The Collected Home: Rooms with Style, Grace, and History

by Darryl Carter

Readers who love new traditional design that's clean and refined yet comfortable will find inspiration and liberation in how acclaimed designer and author Darryl Carter perceives the home as a collection of beloved hand-selected items.

In The New Traditional, Darryl Carter laid out the principles of his widely recognized and beloved design aesthetic, which balances individual comfort with a subtle color palette to achieve serene and timeless style. Now, Darryl explores the essence of what brings a home to life, from textures to multipurpose furniture to unexpected objects.

The Collected Home dazzles with gorgeous photographs of rooms and details, and enlightening text about what makes a space extraordinary. Additionally, Darryl provides--for the first time ever--hands-on advice for approaching home design, such as defining short- and long-term goals, from selecting an antique door knocker to planning the architectural elements of an addition.

Lavishly illustrated, this book is a must-have for anyone who desires a home that feels richly layered, full of character, and unquestionably calm.

Genres: Design, Interior Design

208 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2012

Reviews

[Florence · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book about "Rooms with Style, Grace, and History" as expressed perfectly in the title.

[Janelle]

These were not really houses that looked like people actually lived in them and the owners (and the author) were clearly ultra wealthy. But there were some really cool elements and I liked the way he re-purposed objects and even architectural features.

[Emily D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only beautifully curated photos, but thoughtful writing. Lovely.

[Carm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed looking through this book. The pictures are just lovely and memorable.

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The rooms are quite lovely, but there is little life in them. Yes, he gives the room history and elegance, but he never breathed any life into them. If you really want a laugh, read the text. The pretentiousness of it was hilarious. I actually cringed when I read the dedication where he mentions two very young boys, that I assume are his children. I hope this man does not actually go around spouting unbelievable ridiculousness such as this.

The children's rooms were terribly boring. I have always felt that more adult furniture and styles should be used, so I have to applaud him for that. I also think that their rooms should be neat and orderly as well, rather than looking as if a toy store had exploded in them. I think it teaches a child to respect his belongings as well as giving them a peaceful place to come to. However in this book the adult tones are completely overdone. By not including anything remotely interesting or stimulating in those rooms, he has sucked all of the joy and fun from them. They just looked like something on a showroom floor as if no living, breathing child had ever entered them. Actually all of the rooms looked like that. They are certainly pretty, but you do not really want to sit down in them and relax.

[Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darryl Carter is a major inspiration to me. Such elegance- I adore how he uses traditional forms in such a fresh, modern way. His work truly embodies timelessness.

[Happy Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minimalist design in traditional settings.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could afford a designer it would be Darryl Carter--restrained, collected, and so calm.