GLORIA VANDERBILT, Then and Now

1970's

If one picture is worth a thousand words, then this one is worth a million!  The history, the excitement of old New York is summed up here.  The new film and the new book are fabulous too!  I gave the book to my own mother for Mother's Day this year.

2016

Above, the famous Rose Cumming chintz was used called "Carisbrooke" in the Beekman Place flat of Ms. Vanderbilt.  I love the accoutrement displayed on the table, especially the silver flask!  Michael Taylor placed a large order for Carisbrooke, at a time when the Rose Cumming firm was underperforming, and as the story goes, saved the day for them...
The decorator Billy Baldwin also used this chintz - similar to another one from Brunschwig and Fils...the brass "pharmacy" lamps aimed at the screen remind me of his studio apartment in the east 60's with the lacquered brown walls.  Enjoy!  DF *****   

When Miss Rose Inspired Oscar

The beautiful chinoiserie paper, "Jardinieres and Citrus Trees" by de Gournay of London, was used as end papers for one of my favorite new design books, Rose Cumming Design Inspiration.  Written by Jeffrey Simpson (Rizzoli) - it's a fabulous source for ideas and concepts as well as a most personal story of one iconic decorators life.

The fashion designer Oscar de la Renta (another favorite of mine) used to walk by Miss Roses' shop, and the following story amuses me greatly.  It's from the book, and is the most charming and inspiring tale!

But I must digress, and go back to another favorite of mine, the "Banana Leaves" fabric, which Dessin Fournir is now representing, and which Albert Hadley was using while at McMillen back in the 1950's.  The most interesting story of how this elegant and yet casual fabric was created is also revealed in Mr. Simpson's tome.  Below, my Teddie bear and my grandmothers quilt are resting on a Louis XV style chair, which I had covered in "Banana Leaves", by Rose Cumming.  (Miss Rose)

I think this layered look is fun, and it reminds me of say, Mrs. Henry "sister" Parish crossed with Gloria Vanderbilt... and my "Brandon Beige" by Benjamin Moore walls are the same shade of taupe as the leaves!  Anyway, back to Oscar (with apologies to Miles Redd).  Here is the recanted tale of when Oscar de la Renta was inspired by one of Miss Rose's pieces.  Long, long ago, in old New York.  

Oscar de la Renta remembers that he used to walk home from his work at Elizabeth Arden past Rose's store every night, and that one night he saw this fantastic secretary desk, made of mother-of-pearl and tortoiseshell, with an inside of marquetry and bone.  He was at a dinner party at Babe Paley's house the following evening, and Babe told him that she had seen the same piece in the store, had fallen in love with it, and inquired as to the price, but it turned out to be too expensive for her.  Oscar then said to himself that if it was too expensive for Babe Paley, it would be too expensive for him, as he was very early in his career at this point.  Two weeks later, however, after seeing the desk every night, he told himself that he was in love with it, and that he had to have it.  He went into the store and spoke to Rose Cumming's sister and asked how much the desk was.  He was told it was $25,000.  He told her that was impossible for him to pay that, asked what her best price was, and if he could pay over time.  He bought the desk for $22,000 and paid it off over three years.  Every month he gave what he could from his paycheck, sometimes more, sometimes less.  He was never harassed no matter how little he gave that month.  The secretary is in Oscar de la Renta's house in the Dominican Republic to this day.

Wow!  I just love this story...

     
 Above, a close up of the iconic Rose Cumming fabric.  It comes in other colorways, and the bright green is very classic, as well as the metallic gold.  There is an original "document" image of this fabric in the Simpson book, in a tomato and chocolate version, very hand blocked- Rose's sister Dorothy hand printed it down in Jamaica originally.  Funny, the first time I bought some, back in 1976, I was with my mother, Dorothy!  (She still has it btw)  So, as you can see, if you don't yet have this terrific book, you might want to get a copy.  Enjoy! Cheers!  DF ***** 

Decorator Inspirations

It's the holiday season, once again!  I know you've missed me, I've been so terribly busy with all of my clients, getting ready for the high season here in sunny Naples...I think what inspires me the most is defined by one word: authenticity.  I've been in so many mind blowingly beautiful homes lately, by architects such as Jeff Harrell, and builders such as BCB- and yesterday William (Billy) and I were in the Art Canada house, on Third Street South, that I helped to furnish, along with Brenda Canada.  Celine Godof was showing it, as it's listed for sale, and I was delighted to see that all 35 pieces of the Althorp collection I had placed in the house were still there, "in situ".  So many pieces of "Althorp Living History Collection"went to that house, that I received a letter of thanks from none other than Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Princess Diana...!  For a virtual tour, courtesy of Celine and Premier-Sotheby's go to http://www.hdhomeview.com/swfl/175_3rd_st_s.html 




Gloria Laura Vanderbilt

 And of course, I'm always fantasizing about, and inspired by, the eternally beautiful, elegant Gloria!  Here's a current picture of her- can you guess her age?  You'll never guess- not 39, not 49, not 59...it's 88 years young!  How elegant and fabulous, totally awesome is she? I can't think of anyone more inspiring, and more beautiful.  Lucky Anderson Cooper, he gets to call her "Mummy" ! How divine would that be?  I can only imagine- of course, my own mother, Dottie, is pretty special too... (see earlier posts).  As one of my late decorating mentors, Robert Metzger, once said, we all want a woman with a past, and a man with a future!



Sitting Room, Dean Farris Interior Design

Finally, I have to admit, I inspire myself!  I love my apartment, here in Napoli, and I just keep adding things- gifts, loaners, stuff I've dragged around for years, it never ceases to amaze me what Billy Baldwin was always talking about, the personal in decoration.  And like dear BB, I find the older I get, the less I need, and the more I know how to make less look and feel like more!  DF ***** 



Gloria Vanderbilt, 1970 Francesco Scavullo

 
  

Room of the Week, Gloria Vanderbilt

Room of the Week is BACK! I had been waiting for something like a catalyst to inspire a DFS post, and while reading one of my favorite new designer blogs, belonging to MARK SIKES, I got a nice lift from his recent BILL BLASS post, featuring this astonishing FRANCESCO SCAVULLO portrait of the ever fabulous, always young, GLORIA VANDERBILT. While I have never had the privilege of being in the same room or even seeing GV, I did know the late Ron Grimaldi, who helped GV with some of her decorating. I was told that she once paid something like $16,000.00 for one antique textile pillow. I also have never managed to meet her son, Anderson, who is always on television. However, my old friend Marcy has a sister who married into the Cecil family, who still own the Biltmore estate in Asheville, NC. Marcy was recently featured in HOUSE, on New York Social Diary. She is a fab lady and we attended classes together back in the good old eighties, under the tutelage of luminaries such as the late STANLEY BARROWS, who was the chairman of our interior design department at FIT. Also, BILL BLASS was our speaker at our graduation ceremony, and oh my what an inspiring speech he gave. May he rest in peace. The classical opulence displayed in this room, where GV stands, dressed by BLASS, is so beautiful and so classic, it will always be in style. I hope it will inspire you as it did me! DF *****