UPDATED CLASSIC: Mark Sikes

via China Seas

Bravo to Designer Mark Sikes for his feature in the March issue of Veranda-  Mark takes the classics and updates them for today's lifestyle- this California designer is brilliant and I look forward to seeing more from him in the future- !  DF

INSPIRED BY: Chanel

Dean Farris Interior Design

I've always loved the decorative quality of Chinese or coromandel type screens-when I was in New York the first time as a very young man I was taken to the home of the designer Angelo Donghia- . In his upstairs drawing room he had the coromandel screen that had belonged to Coco Chanel. It was stunning.

Michael Taylor in San Francisco also was famous for using coromandel screens and the one that he used in the home of his client Candy Hamm was amazing and they even chopped out the floor in order to accommodate the screen -it was a beautiful, beautiful room all done in shades of white against the dark background of the screen.

Coco Chanel also always had beautiful coromandel screens and her apartment above the rue Cambon shop had one that was amazing as well - a room lined in screens for the walls -very chic.

Mine is small and very simple -not expensive -but I enjoy the iridescence of the inlaid abalone also known as mother of pearl and interestingly enough it was a perfect size to cover the small pass-through into the kitchen!  DF

LUMINOUS: Linen White

Dean Farris Interior Design

As I mentioned before, this linen white color is great to live with -especially when you have an east facing exposure like I do -the finish is reminiscent of an ostrich egg with a slight pebbled look, and a semi Matte satin finish-

 This color reminds me of when my parish hadley mentor -the late Tice Alexander -had an amazing Beaux-Arts apartment on the upper West side with a double height living room which the painting firm of Weidl finished in a faux parchment- it was magnificent - with blackamoors from Philip Farley, neutral upholstery, and a stunning large, painted Italian chandelier that Billy Baldwin had found and which Albert Hadley later obtained from Billy -and then subsequently loaned to Tice for this apartment!

Charles de Bestegui once had a similar place in Paris and that was a partial inspiration for this gorgeous Manhattan creation-  DF

THEATER: Waitress

Dean Farris Interior Design

It's always fun to have a night out with dinner and a show -just William and I -so last night we went to Vergina on 5th Ave., South, for a fabulous early dinner, then we stopped at Kilwin's for some ice cream (Traverse City Cherry) -which is very good - and then we went to Artis Naples for the performance of "WAITRESS" - where we did manage to have good orchestra seats!  Lead Christine Dwyer as Jenna, and handsome Steven Good as the doctor were excellent, and we caught the last performance of the Naples stop- of course at the last minute I always want show tickets - and of course Tony Bennett, Kristen Chenoweth, and David Foster were all sold out and we had already seen Michael Feinstein so I decided to get these tickets which I was lucky to get!!!

Earlier in the day I had gone for my usual bike ride down to Port Royal and then I walked along the beach all the way to Keewaydin Island -when I got down to the end I saw the beautiful abalone shells washed up on the beach and they reminded me of this inlaid screen that I have in my apartment which I really am enjoying- (see first image).
While at the restaurant we met a cute couple from Indiana and then we had a very charismatic waiter from Rome Italy and there was also one from Palermo so all in all we had a lovely evening- DF

SUNDAY: At Home

Dean Farris Interior Design

I slept in this morning and when I got up I found this beautiful morning sun  illuminating my small but elegant living room and dining area -I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying this apartment with the sunshine coming in from the east -Billy and I have tickets to see the Broadway show "Waitress" tonight so looking forward to that ! enjoy the day- DF

CHANEL: R.I.P. Karl

Karl Lagerfeld via Internet 

My good friend Steve told me Karl Lagerfeld died. I was saddened to hear this as I've always been inspired by the house of Chanel and the legend behind it. I actually met one of Chanel's models a few years ago, a designer called Jackie Rogers -who is a fabulous woman. I also bought these earrings for a good friend for her Christmas gift last year- And one day while cruising through Saks I took this selfie of myself in the Chanel boutique -!

There's something very iconic when your boyfriend buys you a Chanel bag -it certainly stands for something and I found it fascinating the way Lagerfeld brought the Chanel brand into the 21st-century with his love of all that is current- You can read more about this in the Wall Street Journal and Vogue -enjoy- DF.
Rest in peace dear Karl- honi  Soi qui Mal y pens

TRAD: 19th Century Mahogany

DFID (c) 2019

I always enjoy painted furniture in my interior design projects however sometimes a sobering touch of mahogany also known as "Brown wood" -which is  out of fashion -can give the room a much-needed feeling of gravitas.
Loving my linen white walls also known as Greenwich white with my brackets from Suzanne Kasler-!
Have a great weekend wherever you are!  DF

L'Art de Vivre

Lapis box, Hutton Wilkinson , available through
Hickory Chair Interior Design Showroom, Miromar Design Center

NAPLES TABLES: James Farmer

Excited to hear that fellow Georgia boy, Designer James Farmer will be the keynote speaker for the upcoming charity event, Naples Tables, sponsored by the charming ladies of the League Club-

This event will feature 60 designer tables however it is sold out but there is still room on the waiting list!  DF

NAPLES: A French Inspiration

An Old Naples Cottage

I took this shot last summer while riding my bike through downtown Naples. I thought the light hitting the stucco made a great effect and I love the blue shutters  too-the Provence look! DF

STYLE: When Lee Met Renzo

Lee Radziwill via 1stdibs

It was an inspiration "a la turque" that none of us will ever forget!  May she rest in peace- and
her recent Paris flat with the cerise colors and botanical art was divine too!  DF

BEAUTIFUL: DFID

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2019

I couldn't resist sharing two more snaps of my new living room in Naples- I did the
flowers myself- and these shots were taken in the early morning just as the sun came up-

I may replace the slipper chair with a Jansen inspired copy of a Louis XV armchair by Ralph
Lauren Home- Very similar to the ones that Cole Porter had in his library at the Waldorf Astoria as decorated by Billy Baldwin. His were in cognac leather. This one would be in a celadon damask -very old guard!  DF

STYLE: R.I.P. Dear Lee

Lee Radziwill via Huffington Post

While I was never able to meet the fabled Lee, I was very fortunate to work extensively in one of her mothers properties - when I was associated with the society decorator, George Clarkson - ( as his assistant) - fond memories!  DF

DECORATIVE: Mintons Bombay

DFID (c) 2019 Mintons English plate, circa 1870's

My old friend the antiquarian Larry Laster in Winston-Salem had this charming dinner plate and I snapped it up- something like this in a set might be found in a pantry alongside Compagnie des Indes pieces in the chateau at Haroue', in Lorraine (northeastern France) where the Princess Minnie de Beauvau Craon can sometimes be found when she is not in London-
Above, the moat around the chateau- she used to take her children fishing there in a rowboat - how peaceful!  Only 500 souls reside in the village - divine!  DF

FABERGE' : Inspiring Valentine

From The Art of Faberge'  Booth, 1990

This was made as a gift for Tsar Nicholas II, to remind him of his favorite resort destination in the Crimea, on the Black Sea-  the house of Faberge' is renowned for its fabulous cigarette cases and this one is another outstanding example !  I love the idea of a cigarette case even though I had to give up smoking years ago - Happy Saint Valentines Day !  DF

FRESH: Fruit and Flowers in Decor'

DFID (c) 2019

A loved room is a room that's tended like a garden- and several of my famous mentors have been quoted as saying that adding fresh flowers or fruit in a charming bowl is a wonderful way to show how much you love your room and the people in it-
When I was in my teens, I met a wonderful man who had forced narcissus in his office in the dead of winter - and it made a huge impression on me- plus the book he so kindly gave me, which was called Jonathan Livingston Seagull- !  DF

CARNATIONS: A Bunny Favorite

DFID (c) 2019

While many of us don't understand the decorative value of long stem carnations- a look at vintage 70's photographs by Horst will show just how chic they can be-

And it is a fact that the late tastemaker, Bunny Mellon adored the simple yet elegant bloom-  DF

DFID : Accessories in Decor'

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2019 (feet, Deans own)

I found this pretty colored Capiz inlaid tray at The Market, North Naples, and love the way the tones tie in with my Wilton Carpet from Chris Smith of Designers Rug, Old Naples- candle is Upper Fifth by Ralph Lauren Home, avail at Mercato and Miromar Design Center-  DF

DFID: Long View LR II

DFID (c) 2019

Here's another quick glimpse of my new "penthouse" living room- with many old things and quite a few new ones added- a beautiful day here in sunny South Florida!  DF

CLASSIC: Tom Britt

My rendering of a Tom Britt room

One of my favorite designers when I worked in New York was Tom Britt. This is one of my favorite rooms that he did in St. Louis or Kansas City and I created an overlay technique where I used a photograph of the room to make the rendering.  DF

COLOR: Apple Green Velvet

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2019

Billy and I were exploring the Elephant's Foot Antiques in WPB some years ago and discovered this charming, small scale pair of open armchairs- probably early 20th century copies, they add lots of character to my smallish living room, and of course I adore it when the morning sun gives them that extra glow- and as diminutive as they are, I've had big grown men sitting in them with no problem-! I can't attribute the fabric since it was already on the frames when I got them- but we did see a stunning similar pair on a trip to Palm Desert, upholstered in black alligator stamped leather- so chic!  DF

DFID: Long View LR

DFID (before curtain install)

I liked this shot from before the curtains going up too- keeping the natural light is always a good thing- notice how I retained the Prussian blue ikat rug!  DF

ART: Aldo Castillo Gallery

Buddha, Metis Atash

So, I've been admiring these fabulous Swarovski encrusted works of art by Metis Atash for some time
Available through the Aldo Castillo Galleries, Miromar Design Center- DF

WRAPPED: Breakers Gift Shop

Loving my gorgeous gift Billy brought me from a recent trip to the Breakers Hotel, PB - the turquoise  wrapping looked great with my Le Zebre pillow from dear friend Judith Auclair- !
DF

DFID: Tablescape

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2019

The late English designer, David Hicks, promoted, among other ideas, the concept of "tablescapes"
So I too have always enjoyed making these small arrangements of often related pieces mixed with some not related -

Here, I used my favorite selenite candle holders as bases for highly decorative bejeweled balls (probably intended as Christmas decorations?) - a Limoges tray from l'objet purchased at David Fruscione's shop, Republic of Decor- a stack of books, including my signed copy of Beautiful, by Mark Sikes, and a Waterford egg my old client/friend Elaine brought back from a trip to Ireland.
Inlaid horn box, Sean Johnson Atelier.
Lovely!  DF

CHARM: Gasparilla Island

Billy and I enjoyed a day trip to beautiful Boca Grande- (see my earlier posts) today, and enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at The Pink Elephant - I especially enjoyed my pink "craft cocktail" - a jalapeño pomegranate margarita- and some shopping - then Amish ice cream from The Pink Pony- raspberry vanilla- also pink!  What was also fun was the sea mist that rolled in and we got to go by Mrs. Labrecque's beautiful pale pink stucco house- in an area known to locals as "The Gold Coast" - it looks as gorgeous as ever.  We also spent some time looking at pink seashells on the beach, shrouded in sea fog and mist, by the bright aqua sea, made so by the high phosphorous content of the sands there under the water!  One of my favorite decorating palettes has always been pale pink with teal or soft aqua- !  Magic!

Made it back to Naples in time for Tom Brady and then half-time!  DF

LIGHT: Dawn to Dusk, DFID

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2019

As you may know - I enjoy watching the light change and how it affects my interior design- and my photography -
When I used to visit Albert in his Naples cottage, we would talk about how his old friend Wilbur Pippin created some of the iconic images in the book The Finest Rooms- an idea suggested by Albert in the pre-digital era-
I recall loaning Albert my copy of the book Dawn plus Dusk - on the work of sculptor Louise Nevelson- what a mad genius she was!  DF