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Today, I am thrilled to share with you a designer from Australia. Most likely you already know her and follow her – she is one of the more popular Instagrammers. Her name? Jenny Rose-Innes. Jenny lives in a beautiful cottage in a country town in New South Wales, the area known as the Southern Highlands. A popular destination spot, it is populated with Australian sounding towns like Mittagong, Moss Vale, Berrima, and Bundanoon!! While the Highlands have always been a weekend haven for those lucky enough to have a second home there, the area is also a chic spot to vacation, to eat, drink, shop and to live full time. The large red arrow is Sydney, the most populated city in Australia. It is just two hours from the small town in New South Wales where Jenny and her husband live. Isn’t this map, an actual photo taken from space, amazing? Spots of green land are seen along the shores, but otherwise it’s just barren rock. Australia is 7.7 million sq. miles compared to the United States at 10 million – their sizes are similar, but the population difference is startling. The United States is teeming with 325.7 million people, while Australia has but 24.6 million. What could our two countries have in common? Through the internet and blogging, the world has become so much smaller and strangers are welcomed into each other’s lives and homes. Even though Australia and Texas are so far apart, so different in every way, their interior design seems familiar. The slipcovers, the seagrass, the decorator fabrics, even the shiplap – it was that familiarity that drew me to Jenny Rose-Innes. Her interiors seem like home, welcoming and warm and so beautiful, it’s no wonder so many here are fans of hers – we related to her aesthetic. I had the most fun writing this story because I spent a few weeks engrossed in the photos of her houses, figuring out their floor plans, inside and out. Her gardens have a plan all their own. Jenny’s Photography – Beautiful. Only an artist’s eye could compose this still life. I know many of us are familiar with the photos of her house, but I wanted to strip those away from the vacation photos, the party photos, the inspiration photos of Instagram – and showcase just Jenny and her talent. Why Jenny? I’m in awe of this woman – a grandmother, wife and mother, a self taught designer, a gardener with energy to spare and a photographer with a huge talent to see the world as it should be photographed. She’s an inspiration for us all to wake up and just get on with it. I doubt there are any who wouldn’t want to live in her house, work in her garden – or at least learn from her choices. She makes it all seem so easy but of course, it’s not. Here’s a quick bio: Jenny Rose-Innes is actually from South Africa, coming to Australia with her husband and family a little more than a decade ago. A born writer, she began a blog to keep in touch with friends at home as well as her new friends she made down under. First she wrote about South Acres, her farm in the Southern Highlands where she lived for nine years, when not at the family home in Sydney. The rill at South Acres At South Acres, her finished garden was often open to the public for charity events and it remains a popular stop, long after she’s been gone. She and her husband sold the large farm and moved to a new house in town, smaller, with a blank yard to cultivate. And she did, in spades. This is the house that took the world by a storm, the architecture and garden are irresistible. The town house & garden Speed forward a few years, it was a huge surprise to her thousands of fans when Jenny casually announced that she had sold her house and was moving - not far away, mind you, but right next door! She and her husband had built the neighboring house to sell, but as luck would have it, a prospective buyer wanted her house with its glorious garden – they didn’t want the new one with the barren yard that was for sale. And so it started all over again, a new house to decorate, a new garden to grow and we sat on the ends of our seats, mesmerized. South Acres: Jenny’s first blog, South Acres, was about her farm with its old stone house. The 100 acre farm had no garden to speak of, barely any trees – but when Jenny left 9 years later, it looked like an aged garden formed over decades. The old stone house. Later Jenny built a new wing onto it. A most ambitious feature of the garden – The Lime Walk, which inspired the name of her second blog. This is amazing! This is what Australia looks like in my imagination. Another favorite garden feature designed by Jenny – the rill. How beautiful is this? Roses climb on the old stone walls. A pond and a bridge – another work of art by Jenny. To see how much of a change Jenny made at South Acres – here is the pond after it was first constructed, before any of the surrounding trees and bushes were planted or the paths were laid: Before. And after. It just amazes me!!! That huge Cedar of Lebanon! The “paddock” around the house. Jenny says she and her husband planted miles of hedges and over 100 trees on the farm. One of the few photos from inside the house. This family room is in the newly built section of the house. I would love to see more photos from the older, stone side!!! Here, there are shiplap walls - a decade before Joanna Gaines made them so popular. I love this decor. It shows how Jenny’s taste is classic, only becoming a bit more layered through the years. Today, she would have curtains at the windows and more accessories on the table tops! After 9 years, the couple decided to sell their beloved farm. It was a bittersweet decision thinking back on all the hard work that went into designing, planting, and pruning the garden. In truth, the “upkeep and maintenance” were proving too much as the couple were getting older. Unfortunately – or fortunately – the house sold much sooner than they had planned. Jenny thought she would have two more years to enjoy her glorious garden, but instead, they were off to plan their next move. Staying in New South Wales, they looked for a house nearer to town, with less acreage. This would the house that first caught everyone’s eye on Instagram. Town House #1: Jenny and her husband bought an older house on a lot – close enough to walk to its town’s center. On her blog, she showed the original house – a nice brick version, not unlike the “ranchburgers” found in America built in the 50s and 60s. She debated whether the house should be remodeled, but it had sustained “damp” issues that made remodeling it too costly. Nice to know that it’s not just Texans who “tear down” houses! Maybe because we are both young and our houses aren’t 100s of years old? After the lot was cleared, plans for a new house and garden were drawn up. The Front Yard of Town House #1: Look how beautiful and perfect the new house is!! The reflecting pool out front, the metal roof, the white walls – the perfect symmetry, it could not be more lovely! And here, the lighting of a rainstorm while the sun is still out makes it look quite different. Notice the pergolas on the left and right side, built to hold climbing roses. The house is basically U shaped, with one wing off to the right where the garage is. And here, Jenny caught the house reflected perfectly in the pool. The house ends here at the left side – on the right, it goes on to another wing that houses the garage. At the opposite side of the reflecting pool is a pergola that sits streetside. Beautiful photograph. Another view that shows the very right side of the house where the garage is. Cecile Brunner roses climb above the entrance gate. A line of trees were planted along the street front to provide privacy. The house connecting to the garage. The plants are so thick, you can barely see the urn on the brick. In just a bit, the left side of the pergola would erupt in a profusion of roses like the right. And here they are. Gorgeous. The rose? Blushing Pierre de Ronsard. A photo taken when the garden was more mature, showing the view towards the front which reveals hills in the near distance. Notice how quickly the row of trees at streetside have grown and how well they provide privacy to the front garden. The Back Yard of Town House #1: The back side. The terrace opens to a brick walkway that crosses from left to right of the lot. At the center of the brick paths is an metal acanthus urn. What is most fascinating is Jenny is not a professionally trained designer or gardener. Just amazing! Speechless. Just so pretty!! Another gorgeous photograph – look how perfect the lighting is!! Looking the other direction, from the back of the house to the acanthus urn, and further on to the lawn. Unseen: At the back left corner is a swimming pool. To the right corner is a greenhouse and potting shed. Jenny’s acanthus urn was moved here from its former home, her Sydney house’s courtyard. It’s fitting that the acanthus urn was chosen to be the accent of this garden. William Morris also chose the acanthus leaf as inspiration for his own designs, above. Jenny has said that she was inspired by William Morris when choosing the decor for this house and indeed, as you will see, there are several William Morris papers on the walls. The acanthus urn comes in three sizes. It’s from an Australian store but well worth a call to see if they ship to the US. Here is the link to the urn HERE. In the left corner, the small swimming pool behind iron gates, obscured by climbing white roses. Looking at the two wings of the U shape. The back terrace. Adjoining this terrace was a long, tiled hallway inside the house. What you must realize is that this garden was perhaps only a year or two old. That’s it. Jenny created this garden out of a barren yard and a year later – it looked like this. She’s amazing. The terrace styled with a console table and round mirror. To the right is a bakers rack filled with potted plants. And here is the greenhouse! A beautiful work of art, it sits beneath a glorious Himalayan Cedar which unfortunately died and had to be cut down soon after this photo. At the very left, is the pool behind the black iron fence. Another view – after a soaking rain, with all the windows of the greenhouse open. I love it with the windows open! Across from the greenhouse is a potting shed, with its own secret courtyard. I can’t imagine how traumatic the death of this cedar must have been! It reminds me of the Cedar of Lebanon that died at Highgrove – and Prince Charles had its trunk carved into a pavilion. Prince Charles’ Cedar of Lebanon after it died. He had its massive trunk carved into an open pavilion. You can barely see its open trunk through the Hostas. These trees live for centuries, but Charles’ cedar succumbed to a fungus. And here is a close up of the beautiful greenhouse the day it was installed – not yet styled! Style a greenhouse? Of course!!!!!! Jenny designed it herself, of course, along with the builder who makes them. I want to be Jenny!!!! Is there anything she can’t do? Serious Time…a note here: After studying Jenny’s photos, her houses, her gardens, her family (who are all beautiful, as is she and her husband) – her flowering arranging, her meals, her ironing – her housekeeping in general, her ability to have several houses at the same time and travel all over the globe without much jet lag, her honesty, her kindness (she was seriously nice to me, an unknown from across the globe, who wants to be her) her clothes (always looking cute!,) her willingness to learn from others and not hide that fact, all this and much much more that I can only say - Jenny is a wonder woman! How do I know? Because I am the opposite. Totally. So, when I see a Type A who is so accomplished AND has such GREAT TASTE, and is so nice and humble, well – I am thoroughly jealous and awed, and inspired. I suppose most of us feel the same way, judging from the masses of people who follow her photographs. Can you imagine being so lucky to be her friend? Here is the inside of the greenhouse – with the refurbished farm sink!! Notice the brass hardware. Love. Love that you can water everything and it goes through the wire shelves to the drain in the floor. Smart. Or course! Jenny did this! With all the tiny windows open – at its cutest!!! Let me introduce you to Jenny’s potting shed. No, this is NOT an ad for Smith and Hawken (although it could be, it’s better than their own ads!) Look how adorable this is – look inside!!! LOVE!!!! Another view – another courtyard. The shed is next to the greenhouse and beside the back of the garage, at the kitchen, with its own courtyard. Looking from the shed back towards the swimming pool area. Notice how at the end of this brick path is another bed, matching this one. Perfect symmetry! Inside Town House #1: The front door opens onto the foyer and the stairs. To the left of the front door is the study. To the right of the front door is the living room, then dining room. Early on, all the walls were cream, but after settling in, Jenny started repainting various rooms with more color. And across from the stairs – with the usual potted plant. Indoors, there are flowers and plants everywhere! As for design, Jenny says her style “strives for a feeling of comfort and beauty, using color.” She tries to create a space “that appears to have evolved over a long period of time, using layer and layers of elements from plants, baskets, vintage fabrics, rugs, artworks, etc.” The view from the front door to the center hall and on to the back terrace. The living room with its green striped wallpaper. Through the door is the foyer and past, the study. The living room, and past – the dining room. Fresh hydrangeas in the living room. The living room window overlooks the front garden. The paneled dining room with Michael S. Smith Jasper fabric slipcovers. That lettuceware!!! To the left of the front door - the study with William Morris wallpaper and a curious granddaughter who likes the clocks! HERE. The foyer leads to the center hall which is tiled. Through the open door is the kitchen and family room. The center hall with its French doors, lanterns and tiled floor is the real highlight of the house!!! It’s such a standout with the beautiful tile – and it’s something to think about when planning a home. In America, we tend to place accent tile in kitchens and bathrooms – but here – it becomes the focal point of the house, take away the tile and it would be sorely missed. AND, by tiling the hall – it actually becomes more of a room, an inside terrace, a veranda. And looking towards the opposite direction. The master bedroom wing is through the French door at the end. This is a favorite place for photographs since it was also a place to display cut flowers and potted plants. The furniture is often moved around, added and then taken away – which is why the same chest is seen in a different place in these two photos. Later, this chest moves upstairs to a bedroom! A closer view into the kitchen/family room. Past, is the laundry room and a beautiful antique cabinet. The dining room is also reached through this area, to the right. Close up of cabinet, holding a collection of Majolica. Past the center hall’s French doors is the kitchen, breakfast, and family room – all in one! And a surprise window from the kitchen to the back terrace!!! Love the slipped chairs on the right. The breakfast table divides the kitchen from the family area. Lesson: Doesn’t the antique styled table look wonderful? I’m so used to seeing more modern tables that this table which many would confine to the dining room looks so fresh here! I love the English styled dark wood mixed with the light painted armoire. Dark stained English furniture looks classy and classic. The powder room, papered in Trustworth’s Apothecary’s Garden. Past the potting shed is the back door and laundry room with its checkerboard floors. The laundry room. Notice how the shelves and cabinets are constructed. Very cute! One downstairs bedroom, painted a dark brown. I love this Robert Kime fabric Jenny used HERE. It comes in a large and small size. Another view of the bedroom showing the gorgeous Robert Kime fabric against the dark walls – perfection!!!! Another version, in cream with light green fabrics by Colefax & Fowler. Wouldn’t it be nice to just step outside and pick your flower arrangement? And in the corner, a chair covered in another Robert Kime fabric HERE. The bathrooms all have darling claw foot tubs. This master bath has a William Morris paper HERE. Upstairs are several bedrooms shown only a few times. Mostly Jenny used William Morris wallpaper in this house. This paper is Lily Leaf HERE. Love, love this portrait in an oval frame. Sigh. I want an oil portrait in an oval frame. Sigh. And this other bedroom with the charming fireplace and lantern sconces. And finally, in Jenny’s study, another William Morris wallpaper HERE with a Robert Kime pillow. The house was such a success that Ablock Builders won an award – in 2014 - for Best Contract Home by the Master Builders Association Excellence in Regional Building Awards. HERE. We’re not surprised at all!!! They deserved it! After just a few years in Town House #1, the garden had grown and filled in incredibly fast. The only loss was the giant cedar, but another tree was planted in its stead. It was this garden that had taken the world by a storm, thousands flocked to Jenny’s Instagram each day to see new photos of her garden or the flowers she had cut to place inside her darling house. So, it was a big surprise when Jenny casually announced one day that she had bought the house next door, torn it down, and had designed a new house along with her architect. She and her husband were intending to sell that house next door. Instead, someone knocked on her door and offered to buy her own house with the developed garden. Should she move next door to a brand new house with no garden at all, after all the hard work she had put in her own garden? When faced with the thought of moving next door to the new house, Jenny said she went to the empty house and walked around, imagining herself living there. Would she like it? Would she prefer it? In the end, she was ready to move. The new house was simpler, it was more of a country home. Her older house next door was more sophisticated, it was larger. But also, the garden was finished. Here – in the new house, there was no garden at all. It was waiting to be designed and nurtured. Something that must have been hard to pass up to a natural garden designer. Jenny’s one request? The greenhouse she had helped create would be moving over the fence, too. Jenny calls herself a “serial renovator” having moved many times over the years, but now, at 66 – she swears this will be the last house. Hmmm…not sure if I believe that!! Town House #2: There is NOTHING followers of Instagrams and blogs love more than a new house to watch being built, furnished, and then lived in! Jenny has now shared two new houses and each one has been wonderful to explore through her beautiful photographs. The new house is not yet even a year old but it looks like its been there for years. It’s in an H shaped floor plan. Jenny worked with her architect drawing up the plans – done over the internet, rarely meeting in person. The architect would change the plans as they talked online and Jenny used her instinct when deciding how high windows should be or how open rooms would be. The roof height on the main section of the H was difficult to decide on – that area has two fireplaces and the roof’s pitch had to be right. Jenny wanted the house to be a cottage and in the end, that is exactly what she got. The walls are clad in timber with shiplap on the exteriors to give it more of a country feel. She also used interior windows so that the house looked added onto over the years. The middle room has verandas on both sides to let in maximum light. Town House #2 is fabulous. I fell in love with it at once and I suspect everyone else did too. It’s even more charming than the one next door, if that is possible. Jenny is still decorating, adding more each month. There will be outside awnings over the kitchen windows because of the bright sun in there. The middle H room is used most, as traffic goes from one end of the room to the other in order to reach different parts of the house. It is also Jenny’s favorite. Another love is the back veranda and her bedroom. Does she miss any of her old houses? She answers yes to missing South Acres, the large farm just 20 minutes away. South Acres “I miss the quiet of the farm, and the bird song and the smell of the cow pooh.” But for now, her heart is here at her new town house, working on her newest garden. Let’s take a look!! The front of the house showing the large middle section of the “H.” The H houses the living/dining room. Another view shows the plants in bloom. BEFORE: Newly planted! At the left and right are the braces of the “H.” Notice the row of tiny transoms above the main windows and door. On the back, there are three more of these transoms which were added to bathe the room in light. Something different. At streetside, Jenny used a white picket fence with the new house. A circular pool sits in front of the arbor. I love how she placed the twig table in front of it. In front of the arbor at streetside, paths lead out to both the left and right. Here, the popular acanthus urn is planted on a bed of gravel at the right side. Metal fences surround the area from which climbing plants will grow. From the center pond, the path leads to the acanthus urn. This picket fence hides the driveway. And here, behind the urn, is the garden gate for guests to use. Do you notice the neighboring house past the driveway? Yes!!! Town House #1!!! Looking at the opposite direction, past the urn, the pool, through two metal arches and metal fencing. The entry is in this connecting room with a cupola at its ceiling. CHARMING!!!! The Back Yard of Town House #2: And the entry from the back side shows a terrace. The bakers rack moved next door and again holds the potted plants. To the left is the kitchen. At the right of the foyer’s window is a sink: On the terrace outside the kitchen and behind the foyer is this washup area – great idea to clean up from gardening before you go inside! Another view of the large brick terrace shown above – behind the garage, off the laundry and next to the kitchen. The potting bench was moved here. Opposite the brick path is the greenhouse and kitchen garden. The backside of the “H” shows the veranda. At first, the veranda was to be open air, but it was enclosed and heating was added under its floor. Above are the series of three transoms in the living/dining room. To the right of the veranda is the kitchen wing. Early view of the plantings outside the veranda. The view from the veranda to the far side of the back yard. The circular path features an accent boxwood. At the end of the path is the potting shed/arbor. The view from the potting shed to the veranda. Not barely a year, the garden is starting to flourish. This is so inspiring to think you can go from nothing to this in such a short time! As long as you have Jenny helping you, that is!!! This is what the same view looked like before Jenny moved in!!! Jenny does admit this garden was a challenge. The man who was supposed to build the hardscape pulled out at the minute, so the house builder agreed to do the large job (as you can see !) It was “stressful and worrying” but with perseverance, it all paid off. A winter view, which to Americans is a summer view – their seasons are opposite of ours. For instance, Australia’s blooming season is from August until the end of March or even April. And of course Christmas is their summer, celebrated at the beach. Their idea of a white Christmas is sand!!! Gorgeous! Inside the potting shed – isn’t this beautiful? I love the collection Jenny placed on the shelves. On the left side of the back lot is the vegetable garden and greenhouse. Located behind a picket fence with three decorative gates, the beds are raised. The view towards the vegetable garden. I love the series of stakes with pot tops! Charming!!! Notice the row of bushes that were planted around the picket fence. Eventually this will screen the garden. A view that shows the old house next door right past the fence. Inside the Town House #2: The Foyer: A darling room, with its cupola and sconces and beautiful curtains. The decor of this house is very different from Town House #1. While #1 was filled with wallpapers and fabrics by William Morris, this one is not. It is filled with chintz fabrics in blues and grays – like the curtains in the foyer. This window in the foyer overlooks the back yard and the terrace with the outside sink by the kitchen window – see it? Notice the checked lining on the curtains. LOVE! Curtains: Jean Monro Fabrics Hydrangea and Rose HERE. The foyer leads through this sitting area and the kitchen on to the living/dining room in the H. And the sitting area off the kitchen. Through the door lies the living/dining room. Love the hanging antique bedwarmers! Bennison – Songbird fabric on chairs HERE. The fabrics get better and better with each room!!! Jealousy. LOL!!! The living/dining room is really fabulous and is the room that got me hooked on “Everything Jenny.” This is Australia? Seriously? This isn’t Texas??? I had the same feeling when I studied the NSW home of designer Cameron Kimber. How is it possible that two countries, so far apart, design houses in such a familiar way? Think about it. You can’t say the same about Germany. Or Switzerland. Or Thailand. Or Brazil. Or Morocco. These countries and 100s of others do not decorate in any way like Texas. But Australia? Why is that? I am saying Texas because that’s where I live, but the comparison also includes all of the southern portion of the United States. If you told me that this room in Australia was actually in Atlanta, I wouldn’t bat an eye. I would believe you. And the view towards the opposite direction. This was taken early after the move before the new chair slipcovers arrived. How beautiful is this room? Jenny said that she wants this house to “feel like a cottage.” And so, she lined all the interior walls in paneling. Shiplap was put on the exterior. Further, “somehow the idea of internal windows appealed to me – almost as if the room had once been an outside room and had been added on to.” Here are the new slipcovers for the chairs, which of course I love! Green trim and tailored ties add a custom element. Nicole Fabre HERE. Love the pops of green. Additionally, Jenny said this about the interior boards surrounding the large living/dining room. This was a complicated decision – how to handle the high walls with the six transom windows. After much thought, the wider boards were stopped at the top of the windows, then the slimmer profile boards were placed in the opposite direction, allowing the boards to line up at the ceiling and create an interest. And, further, in doing so, the pattern created a natural spot for the drapery rods placement. Curtains: Penny Morrison HERE. Again, the fabric choices could not be better!!!!! When Jenny first moved in her friend Cameron Kimber stopped by to help her place furniture. Somehow saying “Artie stopped by when I moved in” doesn’t have quite the same ring! LOL… Bedrooms are through this door with that beautiful oval painting and Swedish chest. Prettier with the lamps on and dusk? It’s always pretty, either way!!! Internal window looks into the sitting area off the foyer. Prettiest piece of furniture in the house? LOVE!!!!! The Dutch armoire in the living/dining room!!!! Sigh. LOVE EVEN MORE. Back through the sitting area to the kitchen. Another fabulous room – the kitchen. Jenny designed it with no upper cabinets, the gray armoire serves as storage space instead. The best, no? LOVE!!!! Awnings are going up soon. How cute will that be?? Notice the scalloped hanging shelf and notice the black farmhouse lights above each window. If I were a man and this house was a woman, I would ask her to marry me!!! That’s how strong my love is. LOL OK, all kidding aside. I think this house is perfect and the garden is that extra cherry on top. Here, Jenny added a copper rod to hold all her copper bundts. Close up of scalloped shelf. That faucet is cute. Off the laundry is the mud room. Notice the styling above the shelves and on the shelves and under the shelves. Jenny is so good at styling spaces. The bench is a South African antique brought by Jenny. And here is the laundry room with its apothecary styled cabinets. The veranda – once intended to be open air, now it is closed in with heating under the floor covering. The opposite side of the veranda with the window that looks into the house. OK, this is yet ANOTHER favorite room. I love the floor – the gray and white and the wallpaper, along with the chest and hall chair. This guest room has the most amazing ceiling. Notice the beam is scalloped. And notice the shiplap and the sconces. The fabric is Jean Monro Nuts and Berries HERE. Here is the ceiling in the guest room showing the beams, scalloped. Is this not the cutest?!?!?! LOVE!!! It makes me think the scalloped shelf unit in the kitchen was created by the same person who made these beams? I love the continuity. And another closeup of the guest room. The master suite is decorated around a discontinued fabric from Colefax & Fowler - Haseley Acorn. Her friend, the designer Cameron Kimber was able to source some yardage for her. Jenny says the bedroom is one of her favorite rooms in the house. One of them - she also loves the veranda and the living/dining room. Another bathrooms with a darling chair and wallpaper. This photo shows just the curtains in another guest room – wow!!!!!!!!!!! I love this fabric!!!! I love the curtain’s construction and the use of the trim. Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam De la Tour HERE This is one of my favorite fabrics!!!! AND one more lovely fabric, chintz, with blues and browns and beiges – in the study. This is a Bennison linen HERE. And finally, if you are a big fan of Jenny’s and can not get enough of her aesthetic, rest assured, more is on the way! Jenny is finishing up her first book and is about to start her second!! The first book Jenny has written is called “Australian Interior Designers at Home.” The book will feature 20 designers, all photographed in their own homes, including blog favorite Cameron Kimber!!! I am thrilled about this and can not wait to read it and look at all the photographs that her partner, the noted Simon Griffiths took. Griffith has collaborated with some of the greats like Paul Bangay. Last year Griffiths own book was published “Garden Love” focusing on his move to the country in Victoria: It looks so good! A story of a needed move to a house in the country with a garden – all for the love of a dog! I can’t find the book on American’s Amazon, but I finally found a copy on Ebay. Google it and look around – if you live in Australia, it’s an easy buy, but for Americans – Ebay might be the best bet. I’m so excited to get Simon’s book so I can only imagine how I’ll feel when Jenny’s book comes out later this year!!!!! Her book will be available on Amazon and will probably be placed for Pre-Orders. As soon as it is, I’ll let you know. AND ONE MORE THING!!! Now, that the first book is done, there is a SECOND book in the works!! This second book will be the same format BUT with English Interior Designers. Sigh. The photography portion of the second book will begin in April when Jenny and Simon and his trusty camera leave for England where they will photograph over twenty of the top UK designers. Publishing date is 2021. Sounds so far away, but it’s only 2 years. And lastly, a huge, huge thank you to Jenny Rose-Innes for the time she took to answer my questions and to allow my readers to take this look at her new house and garden, along with her older one – next door! I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have. Visit Jenny on Instagram HERE. I’ll join you there!

I know everyone is busy at this time of the year, but for those of you who might want to take a few minutes away from the festivities, I’ve written this tribute about a good man – and what he added to our lives through his love of design. Enjoy!! Years ago when I asked a fellow blogger, Things That Inspire, what I should write about next, she said – how about your “Ten Favorite Designers?” I did write the list, but when I finished at #8, I stopped. I tend to do that alot for some reason - start lists on the blog and never finish them. For years Things That Inspire would say - who was your favorite designer, who was #1 going to be?!? I always thought that my favorite designer was so obvious. As for the favorites list, it has changed over the years. There are a few I named that I wouldn't put on the list today and there are so many more designers that I adore, that suprisingly didn’t make the list. My list, from bottom to top, was: 10. Alessandra Branca 9. Michael Smith 8. Suzanne Kasler 7. Lynn von Kersting 6. Suzanne Rheinstein 5. Charles Faudree 4. Gerrie Bremermann and, 3. Charlotte Moss What a list! Today, I would include designer Daniel Romualdez, for sure. And where is Windsor Smith, Rose Tarlow, Miles Redd, David Easton, Bunny Williams, and Mario Buatta? And, why are there no Houston designers on the list? Carol Glasser or Pamela Pierce or Ginger Barber - where are they? (To Read the stories #3-10, go HERE.) It's glaringly evident who was going to be #1 - John Saladino, of course. But 2nd place isn't nearly as obvious. In fact the runner up was Dan Carithers, the interior and furniture designer from Atlanta. The dapper, Southern gentleman Dan Carithers. Carithers was a huge influence on me and on my work. For years whenever I would see a house in a magazine that I loved, the designer would inevitably be Carithers. And then, there were the many clients who would come to meetings with tear sheets of his projects. My first exposure to Dan Carithers was 25 years ago. I've written about the house HERE that Ben and I built in Ft. Worth, when we lived there for not quite two years. I had seen a living room by Carithers that I adored and tried to copy. This room by Dan Carithers inspired me to buy the same khaki and white striped linen fabric and cover all my living room furniture in it – just like Carithers had. This fabric would prove to be Carither’s trademark. Later, when he married, he used this same fabric for the reception, which was photographed for Southern Accents and produced by Karen Carroll. Carither’s wedding was Carroll’s first story for Southern Accents, where she later rose to be Editor in Chief of that much missed magazine. Another photograph of that same room I copied. Here Carithers styled the desk as a bar. Karen later recalled the wedding reception: “It was an intimate luncheon at the home of a friend and all the tables were decorated with Dan’s signature beige-and-white striped linen cloths, casual garden flowers and objects that had special significance for the couple. It perfectly summed up Dan’s approach to decorating and living a beautiful life: to always surround yourself with the people and the things that have meaning. The day remains a favorite memory for me.” Whenever Carithers was featured in Southern Accents or any other magazine, it was an event. I, along with scores of readers, would obsess over every picture for weeks. I loved his aestethic and felt he had the best taste. It was as if he spoke to me. An early modern high-rise apartment by Carithers, 1981 in Southern Accents. See more of this apartment at The Peak of Chic HERE. This 80s styled design was the home of the owners of Rich’s. Carithers started his 50 year career at Rich’s Department Store in Atlanta. He traveled around the world for Rich’s, buying antiques in Europe that he would then use in the displays – vignettes that resembled a home – which he would change out twice a year. Stylish shoppers would flock to the downtown store to see the new displays. After Rich’s, Carithers started his own firm, along with a collarboration with Baker Furniture. He designed classic pieces for Sherrill that are still sold today. An ad showing some of the Carithers Collection for Sherrill. A few years ago, Carithers developed unfortunately Alzheimers and retired. In 2013, he and Nancy had an estate sale and then sold their beloved and much photographed house. Recently, they moved and their new townhouse was featured in House Beautiful this month. A living room by Carithers. Since this House Beautiful pictoral will probably be the last time a new Dan Carithers project is shown in a design magazine, I thought it was proper to write a tribute to a man who gave all of us so much joy. A dining room by Carithers. Here are some things Carithers said years ago in interviews – that still resonate today. His influences are Jean-Michael Frank, Colefax & Fowler, and David Hicks. His favorite detail? Small trims and small welts. His favorite countertop? Kashmir White granite. He likes to mix classical, soft drawings with strong modern art. His favorite fabrics are cotton, linen and silk (but not shiny - of course!) He dislikes any fabric that seems fancy. Accessories he likes are weathered wicker, creamware, terra cotta and woods; avoid trends. Keep window treatments simple. He says of over-swagged and heavily trimmed windows:“oh my Jesus, look at that window treatment!” A bedroom by Carithers with Rose Tarlowwallpaper and fabric. According to Carithers – the quickest way to dress up a room is to paint the trim white and slipcover everything – slips should be fitted, not sloppy and made of classic fabrics like ticking, stripes, checks, or florals. He prefers a white trim, like a starched white man’s collar. Favorite top five paint colors? Pratt & Lambert’s Seed Pearl and Silver Lining. Donald Kaufman’s DKC49 and Benjamin Moore Mink and Fernwood Green. A Carithers dining room with handpainted wallpaper. He said while his rooms never look “dead rich” he certainly doesn’t mind it to look expensive. Change things up from time to time; put some accessories away, put others out and move the rest around. Don’t let anything become static. A southern home should never be without graciousness, hospitality and good manners. And this: "If I had $500,000 to spend on a room, I'd spend $400,000 of it on the accessories . . . A sofa's a sofa, a rug a rug, but accessories are how you can sense what a person is all about. They are the most important ingredient in decorating. It's the accessories that create the "I'm home" feeling." Carithers and his wife Nancy in their garden. First let’s take a look at the Carithers house, which was photographed many times for different magazines: Carithers is famous for his outstanding collection of creamware, shown here on the cover of Southern Accents in 1997. His collection inspired so many people to start buying creamware – instead of the more colorful transferware. I know he is why I started my own collection, along with a few clients of mine. Here, in 2002, Southern Accents showed Carither’s house, decorated for Christmas. His living room is shown on the cover. Carithers lived for almost 40 years in this 1937 cottage in Atlanta’s Buckhead community. Originally the house was red brick with white grout. When he moved in all the doors were replaced with French ones to flood the house with light. The front bay window was added to the living room. Today, the new owners have painted the red brick, white – which I love! The front door is in the middle with the living room to the right. To the left of the front door is the study. At the very left where the roof becomes one floor, is the “long room” or family room – this room was added onto. It might have once been the garage? An earlier photograph of the house – where there was a front walk lined with boxwood. Taller box hid the front of the house. Today, the walk is no longer lined with box and the taller box have been clipped. Also, the family room on the left was covered in vines, those are gone too. Today. The large southern house is located on a shady, corner lot – you can see the front walk is clean and the front bushes are much shorter. The landscape is much tidier looking today. The backyard is on a hill with a parterre garden laid out around a 154 year old granite obilesk once owned by Admiral Peary. There are over 2000 English and American boxwoods planted in the back and front gardens. The back yard is a series of stone steps that wind up the hill through the garden. Throughout the all-green garden are antique suprises – plaques and urns and benches to sit upon. THE ENTRY: The foyer – seen in 1997. The painted floor came about when Carithers was moving a sofa from upstairs – which was then dropped. In order to hide the damaged wood, it was painted with 14 shades of white and 1 shade of brown. Southern Accents 1997: Sorry – a terrible scan! This shows the entry looking into the living room. Flanking the front door are a pair of antique chests. He had updated his living room valances with gathered fabric shades. A later view shows a stool instead of the tea table. He also added brackets in the corner. Carithers definitely likes clutter – English Country Manor house decorating. At one time he was director of the Althorp Collection, from Princess Diana’s ancestral home. 2013: And later, a photoshoot in Traditional Home showed a totally redecorated home. The same view looking into the living room – shows matching slip-covered in blue linen French stools, along with new fabric on the settee and new check pillows. It looks like he toned down the floor color with a cream and gray paint. I vividly remember this photoshoot showing the changes in Carither’s house. I loved it – all the new blues – it was so soft and pretty. THE LIVING ROOM: A very old scan of the living room. Carithers moved into the house almost 40 years ago with an antique Knole sofa which was too large for the living room. In order for it to fit, he bumped out the front window to create this bay window, which became the focal point of the room and the exterior. Originally he had a bracket over the mantel that displayed a tureen, seen here; later an oil painting was placed on it. Here, he added gathered valances. The French antiques remain to this day – many are still used by Carithers in his new townhouse. Early Photoshoot: An antique trumeau and chest with the creamware urns which later ended up on the mantel. These urns are the crown jewels in his creamware collection. 1997: Southern Accents – The French day bed is shown slipcovered in ticking with scallops and tabs. This daybed inspired my own living room’s slipcover! French bergere in checks with burlap sides, before its time. Club chairs replaced two bergeres. There is a new antique gilt and chinoiserie tea table in front of the sofa that is just stunning. The gilt mirror is an antique from Nancy’s family. Instead of an oriental rug, there is now a seagrass. 2013: The lastest redecoration in blue Claremont fabrics in stripes, velvets and toiles. The dressy chinoiserie table is replaced wtih a French tall table, which I love. The new slipcover is more tailored – the scallops are gone. A closeup of the changes. The new look is fresh and very youthful, but classic. 2013: In the corner, the chest is replaced with a console. The shades are now linen curtains with pleated valances and a tiny blue trim. THE CREAMWARE: 1997: The creamware was first displayed in Southern Accents in front of an oriental screen, not to be seen again. 2002: There is a new wood console along the back wall in the living room which sits under a collection of drawings by Picasso and Matisse in gilt frames. 2013 in Traditional Home: Now with the new fabrics, Carithers added some blue & white porcelains mixed in with the creamware. I love the oil painting, it looks so good with the new fabrics. Just beautiful! THE DINING ROOM: 1997: The dining room is painted yellow with an assortment of French chairs and a skirted table. Creamware plates flank the mirror. The chandelier is Baccarat. The French doors open to the back parterre garden were added by Carithers when he moved in. 2002: For Christmas, Carithers added a red tablecloth. Later, Maison Jansen antique chairs were added along with checks and stripes. 2013: And the newest view – in blue and white checks with yellow striped fabrics. Instead of painting the walls, he added the yellow stripe to bring it all together. In the Tradtional Home photoshoot, Carithers said: “I like damask and velvet but in small doses. On the other hand, I absolutely love checks." Me too! Me too! A close up of the paneling and painted murals on the dining room walls which Carithers added for architectural interest. THE FAMILY ROOM: 1997: An addition to the house, Carithers added the same rustic beams that he used on a myriad of projects for clients. This room was reserved for his love of browns and beiges and his large collection of pottery. The French chair in brown suede is presently in the living room in velvet. A romantic, Carithers call this the “long room” – not family room. Antlers – before the trend! 2013: The newest design – new cabinets, renovated to look more sophisticated. New upholstery in plain suede. New antique French coffee table and antique chairs. Antelope print pillows. Above the mantel, newly hung art work. Before the room was quite busy and cluttered and here, less so. The colorful pottery makes the room look a bit more chaotic. To calm it all down, Carithers used the pale, plain fabrics. He says that this collection of slipware has risen greatly in value since he began acquiring it. But, he doesn’t care about the value – he only cares about the color. THE BREAKFAST ROOM off the dining room: 1997: A beautiful antique French table with French chairs. White plate rack with the collection of black and white transferware. 2002: For Christmas, he adds red tulips and red napkins. THE KITCHEN: 1997: Carithers added beams in here along with wide planked pine hardwoods and the large window. No upper cabinets along one wall is a new trend that Carithers started almost 40 years ago. An bonneterie takes the place of built ins. Love the fabulous antique wooden chair. 2013: For the lastest redecorating, new white paint freshens up the kitchen, along with editing. 2013: Carithers collection of ironstone and transferware decorates the kitchen. THE STUDY: 1997: I love the study, with the zebra rug and antler chair, miniature chair, and oversized antique map. Perfection! Years later Carithers used the map as an inspiration board, adding clippings from magazines to it. THE BEDROOMS: 1997: Southern Accents showed this pink bedroom, with a quilted bedspread and French fabrics. Across from the bed is this beautiful Palladian window that Carithers installed along with a country French bench. 1997: And there was this green toile guest room. 2013: And in Traditional Home, the green toile bedroom, with just a few changes. Which brings up to today. 2015: Dan Carithers with Judy Bentley in the garden of his new townhouse. This month, House Beautiful featured Dan Carithers. Two years ago, he and Nancy sold their house and purchased a sunny townhouse with a pretty garden. Since Carithers has Alzheimers, Nancy asked their friend, the designer Judy Bentley to help decorate their new home. Judy was a former client of Carithers who then worked with him before starting her own business. Instead of buying new things, Judy went through the Carithers’ house and picked the best of the best to take to the townhouse. She did the main rooms in blue and white and the den in browns. Nancy had a large say in the decorating. The Peak of Chic, Jennifer Boles, wrote a wonderful story about Judy HERE and she is also who wrote the House Beautiful story. The new living room – with a large custom cut seagrass rug. The French day bed rests against the wall under Nancy’s family antique mirror. The tall French table acts as a coffee table. Interestingly –the chinoiserie table that went missing from the living room in the old house, reappears here next to the sofa! It must have been moved to an upstairs bedroom. Also, the club chair on the right is new, covered in Hodsoll McKenzie. All other fabrics are Clairmont. I love the white walls against the blue and white fabrics. The paint is Benjamin Moore’s Winds Breath. Against one wall in the living room is the beautiful collection of creamware, underneath the collection of gilt framed prints. The lamps are Bacarrat. A photo on Instagram taken during the photoshoot – you can see the doors to the garden and the fireplace with the creamware urns and painting. I love the antique French sign “Jardin.” Such a lovely townhouse! Not seen, is a large winding staircase in the foyer that is a beautiful focal point. The dining room with the skirted table and Jansen chairs, now upholstered in a beautiful, fresh fabric. While the French chairs have the same check fabric on the back, the new Hodsoll McKenzie Cotswold Floral replaces the yellow striped fabric from the house – that coordinated with the yellow walls. The white paint here is Benjamin Moore’s Palace White. The antique console holds the beautiful collection of creamware. The former brown brackets that were once in the foyer are now painted white – and hold more creamware. Not seen is the bay window in the dining room. I wish there were more pictures from the townhouse, but judging from these photos, it looks like a lovely home, large enough for guests, but not too large that is hard to take care of. Also, it shows that when moving – you don’t have to have new things – if you have nice things, they will look wonderful in any space! And then, there is this… Back in 1999, Veranda had this Carithers designed house on its cover. It was a gorgeous house and everyone was talking about it when they got their new issue. The house was older, built in 1958. It looked new at the time but it was totally renovated. The cover showed the living room. This house was also featured in the book The Houses of Veranda that Lisa Newsom wrote a few years ago – thus validating how beautiful the house truly is! The house was for sale earlier this year and it looks completely different inside with its furniture from the new owners. Obviously, the previous owners had already sold the house before this sale. Take a look. CARITHERS: In 1999, the entry showed French doors at the front – just like Carithers had at his house. Also, there are rustic beams on the walls and ceilings – these beams are similar to the ones Carithers used in almost all his jobs. The foyer and the living room, dining room and hall have a series of arches that were added for architectural interest. TODAY: The photography is very different – the house looks very white, not how it is in reality, unless the walls have been painted a white white. You will see how different professional photographs are from real estate photographs, due to the light. The wall sconces remain. And here, you can see the stairs lead down to the basement level, something that most houses in Atlanta have. CARITHERS: The living room was so gorgeous! A beautiful French stone overmantel and sconces with feminine candelabras are a focal point. Seagrass rug for texture. Lots of French antiques and urns, ala Carithers. The fabric looks the same as Carithers had in his own family room before it was remodeled. The antique chairs have original tapestry. Subtle check curtains. Just gorgeous – Carithers at this best!!! A close up of the fireplace - I love the brown bricks and andirons, beautiful. Today: Pictures of the house are found on Caroline Willis’ web site HERE. Willis once worked for Carithers and apparently decorated the house for the new owners. You can see, the living room looks totally different. Notice the arched door to the left of the fireplace was removed. I kind of liked the openess it brought. Another view of the living room. And how it looks today on the real estate pictures. So different from Carithers. CARITHERS: Across the entry from the living room is the dining room which is very similar – almost a twin room with the arches. This room was another gorgeous Carithers design. Skirted table – with his signiture two layers of fabric and his assortment of chairs for interest, some are damask, others leather. But, it’s the collection of creamware and the cachepot on the fireplace that are just stunning. Above the windows are rustic beams and checked curtains. I can’t tell you how gorgeous this was in 1999!!! Stunning! Carithers: A closeup of the creamware collection which are wine coasters and the terracotta cachepot – wow!!!! On Willis’ web site, her version of the dining room, no rug, and the floors look lighter than they are today. Real Estate: Patterned curtains, similar chandelier, skirted table. No rug. Looking from the dining room to the living room. Here’s a view from the front door back to the family room. CARITHERS: The family room was done in warm colors and fabrics – taupes with navy. Notice the beautiful terracotta statues in the back of the sofa. Another beautiful fireplace. Check armchairs and lantern over the back of the room in the bay window. Blue and white delft porcelains on the mantel. The side of the room with the gorgeous antique chest with trumeau and large apothocary jars. Beautiful. Love the unique garden seat. Notice the beams in this room are lighter than the others. The family room under Willis. Instead of the chest and mirror – there is an armoire. Real Estate: Basically the same furniture arrangment. Notice the ceiling – beadboard between the beams. Check curtains. TODAY: The bay window with an antique bench. TODAY: The view towards the foyer and living room. TODAY: The large hall that runs behind the living room and dining room – leads to the kitchen at one end. CARITHERS: Remember this photograph???? I do! The view looking into the breakfast room. This was so gorgeous in the magazine. The twin light fixtures were divine! The ceiling was raised in this room and there was a high fireplace that was the focal point of the room. Carithers: A view towards the farm sink. Love the lattice chair! TODAY: I wish the photographs were normal looking and not so washed out! The new owners used a similar table and bench – and kept the light fixtures. They have a nice collection of blue and white transferware – but, but, but – the Delftware before was gorgeous! Do you see the difference? Well – Delftware costs a lot more than transferware, but it’s just gorgeous. I do like the platters and it’s a good compromise. I’ve always wanted Delftware, but it’s totally out of my budget! haha!!I wonder if that is a pizza oven? Looking towards the back keeping room. Beautiful doors. Farm sink, refrigerator behind cabinets. Love the platters in the plate rack. CARITHERS: The keeping room. Heavenly. Beautiful sconces with plates. I know I keep saying this, but I just LOVED this house!!!! I was obsessed with it – and truly still am I guess. He was so great! So perfect! Nothing out of place, nothing wrong. The accessories just make that wall. Remember his quote about accessories? So true! There are a few more Carithers houses in Veranda and S.A. that were on a par with this house – but this one was a bit more special. TODAY: The keeping room today. TODAY: Upstairs – with an antique door and lovely wood banister. Carithers: The lovely master bedroom with bold checks and soft floral curtains. I love the rug. A very classic and timeless design. Carithers added shiplap paneling on walls and ceiling and corner cabinets for architectural interest. Carithers: Pretty antique chaise with bold check. Cute wicker dog bed with dog! Willis’ master bedroom. More sedate, but similar to Carithers. Today: Real estate photograph. CARITHERS: The master bath. Carithers styled it with blue and white, an antique mirror and a unique window. CARITHERS: Painted doors hide the linen closets in the master suite. TODAY: The entire master bathroom. Willis – guest room. Today: Real estate photograph. Willis – second guest room. Real estate photograph. The lighting in this photos are really awful compared with the professional ones. The bathroom in the guest rooms with tile countertops and pewter sinks. Willis: The upstairs study. Real estate – hard to believe it’s the same room as seen before. I do wish we had photograph’s of Carither’s rooms upstairs. And finally, today, the basement. The house is beautifully decorated today, but it is hard to follow in the footsteps of Dan Carithers, who is a master at furniture placement, antiques, and accessorizing – all done with a limitless budget. His clients did tend to have bottomless pockets which does help with accessorizing. Awwww. Mr. Dan Carithers, the consummate Southern Gentleman. What a great legacy he leaves. I hope that someone close to him puts a book together of all his work. There probably are lots of projects we have never seen. Dan Carithers and Charles Faudree. Lovers of southern decor are truly feeling a true void. A wonderful and Merry Christmas to all!

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