Tony Duquette, The Inspiration

Space of the Week: Every Cockatoo Needs a Headdress

Check out this fabulous piece by Wendy Goodman... DF 



Duquette for Dodie Rosecrans, Venice



Le Style Rothschild - Waddesdon Manor




The Red Drawing Room

I've always, like many people, been fascinated by very grand houses, and lately I've been looking at one of my books called "The Rothschilds at Waddeson Manor".  Recently, James Reginato did a piece on Lord Jacob and his stewardship of this amazing house in Buckinghamshire, England. (Sotheby's Magazine)  
In the colour plate in my book, the damask on the walls of the room above, looks much brighter, and more "red"- here, it appears to be a more rosy shade.  I LOVE the opulence of damask on walls!  Have you ever seen the film called "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" - with Debbie Reynolds?  See it!  Waddeson Manor, built in the late 19th, is the second most visited National Trust property in the U.K. - Lord Jacob de Rothschild recently added a new complex called Windmill House, which will house more of the vast family archives.  Apparently, the Rothschilds built over 44 houses throughout Europe, many in this French Renaissance style, which became known as "Le Gout Rothschild."

The exterior of Waddesdon Manor, shown above, was used in season two of "Downton Abbey" - It was styled after famous chateaux of the Loire in France, on a more modest scale.  I am reminded of the Vanderbilt estate at Asheville, North Carolina, called "Biltmore".  Before WWII, when the family was still using the house as a residence, there were hundreds of servants, including gardeners and stable boys.  Imagine the lifestyle!  A bit daunting no doubt- and difficult to grasp in this day and age.  Enjoy!  DF *****
    

Bentley Party, Naples



Brooklands

 Looking forward to this annual party- celebrating the fourth anniversary of business in the new building, and a new Bentley model.  Meeting with new clients earlier that day, from the U.K. - they have a home on Majorca as well.  Did you know that Ibiza (near Majorca) is pronounced "e-beetha" ?  Well now you do!  See you soon XX DF



Arnage

Gorgeous, cream leather interior...so luxurious, and so very private.  Home James! :)




Continental

I test drove the cabrio version of the one above- it was a like a visit to heaven! Love it! :)



Azure

The shot above, gives an idea of how luxe the Bentley is- 12 cylinders of pure bliss! :)  DF  

(Still) Loving Ikat Designs



Stout Fabrics "Darlington" Color-3  Jasmine

I was out shopping for clients this morning, and very much by accident discovered this linen and cotton print, by Stout, called "Darlington" (hello Reggie Darling) and immediately loved it on sight.  Most of my clients don't really fancy ikat patterns- so this is for ME.  There are four colorways, the only one I didn't bring home to try was the orange/gold one, as I had that palette in my old Bridgewater Bay apartment.

I would LIKE to make fat down filled pillows from this, for the new sofa, and use it on a pair of Louis XV style chairs...AND have my workroom make some drapery panels, with a very Colefax-Fowler cotton fringe...then I just need a couple of new area carpets...



Stout Fabrics "Darlington" Color-2 Waterway

This one, ABOVE, (and below) is more teal- with chocolate- and I like it for a very neo-baroque style tufted headboard and hangings for my dreamy new bedroom I'm conjuring up...

At first, I thought I loved that one the most- and I do- only for the bedroom, not the living room, then I also liked this chic mulberry-amethyst colorway (below) which I once had in a similar design from Brunschwig, on an ottoman, and a Kingston swagged valance.




Stout Fabrics, "Darlington" color- 1 Raspberry



I love that this fabric is a mix of linen and cotton.  I do like the slightly soft, wrinkled look and feel of it, and it ages well.  Stay tuned to see if I actually order this and have it made up!  Who knows?  DF *****
 

 

Cupola House

Billy and I have been working on the design-build of this new 14,000 square foot house for the past two years- located in the up country of South Carolina, we've christened the property "Cupola House" - for obvious reasons- here are a few shots from our last trip up.

The weather was FREEZING, like a damp English winter- and the temps were in the mid twenties...our thin Floridian blood was CHILLED.  Luckily, there were space heaters in the house. 



We used a brick called "Old Jefferson"


The garage, known as the EAST WING, will hold two Jaguars, a Chevy Suburban, and a Rolls-Royce...still waiting for the new doors to be installed.

The house is sitting on five acres... I took a hike to the lower part of the property to get this shot, eventually we plan to have an allee' of magnolias from the upper area down to the valley, with a decorative folly at the bottom.

A shot I took, looking up into the new cupola, before the small army of finish carpenters arrive to add all the gorgeous finishing mill work...

I couldn't get a good front shot of the new structure, since this existing ranch house is blocking the view- soon to be cut in half and moved to a lot in the nearby area...bye bye tear-down!  Stay tuned for future updates- DF *****