Darryl Carter: A New Venture!

Darryl Carter is a lawyer-turned designer-turned author-turned furniture designer-turned model....wait back up on that last one right???  See for yourself...

Then:

Now:

I discovered this ad inside the latest issue of House Beautiful.  I found it rather amusing.  It tells me this man does not take himself too serious to get down on the floor and strike a pose on behalf of Benjamin Moore Paints.  His favorite paint company.  Which if like me, you admire and follow his work, probably already know this!

While I am certain Mr. DC from Washington, D.C. has been posted about many times in the blogsphere, this ad gave me a jumping off point to share some of my favorites images of his work, both current and from years past.

Views of the the kitchen breakfast area...

Then:

Now:

I love the fact that many elements remain unchanged and yet the space clearly has a new look. It's a bit more elegant.  Notice all the changes still incorporate hits of black.  In the older version, it was subtle. The ribbon detail of the roman shades, the black chandelier shades, the black iron etagere and the black framed botanicals on the other end of the room.  Now there is a statement piece.  A beautiful black bookcase, designed by Mr. Carter that holds his collection of white dishes.  Despite its size, color and fretwork, it does not overwhelm the space.  The only other notable hit of black is in the change of chair fabric.  This space still reads as calm and serene, but is now more sophisticated.

I doubt I would have never thought to put an etagere on top of a kitchen island!  It appears to be the same one as previously located in the breakfast area, minus the ball finials.  It looks quite good here and lends a cozy feeling to the voluminous ceilings.

The bathroom...

Then:

Now:

The bathroom is another stunning example of taking an already beautiful space and somehow making it even better by introducing a few elegant additions.  Initially, the bathroom was a crisp white space with it's ebony stained barrister bookcases, a nod to Carter's past.  The pair of tubs are such a unique feature...can you imagine how decadent two tubs must be!  And, now with the introduction of an 18th-century secretary, that previously called his living room home, makes you almost forget that you are in a bathroom!  The once white shutters, that Carter designed, are now black with simple linen roller shades.  A pair of architectural pieces salvaged from the Russian embassy now sit in front of the bathtubs.

This is a Capitol Hill loft from a 2004 tear sheet.  One of the first I saved of Carter's work:

I love the uncomplicated feeling of Carter's work.  But, it is his ablility to bring so many interesting elements together and make it appealing and believable for real life that truly makes me admire his amazing talent for redefining traditional interiors.  Eveyone in design has their fantasies, stepping foot inside his home makes my top 10 list!!!

"Now" images all courtesy of Elle Decor November 2009.  Photography by Simon Upton.  "Then" images courtesy of Southern Living-year unknown, The Washington Post Magazine April 2004 and The Washington Post At Home Fall 2008.