MR. COlOR With all due respect to the disciplined
and monastic art of monochrome, many of an interior's most
memorable, visceral moments come in color choices that
strike exuberantly, if not tinged with a double-dog-dare-you
vivacity that asks, "why not?" Carleton Varney is a master of
the palette.
Continuing a tradition set by his mentor, the legendary
Dorothy Draper, the designer has left his vivid calling card
around the world, dressing private homes, resorts and hotels
desirous of depth and dimensionality. Anyone who has
been paralyzed by the limitlessness of stark white walls can
appreciate his level of sophistication. Color is inherently
complex, perceived differently by every eye, and evolving
endlessly day through night. less formal rules on the subject
seem to flutter between the energy of a particular cultural
moment and designers' personal tastes, leaving one adrift in
the rainbow of possibilities.
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the main living space includes
sliding doors onto a dining
terrace that overlooks the
intracoastal waterway. a
wallsize mirror opens up the
room and a large curved
sectional sofa in white linen
faces the water views. the
paintedwhite coffee table is a
THISPAGE:
the multifold, doublesided
dorothy draper design. some of
the pillows and the club chair
are covered in a redonwhite
carleton varney by the yard ™
coromandel screen has
been in the president’s
parlor since the early
1950s. the kidneyshaped
fabric called big fish. the design
is available in many colors, and
i thought it would be fun to
mix red, white, and blue for this
color scheme.
sofa is a Kindel furniture
reproduction of a
dorothy draper design for
the restaurant that was
OVERLEAF:
this narrow fruitwood cabinet
was once one of a pair used in
a library for displaying books. i
known as the “dorotheum”
at the metropolitan
museum of art in new york.
OPPOSITE:
i commissioned the
portrait of princess grace
by ralph wolfe cowan.
it was prince rainier’s
favorite portrait of grace,
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painted it white, white, white—
very elsie de wolfe, and dorothy
draper too, of course. it adds
a period look to the otherwise
modern apartment. the cabinet
holds my pride and joy: a collec
tion of flora danica dinnerware
from royal copenhagen, the
Mr.Color Mr.Color
Introduction
and there are only two
in existence: one at
the greenbrier and the
other in the royal palace
centuriesold danish porce
lain manufacturer for whom i
designed china in the mid 1970s.
the pattern dates back to the
company’s eighteenthcentury
origins and reportedly was a gift
from the King of denmark to
catherine the great of russia.
