Living Junkfully in Mary Carter Randolph’s Kingdom

In a world obsessed with Marie Kondo’s minimalism and the sterile perfection of showroom living, Mary Randolph Carter—known simply as “Carter” to friends and fans—stands as a delightful rebel. For over four decades, this Richmond-born tastemaker has championed a design ethos that celebrates what she calls “the poetry of our homes”—the beautiful, meaningful clutter that tells our stories.

As the eldest of nine siblings, Carter’s philosophy was forged in the crucible of childhood trauma—having lost everything in not one but two devastating house fires. These experiences instilled in her a profound reverence for objects and the stories they carry. “Every single object has a god inside it,” she is known to say, explaining her almost spiritual connection to the items she collects. 

Virginia Roots Run Deep

Despite decades in New York, Carter remains connected to her Virginia heritage—her Southern accent still delightfully detectable in certain words. A descendant of Mary Randolph, author of the 1824 cookbook The Virginia Housewife, she honors family traditions through her collection of heirlooms and memorabilia—from plastic chickens to a paint-by-number poodle. “Even though I consider myself a New Yorker (since 1967!), I am a Virginian at heart,” she says. 

But it was her parents who taught her the lessons that matter most. “It’s not about the way a home looks, but how it feels,” she explains, “how it welcomes old and new friends and makes them feel like they’re family and that our home is their home, even just for an evening. And, that there’s always room not only for the things you love, but for the people you love.”

Carter moved to New York in the ’60s, eventually becoming the creative director at Ralph Lauren. There she discovered a kindred spirit who shared her aesthetic sensibilities from day one. He called her his “country girl.” What did she learn from the fashion icon? “Be yourself! Believe in yourself. Love contradictions in your personal style and at home! Things get better with age!” she says—advice that perfectly encapsulates her approach to both life and design.

Living the Philosophy

Carter’s Manhattan apartment, shared with her “remarkably patient husband” Howard Berg, to whom she’s been married for over 50 years, serves as the ultimate testament to her beliefs. Visitors often describe it as resembling “a country cottage,” with walls adorned with nearly 1,000 paintings and surfaces layered with religious icons, vintage photographs, and countless found treasures that others might overlook.

Walk through any room there or in her upstate New York farmhouse, and you might discover Quimper plates nestled beside a porcelain gnome, dried flowers arranged in vintage vases, carved woodland figurines, or colorful flags on tables, in shelves, or hanging on walls—all displayed with an artist’s eye for composition and story.

“I love furniture that has an old patina, things that are worn and weathered,” Carter explains of her distinctive style. While she admits her homes are sometimes cluttered, they’re never messy or disorganized. “There’s an art to making clutter look great,” she notes, and even Ralph Lauren would agree she’s mastered it. A stack of books climbing halfway to the ceiling looks brilliantly placed, not haphazard.

The Junk Ambassador

Carter’s prolific writing career celebrates this philosophy in her beloved “Junk” series—American Junk, Kitchen Junk, Garden Junk, and Big City Junk—culminating in her aptly titled work The Joy of Junk. Her rebelliously named titles like A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of A Misspent Life and Never Stop to Think … Do I Have a Place for This? give permission to live authentically, surrounded by objects that spark memory and conversation. Live With the Things You Love: And You’ll Live Happily Ever After is her most recent book, published by Rizzoli in March. 

Beyond showcasing her own collections, Carter has become an ambassador for fellow
seekers, featuring kindred spirits in her books—from American Pickers star Mike Wolfe to prominent designers like Bunny Williams. She champions objects with history and character over mass-produced perfection, seeking out “imperfectly perfect” items with patina and personality.

The Anti-Minimalist Manifesto

Carter offers a joyful counterpoint to today’s beige-and-neutral obsession. She’s earned nicknames like “The Queen of Clutter” and signs her emails “Junkfully yours,” but her philosophy runs deeper than mere accumulation. She’s about curating meaningful connections—creating spaces that tell stories, spark conversations, and feel authentically lived-in rather than like bare showrooms with sofas not fit for sitting.

“I’d never be able to organize my life the way Marie Kondo suggests, but the one thing I do agree with is her ‘things that spark joy’ theory. If you’re not sure about ditching a possession, take it in your hands and if it sparks joy, then keep it,” Carter explains. Her problem? “All of my possessions spark joy.”

Building a Community of Collectors

Through books, lectures, and a well-lived life, Carter has built a community of like-minded collectors who find comfort in her ethos. In a world increasingly drawn to sterile minimalism, she remains the passionate advocate for personal history, imperfection, and the stories that make a house truly feel like home.

Her message is both simple and revolutionary: surround yourself with things you love, embrace the contradictions, and remember that the best homes aren’t perfect—they’re perfectly lived-in.

Click here for Carter’s favorite places to shop and collect. 

This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue.