DFID On My Own...2008

Dean Farris Interior Design 2008

Some of my most fulfilling times, career-wise, have been when I was totally on my own, and just working with private clients- those that I chose to work with.  Every morning, I would wake up and walk from my bedroom across the living room, to the guest room, which I used as an office.  My Porsche Cayman was a short elevator ride down to the garage.  What a life!  A life I designed for myself.

Dean Farris Interior Design 2008

Billy really did a great job of capturing my serene state of mind- and no wonder I looked so good, since I had hair by a former stylist for YSL, skin by Dr. Elizabeth Fox and Dr. Obagi - and wore custom made Holland and Sherry suits with custom shirtings, a Cartier diver's watch and Gucci loafers!  Ha!  You see, I was determined to have the best, and to be the best, and to live the best possible life I could, given what I had to work with.  I worked hard, and I still do.

I do know that my clients were happy with the service I provided, and they still are.   Am I proud? Yes!  And very grateful too!  I'm currently accepting new clients, please call to make an appointment.  (239) 498-9074

(faux rock crystal chandelier by Wilshire Lighting)

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HADLEYANA, designer sketch

Albert's sketch of my apartment

What fun to post about this small sketch I was given by Albert Hadley!  He made it for me as we discussed an apartment I was thinking of moving into about 15 years ago or so.  My dear friend, Susan Swanson, whose company is called Aldecor , framed it for me.  Here are a few more AH sketches I found on Google images...



Albert Hadley

Albert Hadley

Albert Hadley

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CLASSIC: Nancy Reagan Style

via internet

The late Los Angeles Designer, Ted Graber, created this stunning, classic, office for former First Lady, Nancy Reagan.  I was struck by the beauty of the palette as well as the classical elegance of the furnishings.  Compare this 80's creation with the more current one (below).  Click here to read the Wikipedia on Ted Graber.  Enjoy!  DF *****

Summer Thornton Interior Design

 

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STYLE, DFID, Bonita Beach Condo, Before and After!

Our Gasparilla Inn - Old Key West inspired project, continued...these "before and after" shots should give you an idea of what we went through to achieve the finished product.  With the help of our trusted contractor, new moldings were installed, ceilings were skim coated, and an outdoor lanai was enclosed.  Here's the Living Room before-

Old living room looking towards former outdoor lanai (showing new paint and base/crown)

 

And here's a nice finished "after" shot of the new Living Room, including the new Safavieh Turkish rug not shown in the previous post...love the shot of blue!  (Billy found it online).

Looking from the new solarium into the new living room

Loving how the new blue area carpet sets off the key lime walls!

North elevation (before new rug)

Ikat pillow, Pottery Barn, rug, Safavieh, framing on art by ALDECOR, NAPLES

via Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande

I'm very happy with the look of the old mixed with the new, for example the existing sofas, one of which is a sleeper sofa, were simply re-upholstered in Kravet "Soleil" performance fabric, which is highly practical, and not such a glaring white- since we wanted a more genteel mood as opposed to super modern... and here's a "before" shot of the Den-

Showing new bead board wainscot, new crown, and new ceiling color (also to be walls color)

This small room has a fabulous view, facing east- and we gave it some cottage charm with new bead board dadoes, new crown and a bold choice for color, something Bill really loves.  He found the pillow fabric in Ohio, and it looks quite spiffy here.  We retained another one of his mother's beautiful, vintage, paintings for above the sleep sofa, (also re-upholstered in Kravet "Soleil".)  Here's after...

We kept the existing shell lamps and added two pairs of candle sconces

The kitchen received new tile back splash, and a pale blue paint on the tray ceiling- it looks great since it was updated not too long ago, the guest bath got a new vanity and faucet, much better- and the laundry room was updated as well.  All ready for the upcoming "season"!  This condo faces the Gulf of Mexico, and gets beautiful natural light all day long, and one can hear the surf rolling in on the sugar sand beach!  Enjoy!  DF ***** 

STYLE, DFID, Gasparilla in Bonita Beach

Here's one of my favorite and latest completed projects...all images via Dean Farris Interior Design.  
Our concept was to bring the quaint charm of the Gasparilla Inn at Boca Grande, and some old Key West character, to a classic vintage 1970's era condo on Bonita Beach, just north of Naples.  Enjoy!

DFID sofas in Kravet Soleil 

We decided to keep the conservative, old school styling on the pair of sofas, but added a bit of KW pizzazz with the ikat pillows...and may add a patterned rug here soon.

DFID 1960's oil painting by the client's mother!

 

Here, you can see the doppelganger effect, left over from the previous decorator's arrangement of sofas across from each other.  I love the lily pad painting we were able to save and re-frame here.  Billy found the floral fabric in Ohio and it works very well for toss pillows.

DFID Vintage Waterford chandelier, existing furniture, re-framed oil painting

I'm partial to this bamboo looking furniture in the dining area, and we kept the chairs in their original celadon texture.  That painting was done in 1968!  Love it!  We flanked it with a pair of highly distressed candle sconces.

DFID custom floral arrangement

Here, (above image) you can see one of those sconces- and this really fun sunflower arrangement we created for the bar.  Notice the new tile back splash which continues into the kitchen.  In an homage to dear Carleton Varney, we had the tray ceiling in the kitchen painted a pale sky blue.

DFID  existing floral print table cloth 

That fabulous blue is picked up again in this lamp, which sits on a draped table that serves to provide a visual "divider" between the dining area and the living room...the fabric on the table was from the previous decoration about ten years ago and it was retained to give some old Gasparilla Inn charm.  (and a nod to dear Billy Baldwin).

DFID  view from newly enclosed lanai, aka the solarium

We also re-upholstered this existing "barrel" chair in a very pretty leaf green "microfiber" material, and are keeping the existing rattan coffee table.  Those are my topsiders peeking out from under it!

DFID solarium, formerly the exterior lanai

We gained some square footage by enclosing the former terrace, and found this charming cottage vintage desk and chair, as well as the card table and chairs in a local consignment shop in downtown Naples.  Billy found the map - a perfect addition! (Old Florida from when it was discovered by the Spanish).

DFID solarium reading nook facing the beach

I love this little moment Billy had the idea for, which he calls the "library" -this is the other end of the new solarium.

DFID den, Kravet Soleil cloth on existing sleep sofa, Benjamin Moore paint

We used a bold punch of color in the small den, which pulls triple duty as a den-guest room-home office.  The ceiling is also in poppy red, and we installed some new bead board wainscoting with the help of the talented Elson, the general contractor for this job.  The painting is also by Bill's mother, circa 1965!  The original frame was simply gessoed white.  Notice the seashell glass lamp, one of a pair.

DFID time for a cocktail!  Dean in Ralph Lauren over J. McLaughlin

I haven't enjoyed a remodel/decoration this much in a long time, and wanted to share it with you.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Stay tuned for future updates on this project! DF *****