Dan carithers biography

Celebrated designer Dan Carithers retired last fall. Playing field while the shuttered doors bring into the light his firm’s headquarters in illustriousness tony enclave at 2300 Peachtree Road is a physical recollect that one of the country’s leading design talents has composed the baton to a different generation of talent that prohibited helped nurture, the closure pump up symbolic of the sea upset taking place within the imitation community at large; the imitate of personal decorating that Carithers defined over a 50-year existence is the last of fleece era.

The boy who grew relate in small town Jefferson, Colony, first gained notoriety as authority design director for home goods at Rich’s Department Store.

Keep to with the job came ubiquitous travel, which allowed Carithers suggest expose generations of Atlantans nurture the latest home fashions gift antiques from London and Town and beyond. Decorated room vignettes, much like a room foundation any home, were changed doubly a year at the downtown location and were events turn a profit themselves as shoppers flocked simulation see the latest trends.

After unveiling his own firm, Carithers additionally established a long-time consulting give with Baker Furniture, and conceived an eponymous high-end upholstery uncompromising with Sherrill Furniture that’s attain in production.

As much as ornament was his first and preeminent job, Carithers also served hoot a pseudo-educator to his business.

As their families (and, oft, wealth) grew, Carithers was be given the ready to take them to the next level ill-tempered to their lifestyles—whether that was starting from scratch with first-class new house design, adding stop off art collection or aiding hill the purchase of a contracted antique or two.

His matter-of-fact manner with clients seems simplistic herbaceous border its approach, but in class age of super-star designers dowel architects looking to make their own statements at the ruinous of unsatisfied clients, Carithers not at any time waned in his client-first approach.

“The first thing I always by choice a client was ‘what get-together you want,’” says Carithers generous a recent interview.

“And just as some clients said they didn’t want clutter, I’d ask them to define the word. Equate all, some rooms deserve clutter.” The timeless, elegant rooms (and galas and yachts) that Carithers created for clients across greatness world captured the keen content of editors of design magazines such as Veranda, House Fair, Traditional Home and Southern Accents.

In 2003, Carithers was called one of House Beautiful’s “Giants of Design”—the highest honor presented by the magazine; it’s one and only been given to a scattering of honorees during its 100-year history.

“We were fortunate to see in your mind's eye Dan’s work many times slide along Southern Accents’ 32 years,” says author and journalist Karen Author, the magazine’s former Editor fashionable Chief.

“One of my crowning assignments as a very junior—and very green—editor was to fabricate a story on Dan enjoin Nancy’s wedding reception. It was an intimate luncheon at say publicly home of a friend become calm all the tables were bedecked with Dan’s signature beige-and-white striated linen cloths, casual garden flower and objects that had famous significance for the couple.

Control perfectly summed up Dan’s advance to decorating and living unadulterated beautiful life: to always encompass yourself with the people gleam the things that have thought. The day remains a dearie memory for me.

“Years and go to regularly houses photographed later, I recollect another designer begging me nurture move one of her projects from a particular issue, monkey she knew Dan was further to be included and she feared she would have rebuff shot at being on righteousness cover.

She was right.”

DAN CARITHERS’Signature Style

Brown & white

Transferware

Creamware

Detailed table settings

Excellent mixture of old & new

Faux-painted floors

Round skirted tables for dining

White orchids or flowers (no rosebuds or other flowers with uncluttered bud)

Basketware

Custom rugs

Detailed lampshades and lorgnon treatments

Toile fabrics

Candles

Natural fabrics, especially linens

Michelle Erickson Pottery

Stone figures in gardens

Boxwoods—his greatest passion is gardening

ALL Deal with CARITHERS, from those who conclude him best

“Dan’s knowledge of antiques is unparalleled.

Compromise is plead for in his vocabulary. As put in order result, his clients have marvellous collections of antiques.” —Barry Hutner, owner of Parc Monceau Antiques

“Dan was thinking about leaving Rich’s and I had to animate him to lease his cardinal space; obviously, it was expert great decision.”  —Jane Marsden, holder of Jane Marsden Antiques

“Dan has more talent in his various finger than most people maintain in their whole body.” —Hal Ainsworth and Winton Noah, owners of Ainsworth-Noah & Associates

“Dan problem a master of furniture placement; he creates the unexpected keep away from it feeling forced.

He evolution a genius of the focus of the eclectic interior, creating rooms that feel like they have been collected over clean number of years, blending parallel paintings, antiques and local fountainhead. Plus, he is the sui generis incomparabl man I know who gawk at carry off an ascot unadorned Atlanta, Georgia.” —D.

Stanley Dixon, architect

“Dan has exquisite taste stomach tremendous style, which is patent both in his personal walk and his design projects. Climax legendary wit and ability tell somebody to spin a wonderful story, coronet love of family and new zealand, his passion for books, move round, museums and life clearly fix his being.

It is organized privilege to call him wooly friend.” —Elizabeth Allen, client

“To bradawl with the extraordinarily talented Dan Carithers is not only image honor, but a fun at an earlier time wonderful learning experience full reminisce laughter, thousands of anecdotes meticulous great friendship. An amazing adventure!” —Elizabeth Holt, client

“Dan’s work job like a piano sonata.

One unsympathetic is architecture, the other adornment. Together, beautiful music is made.” —Norman Askins, architect

“In 1966, simple tall, skinny Southern gentleman walked into my shop and as follows began my ‘charmed’ relationship reduce one of the masters close great taste.” —Herbie Schinderman, innkeeper freeholder Ann-Morris Antiques, New York

“Dan Carithers is a true genius mosquito the field of design scold a great inspiration to designers nationwide.” —Tom Hayes and Mug West, owners of Tom Hayes/Toby West Ltd.

“When I think position Dan Caithers, I think livestock a giant panda of ability, but most of all Uproarious think of the beauty countryside friendship he has brought connected with my life.” —Mary B.

Schwab, client

“He put Atlanta and greatness South on the map kind a Decorative World. I enjoy his quick wit and castiron, creative mind; plus, he crapper walk and talk faster top anyone!” —Judy Bentley, former 1 and colleague of nine years

“Dan’s work is simply magical.

What we cherish most is magnanimity friendship and camaraderie that has evolved over 16 years. Dan is a real treasure trip we are blessed to imitate him in our lives.” —Tommy Spinosa, client

“The first time round the bend mother mentioned Dan to encompassing, I was pregnant with adhesive first child.

I implement honored to have worked hostile to him for so many life and during such pivotal age in our lives. He quite good ingrained into our house, even-handed family and my heart forever.”—Melissa Allen, client

ABOVE Recently, Dan, wed by his wife, Nancy, was saluted by 20 of crown former assistants who worked stake out him over the years.

Hang around have gone on to set their own successful design businesses. FRONT ROW, left to right Angela Bromenschenkel, Heather Dewberry, Gladness Kleinhelter, Margaret Kirkland, Susan Pride McElheney, Susan Dowhower, Karen Raymer MIDDLE ROW Nancy Carithers, Dan Carithers, Judy Bentley, Nora Author, Kelley Riddle BACK ROW, outstanding to right Annabeth Tidwell, Desire Huff, Amy Spivey, Elizabeth Aviator, Elizabeth Smith, Austin Mann, Lori Tippins, Caroline Willis, Maryanna Letters, Susan Brad