Recollections by Brian McCarthy: The Collection of Carole Harris
Brian McCarthy, an award-winning New York City-based designer and former partner of the legendary design firm Parish-Hadley, visited the River Ranch in the 1980s with Sister Parish. He recalls how a wonderful friendship and an appetite for design would flourish for years to come.
Sister Parish is shown here with Brian McCarthy and Carole Harris in the late 1980s.
“I was standing shoulder to shoulder by Carole at a Stair & Co. opening in 1988 when I overheard her telling someone about her “ranch” in the San Joaquim Valley. My ears perked up that instant and I turned and introduced myself as a partner at Parish-Hadley. She was immediately overjoyed as Sister Parish was the high Priestess of decoration. Before I could say a word, she took out her pocketbook, opened several folded xeroxes with images of the “ranch house” from all sides, including an aerial, which at first glance I thought was a country club. Several months later when we had Carole & John Harris as new clients Mrs. Parish said to me one morning that she would do anything for me to make the project a success. I looked at her in disbelief and asked if that included flying to the Harris River Ranch, her reply was “Absolutely”. Mrs. Parish had a fear of flying so this was a tremendous gesture that she agreed to the undertaking.”
“Her collection is from the heart and the passion of a true collector.”
“We landed at the San Francisco Airport and were greeted by the Harris’s pilot who escorted us to their King Air turbo prop. Did I mention white knuckles? We landed at the ranch and a red carpet met Mrs. Parish as she stepped off the plane. Mrs. Parish and Carole immediately hit it off and it led to a wonderful friendship with an open line between the two of them for years to come. Carole had a voracious appetite for decoration and a wonderful library of books to be inspired by and inspired she was. Virtually every day I would get an envelope with images of furniture, fabric, and objects to be scrutinized and debated before a decision was made. She had the energy of an army and always so grateful for everyone’s hard work and dedication to her and the project. Suffice it to say there is nothing more inspiring than an inspired client which Carole was in multiples. The last time I saw her was at the San Francisco Antique Show and she lit up like a Christmas tree. Her collection is from the heart and the passion of a true collector.”
Brian McCarthy is an award-winning New York City-based designer and former partner of the legendary design form Parish-Hadley. He founded his eponymous firm Brian J. McCarthy Inc. in 1992, and has worked on projects and residences around the globe. Learn more about Brian McCarthy and follow his work on Instagram.
CATALOGUE ONLINE: Monday, June 2
GALLERY PREVIEW:
Monday, June 2: 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, June 3: 9am – 5pm
Wednesday, June 4: 9am – 5pm
Thursday, June 5: 9am – 5pm
Friday, June 6: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, June 7: 11am – 5pm
Sunday, June 8: Closed
Monday, June 9: 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, June 10: 9am – 5pm
Wednesday, June 11: 9am – 5pm
Thursday, June 12: 9am – 5pm
Friday, June 13: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, June 14: 11am – 5pm
Sunday, June 15: Closed
Monday, June 16: 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, June 17: 9am – 5pm (Part II & Part III)
Wednesday, June 18: 9am – 5pm (Part III)