The Collected Home by Darryl Carter

7/31/2019 The Collected Home by Darryl Carter

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the collected home


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Copyright 2012 by Darryl Carter Design Group, Inc.Photographs copyright 2012 by Gordon Beall except on page 12,copyright by Simon Upton

All rights reserved.Published in the United States by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, animprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of RandomHouse, Inc., New York.www.crownpublishing.comwww.clarksonpotter.com

CLARKSON POTTER is a trademark and POTTER with colophonis a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataCarter, DarrylThe collected home/Darryl Carter with Trish Donnally.1st ed.

p. cm.Includes index.

1. Interior decorationPsychological aspects. I. Donnally, Trish.II. Title.

NK2113.C365 2012747dc23 2011043291

ISBN 978-0-307-95394-0

Printed in China

Book design by Rae Ann Spitzenberger

J a c k e t i m a g e : Artwork by Edward Finnegan hangs above my

clients coffee table that was enlarged to better suit the space throughan engineering marvel performed by Joe Wills. His work includedmatching the cleft edge of the existing tableit is as if it was alwaysat its current size. The chair was found during one of my many travels.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition


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38 the collected home


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F R EN C H DO O R S

A N D F O L DI N G

G L A S S D O O R S

A B O V E T H E

C O U N T ER B R I N G

I N T I M A C Y T O A

L A R G E K I T C H E N .


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enhance

E N V I S I O N P O S S I B I L I T I E S

If you are building, renovating, or perhaps just out to enhance the sense of pro-portion in a room, there are many possible solutions. Walls may be moved.

Windows may be enlarged. French doors may be added to create a greater sense

of intimacy within a larger space. The character of a room can change signifi-

cantly by the simple introduction of ceiling treatments, including beams, coffers,

ogee molding, skylights, and laylights. And certain window treatments can

transform the experience of a room. Shutters, for instance, may enhance the

architecture in a room far more than other superficial window coverings.

When thinking about your home, try to view a room almost as if it were a

skeletal infrastructure, where the floors, walls, and ceilings interact with one

another almost anatomically. All these surfaces should be treated with the samedeference to ensure that they work together seamlessly. Remember, form follows

function. Windows, for example, may initially seem to call for window treat-

ments. But such treatments may actually be unnecessary if you have privacy

and do not need window coverings. Perhaps natural light washing over the

room would be more pleasing than gratuitously covering windows simply for

the sake of embellishment. In this regard, discreet architectural gestures may be

more impactful than ornamental decoration such as a swag or jabot.

If you do want window treatments, however, consider the amount of space

required to mount shades or drapery panels. This may help guide which style of

window treatment you select. Think about the weight of the window treatmentsto determine if blocking (wood tied to the wall structure) is necessary to support


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design

T h e o p p o s i n g c o l u m n s s T a n d w h e r e f u l l - h e i g h T

w a l l s on c e s T ood. T h e w a l l s w ere g oi n g T o b e

r e p l a c e d b y s T r o n g e r w a l l s T h a T c o u l d s u p p o r T

d o u b l e f r e n c h d o o r s . b u T w h e n T h e w a l l s c a m e

d o w n , b e a u T i f u l l i g h T c a m e i n .

r e m o v i n g w a l l s

The opposite principle is that opening up walls and simply suggesting the delin-

eation of rooms with architectural elements can help a small space feel larger

and residually enhance the flow of natural light through your home. Be careful

not to allow open spaces overwhelm each other, though. Milled columns or

sliding doors can delineate spaces while still keeping things open when you

want or need them to be.

I recall a center hall apartment that had two parlors and a second bedroom

all in tandem. The initial plan was to convert one parlor into the dining room,

the center parlor into the living room, and the bedroom into an elegant study.

Given the turn-of-the-century architecture and the formality of the space, the

plan was to double the size of the original door openings that connected the

spaces by adding two sets of double French doors directly across from each

other. Because the building was antiquated, new walls were needed to supportthe weight of the new French doors, so the existing interior walls would have to

come down.

The old walls came down during demolition, and during the interim, before

the new walls went up, I visited the jobsite. Three windows in the exterior walls

provided a sense of light that could not have been fully appreciated before. The

effect was transformative: it was clear that the walls should be left down and

the French door concept abandoned. Four columns would simply define the

space of the two parlors, which now have the benefit of a dramatically improved

vista and light. Occasionally, there are moments in a project when a home will

actually express itself. Be careful to listen. Sometimes a change of path may be

an opportunity to tremendously improve a space; embrace it.


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N U T S A N D B O L T S

suggestions for bathroomsWhen planning your bathroom, there are many options to consider. Before selecting fixtures

and fittings, you may want to think about the following:

0 Do you have a preference for a soaking

tub versus a shower? Will a tub

enhance resale?

0 Are you hoping to incorporate a heavy

bathtub or a heavy stone slab? The

structure of older homes may not

accommodate the extra weight without

reinforcement.

0 Is privacy a concern? Consider window

placement and whether you would like

a separate water closet.

0 Where would towel bars and/or hooks

be most useful? If you are not installing

them directly into the wall studs,

blocking may be needed.

0 Do you prefer open vanities or is

storage more critical? If using an

exposed basin, select one that is

glazed on the underside for a finished

look. The standard may not be glazed.

0

Be sure to specify the finish for exposedpipe fittings.

0 Would you like a towel warmer?

Certain models may have plumbing

requirements that need to be

anticipated.

0 Consider ordering the toilet trip lever

in a finish to match other fittings.

Having matching finishes supports

a harmonious appearance.

0 Would you like a steam shower?

Consider where the operating system

will be housed and where the controls

will be located. These are often

cumbersome and have very specific

requirements, so deciding early in

the process is advisable.

0 Would you like radiant heating for the

floor or shower seat? These can affect

electrical and/or plumbing.

0 Do you need an electrical outlet in your

medicine cabinet or the drawer where

you store your hair dryer, electric razor,

and so forth?

0 Grout joint widths are visually impactful.

Some tumbled tiles will have inconsistent

grout joints; you may want to request a

mock-up sample from the tile vendor to

see the finished product.

0 Tile and grout color may respond

differently in varying light conditions;

review the samples in place.


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design

T H I S M A S T ER

B A T H R O O M I S

A S T U DY I N

S ER EN I T Y . A

S O A K I N G T U B

A N D C A N D L E S

S I M PLE DO ES


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connect

T H E S PI R I T OF T H I S H OUS E W A S F ORM A L , Y ET EN G A G I N G , S O OUR

M I S S I ON W A S T O US E C OL OR A N D PA T T ERN T O A M PL I F Y T H ES E

EX I S T I N G C ON DI T I ON S . T H E L I V I N G ROOM H ERE EPI T OM I ZES T H ES E

C H A RA C T ERI S T I C S . T H E B OOKS H EL VES W ERE A N A DDI T I ON . T H E

F ORM ER F I REPL A C E M A N T EL W A S REPL A C ED W I T H A H I S T ORI C A L

M A N T EL T H A T REF EREN C ED T H E H OM E S A RC H I T EC T URE. T H E

S URROUN D W A S C H A N G ED T O A C A L M ER G RA Y - G REEN S L A T E. T H I S

S T ON E W A S S EL EC T ED S O T H A T I T W OUL D I N T EG RA T E W I T H T H E

F UT URE T EX T I L E PA L ET T E, W H I C H W A S DERI VED I N T URN F ROM T H E

M OS T F A I N T C OL OR REF EREN C E T O T H E A UB US S ON RUG . US I N G

T H E T OI L E ON I T S REVERS E DUL L ED T H E M ORE G RA PH I C PA T T ERN

PREC I S EL Y T O T H E S UB T L E G REEN PA L ET T E OF T H E ROOM .

D C - 0 1 D C - 0 4 D C - 1 4 D C - 1 8

D C - 1 9 D C - 2 0 D C - 2 1 D C - 4 6


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connect

T H E S U B T LE M O V EM EN T I N T H I S W A LLPA PER E D A LC O V E W A S I N S P I R ED

B Y T H E S U R R O U N DI N G F O L I A G E. T H E B A C K G R O U N D O F T H I S PA PER

W A S PU R PO S ELY C H O S EN T O R ELA T E T O T H E S O O T H I N G PA LE EC R U

W A LL C O LO R I N T H E N E I G H B O R I N G G U ES T B EDR O O M .

D C - 0 2 DC - 0 9 D C - 1 0 D C - 1 3

D C - 1 7 DC - 1 1 D C - 1 2 D C - 2 3


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CO L L E C T

Once the envelope of your home is established, now comes the fun ofcollecting your furnishings. This layering of the home is an ever-evolving

process, and it offers the truest overall expression of your personality. While

the making of the house must be logic driven, it should also be heart-

felt. Equally important as textile selection is the furniture it will reside

upon. Furniture most strongly sets the tone for how your home will be

experienced.

S E E K T H E A R T I S A N A L I N F U R N I T U R E

T H E PA I N T ED M I LL T R EA T M EN T L I B ER A T ES T H I S

T U DO R H O U S E A N D PR O V I DES A W ELC O M I N G

B A C K G R O U N D I N T H E F O Y ER .

7


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collect

D E F I N I N G P I E C E S

It is not uncommon for me to find a single piece that will define the entire char-acter of the design of a house. In one instance, a clients kitchen was still on the

drawing board. In general, kitchens should share some sense of the at-large

design vocabulary of the home. I thought that an antique French bakers table

incorporated into the kitchen island might be just such a defining piece, because

it related to the rest of the home. I added a honed stone top to the primitive

table, which was just what it needed. The stone refined and elevated that piece

and its utility. Plus the bakers table served as a focal point in the kitchen and

greatly relieved the static regiment of milled cabinetry around the rooms perim-

eter. Knowing that various handsome antiques would adorn the rest of the

house, I felt the kitchen needed one at its epicenter.Sometimes you can integrate a small piece of furniture into a larger one and

give it new life. My firm had one client whose father was a contemporary of

George Nakashima, the renowned furniture maker. Under his training, the

father had made a small coffee table, which had been in storage for years. Natu-

rally, this was a keepsake. The scale of the table, however, was too small for the

intended room. In fact, when we went to visit the storage facility, where it had

been sequestered most of the homeowners adult life, the client joked about how

large the table had seemed from his childhood memory. Now, it was dwarfed by

his six-foot, five-inch frame. To redefine the original table to suit the space, we

enlarged it by commissioning a bigger white metal box around it on three sides

and leaving the top and the legs of the original smaller table exposed on one

side. In effect, this treatment provided the necessary mass for the space while

both honoring and preserving the original table.

ABOVE: A S I T W A S C R E A T E D U N D E R

T H E T R A I N I N G O F G E O R G E N A K A S H I M A ,

T H E S M A L L E R T A B L E I S A V E R Y

I M P O R T A N T K E E P S A K E T H A T N E E D E D

T O B E P R O M I N E N T L Y P L A C E D . T H E

L I V I N G R O O M C A L L E D F O R A L A R G E R

T A B L E , A N D S O T H E S E N E E D S W E R E

M A R R I E D .

OPPOSITE: T H E F R E N C H B A K E R S

T A B L E W A S E N G A G E D A S P A R T O F

T H I S K I T C H E N I S L A N D T O A D D

B O T H I N T E R E S T A N D U T I L I T Y .


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curate

M A K E A S T A T E M E N T

Certain areas of your home that may seem awkward, such as powder rooms,

actually provide opportunities to indulge your guests and take some chances.

Because powder rooms are routinely small, this is where you may opt for more

precious wallpapers or hand-painted walls or other rarer wall t reatments.

In my own powder room, I have covered the walls in framed cartoons that

each defame the design process. I cannot tell you how many of my guests yank

me aside after reading those cartoons. It almost inspires a sense of a secret soci-

ety, and it is fascinating to me to discover who gravitates toward which comic.

Powder rooms are also the unapologetic bastion of garish mirrors, as they

should be. And because garish does not mean precious, this is one instance

where so many different frames can work. Paint can really redefine flea market

finds in this context. You can also experiment widely with vanities here. I often

create vanities out of an antique console or small chest suspended on legs,

adapting the top with stone to install a sink. An ornate console can be tem-

pered by a mirror that is not too fussy, depending upon your tastes.

If you are bashful about too much opulence, then consider a closet as your

laboratory for recklessness. Here wallpaper can be safely sequestered. Nonethe-

less, youll want to thoughtfully choose patterns and colors that are classic. My

own foyer guest closet is papered in a black and gilt chinoiserie pattern.

M Y O W N P O W D E R R O O M I S V E R Y

T E L L I N G I F Y O U C A R E F U L L Y R E A D

T H E F R A M E D C O M I C S T H A T C O V E R

I T S W A L L S . M O S T O F T H E M P O K E F U N

AT T H E D E S I G N P R O C E S S , S U C H A S

T H E N E E D F O R P E R E N N I A L S T O

M A T C H E X A C T L Y T H E P A I N T C O L O R

O N T H E S H U T T E R S O F T H E H O U S E .


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T H E M O DER N A R T I S A

PLEA S I N G F O I L T O T H E

T U F T ED F O R M O F T H E

C H ES T ER F I ELD S O F A .


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curate

N U T S A N D B O L T S

suggestions for lightingAmong the many details to examine when you approach lighting are the following:

0 Consider where to locate junction

boxes for pendants, chandeliers,

and sconces.

0 Will heavy-duty junction boxes or

blocking (wood supports) be required

for overhead fixtures to accommodate

weight?

0 Often antique sconces have smaller

back platesit is important to verify

the dimensions when purchasing thesconces so the necessary preparations

can be made.

0 If sconces with back plates smaller than

standard sizes are going to be used,

coordination with a general contractor/

electrician is needed to identify the

appropriate solution to meet code

requirements.

0 Consider adding electrical receptacles

for floor lamps and/or other items that

will float in a room.0 To determine the desired location

for a floor receptacle, it is helpful to

develop your furniture plan first. A floor

receptacle would be better suited under

a large piece of furniture that will hide it

rather than in the middle of a pathway.

0 Coordinate your preferred floor outlet

locations with your general contractor/

electrician, who can help you determine

if this placement is possible based

on the locations of existing floor joists.

Once construction is under way, it

is difficult and costly to move the

receptacles, so planning ahead is

critical.

0 Consider the location of light switches

as well as the thermostat and alarm

controls. When possible, avoid placing

them in the middle of a wall that could

otherwise be used for art.

0 Consider adding dimmable switches or

a lighting control system. Soft light sets

the ambience of a room. While it may

be important to be able to turn the lights

all the way up for cleaning, you would

not want to host a dinner party under

such conditions.


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The Collected Home by Darryl Carter