Breakfast With Andy

I finally have a skirted dining table, thanks to Mary, and I love how the vibrant silk plaid looks with my classic Andy Warhol cow "wallpaper" print. I'm serving a simple but healthy course of Gallettine wafers (from Tuscany) with Smuckers peach preserves, Tropicana orange jus, fresh coffee in my Bon Jour french press. Chargers from Over and Back (Italy), bread plates are Christofle "Louvre" with "Chinon" flatware. Juice glasses are from Chelsea Gardens. Meissen style bird candle holders from Jennings, Naples. Have a great day ! DF *****

Decorator Scrapbook III

I enjoy creating these random artistically inspired posts... here are some images that intrigue me, for various reasons. Enjoy ! DF *****

French Country Checks

My dear friend Mary loaned me these pillows recently, and I placed them on the settee that I'm relentlessly changing... I do like the way the soft gold color is playing off of the other colors in the space. These checks have been used for years as an outside back on armchairs... very classic and timeless. DF *****

Vintage Inspiration

Another wonderful image from my dear friends at Bonnet House. I could't resist sharing this - it captures the spirit of Summer on the riviera !

DF *****

6.25.10: Paula Caravelli | New York Social Diary

6.25.10: Paula Caravelli New York Social Diary

The Dean's List 06-25-10

The Dean's List for Friday, June 25th 2010

Old houses that have been maintained

Cutting gardens with boxwood hedges

Well behaved children

Classic chintz from Lee Jofa and Brunschwig & Fils

Cocktail parties

Knowing cell phone etiquette

Polished marble bathrooms

Good manners

Pink roses next to the bed

Sterling silver picture frames

DF *****

Shimmery Silk

I'm all about this Donghia silk woven with small round mirrors... I'd use it for curtains, pillows, and a duvet cover... great as a wall upholstery in a small foyer, with a tented ceiling of the same material... Chic, fun, elegant - silk is all of these rolled into one. DF*****

Decorator Scrapbook II

Blackamoor mirror from M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Salad plates from Anthropologie, Naples

Custom lacquer table, Harris house, Naples

Roman Grandeur

Imagine having a hall in your home like this one... there is such a house belonging to an ancient family in Rome. Inspired by the palace of Versailles, this example represents the power and wealth held by the family. I don't think you'll be seeing anything like this on HGTV makeover programs... for in good design, architecture always precedes decoration. In this case, much of the decoration was incorporated into the architecture. DF *****

Progress Nine Months Later

Another lovely sunset in Naples

Love this Madeline Weinrib carpet !

Table - Knoll, Chairs in Edelman Suede


The new Kitchen with Electrolux appliances

Monique Shay table and chairs, Flos italian lights

While a remodel always takes a while, nine months to a year seems about right, and this time it was a house as opposed to a condo. Here are some progress shots I took recently at the Wilson (nee Edelman) residence here in Naples. Contractor was Robert Lenahan, Naples. I also like this mood shot of my "salon" which I took just when the light was changing to that wonderful electric blue... DF *****

The Dean's List 06-18-10

The Dean's List for Friday, June 18th, 2010

Having a fashion point of view

People with dogs

Collecting seashells

Drinking good wine

Surf Shack Chic on WIJW blog

Coming home from a Summer holiday

Living without clutter = luxury

Not appearing to try too hard

Real Housewives of New York City

Beaux Arts Architecture in America

DF*****

Classic Rolls-Royce 1960-1987

1965 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III

1973 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

1976 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

1987 Rolls Royce Corniche II

I love this one - a 1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II

Who could not love the romantic beauty of these classic old "motorcars" ? Impractical as they may be for a daily driver, the idea is that suddenly, running an errand becomes a thing of great glamour and pleasure ! These cars were all made before BMW bought the company, and I love them from the bottom of my very soul. Naples does have a Rolls-Royce club, and I look forward to owning my first RR and becoming a member... I love them all ! I have had so many clients who own Rolls and Bentley, that I suppose it's rubbed off on me, plus several of the designers I've known over the years had them, including Pat Plaxico,(High Point) T. Gordon Little, (Atlanta) and George Clarkson (New York). Rolls-Royce represents the ultimate in quality, prestige, and elegance. That is why I want to own one. It's about making a statement, not about how much is the cost of a gallon of fuel. It's not green, surely, but perhaps just driving slowly on a Sunday afternoon would be permitted ? DF *****

That Stripped Down Summer Look

I've always loved the look of Summer rooms... abandoned by the owners, or pared down to keep things cool. Slipcovers, sisal mats, blue and white porcelains, and slowly revolving ceiling fans are elements that come to mind. Here, I took the toss pillows off of my small white settee to give a more "Summer" look. One of my old New York friends, the late Gordon McCollum, always had Summer slipcovers for his double drawing room in the townhouse he lived in in lower Manhattan, all white, with lots of multi colored pillows. Outdoor rooms are great too, especially by a pool or the sea. Have some lemonade or an iced tea, find a good book, and put your feet up and RELAX ! Enjoy ! DF *****

Beauty in the Bath

I was delighted today to see that Mark Till had hung the new mirrors in the newly remodeled master bath that Bob Lenahan and I created for Mary Edelman here in Naples. Cabinets and mirrors are from Restoration Hardware... lighting is through Gavin Oihus at Light Bulbs Unlimited... Benjamin Moore paint "yellow iris".... DF*****

Source: Mark Nelson Designs

I've known Mark Nelson since my New York days, and he's always been a good friend and a great colleague. When I first met Mark, he was working for Rosecore carpets, and now he has his very own firm for finer carpets called Mark Nelson Designs http://www.marknelsondesigns.com/ and I couldn't resist sharing some of the beautiful samples he recently sent to my librarian here in Florida. I especially like the star pattern, silk/wool blend. Enjoy ! DF *****

Designer Profile: Chuck Fischer

Billy and I had such a nice time reconnecting with Chuck Fischer, while in Fort Lauderdale for a Summer holiday. It was such fun to meet Bill, Chuck's partner, and Dinah Shore... an amazing little dancing doggie ! I LOVED Chuck's new apartment at the elegant new Sapphire Condominiums in North Fort Lauderdale on Ocean Drive. He used a lot of white, beige and quite a few of his own designs for Lenox, and Brunschwig, and we had a lot of fun remembering the days of the Hamptons and Nicholas Pentecost, Mrs. Parish, and of course, dear Albert. Thanks again Chuck and Bill for a lovely evening in your new home ! DF*****

Summer Respite

All work and no play makes Dean a dull boy !

William and I are heading back over to the east coast, and I'm taking a much needed break from WORK, WORK, WORK !!! Will check back in upon our return. Have a great week ! DF*****

Roche Bobois

I like this chair very much...

More AD !

I like this very much

I fell for this chic bean bag chair...

Gotta love these lips !!!

Artist Alexander Lafayette with Gary Shanabarger

I wonder why my trousers look so rumpled ?

Gary Shanabarger in a Swarovski belt...

Our friends at Roche Bobois...

Here I am posing in front of Clive Christian, another fave resource

Billy and I had fun up at the Miromar Design Center last night, celebrating the recent appointment of our friend Philip Rowe as general manager of the newly relocated Roche Bobois, Naples. It was fun to run into local design stars such as Gary Shanabarger and Matthew from 50/50 and to see John Garvalia and meet some local artists we had not encountered before. Previously, Philip was the manager of Gregory Alonso, Naples ,a local design trade source based in Ohio. Elizabeth served us a lovely chilled Prosecco and I toured the showroom with William and Gary. Gary just returned from the Washington, D.C. Roche Bobois as he designed some of the showroom there along with Philip. Gary is also in the midst of creating a new cigar bar at Mercato, Naples, to be called "Burn" ! Burn baby, burn ! Looking forward to sharing a Cohiba with him soon at Burn, then toasting our success at Blue Martini, Naples (also located in the trendy new Mercato) Smoke follows beauty ! DF *****