Natural colors, calming tones, and honoring true west coast style are what makes Anne Carr’s interior designs. Carr’s ability to source excellent craftsmanship, masterfully layer textures, and create space that combines both harmony and serenity makes her firm unique. Anne Carr Design offers countless services that are tailored to a client’s specific needs such as, “Designer For a Day,” spacial consultations, and full-blown design service. Carr has had the opportunity to design homes from the east to west coast and has been featured in many publications such as Forbes, Business of Home, and aspire design and home. Introducing this week’s Designer Friday, Anne Carr.
With this home originally secluded and compartmentalized, Anne Carr made the decision to open up the space. The aquamarine sofa ties together the entire living area with its bold and curvature features.
Andrew Joseph: What is the last book you read?
Anne Carr: The last book I read was The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. It wasn’t intentional but it did speak to me as a designer as it takes us through 3 generations of homeowners. It’s interesting because the home personifies itself through the personalities of those that live in it.
Andrew: If you could live in any home in a movie or television series, what would it be?
Anne: I would love to be in Home Again or It’s Complicated by Nancy Meyers. I love how she embodies the Spanish-style home in Southern California, especially the courtyards and paths that are so common. My husband and I love to spot real estate in tv shows or movies that are so impractical for the area. For example, there is a police show where the cop lives in an all-glass house with a skyline and ocean view, I doubt they have the salary. They are aspirational yet inviting. [Meyers] makes them warm and inviting but also with some added modern accessories and color. My only change would be that I do not like clutter in a kitchen, meaning nothing on the countertops and I like everything to have a place.
This Los Angeles home honors California’s signature vibes. The wooden tones, accent colors, and textured pieces show exactly what the west coast is all about.
Andrew: What’s your favorite cocktail?
Anne: Wine or margarita.
Andrew: What are three words to describe where you live?
Anne: Sunny, lush, mountainous.
Andrew: Do you get your eight hours a night? What is your schedule like?
Anne: I am a huge baby about sleep. It’s not to say I’m a heavy sleeper though, I wake up at the drop of a pin. I never even pulled an all-nighter in college. I need eight hours or I’m a basket case the next afternoon. I have three kids and when they were babies I felt like I had the flu until they could sleep through the night.
This master bathroom provides a minimalist aesthetic. The thick marble countertop, wood-trimmed mirrors, and the natural color palette, mark this room with total tranquility. Photo by Zeke Ruelas.
Andrew: Are you a good cook? If so, what’s your specialty?
Anne: I used to be a good cook but I can honestly say everything I cook now tastes like poison. I recently lost interest in cooking when someone told me as a mother to take the age of your oldest child, multiply by the days in a year, and multiply by the number of meals you cook for them per day. (You can round down for vacations, etc.) And that is the minimum amount of meals you have made. Ever since I figured that obscene number (I have a 23 yr old) I realized I have done my duty.
Andrew: Favorite piece of clothing you own?
Anne: My favorite piece of clothing is my James Perse Camo jacket. It was a splurge but well worth it.
Andrew: What’s inspiring you in life (in the industry) right now?
Anne: What is inspiring is all the new renovations and design work people want to do as they spend more and more time in their homes. The upgrades people want to do to their homes are skyrocketing. We have so many kitchens and bathrooms lately.
About The Designer | Anne discovered her passion for interior design when she became a go-to resource for friends in need of creative home renovation and decoration ideas. Leaving her long-time career in finance behind, she enrolled in The New York School of Interior Design (NYSID) to bring her talent to the next level.
From architectural restoration and remodeling to decor and finishes, Anne Carr Design, Inc. has helped clients across the East and West Coasts bring their design dreams to life. In each project, we take risks and embrace challenges in order to create a uniquely personalized sanctuary for each of our clients. What distinguishes a home designed by Anne Carr? A keen eye for good craftsmanship, playful juxtapositions, natural materials, and masterful lighting come together to create spaces of timeless harmony.
Andrew Joseph is a regular contributing editor for aspire design and home magazine. See more of his work here.
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