A Moment With Darryl Carter

Written by Sherry Moeller Photography by Paul Burk

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What time, place, or concept most inspires your interior designs?

Global travel. Observation of culture, art, and architecture.

What questions do you ask potential clients before undertaking a project?

Have they worked with a designer before? If not, so begins the rigorous explanation of how the process works; refining from the conceptual to the finite details – such as space planning, procurement, and installation.

I ask about their candid, actual lifestyle as distinguished from projected lifestyle…children, pets, how they entertain, and of course budget. The first meeting is to assess a personality fit for us both, because without this, none of the other questions have consequence.

How would you describe your personal style?

A timeless marriage of the modern with the antique…thoughtful collection…lasting, avoiding passing trends.

Name your strongest professional influences.

Architects John Pawson, I.M. Pei, Rosario Candela, James Carpenter, and Thomas Jefferson. All disciplined visionaries before their time.

What’s the most challenging project you’ve tackled?

The development of my businesses.

Name your favorite:

–Recent inexpensive purchase for the home:

Antique iron coat hooks from The Brass Knob (thebrassknob.com) in Adams Morgan.

–Recent high-end purchase for the home:

A rare American Regency settee circa 1820.

–Room in the house:

My master bedroom sitting room for its piles of books.

–Way to unwind at home after a long day:

Reading any number of biographies or watching forensic crime reconstructions on A&E.

–Design book:

Any from the Belgian publisher Beta-Plus (www.betaplus.be).

–New design item for the home:

My own Sheridan Table Lamp for The Urban Electric Company (urbanelectricco.com) made from espresso wood, tea-stained plaster, glass, and oxidized metal – four of my favorite ingredients.

–Great housewarming gift?

Anything from food purveyor Mackenzie Limited (mackenzieltd.com).

As simply as possible, what is your design philosophy?

“As simply as possible.”