The Dean's List 04-30-10

The Gutfreund Salle a Manger, New York

Charcoal glazed walls

Dining Rooms

Saumon en papillote

Narcissus

Family heirlooms

Hand wrapped gifts

Thank you notes

New Orleans

Place des Vosges, Paris

Royal Crescent, Bath

Fabulous Fabrics - Tissus Pour La Maison

Spring 2010 Scalamandre'

Sunbrella - Joe Ruggiero

Thibaut (using for some outdoor furniture)



Stout (using for some toss pillows)

What could be better than these beautiful textiles from Scalamandre', Stout, and Thibaut, plus Sunbrella ? The real benefit is that most of them can be used either indoors OR out ! I'm still shocked when visiting my trade fabric showrooms to see how many of these are now offered. Everything from mod to trad... neon bright to old guard subdued... AMAZING ! Here, I show some I'm currently working with for various design projects in Naples. I've always been partial to Scalamandre', and Ed Goodman there (New York) is still a good friend. I once decorated an entire 19th century house in Charleston, SC all in Scalamandre' !!! I also have used a lot of Thibaut, and used their wallpapers exclusively in my Old Naples Pettit Square apartment (two bathrooms and the kitchen) - The prints they offer are very fresh in coloration and design. Enjoy these shots I took just for you ! DF *****

Paris On My Mind

Four Seasons Hotel, Paris

Photograph by Dean Farris

My friend and fellow designer, James Andrew of New York, is off to Paris. What a lovely time of year to be there. My friend Mary Hill just returned from Barcelona, and it was great to see Lee Edney last night at the "reunion" cocktail hour at Harold's Place here in Naples. Lee lives in upstate New York, and she and I once worked together at Norris Interiors. I also saw Mitzi, Alice, Mary Beth, Jim, Maureen, and Dana and Cynthia... Great to see all of these wonderful, creative people. Here, I was sitting in my Living Room enjoying a glass of chilled Chardonnay, and dreaming of Paris, and remembering the last trip William and I took, where we stayed at the terribly charming (and inexpensive) Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais, on the right bank in the Marais district. Next time, we must stay on the left bank ! I'm looking forward to a May full of even more flowers ! The promise of Spring is eternal. Enjoy ! DF***** http://www.carondebeaumarchais.com/

April News

I just want to say thanks again to Kathy Becker, editor of Naples Illustrated for the great feature on the Pelican bay home of Nancy White, designed by Dean Farris Interior Design... DF***** (April 2010 issue)

A Designers World

F. P. Victoria

F. Schumacher

Kravet Lee/Jofa

Stark Carpet




Ralph Lauren at Webster & Company

Ralph Lauren at Webster & Company

What would we do without our trade sources ? Here in Naples we have a huge design center, catering to the professional interior designer. Miromar Design Center, Estero offers a multitude of superior resources. And of course, we can always hop a jet to New York, one of the ultimate destinations for all things design.... I especially like this recently featured NY Times piece on F.P. Victoria's new LED porcelain flowers lighting... DF *****

The Dean's List 04-23-10

Webster & Company

The Dean's List for Friday, April 23rd, 2010



People who love to entertain at home



Webster & Company, Boston and Estero, FL



Men who dress well, and take time to look good for others



1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL convertible



Fresh flowers and veggies from the garden



Charleston, South Carolina



The Bushes !



Jo Malone Amber Lavender cologne



Creeping fig on exterior walls



Decorator Georgina Fairholme

Webster & Company

Here I am looking like Barclay Butera !

Ali and a friend

In the Webster and Company showroom


Decorative design students




Mark and Ron

Saint Barth's chair from Holly Hunt...

I have no idea whose chair this is !

One of Mally's gorgeous paintings...

Peter, Diane, and Cretia

Great Lilly Pulitzer jacket 

Designer Cheryl Oldershaw

My Director of Marketing chats with Mark Fanta, general manager

William and I had a nice evening at the opening for Mally Khorasantchi - in the Holly Hunt showroom - part of Webster & Company at the Miromar Design Center in Estero, Florida...I so enjoyed meeting Peter Webster, Mark Fanta, and other old friends, including Andrew Durning, Cheryl Oldershaw, Susan Swanson, John, Debbie, Ali and Mally, Ron and Mark, Cretia, and many others... Webster has the largest showroom in Boston, and here in Florida they carry Ralph Lauren, Brunschwig, Holly Hunt, Walters Wicker and many more of my favorite lines. Here are some great shots I took at the party. DF ***** ps All framing on paintings by ALDECOR, Naples, Florida http://www.aldecorcustomframing.com/

Brandon Branch

The Lady & Sons

A peek inside Paula and Brandon's "Savannah Style"

I was born in a town called Albany, Georgia. I loved this town until I was taken away at age five, to live in Florida... My mother's side all lived in rural Georgia out in Worth County, on a large farm, where my grandparents raised cotton, peanuts, soybeans, watermelons, corn, sugar cane, pecans and many other crops. My mother was a true southern belle, and still is. My grandmother always had silver that was being stolen by the maids. The shocker was one night, we were roused from our beds, the house was on fire, and we all sat on chairs in a circle and watched it burn to the ground. Shades of "Gone With The Wind" - anyway, I found this new Paula Deen book (she came from Albany before Savannah) about her house which her assistant Brandon Branch helped her with. My mother knows some of Paula's family, and is also related to the pro golfer Nancy Lopez through her cousin Ray Knight, who is Nancy's husband... Brandon appears to very talented, and he loves to have libations and do flowers. One of my favorite memories of Albany is the "Pink House" a big fat antebellum style stucco house, painted a bold pink, with very large columns... I always loved it as a child, and I remember playing with the camelias that grew around our house. The azaleas were huge, and I had such fun there, playing with my childhood friend Charlie Tisdale. I do think that first impressions form our early lives, and I was lucky to live in such a quiet and pretty place.

DF***** copyright Dean Farris (apologies to my dear Mammy)

Shopping for Clients

Amazing SICIS tile at Sorhegui, Naples

I love these glass tiles from Italy...

An interesting peacock blue metallic finish...

gotta find the right hardware for these newly installed cabinets !

A little moment of self indulgence !

I spent about half the day yesterday shopping for various jobs I'm currently designing. I paid a visit to Tony at Sorhegui Tile, Rob at Ferguson Kitchen & Bath, and Scott at Smith & DeShields... These are all showrooms which cater mostly to the local design trade here in Naples. The small shops I love to visit are rapidly diminishing - an unfortunate sign of the times here, as Naples was hit especially hard by a real estate bubble bursting... On a positive note, I dropped in at Borders books, where William caught me checking myself out in the April issue of "Naples Illustrated" - four glorious pages of editorial design coverage featuring the remodel and decor I created with Robert Lenahan in Pelican bay. Today is my good friend Sherry McKie's birthday ! Happy birthday sweet lady. Lunching with William today, and looking forward to it. Enjoy ! DF***** PS Check out "Nine by Design" on BRAVO ! What an amazing couple...

Decorator Scrapbook

F. Burrall Hoffman, architect - VIZCAYA
The ladies of Beaumont College


Opening for artist Mally Khorasantchi at Holly Hunt

A superb Louis XV desk

Dinner is served....

I would place this at the foot of the grand staircase...

My old friend and client, Martin, has gotten into vintage photography... he also collects antique portrait miniatures. He's been sending some very charming pictures to me lately. I'm still obsessed with 18th century french furniture.... see some more examples in this post. What else ? Looking forward to the gallery opening at the new Holly Hunt showrooom on Thursday. My dear client Barbara Phelan purchased Holly's last apartment in Chicago. What a small world it sometimes is. New leather finish limestone tops going in today in my kitchen remodel for Mary Edelman (Edelman leather) ! Must go over and check them out... have a great day. DF***** www.MallyKhorasantchi.com

Ainsworth-Noah

I first became aware of Hal Ainsworth and Winton Noah when they owned a small wicker and accessories shop on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. This was 1975 or '76... later they opened their eponymous showroom in ADAC (Atlanta Decorative Arts Center) and my friend Nicholas worked there briefly. My mother bought some things from them, under my direction, as well. Hal and Winton have great taste, and are smart, savvy businessmen. They have homes in Atlanta, Paris, and Cashiers, NC, all of which have been published in Lisa Newsom's gorgeous "Veranda" magazine. Here are some images I borrowed from their site, http://www.ainsworth-noah.com/ They carry DeGournay wallcoverings, antiques from Europe, and many fabric, wallcovering and furniture lines catering to the interior design trade throughout the Southeastern U.S. Enjoy ! DF *****

Splendor in Ruins

The Dana Estates - Napa Valley, CA
Splendor in Ruins

The Dean's List 04-16

The Dean's List

Bonnet House Museum and Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Magnum Lounge, Miami, Florida

Blue Moon Fish Company, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Pinot Noir from California

High Society on the CW with Tinsley Mortimer

The Spoleto Festival, Charleston, South Carolina

F.P. Victoria & Son, New York, New York

The Shell Room at Bonnet House

Zebra skin rugs

Old, chipped gesso picture frames on paintings DF*****