Do Neutrals Ever Qualify as Warm and Cozy?
Does Dan Carithers Quaify as Warm and Cozy?

A resounding yes and yes on both counts - as we'll see in today's blog.  So far the elements of cozy have included fireplaces, libraries and books, touches of red, wallpaper, tapestries, antiques, plants, beams and stonework, leather furnishings, a smallish size. A home need not have all of these elements to be cozy, yet even with all his use of neutrals, Dan Carithers's home and design definitely remain cozy and warm.  See if you agree.

Today, readers still bemoan the loss of Southern Accents.  I never subscribed to it, but checked it out in bookstores, and purchased it when homes like the Carithers's one appeared.

Even though this issue is sixteen years old, Carithers's home is timely, beautiful, warm, cozy - and neutral.  The following images of his foyer contain glimpses through to the living room.
                       
                                                                           
                         

Glimpse of the living room fireplace from foyer.

The living room's slipcovered daybed could be in today's homes, and its height provides "a bit of privacy for seated guests by blocking part of the view from passersby."  Brilliant.

The study with its books, antique map of Paris and statue of St. Joseph.  The use of vintage religious statues is a technique often used by designers like John Saladino today.

The family room with its fireplace and beams.  Love the paisley throw hung casually on the railing.

I, of course, love the kitchen - the antique settle-like chair, the copper, the beams, the island and two of the Carithers's children actually cooking (I think).  The kitchen is a new addition to the back of the house.

                                             
Kitchen's breakfast room with collection of Staffordshire.                  

 
Dining room's three styles of chairs, trompe l'oeil medallions on the wall, and French doors leading to the garden.                                                                      

Cozy bedroom with toile wallpaper and shutters.  I love, love shutters.

 
Pink bedroom overlooks the garden off the dining room.                                              

Dan and Nancy Carithers.  "I like houses that look like they grew up out of the ground instead of being placed on it," says Dan.  My husband would have agreed whole-heartedly.  It took him months to place our house just right.  Sadly, too many builders ignore this step.

Don't you love white painted brick?  Last post's home showed stone with white shingles.  This home with painted brick and clapboards is equally charming.  It's perfect.

So far in the Carithers's house, we've seen two fireplaces, antiques, beams, wallpaper, shutters, brick work and a study with its books.  What could it possibly be missing?  That touch of red perhaps, but Dan takes care of that at Christmas as seen in the following issue of Southern Accents.

Red on the outside...

With Dan bringing it inside.

Just the right touches.

In all the right places.

And now to some favorite images of Carithers's work gleaned from Pinterest.  (Hope you will forgive me if I've stepped on any copyright toes by repeating your images here.)

Another view of the Carithers home.

And its beautiful garden.

A very neutral and welcoming Carithers living room.

And lastly, true to my blog's name, are two Carithers kitchens that I have loved.  The beams, the oriental rugs with their reds, the leather and checked chairs, the plants, the antiques - all warmly speak to me.

Another view of same kitchen.  Such great storage - something my own kitchen lacks.

And lastly, his kitchen from Kiawah island.  More grays than neutrals, but don't you love it?  The beams, the stove's hood, the furnishings, the books - all so good.

So, my friends and readers, even when neutral, isn't Carithers's work the warmest and coziest?  Guess you know my opinion.

Still cold in my area, so I am still not finished with warm and cozy.  Do you think of John Saladino's work as warm and cozy?  You will after my next post.

Till then,

b

To Be Cozy and Warm, Must a House Be Small?

That is the question.  From the homes selected below, the answer appears to be yes. I was drawn to one earlier home because it just seemed cozier and warmer.  It is so windy and cold here today, all things warmer and cozier are more alluring.  Our weather definitely may have been my deciding factor, but don't let it influence you.  Decide yourself.  I end with more current, but still small rooms. See what you think - does small = cozy?  Or, is it just the weather in upstate New York that makes me think so?

Yes, you read it correctly - a 1996 issue of Veranda.  But the key word here is Winter.  Even Veranda was affected by winter in 1996.

Not a teensy house, but not large by today's standards.   And, I might add, not covered in snow.

View of one of the chimneys.  Aren't the windows on either side of it perfect??  They look like the eyes of the home.

Jean Keller Huff designed several other Atlanta homes for this medical couple.  Working on this house, all involved trusted one another which had to make the effort seamless - unlike we see on Million Dollar Decorators.

Main entryway.  Horses will be a recurring theme of the owners.

Besides size, the red accents, the oriental rug, the antiques, the books and the leather chair all radiate coziness.

The interests of the husband can be seen here - from travel to horses.  Love the worn-looking leather chair and antique globe.

Ah yes, one of the fireplaces and more red touches.  A warm hearth, but not a huge hearth.

Other side of living room with more red.

Someone is a firm believer that "more is more."  Even though small and cozy are the focus of the day, a bit less "more" might be a good choice below.  Have you ever dined at a table with a cloth going to the floor?  Impossible to be comfortable and even seems like a disaster in the making.  Still, it looks lovely - and warm.

Note the fireplace in master bedroom - such a luxury.  Again, this room and hearth are not huge, just warm.

A glimpse of the window to the right of the bedroom fireplace.  Remember, we saw it from the outside.
Painted floor in the master bedroom and bath is unique.

Kitchen eating area with its fireplace roaring.

View through hallway to rear entry.

The kitchen's red AGA radiates its own heat.  On the right is a better view of rear entry/mudroom.

What did you think, a pretty house, right?  Not huge, but comfortable and warm.  It actually reminds me of our house before the great "chrome peanut purge" took place.  (See 6/12/12 post to clarify the chrome peanut reference.)

Now briefly to Malcolm Kutner's London home.  I've posted about this home earlier, but it rates another quick view here; it is so warm and cozy and the rooms are not large but so, so inviting. ( From Home magazine)

The blurry, but warm red dining room with its fireplace.

A kitchen I have loved.

Ending now with just a few random images I filed under warm and cozy, and they are also smallish.
Besides size, the colors in the first image seem to fit today's topic.

The antiques and woodwork spoke to our topic here.

And here the books, dark paneling, and leather.

Here the artwork, antiques and flooring.

The beams, the leather sofa and the tea.  Nothing huge, just cozy.

And this last image from Velvet and Linen.  How much do you love this bedroom??

Before I bore you to tears with my randomness, I'll stop.  But, what do you think?  Don't you think the smallish size of all the rooms in today's post increased their cozy factor?

Till next time, I'm off to make a warm cup of tea.
b