BILLY BALDWIN, on my mind

BILLY BALDWIN

One of my biggest inspirations and favorite decorators of all time, William Williar Baldwin, known as "Billy" - is the subject of todays post, a great look back in order to gain fresh perspective for a new month! 
Way back in 1977, I had the chance to meet the master, but little did I know, I had spent the last two years studying under an early protégé of his- Stan Topol! (1975-77). 
My grand tour chaperone, Robert Morring, placed a call to BB's office from our New York hotel suite, to arrange the meeting- and alas, Billy had already left for Sconset- (Nantucket). 
After a brutal beating by the IRS, the most prominent designer in American decorating was left with very little- and ended his days in a small dependency at the kindness of his friends Michael Gardine and Way Bandy. 
The bookkeepers had not been managing Baldwin's business properly, and it's a minor scandal that dear Billy had to end as he did.  (Albert Hadley was a millionaire at the time of his death, and left substantial bequests to several New York institutions).  Here, a few images to look at and be inspired by- representing the genius of Baldwin!  Enjoy!  DF *****

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

Chanticleer, one of BB's favorite spots on Nantucket, see here is very high on my bucket list of places to visit NEXT summer!

Chanticleer, Nantucket

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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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A CHAIR, A LOVE AFFAIR

(C) Dean Farris Interior Design 2016

When I first laid eyes on this Spanish copy of a painted Louis XV chair, with gilt decorations -I fell in love, it was love at first sight.  There's a long story behind my acquisition of it, let me share it with you. 

The first time I actually met Albert Hadley was when he came to FIT to give a talk to the interior design students.  He had his assistant at the time, Tice Alexander, with him.  Tice and I had been friends when we both studied at FIT- and I just happened to be wearing a bright-ish teal sweater that day- (a purchase I had spent a lot of time agonizing over, from the old Barneys when it was still downtown)...later Tice told me that the only student that Albert thought had style was that guy wearing the teal sweater!  This was around 1982 or so.

Fast forward to 1996 or 97, and lo and behold, Albert had purchased a small cottage in Old Naples!  I was thrilled. (I had moved to Naples from NYC in 1996) One day AH and I were spending some time in the tiny guest house behind the main cottage, and I saw the chair- the chair I fell in love with- it was TEAL !  I died.  I swooned.  Albert saw how much I loved it and agreed to sell it to me.  I was able to convince a client, who had never paid any fees, to buy the chair for me, in lieu of a fee- and she agreed!  I was in heaven!  :)

While this chair still gives me pleasure, and reminds me of the days of wine and roses with Albert- I do realize that it's perhaps a little too grand for how I really live.  Not that it's museum quality, but the fragility and the provenance...I adore it!  It inspired me to pursue more objects of quality and upped my game when it comes to furniture selection.  I see it as a piece of sculpture in a space.  Not really a chair.  An art object.  An object of desire. 

Teal reminds me of my childhood, when I would see this teal Rolls Royce convertible sitting in a carport on my way home from school.  One day when I happened to be walking on Madison Avenue in New York, I saw Mrs. Petrie being driven up the avenue in HER teal Rolls Royce!  It was a fabulous sight- very glam.  I also love this color as seen in 18th century oil paintings, often juxtaposed with a tomato red.  Beautiful!
DF *****

TODD ALEXANDER ROMANO, NAPLES

Todd Romano, via House Beautiful

I was excited to hear (from dear friend Mary) that Todd Romano had recently decorated the old Albert Hadley cottage...(Naples) where I spent a lot of time back in the late 90's.

Having always been a huge fan of Todd's, I was relieved to know that he had been involved in this project, and I know that Albert would be very pleased as well.  See the circa 2000 image from House Beautiful below for the Albert version of this room...



Albert Hadley, via House Beautiful

It's a great tribute to Naples to have had not just Albert but also Todd working here, and I was thrilled to see what Todd had done, since the previous owner had used some oversized furniture that seemed to dwarf the diminutive cottage rooms... this house has sold several times since Mr. Hadley owned it, and it finally is coming into it's own now that TAR has put his elegant imprimatur on it...check out more of Todd's beautiful design work here from his interior design site. 

Beautiful, elegant, and suitable- Billy Baldwin would be impressed too!  DF *****

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The Beige of the Nineties

Our dear Albert Hadley was quoted as saying that "lavender was the beige of the 90's" ~ and I saw this Brian McCarthy room today and thought of that...an often misunderstood colour, it denotes the ethereal, romantic, and mysterious.  Fritz von der Schulenberg photography for F. Schumacher.  DF ***** 

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Decorator Scrapbook 2016

Michael Taylor

Outside Tom Britt's guest house, Watermill, NY

The Naples cottage of the late Albert Hadley, (via House Beautiful)

Arizona Biltmore

Michael Taylor

Tom Britt, Watermill, NY

Angelo Donghia, NY

Here's just a few images that inspire me, and hopefully you as well...enjoy!  DF *****

When Albert Wintered in Naples

Albert Hadley's former cottage, Naples, Florida

I have such fond memories of all the time I spent with Albert Hadley, when he had a winter cottage here in Naples...you can read more about this in previous posts of mine...DF

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Morning Light, Early November

My new slipper chairs from Linda, Calling It Home, fabric is Robert Allen

Even though I don't shoot film anymore, I still get a kick out of using my phone for images with instant gratification...and I'm still crazy for these ultra-chic chairs that my new friend Linda gave me recently.  They're now flanking my early 20th century (circa 1915) chesterfield in newer buttery caramel colored leather.  I caught the beautiful early morning light and wanted to share it with you.



My Albert Hadley low table, with red lacquer tray

Love this image, the small bohemian glass vases were another gift, from dear friend Roberta.  Billy bought the small Imari bowl for me in a shop in Key West, that had moved down from Greenwich Village. 
As I enjoy my morning coffee here, I think of all the wonderful memories of dear Albert, and when he gave me this table while on his way to the trash bin to throw it out.  It was lacquered in a khaki-bamboo gold color and I simply brushed it with a gloss black paint.  Black accents with taupe walls and beige carpet is a smart combination, and gives a nice masculine atmosphere to my small flat here in Naples on the gulf.  Enjoy!  DF ***** 

DFID (c) 2015

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Happy Birthday RL !

Ralph Lauren

Happy Birthday to Ralph!  An ultimate inspiration, icon, and success in business and in life.  When Albert Hadley was asked by the Laurens to visit their Fifth Avenue apartment for a consultation, Albert took in what magic Angelo Donghia had created~(an uptown loft in white)~and was so impressed that he said he wouldn't change anything!  Brilliant! 

This crisp image of RL himself reminds me of the time I was on the beach in the famous Hamptons, and saw Calvin come out in a white terry robe, standing on a terrace, looking just like one of his own models!  New York, you gotta love it!  DF *****

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Le Style Anglaise: Slipper Chairs

Slipper Chairs from Linda, Calling It Home

Really, what could be nicer than having a new friend?  And a new friend who "gets" you!  Nothing could be nicer~ and my new friend, and fellow design blogger, Linda, of Calling It Home, and creator of the One Room Challenge is a fabulous lady with a ton of style and California cool.  She just asked me if I'd like to have these beautiful, English style chairs, dressed in a sepia toned Robert Allen toile...aren't they great?  I think even Princess Pyne would agree! Oh, and Linda moved down here from New Jersey!  Small world.  Linda and I met through the blogosphere, and the rest is history.

DFID (C) 2015

As you can see, I've brought the fun ikat rug back into this small room, to break up the boring bourgeois darkness of the space.  I like the palette even better with these chairs added in to the mix.  They (Slipper chairs) look good anywhere you put them, and like Billy Baldwin, I love seeing them in a living room as opposed to a bedroom.  When Linda showed me the chairs, I was instantly reminded of Peter Hood, John Fowler's last assistant, and also of Albert and Sister, and Nancy "Princess" Pyne...even the Pyne chintz by Schumacher somewhat.

Slipper chair on ikat rug (Feizy)

Perhaps one day I'll get around to ordering the "Les Touches" from Brunschwig for these little jewels, although I would probably just slipcover them, since they look so handsome as they are.  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Book: Parish-Hadley, Tree of Life

Great new book

How wonderful this new book is, and for those who may not know, the cover room belongs to New Jersey socialite Mrs. Nancy "Princess" Pyne...Albert was so proud of having retained the original paint in this room.  Click here to read an interesting (and funny) article by William Norwich...the new book, by Parish-Hadley veterans Bunny Williams and Brian McCarthy, is an excellent insiders look at the world of truly "high-end" decorating ( a term neither Albert nor Mrs. Parish would have ever used) and gives valuable insight for those in the trade who have an interest in this sort of thing.  Please pass the canapés ! Enjoy!  DF *****

DON'T FORGET

 

 

 

TO BUY THIS BOOK!

The Barn Billy Loved

Thomas Britt, via VERANDA

Thomas Britt (Tom) built this beautiful barn of a house when he was only 26, after visiting some friends who had a similar place.  Later, the famous society decorator, Billy Baldwin, visited Tom, and said he wouldn't change a thing. 

Coincidentally, both Albert Hadley and Billy had similar Summer abodes at various times in their lives.  I'm excited to be getting to see this famous designer barn myself, this coming weekend...there's a fun u-tube of Tom showing his property also if you're interested.  Enjoy!  DF *****  

Original sketch, Dean Farris, The Barn at Britthampton (c) 2015

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Thomas B. Britt

Tom Britt, New York salon, via Love Is Speed

Another of the fabulous New York designers I was most fortunate to be mentored by was Tom Britt.  Originally from Kansas City, Tom is a dynamo of a designer, and a true man of the world.  One summer, I worked in his office, making drawings, and going on trips to the job sites- it was a bit of a shock to see how those apartments were totally demolished, and the furniture in them would be piled in the middle of the rooms and covered with tarps...the reality of what decorators do was beginning to register! 

In order to fully appreciate the immersive experience I had, under Tom's guidance, you need to know, as I did, that Tom and Angelo (Donghia) attended Parsons together.  They even shared an apartment!  So, it was so interesting to me, having already seen Angelo's very glam east side duplex, with its two drawing rooms, one up and one down- and both in satin and lacquer...to then be overwhelmed by the high drama of Tom's two drawing rooms - both in boiserie~ and the upstairs one entirely in a Rose Cumming shade of blue satin...  with the famous Rose Cumming "banana leaves" fabric in the metallic gold colorway in the downstairs drawing room.  Now, add to all of this the maestro (Tom) with his booming, unique baritone voice being broadcast throughout.  Oh, and the Baron Nicholas de Gunzberg had also kept a place in Tom's building, on East 63rd Street. 

I was fascinated and a little intimidated by Tom's powerful and exotic personality, although he was a good friend to me and always treated me with great kindness.  After all, the eminence grise himself, Prof. Stanley Barrows, had said of me that I reminded him of Tom, when he taught Tom at Parsons!  (Stanley Barrows also taught me at FIT).  And now, Julie Britt (Tom's wife) and I are friends on Facebook!  Who knew?  I had only met her briefly when I worked for Tom, as they were no longer together.  A very nice lady.

What happened to sort of derail what I think would have been a brilliant career (for me) was that almost all of my friends and colleagues succumbed to the AIDS crisis.  I was left with Tom and Mario...plus Albert for a while, but this was all after I had moved out of NY and settled for good, in affluent and conservative Naples.  Los Angeles had called out to me, like a siren, and I did almost go out there- but strangely ended up in a town known as the Palm Beach of the west coast!  I call Naples a little town with a big ego.  Armistead Maupin mentioned it in one of his later works, and not in a kind way.  I wrote about it in my sketchy little potboiler called "Diamonds In The Sun" (available on Amazon books)...and so, here I am, after all these years, I'm still here.  DF ***** click here for a great Plum TV video on Tom, and his Hamptons estate....

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What's on your low table?

DFID via I-phone

Paige Rense, the legendary AD editor, liked to have coffee tables, or cocktail tables, listed as "low tables"...how suitable, since this one I was given (by Albert Hadley) is very low, at about 10 inches. 

If you are what your table is wearing, then I am a remnant of zebra hide, (from when I visited the RL furniture factory years ago), a Maitland Smith blue and white porcelain bowl, (filled with Agraria Bitter Orange potpourri), and a quirky small covered urn in a mottled brown metal, given to me years ago by my old friend Nicholas Cardone.  (Nicky and I have been friends for almost 40 years now!)

I do like the lower height of this small table with the low seat height of my antique chesterfield, which I've shown more than once in previous posts on my Naples living room.  Enjoy!  DF *****

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The Pleasures of Home

DEAN FARRIS INTERIOR DESIGN

Don't get me wrong~ I enjoy going out just as much as anyone, but often, after a long day, I truly relish my apres' work cocktail, while enjoying the soft ambiance of my flat in the Moorings section of Naples...so many of my furnishings hold fond associations, such as the small Michael Aram box shown at the bottom of the above image, which was recently given to me by artist friend, Mally Khorasantchi...how I would love to fill it with Marlboro's, or Gitanes, but alas, the doctor says no more smoking for me!  So, sometimes I will  burn incense just to have some smoke around me, since supposedly smoke follows beauty!
That little box, which I'm crazy for, is topped with silver coral, which reminds me of the beach, not far away~and it sits on a purple faux alligator tray, which sits on the small Parsons table I was given by the late Dean of American Decorating, Mr. Albert Hadley.  He also gave me the Louis XV chair shown above (he allowed me to buy it out of his Naples cottage guest house) and as you know, it's one of my favorite things.

DEAN FARRIS INTERIOR DESIGN

Above, I've created a very Van Day Truex inspired grouping, using things I had and some newer things sourced locally from Chesterdale's Antiques Market...including the pair tole planters from Box Woods, and the pair engravings from Maison Auclair.  The simple glass hurricane was given to me by an old friend who once worked at Sean Johnson Atelier (Naples) and I've enjoyed owning it for many years~Yes, I have considered changing the silk plaid table skirt, possibly to the "Les Touches" pattern in blue, which I had posted about recently...however, you will probably agree, with that bold ikat rug, I probably don't need another ikat looking pattern?  Only time will tell!  Stay tuned!  Enjoy!  
DF *****

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Bunny Williams

Bunny Williams

It was very interesting to read today on the NYSD, about John Rosselli and Bunny Williams receiving the NYSID Albert Hadley Lifetime Achievement Award~how gratifying for them to be acknowledged in such a manner, and at the famous Rainbow Room no less!  Alexa Hampton was enlisted as a dinner chairman, and surely if any two design professionals deserve such accolades, it would be Bunny and John.  Congratulations!  DF *****

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"Minimalist rooms can be so beautiful, but I can't live in one; I love objects too much."—Interior designer Bunny Williams, December 03

via Elle Decor

Another Hadley Protege' !

Designer Sam Allen, via HB

A young and talented designer, Sam Allen, who worked with Albert Hadley, has a real flair~ his apartment shown above, reminds me of the color sense of the designer George Stacey, whom Maureen Footer has done a book about.  Of course, it doesn't hurt to be young, talented, and handsome!  All of which Sam is.  Enjoy!  DF *****
(see more of Sam on The Glam Pad and in House Beautiful)

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One of My Favorite Rooms

Dean Farris Interior Design

I've had such fun arranging my furnishings and accessories in the Moorings apartment I recently moved in to.  It's comforting to have things around that remind us of old friends, family, and personal tastes.  The mock Louis XVI chair with its back towards this camera angle had belonged to the late Holland Salley, one of the first, if not THE first designers to settle in a 1950's era Naples.  He came here in 1953, at the suggestion of Barron Collier, Jr.~ and never left.  The big blue dragon bowl came from Maison Auclair, which was on Fifth Avenue South across from where Hollands business once was.  I thought of sharing this image I took, via my i-phone, which gives some idea of the eclectic and mixed look I've created here.  The Louis XV style chair in the far corner, with the chevron pillow on it, came from the late Albert Hadley~ and is one of my favorite things!  It has a teal and gilt finish, with a cream, gold lame' backed Jack Larsen linen fabric, with Alberts trademark flat tape self trim.  I recently had about 25 people over for drinks in this room, and the crowd flowed out onto the small lanai, where I had a bar set up.  Looking forward to showing more of this apartment soon!  Enjoy! DF *****

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Design Continuum

Dean Farris Interior Design 2015

 

While reviewing the new Stephen M. Salny book, on the work of William Hodgins, Boston's preeminent decorator~ I was reminded of how design has a thread, which weaves through my fortunate Parsons faculty education, my European travels (sponsored by my loving parents) and the super talented designers I worked under while in New York.  As you know, I was trained by Tice Alexander, who worked with Albert at the famed Parish-Hadley ~ and just as Stanley Barrows "pushed" Bill Hodgins towards Sister and Albert in the 1960's, so he also guided Tice toward the PH firm in the 1980's...which is why I always mention the Bette Davis movie, "All About Eve" ~ you see, I was Eve Harrington to Tice's Margo Channing !  They always say truth is stranger than fiction, and let me tell you, it is! Suffice to say, nothing is giving me more pleasure right now than the new book,  
William Hodgins Interiors, it's a fascinating account of one designers journey over fifty years, and, continuing in the thread- weaving- through theme, Bill Hodgins worked for Michael Greer!  (I have a very wonderful client from Pittsburgh who hired Mr. Greer many years ago to decorate his French influenced home there, and today I get to work with those same Greer antiques in this clients Naples residence!) To add one more note to this theme, my dear professor Barrows died in the Naples hospital, which had been decorated in the 1950's by none other than Dorothy Draper, who, as many may know, was related to Sister Parish. Finally, I really got to know Albert Hadley well, when he bought a historic cottage from 1925 in Naples, and the rest is history!  Enjoy!  DF *****  

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To order this book, click here

Modern Baroque Redux

DEAN FARRIS INTERIOR DESIGN

A few years ago, I created this swept away, clean look for my former living room at Positano Place~
Am still loving the look~ what I call "modern baroque" ~ and I also took the photograph!  Inspired by palaces and old villas by the sea, it's a classic point of view.  The white on white sofa and walls were an homage to Albino Cimonetti (one of the four founders of the firm Quadrille, along with Jay Hyde Crawford, Anthony Tortora, and Harry Hinson) AND Michael Taylor~ the famed society decorator of California.  Albino taught at Parsons and FIT when I was there, and preached brown sofas on brown walls and white on white, etc....the floor here reminded me of Marie- Laure de Noailles and Jean Michel Frank.  
My old pal Tice Alexander once had a spectacular apartment with a very high ceiling in the living room, and he had Weidl glaze the walls to resemble the parchment squares that Jean Michel had used in Paris.  His chandelier was a Venetian baroque one in old teal and gilt, that Billy Baldwin found ~ and told Albert Hadley to buy!  Albert then loaned the fabulous piece to Tice, which, combined with a pair of Venetian blackamoors from Philippe Farley, made a sensational modern baroque statement! Inspiring! DF *****  

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