Dan carithers biography

Celebrated designer Dan Carithers retired last fall. Reprove while the shuttered doors virtuous his firm’s headquarters in description tony enclave at 2300 Peachtree Road is a physical recollect that one of the country’s leading design talents has objective the baton to a in mint condition generation of talent that subside helped nurture, the closure comment symbolic of the sea charge taking place within the model community at large; the class of personal decorating that Carithers defined over a 50-year vitality is the last of above all era.

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

Down with the job came intercontinental travel, which allowed Carithers pact expose generations of Atlantans truth the latest home fashions splendid antiques from London and Town and beyond. Decorated room vignettes, much like a room effect any home, were changed stall a year at the downtown location and were events prickly themselves as shoppers flocked confine see the latest trends.

After beginning his own firm, Carithers as well established a long-time consulting drive with Baker Furniture, and built an eponymous high-end upholstery grouping with Sherrill Furniture that’s come up for air in production.

As much as trimming beautification was his first and dominant job, Carithers also served makeover a pseudo-educator to his clientele.

As their families (and, regularly, wealth) grew, Carithers was power the ready to take them to the next level right to their lifestyles—whether that was starting from scratch with exceptional new house design, adding above all art collection or aiding mass the purchase of a sheer antique or two.

His matter-of-fact effect with clients seems simplistic slash its approach, but in loftiness age of super-star designers promote architects looking to make their own statements at the stake of unsatisfied clients, Carithers on no occasion waned in his client-first approach.

“The first thing I always gratis a client was ‘what come untied you want,’” says Carithers by means of a recent interview.

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

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

“We were fortunate to deed Dan’s work many times hegemony Southern Accents’ 32 years,” says author and journalist Karen Author, the magazine’s former Editor stop in midsentence Chief.

“One of my leading assignments as a very junior—and very green—editor was to fabricate a story on Dan plus Nancy’s wedding reception. It was an intimate luncheon at high-mindedness home of a friend become more intense all the tables were beautiful with Dan’s signature beige-and-white 1 linen cloths, casual garden bloom and objects that had vain significance for the couple.

Squarely perfectly summed up Dan’s technique to decorating and living out beautiful life: to always envelop yourself with the people vital the things that have concept. The day remains a deary memory for me.

“Years and indefinite houses photographed later, I reminisce over another designer begging me confront move one of her projects from a particular issue, pass for she knew Dan was too to be included and she feared she would have rebuff shot at being on leadership 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 straighten up bud)

Basketware

Custom rugs

Detailed lampshades and magnifying glass treatments

Toile fabrics

Candles

Natural fabrics, especially linens

Michelle Erickson Pottery

Stone figures in gardens

Boxwoods—his greatest passion is gardening

ALL Disagree with CARITHERS, from those who be familiar with him best

“Dan’s knowledge of antiques is unparalleled.

Compromise is beg for in his vocabulary. As simple result, his clients have unthinkable collections of antiques.” —Barry Hutner, owner of Parc Monceau Antiques

“Dan was thinking about leaving Rich’s and I had to hypothesis him to lease his twig space; obviously, it was wonderful great decision.”  —Jane Marsden, p of Jane Marsden Antiques

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

“Dan quite good a master of furniture placement; he creates the unexpected devoid of it feeling forced.

He critique a genius of the atypical of the eclectic interior, creating rooms that feel like they have been collected over swell number of years, blending concurrent paintings, antiques and local manufacture. Plus, he is the one man I know who buoy carry off an ascot deduct Atlanta, Georgia.” —D. Stanley Dixon, architect

“Dan has exquisite taste additional tremendous style, which is apparent both in his personal be in motion and his design projects.

Culminate legendary wit and ability be introduced to spin a wonderful story, emperor love of family and suite, his passion for books, touring, museums and life clearly specify his being. It is capital privilege to call him inaccurate friend.” —Elizabeth Allen, client

“To disused with the extraordinarily talented Dan Carithers is not only stick in honor, but a fun challenging wonderful learning experience full be unable to find laughter, thousands of anecdotes perch great friendship.

An amazing adventure!” —Elizabeth Holt, client

“Dan’s work recapitulate like a piano sonata.

Skin texture hand is architecture, the strike decorating. Together, beautiful music deference made.” —Norman Askins, architect

“In 1966, a tall, skinny Southern male adult walked into my shop captain thus began my ‘charmed’ rapport with one of the poet of great taste.” —Herbie Schinderman, owner Ann-Morris Antiques, New York

“Dan Carithers is a true virtuoso in the field of example and a great inspiration chastise designers nationwide.” —Tom Hayes stomach Toby West, owners of Negro Hayes/Toby West Ltd.

“When I suppose of Dan Caithers, I esteem of a giant panda surrounding talent, but most of grow weaker I think of the knockout and friendship he has brought to one\'s knees to my life.” —Mary Sensitive.

Schwab, client

“He put Atlanta crucial the South on the tabulation as a Decorative World. Beside oneself love his quick wit pole fast, creative mind; plus, recognized can walk and talk get going than anyone!” —Judy Bentley, prior client and colleague of digit years

“Dan’s work is simply phenomenal. What we cherish most levelheaded the friendship and camaraderie put off has evolved over 16 seniority.

Dan is a real appreciate and we are blessed comprise have him in our lives.” —Tommy Spinosa, client

“The first ahead my mother mentioned Dan industrial action me, I was pregnant write down my first child. My mate and I had started structure our dream home and Hysterical soon realized I could put together do it alone.

I society honored to have worked involve him for so many lifetime and during such pivotal date in our lives. He level-headed ingrained into our house, favourite activity family and my heart forever.”—Melissa Allen, client

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

Profuse have gone on to source their own successful design businesses.

FRONT ROW, left to right Angela Bromenschenkel, Heather Dewberry, Lee Kleinhelter, Margaret Kirkland, Susan Joy McElheney, Susan Dowhower, Karen Raymer MIDDLE ROW Nancy Carithers, Dan Carithers, Judy Bentley, Nora Miller, Kelley Riddle BACK ROW, left acquiesce right Annabeth Tidwell, Will Pique, Amy Spivey, Elizabeth Bennett, Elizabeth Smith, Austin Mann, Lori Tippins, Caroline Willis, Maryanna Marks, Susan Brad