Inspired by Bebe', C.Z., and The Duchess

DFID

I spent this weekend painting my entry doors~ including the idea of favorite images from Christian "Bebe'" Berard, and Monsieur Boudin for Mrs. Winston Guest and The Duchess of Windsor...

DFID

Is it a bit theatrical? Yes.  Is it chic as hell? Yes.  Did it cost a ton of $$$? No.  Did I have fun doing it? Yes~ My old Prof from FIT, Stanley Barrows, wanted me to pursue set design~ can you see why? !

Christian Berard

Cornelia Guest at Templeton, faux marbre mantel

Bois de Boulogne house of Duchess of Windsor, faux marbre pilasters

I had been thinking for some time that I wanted to do something to this tired looking door~ perhaps a chinoiserie wallpaper? A mirrored treatment? Applied moldings? This is what I ended up with, and if I get tired of it, it's easily changed.  I dragged the silver on the "moldings" and then I quickly executed a loose "veining" also in the silver on black. I then added a new pair of brushed nickel ring pulls to the closet doors.  Let me know what you think!  It was more black for Black Friday weekend!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Black Friday

Now, THESE goodies would be worth fighting for!  Have a great weekend!  DF *****

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Entertaining at Home

The de Rothschilds at home

They say one picture is worth a thousand words~ and I think this one proves the point!  How divine to be entertained at the home of Baron and Baroness de Rothschild.  The thing that intrigues me about this iconic image is the beautiful look of happiness and contentment on the elegant face of Pauline, the Baroness.  The luxury of a fur throw on a sofa cannot be overstated either.  Enjoy!  DF *****  

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Eloise at The Plaza

Happy Thanksgiving week everybody!  Billy is off to New York~ and staying at The Plaza! Iconic, famous, and historic, and yet totally up to date, each room comes with its own i-pad for maximum convenience, including room service, and printing out boarding passes, etc.
Did you know that The Plaza was the first hotel in the world to have Sherle Wagner faucets and basins in every room? There is even a Gatsby Suite, inspired by the Baz Luhrman film!  F. Scott Fitzgerald was a big patron of the hotel in his day.  David Hicks, the famous London decorator kept a suite which he designed entirely!  The list is endless ~ click here
to discover more about this Fairmont managed property. Enjoy! DF *****

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Bill Earls Realtor

Bill Earls Realtor

111 Fifth Avenue South, Naples, Florida 34102 

More exciting news!  One of my favorite of the newer homes in Old Naples has just gone on the market~ the personal family residence of architect Eugene Martin, it commands attention with its Beaux Arts facade,  facing both Fifth Avenue South and Gulf Shore Boulevard.  Kudos to top real estate professional, Bill Earls, for listing yet another iconic and grand, yet family oriented property!  The most enticing thing about this house is that one can walk to the beach (across the boulevard) or just one block to the famed restaurants of Fifth Avenue, including Bice, Tulia, Hob Nob, La Bazenne, etcetera~or take the jitney to the Port Royal club !  Enjoy!  DF *****

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111 Fifth Avenue S. Naples, Florida 34102

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Diane Torrisi

Here I am with designer Diane Torrisi

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of making a presentation to the ladies group from Naples, known as "The Neapolitans" ~ along with my good friend and esteemed colleague, Diane Torrisi.  
As you can see, I was not exactly red carpet or camera ready, although I think Diane looks fabulous!  We gave a power-point talk to 36 lovely ladies, on the topic of decorating trends and holiday decor'....followed by a tour of our other five showrooms and a seated luncheon in the east atrium.  A good time was had by all! DF *****  

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Salvatore Ferragamo in Naples

Salvatore Ferragamo

Exciting news! One of the celebrity vintners this year, at the 2015 Naples Winter Wine Festival, will be Salvatore Ferragamo~ His Il B0rro vineyards wine in Tuscany will be offered in the bidding wars...check out il borro here
Enjoy! NWWF benefits children's charities~ DF *****

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Sip and Shop

Abalone and Sea Glass mirror by Judith Auclair, Chesterdales, Naples

Dear Mary and I had such a nice time last night browsing the wares at Chesterdales Antiques Market~ Naples.  This fabulous hand made mirror, by my dear friend Judith Auclair, caught my eye, isn't it a stunning piece?  I even found something for myself as I sipped my Chardonnay~

DFID

I'd been wanting one of these small copies of a bulls eye mirror with the eagle on top~ and voila! here it is!  Someone had painted over it in a nice stone color ~ with a little gold showing through. Very nice ! (for the price) Enjoy the weekend! DF *****

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The Charm of Cashiers

Image via James Farmer, Southern  Living

This is one of my favorite times of the year, and also one of my favorite images~ the decorative cabbages remind me of my walks up and down Madison Avenue, when I was living in New York.  Inspiring!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Buttons Commode and Mirror

Le Clos de Fiorentina, St Jean Cap Ferrat

When I was very young, I had a nice friend from the south of France, her name was Marguerite.  Her grandmother used to make buttons- and Marguerite would show them to me.  I was amazed at how beautiful they were.  All hand made, exquisite.

Commode and mirror through MP Interiors

These charming painted pieces, decorated with old buttons, have been haunting me for quite a while~ and they reminded me of my childhood friend, Marguerite, a wonderful person she was!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Todd Romano for Schumacher !

Todd Alexander Romano for Schumacher

What's red, white and blue, and read all over? Todd Alexander Romano for F. Schumacher ~ that's what!
Here's to all of our proud, strong, and brave veterans! 

  

Todd Romano

Congratulations to dear Todd, who also worked under Mario Buatta and the late Parkin Saunders, just as I once did!

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Carleton and the Colony

Image via the Colony Hotel site

Of course, I'm super excited that Billy and I are going back to the Colony Hotel, Palm Beach, to see Tommy Tune perform at the Royal Room~ Our friend and colleague, Mr. Carleton Varney, along with Brinsley Matthews and the CV team, have just completed an overhaul of the venerable old hotel.  It presides over the end of Worth Avenue, like a grand queen!

The Royal Room at the Colony, via the Colony Hotel site

We had just missed seeing Mary Wilson, of the Supremes, playing here right before the renovation closed the hotel.  What fun to see Tommy Tune perform!  Here he is (below) with Liz Smith.  

Tommy Tune, via NYSD

So, here come the holidays, once again!  Looking forward to staying in Naples this year.  One of the most enjoyable Christmas holidays I ever spent was in Key West~ back in the late 1970's !!! Imagine the excitement and the fun!  There were no big cruise ships coming in to the port then, so it was quite a different place from what it has become today. Enjoy!DF***** 

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Image: A Chinoiserie Inspiration

DeGournay

If I could only choose one image, to represent our love of chinoiserie, it would be this one~by the way, DeGournay is represented by MP Interiors, call us on (239) 498-9074 for quotes and more information!  Have a great and inspired weekend! DF ***** (available to the trade)

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Using a Bold Print in a Bedroom- Aerin

Aerin Lauder, Vogue

One of our favorite newer vendors, here at MP Interiors, is AERIN ~ including beautiful furniture made for her by the E.J. Victor company.  Presently, I am re-designing a master suite for my client Mary Edelman Wilson, here in Naples, and am also proposing a large scale printed material, from Schumacher (Zanzibar Trellis Matte) and a pair of "Culloden" lamps from the AERIN collection through Visual Comfort.  The room shown above, I believe was influenced by Mark Hampton's work for Estee Lauder, Aerin's famous grandmother. Inspiring! Enjoy! DF ***** 

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Modern/Classic, That Trellis Thing

Chloe Sevigny's former NYC apartment

Have you noticed that something once considered very classic, has become terribly trendy?  I got a kick out of this since Ms. Sevigny is from Darien~
This flat was in the trendy east village, and it was fun to see the contrast between a gritty neighborhood and a fresh look inside this 1.7 million dollar one bedroom...

Imperial Trellis, F. Schumacher

We represent F. Schumacher to-the-trade at Miromar Design Center, just north of Naples on I-75. Our firm, which is now called MP Interiors~ was formerly known in Florida as Webster and Company.  We also represent Stark, Old World Weavers, DeGournay, LEE, Aerin, and Ralph Lauren Home...Stroheim and Romann, Duralee, Peter Fasano, and Groves Brothers...plus a beautiful collection of vintage and antique pieces~as well as~Madcap Cottage !  Come in and visit one of our six showrooms today!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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P.S. I'm in love with Chloe Sevigny!

Topiary Madness

Bunny Mellon

Loi Thai, Tone on Tone

Wow! Look at these amazing, exquisite topiaries!  Loi has a beautiful shop and also a blog, called Tone on Tone- these are some of his myrtle topiary standards. Beautiful! DF *****

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Temo Callahan, Jed Johnson Home

My dear old NY friend, Temo - at Fountainbleau

My wonderful old friend, Temo Callahan, and I recently re-connected~ Temo and I have known each other since the early 1980's, when he was a director at Clarence House, when it was in the townhouse on East 57th Street...or was it 56th?  Later, he worked out of the very glam Jay Spectre designed duplex showroom at the D and D, and the late Robin Roberts, the founder of Clarence House Fabrics, would often be there, holding court.  Temo sent this picture to me just this week.

Mita Corsini Blands rendering of Alex Papachristidis's former library

Anyway, Temo is now director for Jed Johnson Home, the textiles offshoot of the famous design firm~ now run by Jay Johnson, Tom Cashin, and Arthur Dunnam.  Arthur is Director of Design for Jed Johnson Associates, and is also an old friend from my NY days.  Arthur also has the unique distinction of having worked under the late Arthur Smith, the Billy Baldwin protege'.
The Mita Corsini Bland above, reminds me of the old days of Clarence House, and Temo.  I love the work of Alex Papachristidis too!

Arthur Dunnam

Thanks to my old pal, the late Raul Morillas, I was introduced to Arthur, and got to visit his cottage in East Hampton.  Raul and I worked at Robert A. M. Stern Architects, although my position there was certainly not as senior as his was! Have a November to remember !  DF *****