Parish-Hadley Redux in Naples

Dean Farris Interior Design

Here's the exciting new ikat printed jute rug I had mentioned in a recent post-! I'm very pleased with it, and it just reminds me so much of some of the vintage images from the P-H archives I had been exposed to while living in New York, and studying my passion, interior design and decoration...this really "woke up" my room!  As I told my good friend and fellow decorator, Judith Auclair- I may have an actual color palette going on for the first time in years, for ME, not the clients! :)  

Above, you can see the teal painted Spanish Louis XV arm chair I obtained from Mr. Albert Hadley- and I had told Judith I thought my new "palette" might be blues, cognac browns, and touches of periwinkle.  Now that the new ikat jute rug is here (Feizy Imports) I see more of the turquoise-teal in it so am thinking of adding that divine colour also - for the satin turkish corner toss pillows I'm planning for the leather chesterfield sofa.  An unexpected benefit of this made in India rug is the warm aroma of jute -like a soft masculine rope smell...which I rather like.  Thanks to the California based artist-designer, Tracy Porter (see earlier post) of Poetic Wanderlust, I now have a new casual rug, affordable, and chic, that I can get excited about!  Cheers!  DF *****(click images to enlarge)   

Directoire-Consulate Period Style

Recently, my friend John Tackett, of The Devoted Classicist, posted about the Patino sale- and these striking Consulate chairs (the end of the Directoire 1793-1804) were shown...I decided to focus on them, since they incorporate so many elements we love today.  The silk velvet fabric.  The gilding.  The ebonised animal form legs and feet!  I would propose these for a hall, flanking a console, or just standing alone, and making a dramatic statement.  Years ago, I was in the Charlotte, North Carolina home of the late designer James Essary, and his foyer contained a beautiful console, above which was hung a large oil painting, obtained from a Christie's sale.  The foyer made an impression on me, with it's overscaled black and white checkered floor, and the double staircase.  The Directoire period was revived in the 1940's, 50's and 60's by such decorators as Michael Greer, and Melanie Kahane.  I still recall the Directoire bergere that Tice placed in his apartment in New York...it was painted a pale grey, and upholstered in an acid green and ivory silk stripe.  The style was a reaction to the opulence of Louis XVI, and the post-revolutionary atmosphere- with simpler decoration and less costly materials...DF *****   

Get The Look!



Ronald Bricke and Associates, Inc.

I was thrilled to see this designer living room, from the private residence of Ronald Bricke, on New York Social Diary...I immediately was reminded of the time I was taken to the townhouse of Angelo Donghia- and how the arrangement in the downstairs white lacquered drawing room had a wild chic and flair.  Well- guess what?  Ronald Bricke worked for Angelo- many moons ago, when AD was associated with Yale Burge, the country french specialist.  Mentioned in the excellent piece on NYSD, was how, when Ronald was a student at Parsons, he was entered into a design contest, and Salvador Dali and the Duchess of Windsor were judges- and of course Ronald was the big winner - a trip to Europe paid for by the Duke!  A similar thing happened to me in design school in New York, and my project was published in "Interior Design" and there was enough cash involved that I was encouraged to fund the Glenn Boyles Memorial Scholarship...which I did.  Mr. Boyles had been at Parsons, and taught many of the top designers, including, I imagine, Mr. Ronald Bricke.  The 1995 Kips Bay showhouse contained an amazing bedroom by Ronald, featuring a very tall tester bed, with a baroque cornice, painted white.  The hangings were in a deep anthracite, and the walls were in a dark cocoa.  He used a rag rug under the bed, from Margareta Nettles, of Nantucket.  The fabrics were by Schumacher.  I will try and post this image for you so you can see it.  Also, tonight I met a wonderful designer, William Murphy, who just moved to town from Atlanta.  His Buckhead house was featured in "Traditional Home" - you may recall- and he is very talented.  Bill will be living down the street from me- check out his site- www.jessary.com Cheers!  DF *****   

Domestic partner benefits approved

Domestic partner benefits approved

Kudos go to the town of Palm Beach, for granting the same privileges to all...DF
(article courtesy Palm Beach Daily News)

RL Home Collection, 30 Years of Fabulous!



Designer James Andrew

I enjoyed seeing the coverage of the 30 year anniversary of RL Home in the September issues of House Beautiful, and Architectural Digest...my New York pal, James Andrew, of the blog "What Is James Wearing? " once worked for Ralph, before his time with famous Albert Hadley- and the late AH had consulted on the Laurens' Fifth Avenue apartment after it was done by Angelo Donghia, many years ago. 
Stay tuned for some exciting news regarding our upcoming partnership with the world famous RL brand!  Cheers!  DF *****

More Ikat Madness!



Tracy Porter



Stout Brothers "Darlington" color Jasmine

This afternoon, our Feizy rugs rep came in, and introduced us to some new things, including the Poetic Wanderlust collection, by the California designer, Tracy Porter-  I went crazy for the Coronado line- a loose jute from India overprinted with a large scale ikat pattern- and instantly ordered a size 8 x 11 for a ridiculously low price- I chose the blue colorway- and look forward to posting it when it's installed here at chez Farris- 

The fabulous Summer zinnia image, above, is from the Poetic Wanderlust site- a visual feast celebrating the lifestyle Tracy and her husband John, have created with their four sons on a Santa Ynez ranch- I've always been entranced by zinnias-remember the zinnia chintz from Brunschwig?

And look at this "Cintra" printed design, by Quadrille- it screams ikat and an Alan Campbell faux naive chic at the same time...the colors are very fresh and fun- reminding me of our new Tory Burch boutique here in Naples, which I popped into yesterday- on my way to the also newly arrived L'Occitane boutique- (spend $50 and get a free shower gel).  I do think, that if, like me, you are haunted by images of Phyllis Diller in a silk ikat caftan - then you must also love these ikats as much as I do.  While the design media has deemed them "terribly trendy" recently, they are, like so many tried and true classics, nothing new.   Enjoy!
DF *****

Seen at Webster and Company

Billy and I were recently shopping for clients at our favorite west coast showroom, called Webster and Company, which is based in Boston, but has a nice space here in the Miromar Design Center...and I very much liked this bleached glazed cabinet...as well as the petite Louis XV style chair wearing a pretty cotton print.  We just got back from a trip to Palm Beach, and had a fun evening on Saturday with old friends at the Colony Hotel, where once the Duke and Duchess of Windsor stayed - I also had time to squeeze in the new Woody Allen masterpiece, "Blue Jasmine" you must see this one- Cate Blanchett knocked it all the way out of the park and through the windows of the next co-op...Cheers!  DF ***** 

The Jewelry of the Room



 Remember when we posted about the Kirkeby estate- in Bel Air?  The chandelier there, a fabulous Waterford, was reported to be 10 feet in diameter- and we scaled this one here in Cupola House- to fit the size of our Foyer, (16' x 21') creating a grand piece of "jewelry" for the space.  We also have three matching sconces going up the staircase.  This chandelier and sconces will dress up the "country" look we are planning for the new house- stay tuned for more progress shots...DF *****  

Sourcing in Maine

Recently, Ric Jorgensen of Wells, Maine, has been sending some delightful images to us, here at DFID.  This "Bilboa" mirror is a real charmer...

Ric also sent to us an image from his current stock of a beautiful, single size sleigh bed, with a crazy low price of about $2,800 - how great would this be for a young mans' bedroom?



It's French, early 19th century, known as "Charles X" style- a great bargain, and most definitely a good investment.  I would most likely tent the room in a blue and ivory stripe, using the same material for the bed coverlet- so that the teenager using the space could grow into it, and then, when he moves out (if he ever does) it could be used for a guest bedroom.  I do think a trip up to Maine is in order- 
would love to visit friends from PB there- here is the address for Ric Jorgensen in case you go- 502 Post Road, US Rte 1, Wells, Maine 04090 www.rjorgensen.com  telephone (207) 646-9444 Enjoy!  DF *****   

Vintage house on El Brillo Way brings $8.3M

Vintage house on El Brillo Way brings $8.3M

Nice appreciation on this classic Marion Sims Wyeth beauty...DF*****