Carleton Varney
{{Short description|American decorator, designer, lecturer, and author (1937–2022)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox_person
| image = File:Carleton Varney at White House.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|01|23}}
| birth_place = Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|07|14|1937|01|23}}
| death_place = Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.
| occupation = Decorator, designer
}}
Carleton Bates Varney (January 23, 1937 – July 14, 2022) was an American decorator, designer, lecturer, and author.
Known as Mr. Color, his work was based on the use of bright, vivid, multicolors and patterns. His design philosophy "stresses the use of bright colors and the rejection of all that is impractical, uncomfortable, and drab".{{cite book |title = Interior Designers of The United States of America |publisher = Images Publishing |location = Melbourne |year = 1991 |isbn=187549801X}}{{page needed|date=July 2022}}
Early life and education
Varney was born on January 23, 1937, in Lynn, Massachusetts. He spent his childhood in Nahant, Massachusetts.{{cite book |last = Gura |first = Judith |title = New York Interior Design 1935–1985 |volume = 1 Inventors of Tradition |publisher = Acanthus Press Visual Library |year = 2008 }}{{Cite news |last = Hofheinz |first = Darrell |date = July 15, 2022 |title = 'Mr. Color' Carleton Varney, whose magical style decorated Hollywood, the White House, dies |url = https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/2022/07/15/carleton-varney-obituary-decorator-dorothy-draper-co-dies-palm-beach/10066789002/ |access-date = July 17, 2022 |url-access = subscription |newspaper = Palm Beach Daily News }} He earned his bachelor's degree in Spanish and fine arts from Oberlin College in Ohio in 1958 and a master's degree in fine arts education in 1969 from New York University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/2022/07/15/decorator-carleton-varney-longtime-palm-beach-daily-news-columnist-dies/10069809002/|title=Carleton Varney, decorator and longtime Palm Beach Daily News columnist, dies at 85|first=Darrell|last=Hofheinz|website=Palm Beach Daily News}}
Career
Varney began his career by teaching Spanish, French, and history at New York's New Rochelle Academy,{{Cite news |last = Suqi |first = Rima |date = January 25, 2012 |title = Attention, Class: Show-and-Tell Time With Carleton Varney |language = en-US |work = The New York Times |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/garden/carleton-varney-on-teaching-dorothy-drapers-design.html |access-date = July 10, 2020 |issn = 0362-4331 }} joined Dorothy Draper & Co. in 1960, and bought the firm in 1964.{{cite news |last = Sheridan |first = Patricia |date = September 27, 2011 |url = http://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2011/09/27/A-Colorful-weekend-with-Carleton-Varney/stories/201109270238 |title = A Colorful Weekend With Carleton Varney |work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette }} Dorothy Draper Co., Inc. has offices located in New York, Palm Beach, White Sulphur Springs, and London.{{cite magazine |magazine = Architectural Digest |title = The AD 100 An Exclusive Guide To The World's Finest Interior Designers |date = August 15, 1990 |volume = 47 |issue = 9 |pages = 392–394 }} Varney's design work includes private homes of celebrities and world leaders, hotels around the world, castles in Ireland, yachts, ships, private, and public buildings.{{Cite web |date = May 31, 2014 |title = Carleton Varney: 1990 Hall of Fame Inductee |url = https://www.interiordesign.net/articles/8404-carleton-varney/ |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = Interior Design |language = en-us }} His work includes two historic hotels—The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia and the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, Michigan. Society Expeditions' World Discoverer ships had public and private spaces decorated and refurbished by Varney.{{cite news |last1 = Slater |first1 = Shirley |first2 = Harry |last2 = Basch |date = October 20, 1985 |url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-20-tm-14403-story.html |title = Afloat: Ships and Suites |work = Los Angeles Times }}{{Cite news |date = April 1985 |title = Cruise News |work = Orange Coast Magazine |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=xg8EAAAAMBAJ&q=carleton+varney+society+explorer&pg=PA84 }}{{page needed|date=July 2022}}
His public work includes the West Virginia Governor's Mansion, the Vice President's Washington residence, and the U.S. Ambassador's residence in Tokyo, Japan.{{cite news |url = http://www.interiordesign.net/articles/8404-carleton-varney/ |title = Carleton Varney: 1990 Hall of Fame Inductee |date = May 31, 2014 |work = Interior Design }} His celebrity client list includes Joan Crawford,{{Cite web |last1 = Nodell |first1 = Andrew |date = April 19, 2017 |title = Inside Joan Crawford's Life After 'Feud' |url = https://wwd.com/eye/people/inside-joan-crawford-life-after-feud-10869530/ |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = WWD |language = en }} Judy Garland,{{Cite web |date = October 30, 2018 |title = Bye-bye, brown furniture. Say hello to chintz |url = https://www.expressnews.com/lifestyle/home-garden/article/Bye-bye-brown-furniture-Say-hello-to-chintz-13345732.php |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = ExpressNews.com |language = en-US }} Ethel Merman,{{Cite web |last = Andrea |title = ethel-merman-nyc-apartment-carleton-varney-growing-wild |url = https://www.theglampad.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ethel-merman-nyc-apartment-carleton-varney-growing-wild.jpg |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = The Glam Pad |language = en-US }} Van Johnson,{{Cite web |title = A Colorful weekend with Carleton Varney |url = https://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2011/09/27/A-Colorful-weekend-with-Carleton-Varney/stories/201109270238 |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |language = en }} Fay Wray,{{Cite web |title = Inside design: Carleton Varney |url = https://www.styleathome.com/decorating-design/design-experts/article/inside-design-carleton-varney |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = Style at Home |date = October 16, 2012 }} and many other Hollywood icons. Varney's product design includes textiles, wallcoverings, furniture, dinnerware, stained glass windows, and scarves. He is also founder of Carleton V Ltd, Carleton Varney By the Yard, and Dorothy Draper Fabric & Wallcoverings.{{cite web |last = Renzi |first = Jen |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111903918104576504393028612966 |title = Decorator Carleton Varney on Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Dining Room |department = My Favorite Room |work = The Wall Street Journal |date = August 20, 2011 |access-date = December 3, 2015 }}
Authorship
Some of Varney's work is featured in the authorship of 30 plus books and syndicated columns on decorating and design. His writing career began in high school and continued into his professional career. His first book in 1962, You and Your Apartment was followed in 1969 by The Family Decorates A Home, thus the name for his newspaper column. He modeled his mentor's column, "Ask Dorothy Draper" with his syndicated newspaper column, "Your Family Decorator". Varney continued to write a weekly column for the Palm Beach Daily News also known as "The Shiny Sheet". In addition to his books on decorating, he has authored two novels, two biographies on the life and style of Dorothy Draper, titled The Draper Touch and In the Pink, and pictorial books of his work such as Houses in his Heart, Mr. Color, and Decorating in the Grand Manor. His latest works include Decorating on the Waterfront,{{Cite web |last = Keller |first = Hadley |title = A Legendary Designer Reveals Which American Presidents Had the Best Taste |url = https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/carleton-varney-dorothy-draper-presidential-style-decorating-waterfront |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = Architectural Digest |date = March 29, 2017 |language = en-us }} Rooms to Remember,{{Cite web |date = June 27, 2019 |title = Carleton Varney Shares 'Rooms to Remember' In Newest Grand Hotel Book |work = Mackinac Town Crier |url = https://www.mackinacislandnews.com/articles/carleton-varney-shares-rooms-to-remember-in-newest-grand-hotel-book/ |access-date = July 10, 2020 }} and Romance & Rhododendrons.{{Cite web |title = Carleton Varney captures The Greenbrier's colorful style in new book |url = https://www.post-gazette.com/life/fashion/2021/01/04/Carleton-Varney-new-book-Romance-and-Rhododendrons-Greenbrier-resort/stories/202101040001 |access-date = March 16, 2021 |website = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |language = en }} He lectured on decorating and design and held classes on the Dorothy Draper style throughout the country.{{cite news |last = Early |first = Rosalee |title = Carleton Varney's Palette is Full of Color, Full of Projects |work = Gazette Mail |location = Charleston, West Virginia |pages = 1F, 5F |date = December 4, 2011 }}{{Cite web |date = March 15, 2019 |title = A Weekend at The Greenbrier with Carleton Varney |url = https://www.theglampad.com/2019/03/a-weekend-at-the-greenbrier-with-carleton-varney.html |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = The Glam Pad |language = en-US }}
Charitable consultations
In 2008 he designed Architectural Digest{{'s}} Green Room for the 80th Academy Awards ceremony.{{cite magazine |last = Sanchez |first = Kelly Vencill |title = A Winning Design for Oscar, Architectural Digest's Green Room at the Academy Awards |magazine = Architectural Digest |volume = 56 |issue = 6 |pages = 90–92 |date = June 2008 }} Along with Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, he has co-chaired the Rita Hayworth Luncheon to benefit Alzheimer's Association.{{Cite web |publisher = Alzheimer's Association |title = Palm Beach Rita Hayworth Luncheon |url = https://www.alz.org/galas/palmbeach/ |access-date = July 10, 2020 }} In 2016 he was the design consultant for An Evening with Joe Namath, benefiting the Joe Namath Neurological Research Center at Jupiter Medical Center.{{Cite web |title = Jupiter Medical Center Foundation |url = https://www.jmcfoundation.org/documents/60379_JMCF_2017JMCandBeSeen_NL.pdf }}
White House work
In 1982, Varney served as curator for the restoration and decoration of the USS Sequoia, the presidential yacht.{{cite news |last = Ferretti |first = Fred |date = May 28, 1982 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/28/style/the-sequoia-returns-to-service-in-style.html |title = The Sequoia Returns to Service in Style |work = The New York Times }} In 2011 he reviewed and was interviewed regarding Monticello's dining room restoration.{{cite news |last = Renzi |first = Jen |title = The Full Monticello |work = The Wall Street Journal |date = August 20, 2011 }}{{page needed|date=July 2022}} His client list of White House first ladies for state dinner favors, china designs, scarves and First Lady Suites for the Grand Hotel includes Lady Bird Johnson, Nancy Reagan, Jacqueline Kennedy, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, and Laura Bush.{{cite news |last = Petkanas |first = Christopher |date = April 30, 2009 |url = http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/midwest-wing |title = Suite Inspiration on Mackinac Island |work = Travel and Leisure }}{{Cite web |last = Keller |first = Hadley |date = May 31, 2019 |title = Beige Decor Is Anti-American |url = https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/celebrity-homes/a27652572/carleton-varney-stop-decorating-with-beige/ |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = House Beautiful |language = en-US }} Under the Carter Administration, he styled White House state luncheons and dinners and served as the color consultant for the Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta.{{cite news |last = Nickell |first = Patti |date = March 5, 2011 |url = http://www.kentucky.com/living/home-garden/article44082825.html |title = Designer Carleton Varney brings ideas, reminisces to antiques and garden show |work = Lexington Herald Leader }} In 2018 he was nominated as member of the National Council on the Arts{{Cite web |title = President Donald J. Trump Announces His Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts |url = https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-personnel-key-administration-posts-14/ |access-date = July 10, 2020 |via = National Archives |work = whitehouse.gov |language = en-US }} and he was on the National Council of the White House Historical Association.{{Cite web |title = The National Council |url = https://www.whitehousehistory.org/the-national-council |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = WHHA |language = en }}
Design collections
Throughout his career, Varney partnered with many different vendors to create design collections and product lines. Such collaborations include: Kindel Furniture,{{Cite web |title = Furniture |url = https://kindelfurniture.com/furniture |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = Kindel Furniture |language = en }} Dr. Livingstone, I Presume,{{Cite web |date = April 24, 2017 |title = Carleton Varney talks Dorothy Draper, Coco Chanel at Kindel |url = https://www.furnituretoday.com/business-news/carleton-varney-talks-dorothy-draper-coco-chanel-kindel/ |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = Furniture Today |language = en-US }} Fine Paints of Europe,{{Cite web |title = Dorothy Draper / Carleton Varney Colors Swatches – Fine Paints of Europe |url = http://www.finepaintsofeurope.com/dorothy_draper_carleton_varney_color_swatches.aspx |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = www.finepaintsofeurope.com }} Frontgate,{{Cite web |title = Carleton Varney Tabletop Collection |url = https://www.frontgate.com/carleton-varney-tabletop-collection/874958 |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = frontgate |language = en }} and HSN.{{Cite web |date = April 17, 2017 |title = At Home with Carleton Varney |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9oUCOKbuCc |website = HSNtv }}
Personal life
Varney and former wife Suzanne had three sons—Nicholas, designer of fine jewelry,{{Cite web |last = Donnelly |first = Shannon |title = Out of the (jewelry) box: Nicholas Varney's non-traditional designs wow |url = https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/lifestyle/2021/01/31/jeweler-nicholas-varney-sets-up-shop-via-amore/6676845002/ |access-date = March 19, 2021 |website = Palm Beach Daily News |language = en-US }} Seamus, and Sebastian, president of Carleton V Ltd.{{Cite web |title = Carleton V |url = http://nickyrising.com/vendors/carleton-v/ |access-date = March 19, 2021 |website = Nicky Rising |language = en-US }} He had one grandson named Bowie.{{Cite web |date = April 6, 2018 |title = Remembering Carleton V Ltd. co-founder Suzanne Varney |url = https://businessofhome.com/articles/remembering-carleton-v-ltd-co-founder-suzanne-varney |access-date = July 10, 2020 |website = Business of Home }}
He resided in Palm Beach, Florida,{{cite news |last = Lau |first = Venessa |date = October 2008 |url = http://www.wmagazine.com/culture/art-and-design/2008/10/varney/ |title = Family Gathering: With New Creative Projects On Deck, Carleton and Nicholas Varney Share the Spotlight |work = W Magazine }} where he was also a columnist for a local newspaper, the Palm Beach Daily News.
Varney died in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on July 14, 2022, at the age of 85.{{cite news |last1 = Post |first1 = Izzy |title = World famous interior designer, Greenbrier decorator dies |url = https://www.wvnstv.com/news/world-famous-interior-designer-greenbrier-christmas-decorator-dies/ |access-date = July 16, 2022 |publisher = WVNS-TV |date = July 15, 2022 }}{{cite web |last1 = Silva |first1 = Rachel |title = Remembering the Life and Work of Decorating Legend Carleton Varney |url = https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/a40627880/carleton-varney-obituary/ |website = ELLE Decor |access-date = July 16, 2022 |date = July 15, 2022 }}
Awards and accolades
In 1987, Varney was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Charleston in West Virginia.{{cite news |title = Varney Receives Honorary Doctorate |work = Chattanooga News Free Press |date = January 24, 1988 }}{{page needed|date=July 2022}} In 1990, he was inducted into Interior Design magazine's hall of fame, and in 1990 he was selected to be in "AD 100 An Exclusive Guide To The World's Finest Interior Designers". In 1991 he was listed in Interior Designers of the United States of America{{cite book |title = Interior Designers of the United States of America |publisher = Images Publishing |location = Melbourne |year = 1991 |page = 39 }} and in 2005 was named by Architectural Digest as one of 30 Deans of American Design.{{cite magazine |title = 30 Deans of American Design |magazine = Architectural Digest |date = January 2005 |pages = 89–95 }} In 2008 Judith Gura included him as one of New York's inventors of tradition. In 2015, he was awarded the 2015 Design Icon Award at the Las Vegas Market.{{cite web |url = http://www.homeaccentstoday.com/article/494247-carleton-varney-las-vegas-markets-2015-design-icon |title = Carleton Varney is Las Vegas Market's 2015 Design Icon |date = December 11, 2014 |work = Home Accents Today }}
References
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