Journal

Q&A | DJ Carey

Editorial Director, Cottages & Gardens

DJ Carey, Editorial Director of Cottages & Gardens, shares her favourite expressions of colour from the pages of the magazine, Paris’s Deco Off fair, and within her own home.

What are your favorite expressions of colour?

In the everyday objects like my favorite cobalt blue hand-blown glass that I use for my first sip of water, or a beautiful yellow plate made by potter Frances Palmer. I surround myself with color in my house and it determines what I choose to bring into my home. Color makes me happy.

Can you recall a project with an inspiring use of colour that you published in Cottages & Gardens?

I was immediately inspired by the home of Erick Espinoza a designer at Anthony Baratta. I loved his confidence in creating his color palette throughout his house. He knew when to be bold and when to be calm. It truly was masterful and we published the home in CTC&G’s February 2022 issue.

How do colour preferences differ across the regions of Cottages & Gardens covers?

At Cottages & Gardens we focus on choosing projects that have a sense of place. In HC&G (Hamptons Cottages & Gardens) you will see interiors that reflect the colors of the ocean and beach and also reflect that sense of fun since it is an area where people go to unwind. In NYC&G (New York Cottages & Gardens) you see a mix of industrial and artistic tones that reflect the architecture and arts, so it is more about textures and metals while the interiors featured in CTC&G (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens) you see more greens reflecting the all-important garden and blues for the sky and the Long Island Sound and pops of colors inspired by garden flowers.

Following the mass migration away from the areas such as Manhattan due to the pandemic, have you noticed any design trends that have occurred?

The pandemic has shaped us all! I think people want more flexibility in their houses so we can be together as a group and have more intimate spaces. In Connecticut and Hamptons the addition of pools and tennis and even pickleball courts have become more standard. Sustainability as well as biophilia are really important now. We want our homes to nourish and sustain us.

How does colour differ between Europe and the USA?

I think Europeans are much more comfortable with using color! In the US white tends to be the default when thinking about what to use in our homes.

Which colour or design trends caught your eye during Deco Off and MOM 2024?

I loved the red clay color trend that I saw at Deco Off and all of the embroidery included in textiles and wallcoverings. The hand connection to products is so important and I am thrilled to see it in the newest offerings.

Which of these trends do you think will come through the pages of Cottages & Gardens in 2024?

Of course the clay color -- I am already seeing it in all the shops in Connecticut and online now. The handmade aspect in textiles and wallcovering we will be covering in the coming year.