Fantasy in Decoration IV

Sotheby's East Hampton, NY

My New York pal, the designer Tom Edwards, has a house in Amagansett, currently on the market- and he showed me the full page NYT ad showing his house on the same page with Kevin McNamaras former pavilion- now listed for $7.5 million...Toms house is on the same street as Blythe Danners- (Gwyneth Paltrows mother) ~ !  See my earlier posts on Kevin McNamara in the search bar.

LWC Interiors , Atlanta, Palm Beach,  New York

My old Atlanta friend, Louise Wilcox Cronan designed this charming landing- using a Bob Collins chinese fret paper and a Kent Bragaline floral print on the octagonal table- Louise has worked for Carleton Varney and for Kevin McNamara, in senior decorator positions~ we recently lunched together at Belle and Maxwells on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach.  See more of her work at the upcoming Cathedral Antiques Show in Atlanta this winter.  Louise is a third generation designer and great fun to know.

Richard Lowell Neas, New York

 Speaking of Atlanta, our blogging friend, Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic, just today posted about the late decorative painter, Richard Neas.  I was most intrigued by this fantasy painted floor and the lovely, timeless, trompe l'oeil porcelain wall decorations~ thanks Jennifer!  And I've always loved a bright chinese yellow wall colour, ever since I was exposed to it at the American museum in Britain, at Claverton manor- where I lived and worked -after design school in Atlanta, under the tutelage of Stan Topol (famous for having worked for Elton John, and apprenticing under Billy Baldwin).  Lucky me!  Also am loving the sober contrast of the black regency chairs against this bright wall.

Valentino, AD

Fashion designer, Valentino Garavani, has five amazing homes, and a yacht!  This AD image sent me over the moon, so I had to appropriate it for this post~ the chinese paper is what puts it into a "fantasy" category for me- combined with the scale of the fabulous mirror and the girandole on pedestal.  Love the one big statement porcelain figure on the console too!  Heaven!

Image DF

I discovered this AMAZING plant growing behind the Tommy Bahama emporium here in Naples this weekend~ it just inspires me with its fantasy explosion of brilliant purple and green!  Martha Stewart probably even knows what it is!  :)

“Always try to keep a patch of sky above your life.” 
― Marcel Proust, Swann's Way

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Ann Getty, Slim Aarons

 This is my favorite Slim Aarons image showing the California beauty, Ann Gilbert Getty.  I love the fantasy of her amazing life, and her incredible elegance and style. ~ 

“The thirst for something other than what we have…to bring something new, even if it is worse, some emotion, some sorrow; when our sensibility, which happiness has silenced like an idle harp, wants to resonate under some hand, even a rough one, and even if it might be broken by it.” 
― Marcel Proust, Swann's Way

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Even I imagine, Monsieur Proust would be inspired and stirred by her beauty- and so these quotes from him have been included~

Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF ***** 

French Inspiration, Count de Givenchy

Le Grand Genois, Pierre Frey

From the Givenchy chateau

Michael Smith, Sister Parish, Daniel Romauldez...Mark Sikes and Hubert de Givenchy have all used this glorious "tree of life" toile, which has the most intricate level of detail, and a very fantasy feeling.

Monsieur Givenchy bed at Le Clos Fiorentina

 For my own chambre I prefer the relative simplicity of the bed shown above- and have found something recently that I may want to use as a jumping off point- see below.

I was thinking I could perhaps change out the headboard to something from Bracquenie- or Fortuny- or the fabulous tiger velvet we all love.  I would then have some simple sheer linen curtains made for this bed.  I just am trying to locate the source for the bed! (anyone?)

Givenchy Bunny Mellon guest room

  This chamber, which has been published many times, is a true inspiration- doesn't that bed look so inviting? I particularly have always liked to see a chair turned at a right angle to the bed itself- great for one's dressing gown, robe, or some more books and magazines- those sheets are probably by Porthault- aren't they delicious?

Liberty Blue, printed linen, D. Porthault, Paris

Dreaming of sleeping in a villa by the sea, or perhaps a chateau belonging to Givenchy- there seems to be a close relationship between our dreams (aspirations) and our inspirations...just hope I don't EXPIRE before I ASPIRE to INSPIRE !!! :)  Sweet dreams!  DF *****

Decorator Scrapbook July 2014 !

AERIN at MP Interiors, (formerly Webster and Company) Naples

AERIN

Culloden lamp AERIN, MP Interiors

LEE dining chairs, MP Interiors, Naples

Lobby vignette, MP Interiors, Miromar Design Center

Seen at ARHAUS, Naples

Pillows in Duralee fabric we recently had made for a client

My living room, Naples

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Random Summer images- loving AERIN home collections, the LEE furniture line, and Duralee, all available through super chic MP Interiors, Naples (Miromar Design Center) - the design center was built about eight years ago, and Juan Montoya did the interiors!  Also liked this chic octagon mirror, from Arhaus, Naples.  Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF *****

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Mid Summer Musings 2014

Amanda Lindroth

Inspiring use of blue and white Quadrille fabrics, with blue and white porcelain lamps...

Quadrille Malaya Lilac

This linen and cotton fabric is pure heaven...by Quadrille

Helen Fioratti

I adore this pair of 18th century chairs...

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Loving this moody, romantic shot of my Positano Place apartment from a few years ago...

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Here, I played with mixing a miniature potted rose with some dried topiary balls on selenite holders...

More roses... Fresh market

My RL custom leopard car mats...

My table-scape

Versace

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” 
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden: Or, Life in the Woods

Bruce Weber

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Nick Olsen in House Beautiful!

I was very excited to see that Emily Evans Eerdmans had posted about designer Nick Olsen.  Nick is a protege' of Miles Redd- and I found this entry hall Nick created to be something I could really fall for-

New York, New York, it's a hell of a town!  (see the current issue of House Beautiful)
Congratulations to Nick- he deserves this coverage- and we wish him all the luck and success in the world! Nick Olsen has created Manhattan magic in a 1,000 square foot one bedroom apartment.
The visual excitement of this flat is something else.  The photography is very good also!  The painted stripes on the living room walls reminded me of what Albert had done for his young friend, the model Robert Yoh- only with black stripes.  Ditto the bright violet leather on the open arm chair. So, what do YOU think of this entry hall?  I love it!  I feel that all the strong colour can make up for those very long, dreary winters that many New Yorkers are forced to endure.  Kudos to Nick Olsen!  Congrats!
DF *****

Nick Olsen House Beautiful

Albert Hadley for Brooke Astor

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"I deeply believe that a beautiful decor can have a beneficial influence on our lives"

Albert Hadley

Fantasy in Decoration III

Anouska Hempel

Ann Getty

Carmen

Carolyne Roehm

Casa Battlo by Gaudi'

Celerie Kemble

Versailles

Renzo Mongiardino

Louisville

Maharaja of Jaipur

Widcombe Manor Bath

Widcombe Manor

I felt compelled to add to my mood board for inspiring images...these all resonate for me.  I see a recurring motif in these images- a love of grandeur and beauty!  I never knew that my old friend, Lord Fry, who lived to be 81, had owned and lived in the manor house shown above.  When I was introduced to his lordship, he was living in the royal crescent...he was quite a dashing figure- see here for more on Jeremy Fry.  Stay tuned for more inspiring images to come!  Cheers!  DF *****

Verdura

125th Anniversary, Schumacher!

Find all Schumacher products at MP Interiors - (formerly Webster and Company FL) Suite 340 
www.mp-interiors.net 
Cheers!  DF ***** click here for more...