or pieces at auction that have a similar look to what I’ve seen in pictures.
Impeccable. I love Darryl Carter’s aesthetic and the images above reflect what I consider PERFECTION. I’ll dream of myself in this space tonight!