October Color Story

I hope that these images will inspire you, and warm you~ and may all your pumpkins turn into coaches!  DF *****

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The Devoted Classicist: In With The Old

The Devoted Classicist: In With The Old: Bookplates are just one of the topics covered in the book. Image from The Peak of Chic blog "Classic design never goes out of sty...

This book is great, and would make a beautiful gift for the upcoming holidays!  Thanks to John Tackett, of The Devoted Classicist, for the mention~ DF *****

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William Hodgins

Great New Book !

I recently reviewed this fantastic new book~

William Hodgins

 Having followed and admired the work of Mr. Hodgins for many years, it was great fun to see a well done book on his elegant work.  With a foreword by Margaret Russell no less~enjoy!  DF *****

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Blue is for Biennale

Louis XV commode from the Biennale des Antiquaires, PARIS

I fell in love with the blue decoration on this piece~ which was shown in the recent biennale in Paris.  The combination of the rich blue lacquer with the gilded chinoiserie and the ormulu mounts is sensational!

Dean Farris Interior Design, Naples

While there is no blue shown in this previous apartment of mine, this image for me evokes a mood of living in Paris, or near Paris~
with the pair topiary trees, the tufted settee a la Madeline Castaing, and the unusual baroque style wine table under the crystal chandelier.  Notice my curtains are tied back here.  One can see the spirit of Autumn here~ and tomorrow is October first!  Enjoy!  DF ***** 

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Inspiring: Peter Fasano

Isadora in Baltic, 100% hemp textile by Peter Fasano

We (MP Interiors) represent Peter Fasano in Florida~ along with John Rosselli~ and currently, the Quintessence blog is featuring the PF studio !  One of my favorite lines, it inspires me with a fresh and artisanal look
Click here  to read the Quintessence article.

Isadora featured on MILIEU

Enjoy!  Here comes October !  Stay tuned!  DF *****

Modern Muse, Tinsley Mortimer

Tinsley Mortimer

Tinsley Mortimer

Southern Charm

Tinsley ~ has been a muse of mine for some years now~ and I read where she has decided to move back to New York, after a two year hiatus in Palm Beach and Miami.  
I adored her short lived television program called "High Society"  ~ and Harper's Bazaar also did a great piece on TM at home~  en plus, she published a Roman a Clef  ~a thinly veiled account of her own life, going from a southern belle to a Manhattan socialite.  
What a beautiful woman she is!  I think she's right up there with any of the most beautiful women in the world~ and of course, her style is right up my alley!  Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF *****

Jean Monro Chintzes

Between Mark Sikes on the Duchess of Devonshire, and our recent post on the Baroness de Rothschild, our mind has been on London~ which coincided with a lovely Jean Monro chintz I recently found in my sample closet~ Jean Monro is represented by Clarence House, Holly Hunt Miami.  Jean's mother, Geraldine, was a famous London decorator in the 1920's~ with a shop across from Harrods.  It was only recently that dear Jean passed away, age 97. 

Opium, hand blocked English chintz

Rose and Fern, from 1859

Jubilee, created for the 75th anniversary of Monro

hydrangea and rose

Blackwell, on cotton duck

Romantic, classic, these materials are looking fresh again to our modern, jaded eyes... DF*****

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Forever Pauline

Albany

Paris

Mouton

Her "uniform"

Albany

Baroness Pauline de Rothschild

A Barnaby Conrad portrait

New York

Love this pose!

Le Style de Rothschild a la Baroness Pauline

Many writers have covered the story of the late Baroness, and Mitchell Owens is planning a book on her-
I do feel that some of these images capture her spirit- and one can read more about her in the Billy Baldwin books~
Enjoy!  Be inspired by her elegance!  DF *****
PS Check out what Haya Maraka had to say, click here on the subject of dear Pauline, our muse.... 

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Monaco My Love

Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo

I did love my visit to Monte, just as when I was very young, and my parents would take me and my brother to Beverly Hills.  Something about the atmosphere intrigued and delighted me.  Just found this fun Piers Morgan piece on Monte, and how it had evolved from the 19th into the 21st centuries.  And as I've written here before, Naples and Monte share some things in common.  Click here to watch Piers ~ the best part for me was when at the end, he interviews Dodi Al Fayed, on his yacht.

A current Bill Earls listing in Naples

The lovely beachfront house shown above, is currently listed for $68 M (sixty-eight million US dollars)  Having reviewed the house on Bill Earls website, I have two things I would do immediately for the new owners.  First, I would strip the house of all existing furnishings.  Secondly, I would have the exterior stucco painted in a pale grey.  This Jeffery Smith designed house deserves the most top notch decoration~ which I would be happy to provide.  The terra cotta faux finishing on the exterior is pretty, but I feel that it's too visually "hot" for the light and heat of South Florida.  On another note, I want to thank Linda of Calling It Home for mentioning me on her beautiful blog.  She also was very kind to attend my recent talk at the Miromar Design Center, on the art of luxurious guest rooms.  Thanks Linda!  Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF *****

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Modern in the Jungle, Captiva Island

Darryl Pottorf and Robert Rauschenberg

11520 Laika Ln - Captiva, FL 33924 - VIP Realty

11520 Laika Lane, Captiva Island, FL

How exciting ~ to be able to purchase a Darryl Pottorf property- on fabulous Captiva Island!  Darryl is an artist, and was also the companion and assistant to the late artist Robert Rauschenberg.  I've always been intrigued by these artists ~ and thought how fun to post about this property which is currently listed.  It's a luxurious 2/2 within 7,588 square feet, and built in 1994 by Lawrence Voytek.  Click on the link above to see more!  
DF *****  

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DFID Projects - Completed and In Progress

Not all clients want or are interested in having what I do for them published~ but lately, some new potential clients have been asking to see some examples of my work, and here are a few~ some are progress shots and some are completed, all are recent~ Enjoy!  DF *****

DFID Grey Oaks, Naples

DFID Grey Oaks, Naples

DFID Charleston, SC

DFID Positano Place, Naples

DFID Park Shore, Naples

DFID Park Shore, Naples

DFID Moorings, Naples

DFID The Quarry, Naples

DFID Grey Oaks, Naples

DFID Grey Oaks, Naples

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More Designer Inspirations!

Ann Getty

Dennis and Leen

Dean Farris Interior Design

J Nelson

Mario Buatta

"This is all just fuel for the fire of our imagination.  We are all in this game together, and what a fabulous game it is."  DF

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