DINING: The French/Decorator Scrapbook 2018

The French, Naples

DFID

DFID

Fabec-Young and Co, Naples

DFID

Main Street, Old Salem, NC

Walnut Cove, NC

DFID

DFID

DFID

Windward Way, Naples, FL

Looking forward to dinner tonite, with William (Billy) at fabulous and fun The French !  Bon Appetit !

* * * * *

INSPIRED BY: My Many Brilliant Interior Design Mentors

Dean Farris Interior Design

Over the past forty plus years, I've been most fortunate to have known and been mentored by some of the finest and most talented decorators and designers in the business.

Having been selected to study at the Art Institute of Atlanta, under chairman, Stan Topol , and then later the Fashion Institute of Technology, under chairman, Stanley Barrows  - as well as study abroad in Bath, U.K. at the American Museum in Britain, during the reign of Ian McCallum  - I was exposed to the very best taste and taught a very thorough history of art and design as well as architecture.

In the above image, of my own flat in Naples, Florida , you can see the influence of masters I've known throughout my career, including Mario Buatta, Albert Hadley, Tom Britt, and many others.  Every single day, I think about them and all that I've learned from them as well as the fabulous schools where I studied interior design and art history.

This assemblage is very personal, and includes many furnishings and objects that were given to me over the years.  Slipper chairs, Louis XIV style arm chairs, a chesterfield sofa, a rattan side table, and many other items remind me of dear friends and fond memories.

Dean Farris Interior Design

In the close up of my "collector's table" (above) you can see lamps and blue and white pieces which were gifts from Billy, and a large dragon bowl I purchased from him when he was with Maison Auclair- and a small collection of decorative sea shells too.  In case you think I'm oblivious to minimalism, click here to see a client progress shot...!

(c) DFID 2018

Have a great and memorable Fourth of July! DF

* * * * * 

KIPS BAY PALM BEACH: Impressions

Dean with designer Susan Zises Green,
Kips Bay PB Showhouse 2017

Thanks to the prodding of my good friend the designer, Steven Matable, Billy and I visited Palm Beach 
(with Steve) to see the first annual Kips Bay Palm Beach Decorator Showhouse -
 I was tickled pink to run into Susan Zises Green there, as she was a friend of my former mentor and friend, the late Tice Alexander.  Her room was a stunning confection in Quadrille and Alan Campbell prints with a delicious shade of amethyst playing off of a unique one of a kind rug.

Susan Zises Green, via House Beautiful

Designer Steven Matable in Lisa Erdmann's room- KBPBDS 2017

We got a kick out of this bright yellow room by Lisa Erdmann Associates-

Bierly-Drake for KBPBDS 2017

Loved this chair treatment, possibly inspired by Pauline de Rothschild...

Stephen Mooney for KBPBDS 2017

This upstairs library by Stephen Mooney reminded me of the New York penthouse I worked on with the late Parkin Saunders- where once upon a time Joan Crawford lived!

Christopher Maya for KBPBDS 2017

One of my favorite rooms was this one- as it had a Giacometti white plaster lantern, table top, and wall plaque !!!

Fernando Wong for KBPBDS 2017

This modern sculpture in the garden was the first thing you saw upon approaching the house- stunning!  

Perhaps the best of all was visiting my dear friend, decorator Louise Cronan at her restored 1924 cottage near El Cid...it seemed as if we left one showhouse and entered another!  No surprise as she is one of the most brilliant designers I know.  
Her mother decorated the house in Atlanta that Miles Redd grew up in!  A very talented family to say the least.  DF *****

POST HOLIDAY Cleaning

DFID 2017

I always enjoy the holidays- but I like even more the chance to clean up house after all the spruce needles have dropped, all the gifts lavishly unwrapped., and all the dishes and serving pieces used and now needing to be put away again. 

The charming painting (above) was given to me by William (Billy), after we cleaned out his storage unit- and I really do love it and enjoy living with it.  His mother, Ann, did it in 1965 !



DFID 2017



I decided to order another ikat rug- to replace the old damask pattern one that was previously in the "dining area" - (shown above) - and after all this cleaning and dusting, I made a nice dinner for the two of us, from a recipe I found on the Domestic Daddy blog- a pot roast recipe.  Dessert was vanilla ice cream with pineapple, fresh mint, and a Pepperidge Farm cookie.  It was great to have a whole weekend to relax, and work on my apartment.  Stay tuned for more!  DF *****

STYLE, DFID, Gasparilla in Bonita Beach

Here's one of my favorite and latest completed projects...all images via Dean Farris Interior Design.  
Our concept was to bring the quaint charm of the Gasparilla Inn at Boca Grande, and some old Key West character, to a classic vintage 1970's era condo on Bonita Beach, just north of Naples.  Enjoy!

DFID sofas in Kravet Soleil 

We decided to keep the conservative, old school styling on the pair of sofas, but added a bit of KW pizzazz with the ikat pillows...and may add a patterned rug here soon.

DFID 1960's oil painting by the client's mother!

 

Here, you can see the doppelganger effect, left over from the previous decorator's arrangement of sofas across from each other.  I love the lily pad painting we were able to save and re-frame here.  Billy found the floral fabric in Ohio and it works very well for toss pillows.

DFID Vintage Waterford chandelier, existing furniture, re-framed oil painting

I'm partial to this bamboo looking furniture in the dining area, and we kept the chairs in their original celadon texture.  That painting was done in 1968!  Love it!  We flanked it with a pair of highly distressed candle sconces.

DFID custom floral arrangement

Here, (above image) you can see one of those sconces- and this really fun sunflower arrangement we created for the bar.  Notice the new tile back splash which continues into the kitchen.  In an homage to dear Carleton Varney, we had the tray ceiling in the kitchen painted a pale sky blue.

DFID  existing floral print table cloth 

That fabulous blue is picked up again in this lamp, which sits on a draped table that serves to provide a visual "divider" between the dining area and the living room...the fabric on the table was from the previous decoration about ten years ago and it was retained to give some old Gasparilla Inn charm.  (and a nod to dear Billy Baldwin).

DFID  view from newly enclosed lanai, aka the solarium

We also re-upholstered this existing "barrel" chair in a very pretty leaf green "microfiber" material, and are keeping the existing rattan coffee table.  Those are my topsiders peeking out from under it!

DFID solarium, formerly the exterior lanai

We gained some square footage by enclosing the former terrace, and found this charming cottage vintage desk and chair, as well as the card table and chairs in a local consignment shop in downtown Naples.  Billy found the map - a perfect addition! (Old Florida from when it was discovered by the Spanish).

DFID solarium reading nook facing the beach

I love this little moment Billy had the idea for, which he calls the "library" -this is the other end of the new solarium.

DFID den, Kravet Soleil cloth on existing sleep sofa, Benjamin Moore paint

We used a bold punch of color in the small den, which pulls triple duty as a den-guest room-home office.  The ceiling is also in poppy red, and we installed some new bead board wainscoting with the help of the talented Elson, the general contractor for this job.  The painting is also by Bill's mother, circa 1965!  The original frame was simply gessoed white.  Notice the seashell glass lamp, one of a pair.

DFID time for a cocktail!  Dean in Ralph Lauren over J. McLaughlin

I haven't enjoyed a remodel/decoration this much in a long time, and wanted to share it with you.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Stay tuned for future updates on this project! DF *****

RITZ CARLTON, NAPLES, A Cheeseburger in Paradise

Relaxing at The Ritz, Naples

Billy and I enjoy lunching at the Ritz Carlton, Naples, (the one on the beach) -we have two- and here's yours truly striking a pose in a hall off the main lobby...

Purple petunias, Ritz Carlton, Naples

Potted flowers are everywhere, as well as orchids galore, and a rose garden fronting the spa...

A view from the Gumbo Limbo

Our favorite is the outdoor restaurant, Gumbo Limbo, facing the beach and the gulf....cheeseburgers are fab, and the salads are good too...and of course the specialty cocktails!

A view from the boardwalk out to le plage

My ikat/tie dye shirt is Ralph Lauren, belt and trousers are Banana Republic, and mules are Nike, watch is classic Rolex oyster.
It's Spring, enjoy it!  DF *****

P.S. I saw the new film this weekend, "The Boss" and surprise! Kathy Bates was in it!  Hilarious!

Society of the Four Arts, PB

These stunning gardens, at The Society of Four Arts, Palm Beach, were so soothing, and made a spectacular entrance to the building where Leta Austin Foster gave her talk on her new book, "Traditional Interiors" with Brian Coleman.  A very nice presentation indeed!  DF *****

Peggy G, Why I Must Return to Venice

Peggy Guggenheim, via Habitually Chic

Having been obsessed with the famous art patron and collector, Peggy Guggenheim, ever since I read the fabulous story of her life~(d. 1979) AND there is a new film on her by Lisa Immordino Vreeland click here !  I wanted to share with my loyal readers the time I was on that motoscafo headed towards the Hotel Danieli, and whooshed right on by the famous Castello housing the Peggy Guggenheim museum...on the Gran Canale...

I had wanted very badly, in the brief time I was there in the Venetian islands, to find my way back to her museum,  but I did recall my old friend Nicky Cardone warning me about getting lost and even falling into a canale after one too many Proseccos...(at night) but even with the throngs of daytime tourists, I was quite wistful thinking about dear Tadzio in my favorite Visconti film Death In Venice.  The beautiful young boy who tormented an older man...

So, with all best intentions, I do think Billy and I will be in Venice sometime next year.  I promised myself I'd return with someone who was important to me, and of course, would love to go for the biennale too.  But, if only to visit the Guggenheim Museum, that would be reason enough!  DF *****

M I A M I design dist/Wynwood art dist 10/15

Soyka, Miami

Lunched at Soyka...I had a chardonnay by Starmount and a pizza margarita.. very good...

Seen at Soyka, Miami

Miami Design District

Mecca ! Miami Design District

Designer Steve Matable, Miami Design District

Versace boutique, Miami Design District

Louboutin boutique, Miami Design District

Miami Design District

Miami Design District

Billy at Wynwood Arts District

Poster boy for Miami, Johnny Depp

Shopping as an athletic event..."power shopping" as Steve calls it...we had a ton of fun...!  DF ***** (I think we hit about 16 boutiques, many of which have only recently opened)  See the site link for more info (yesterday's post)