Venice Simplon-Orient-Express | 3D animations of the Orient-Express train cabins

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express 3D animations of the Orient-Express train cabins

I'm fascinated by the idea of travelling through Europe, via this fabulous - famous train. Book a trip NOW ! DF *****

The World of Gloria Vanderbilt By Wendy Goodman; Foreword by Anderson Cooper

The World of Gloria Vanderbilt By Wendy Goodman; Foreword by Anderson Cooper

I very much am enjoying this new elegant book by Wendy Goodman (Abrams) on one of my favorite artists of all, Gloria Laura Vanderbilt. There are some never before seen images included, and the layout is quite beautiful designed by Chip Kidd... ENJOY ! DF*****

Design World News: South Florida

New Ikat Collection !

Courtesy Quadrille Fabrics

Meloire Reverse was used on the chairs

Bill and I have just returned from Fort Lauderdale, where they are preparing for the huge boat show... we have designers down here who specialize in yacht interiors... just got an invitation from Scalamandre' and Stark to celebrate the opening of their new showroom in Hollywood, with special guest, Newell Turner, editor of House Beautiful ! Quadrille has come out with a gorgeous new ikat collection - see http://www.quadrillefabrics.com/ Hated missing the benefit for Broward County Humane Society "Patterns for PAWS" on Oct 13, as friend Leta Austin Foster was a participant, along with her daughter, India Foster... and Thom Filicia was the keynote speaker. Just got word that a new shop is coming to Naples... but it's a secret, so I cannot divulge this hot info ! Hint: it's very continental. Must run, have lots of work to do - ENJOY ! DF ***** P.S. DON'T FORGET to vote

Designer Profile: Sean Johnson

Sean Johnson is a great talent in the design world, he has huge talent and not a huge ego, which is unusual. I first met Sean here in Naples, when he opened his eponymous shop, SEAN JOHNSON ATELIER, and my friends Jerry and Sandy were working there. Sean is a funny guy, unpretentious, and a true gentleman. His style is like a Jean Michel Frank combined with a 21st century point of view. He created a fabulous residence here in Naples for the Lerner family, and I always enjoy seeing him. Here's a fantastic shot of Sean in Paris at the Biennale des Antiquaires... as you can see, he is like a cross between a Gary Cooper and a George Clooney, very elegant, and if he were a woman, he would have been Pauline de Rothschild ! ENJOY ! DF*****

Controlled Color Choices

Here, I demonstrate how, with a few colors, one can create visual interest in the home decor. Using a chair from Hooker Furniture, (very Getty House on the cheap) Another chair by Baker (from the Holland Salley estate) - Baltic Brown granite on the dry bar, and some dried eucalyptus in an urn from Twos Company I have a nice mellow brown mood happening. The standing lamp was a gift, as were the candlesticks, and I obtained the unusual baroque style table from Rue Toulouse, Naples. The small Louis XV style table is from F.P. Victoria, New York. Imagine all this against a background of butternut or english pine panelling ! I have used only two touches of blue, a pillow, and a pair of vases... very controlled indeed. DF *****

Slipcover Chic

Drawing by Albert Hadley

What could be more evocative of quiet elegance than a slipcover ? Slipcovers evoke a romantic 19th century mood of country houses, old money, and a staff of servants... they are the epitome of old guard chic, and serve a function as well, since they protect delicate silks and velvets underneath. Here, Albert Hadley used these slipcovers in a red and white stripe for a room at the famed Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club Decorator Showhouse, New York. He also used some in the apartment of socialite Babe Paley... I love them used on delicate french chairs. Consider slipcovering something soon ! DF *****

Ocean Club

Courtesy Lexington Furniture Industries
Salinas Sofa

Lexington Furniture/Tommy Bahama makes this gorgeous SALINAS sofa, which I'm taking delivery on today for the Cape Cod clients. It screams a kind of Ralph Lauren chic, is very comfortable, and looks great, and the the retail price on this model soars up into the $10,000.00 range... I also like the Saint Lucia model, which we have in our showroom as well.

DF*****

A Chic Carpet for the Library

I've proposed the carpet below for this small library, in which I have also suggested installing a new pecky cypress ceiling, which would be then washed in a pale spa color and stencilled over with a design similar to the octagons and diamonds in the carpet ! Divine !

Arista Diamond by Schumacher

Interior design is so exciting, don't you agree ? There are literally endless options for each and every nearly endless category of design and decor items. Take this beautiful carpet I recently discovered, carried by Schumacher... called Arista Diamond and Arista border. This color is oddly enough called "Beige Strie'" although it is more of a citrine color. It is 100% wool, in a Wilton type weave, which is something I am always crazy for, as it makes a statement of QUALITY and refinement in any space. It is somewhat expensive, but not compared to an English or Portugese 19th century needlepoint carpet, which could easily run $100,000.00 or more. Again, the courtyard pool is visible from this room. I look forward to sharing this completed room with you dear readers. DF *****

Designer Profile: Todd Richesin

Designer Todd Richesin

Todd's Key West project, as seen in TRADITIONAL HOME

I was searching The Duck and the Dolphin Antiques, and very serendipitously came across this AMAZING young southern designer, TODD RICHESIN. Todd had also posted about the Duck and the Dolphin in Key West, and has done a conch house there - as seen in TRADITIONAL HOME... Also, he and Bobby just came back from Venice, where they toured the Fortuny factory, and I was thrilled to learn of him since William and I had recently made some new friends also from Knoxville (TR's town) Mr Barton and Mr James... a really fun and interesting couple. ENJOY ! DF *****

Arranging l'objet pour la maison

Rose Cumming handprint on vintage armchairs

Potpourri in Imari bowl by AGRARIA

I have always enjoyed searching for things that catch my eye, and then constantly moving them around... I must be a gypsy as I' ve moved over forty times in the last thirty years...! Here, I used an interesting leather framed mirror my mother gave me about 35 years ago with a small bouillotte lamp I purchased in the village in NYC about 20 years ago, with a pair of blue/white vases from a trip to Fort Lauderdale, with a 19th century mahogany pier table I was given by old client/friends who live "South of Broad" in elegant, aristocratic Charleston, South Carolina... the small Imari bowl is from a trip to Key West. There is a shop there on Fleming Street I am mad for called The Duck and The Dolphin... they have some things I covet, dripping in old ormulu and crystal... it's like Ali Babas cave of treasures... full of earthly delights with impressive very tiny price tags, with quite large figures. Enjoy ! DF *****

Maurice Fatio: Palm Beach Architect

Imagine my keen excitement at learning that Kim Mockler, a Fort Lauderdale based interior designer, has published a new book on one of my favorite architects of the past, Maurice Fatio ! Acanthus Press has partnered with Mr. Mockler on this new book, and I am simply dying to get my hands on a copy ! Obviously, owning this book would be the next best thing to having a Fatio creation of ones very own, and I did read that the previous book on this subject is out of print, however one recently sold in New York for $250.00 - look for this in your nearest bookshop, and BUY IT ! Check out New York Social Diary for more on Maurice and his charming daughter, Alexandra Fatio Taylor... ENJOY ! DF *****

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P.S. I am most thrilled to hear from Tony Victoria that Todd Romano has decided to carry some of the FPV items in his shop on La Cienega in Los Angeles ! Do visit him soon, with an eye to buy !

Suzanne Tucker, San Francisco Opera

Here's my favorite San Francisco designer, Suzanne Tucker, looking totally glam in her gown at the opening of the San Francisco Opera... just had to share this - since I had recently posted about Suzanne and her new book "Rooms to Remember" (Monacelli) and how very fond I am of her and her work. DF *****

PS, what do you do when you have friends traveling in Berlin, Barcelona, and Bermuda ? Why, attend the new film "The Social Network" of course ! I enjoyed it immensely, although the pace of the speech was enough to give me a case of whiplash. Great job !

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Naples

Good news ! Leslie Hindman, the premier auction house of Chicago and the midwest, has opened a Naples office. Here's Leslie with Myra and Mickey... welcome to Naples ! DF *****

Godetia flowers and Bonhams chairs

They are also known as "satin flowers"

Their Latin name is "Clarkia Amoena"

Just had to post about these Italian Neoclassical chairs, from the estate of Michael Taylor, coming up for auction at Bonhams & Butterfields November 1st. They are my total dream chairs. I have seen these in a room that Parish Hadley did in San Francisco... This is a set of four ! Imagine what a stunning setting one could create using these opulent models.

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On another subject, flowers, I recently discovered these charming, bright FUSCHIA colored flowers from Ecuador, called GODETIA... they were the stars of my dinner table on Sunday evening... I gave the large bouquet to my co- host as a hostess gift... so lovely, and perfect for the dinner table as they have no overwhelming fragrance. I stuck them in these SELENITE candleholders I found in California... they came out with a very professional look, if I do say so myself ! DF *****

Julie/Julia Barcelona !

Oh Boy did I ever have fun throwing a small dinner party for good friends who left for Barcelona and Sitges today. Two weeks ago, I sent evites out, and last night a good time was had by all. We enjoyed antipasto, risotto with mushrooms and asparagus, grilled prawns, brussels sprouts, and a fab raspberry torte with fresh berries and coulis...and would you believe - one of my illustrious guests knew Julia Child, and went to Aix en Provence with her ? I was thrilled to learn that ! We shared laughter and good times over Spanish and Australian wines... and I wrote a very silly toast to the Barcelona bound guests... fun and more fun ! Here are some pics... Enjoy ! DF *****