WHITE + GOLD: white room

This is a picture of my best-friend, Darryl Carter. OKAY, he doesn't know he's my best-friend, but I'm pretty sure we would be if we ever met! Or maybe not, but I do LOVE his style. Oh, do I love his style, and let me count the ways...

1) He loves white as much as I do. (take a look at all off his interiors - all white walls!)

2) He has a minimalist approach to design. (I too think less is more)

3) He has a definite American vibe. (I lean more American than anything else)

4) His designs are so classic, meaningful and unique! (you all know how much I believe in meaningful design)

5) He uses a lot of American antiques. (I LOVE a great American antique, but antiques need to be balanced with modern, or the less-is-more approach)

6) He is based out of Washington D.C. and has a very "D.C. style" (My design aesthetic came from loving my grandparents style, which is very D.C., because they lived in Washington D.C.. It's where my Mom was born and raised and where half of my family was born)

Mr. Carter is a self-taught designer who happened to be an attorney before he became one of the great American designers. Because I too am a "self-taught" designer I always love to hear the success stories of other people who did not go to school.

And now for Darryl Carter's greatest-hits. And Darryl, if you happen by this post, call me!

all images via pinterest

Let's start with my long-time favorite...

A lamp on the floor?! Kind of like it in this space.

Love all the white w the black accents.

A very unconventional dining area - so cool.

That zebra chaise is ah-mazing!

Loving all the white + the glass shelves that see through to the kitchen.

Warm whites.

Super cool kitchen - look at that antique table turned into an island!

Beautiful bedroom with more white + black + zebra

Shelving genius + I love the white painted floor.

Antiques in the bathroom + the chevron floor.

Love this classic bathroom

Antiques but in a modern, eclectic set-up.

I'm a sucker for a kilim/antique rug in a kitchen

Wainscot + white + wood

Beautiful designed round table setting

More zebra! And I'm loving the piano decor.

He used the trendy chalk-board idea in a more modern + classy way

Maybe the only thing by BFF is missing is some gold in his designs. Or he could start a new design firm called White + Black next to my design firm White + Gold! What do you think?

Also, as you look at his work you definitely see a lot of repeats (zebra rugs, black accents, traditional sconces, white sofas). As a designer I have this fear of people thinking I'm a one-note designer, but in a way my friend Darryl has a little of that going on and I don't mind it one bit. What do you think? Is it good to have such a definite style that defines you, or is a more creative approach better?

I have a new client who needed some help with paint colors for her home. She wanted a more updated, modern look and needed paint to help her achieve that look. For some rooms in her home the only color I could recommend was a shade of white. What?! White? She thought that seemed like a waste of money to have the painter just paint it white. Have you ever felt that way? Does it feel too boring? Not enough color?

This isn't the case for all homes, or all rooms, but in many cases a white room is classy, modern, traditional - whatever you want it to be because it is a blank canvas for your furnishings + artwork to take over and do all the work. Add your color with your accessories, artwork, fabric. That's why I LOVE white rooms! White also feels happy, fresh, clean. All good things.

Check out some of my favorite white rooms...