SPRING AHEAD: Fond Memory

Britt Main House

I was just thinking how it's Spring time again- and how glorious the pink tree blossoms will be at the Britt's in Watermill-  Billy and I had the great pleasure of visiting a couple Summers ago- and I had seen the trees in full bloom on Julie's FB page- magnifico!

Britt estate, original main house, via Julie Britt

Julie with the late Eddie Zajac and Richard Callahan 

Look at how gorgeous and glamorous Julie looks here with her old pals from Parsons days!  Tom still has a Zajac and Callahan mirror in his bedroom in the country- plus an old huge one from dear Rose Cumming.

Tom's bed chamber, via Veranda

This is the fabulous bed Tom called me from when I was in my own bed down in the octagonal winged guest house- a place I had dreamt about for years- and finally got to see and to stay in!  He rang as I slept and I awoke as if still in a dream and he wanted me to come up to the house and help him get dressed for dinner- since Marcelo or Rodrigo must have been doing something else- anyway, I hurried up there like a good boy and left Billy behind to his own devices.  You can see the large arched mirror from Rose Cumming in the background of this image behind the bed.

Guest house, Britt estate, via Veranda

The room we stayed in (one night) is on the right- and oh how I loved it!  A magical atmosphere and the genius of Tom in full force!  (I jumped in the pool for about a minute) !!!

Guest house bedroom view, Britt estate

I was looking at a fuchsia and cobalt blue fabric this morning, and it for some reason reminded me of this room- this is the bed I was sleeping in when Tom called me from his tented tester bed- "DEAN - IT'S TOM- CAN YOU PLEEEZE COME UP HERE, I NEED YOU!!!!" (you can see the phone on the right)- and I really did feel so happy and in a dream state- so I guess I was all ready to have dinner with a former CHANEL model by the name of Jackie Rogers- whom I had heard about since the early 80's but never actually met.

Jackie in Chanel

Sometimes things just happen for a reason- and I do think that this all had a beautiful dream like quality- and I loved how Jackie was so animated all through dinner, which started with a fabulous ceviche- Rodrigo is so talented, and Marcelo was serving the apps and drinks before in a way that let you know he'd done it many times before- so charming and warm, so family like and friendly- just the nicest people imaginable.  More like family than anything.

close up of foo dogs in guest house, via my phone

Hoping you enjoyed this fond trip down memory lane of mine- we did that trip in a New York fast whirlwind- probably for the best, since there's nothing worse than a houseguest who doesn't know when to leave!  Thanks again Julie, Tom, Marcelo, and Rodrigo!  DF ***** (see my earlier posts on this subject)

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Progress in Mediterra !

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2015

We're slowly, but surely, making progress at the Mediterra condominium residence of my real estate professional client, (a young bachelor) and I took this quick shot today while there for a drapery (curtains) installation. 
This client loves blue, and likes symmetry and a "Hampton's" look, which we are working towards achieving together.  Stay tuned for more shots coming soon!
DF *****

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A Fond Summer Memory

Britt estate, Seashells, I-fone photo: Dean Farris

There was something very sweet and quite special about visiting Tom and Julie Britt after all those years...as if we had just seen each other last week, when in reality, it was more than 20 years since we last met! 
I had taken some random shots of the original house, (where Tom stays), and found this one in my files, and thought of sharing this charming one with you~this table was in the dining room, or Salle A Manger as my late friend Lord Jeremy Fry might have called it.   The simplicity of just those shells, arranged so casually, struck me as nothing short of pure genius.  After all, the sea is not too far away from this house, and so, it's quite suitable.  DF *****

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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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Weekend In The City

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue

Algonquin Hotel, Dorothy Parker table in Oak Room, 44th off Fifth Ave

Plaza Hotel, Fifth Avenue at 58th and the park

Bergdorf Goodman, Fifth Ave at 57th Street

Our friend Tony, Dylan's Candy Bar, Third Ave at 60th Street

Looking north up Third Avenue, Manhattan

Can you say "FUN" ?  We had it, and we saw FUN HOME on Broadway, (standing room only) enjoyed a fab NY pre-theater dinner at Joe Allen, went to DON'T TELL MAMA after the theater....had breakfast in the world famous Oak Room at the Algonquin (the best omelet ever!) lunch with our NY friends, Joe and Tony, chez RUE 57, (lobster roll and a Stella) shopped RL, BG, Pinks, Trump Tower, Dylan's Candy Bar, Bloomies, The Plaza (downstairs)~ it was a real shot in the arm, and then we Jitneyed out to THE HAMPTONS !!!  Fun!  Yes!  Enjoy!

I loved seeing all the beautiful boys and girls, especially the Summer legs, muscular and hairy on the boys and long, smooth and mounted on the highest ever stacked heels on the girls!! Yes! Can't wait to go back to the city that never sleeps!  DF *****

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Beautiful Britthampton (Part III)

 

All photos, Dean Farris, courtesy Julie and Tom Britt, Britt estate, Watermill

Imagine the beauty of gardens that have had over fifty years to mature~ the exquisite grounds of the Thomas Britt estate, on Long Island, are well established, with the patina of age and a mellow glow, as Julie herself said, this place could be anywhere in the world!  Geraniums are a trademark of Tom's garden designs, and his adjoining property has a magnificent reflecting pool, down below the swimming pool.  To see that property, please refer to Veranda magazine~ an homage to certain grand houses and gardens of Europe. 

The overall ambience of the Britt estate gardens is very Russell Page, and I thought of Mrs. Brown's place and also of the Manhasset estate of Bill and Babe Paley.  Looking forward to returning in the Spring, when the allee' of cherry trees blooms in all of it's natural grandeur!  Oh, the pleasure of making some arrangements from those branches for the house!  Divine!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Beautiful Britthampton (part II)

Britt estate, Guest House, detail

Here I am with Julie and Billy Summer 2015, Britt estate, Watermill

Britt estate, Guest House
I-fone photo by Dean

Britt estate, Guest House, floor detail

Britt estate, Guest House, ceiling detail

Britt estate, Guest House
I-fone photo by Dean

 



Here, my famous designing friend, Thomas Britt, created a folly of a guesthouse~ and it was such a treat to get to spend a night there!  The octagon shape of our room was made even more exotic by the peaked ceiling...and the stenciled floor!

Notice the Syrie Maugham style settee.  There were no less than eight (8) ! imperial foo dogs protecting us from the evil spirits, so we slept like the dead!  The genius of this room, besides the architecture, is Tom's inspired palette of a Chinese red, a Palm Beach peach-coral, and turquoise-aqua with touches of lilac...truly magical and enchanting. 

It was a long held dream of mine to see this folly-guest house in person, and then to get to spend the night there put me over the moon, as you can imagine.  Enjoy!  DF *****

P.S.  Stay tuned for the gardens of Britthampton, coming up next!

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Beautiful Britthampton, Interior Designer Tom Britt

Entrance, Main House, Britt estate, Watermill, NY
I-fone photo by Dean

I never imagined that, what I thought was "The Barn" could have been entered via an elegant neo classic David Adler looking portal, complete with a stately broken pediment overdoor, above which was hanging a distressed white pierced metal Moroccan lantern!  Or that, before that vision of classical beauty, I'd find myself in a kind of outdoor room/courtyard~ surrounded by the tallest of tall hedges, and teetering on white quartz gravel.  The shock of the classical!

Britt estate, Main House Living Room, rock quartz under Jean Michel Frank style table from the Michael Taylor estate
I-fone photo by Dean

Then, upon entering the house through the classical entryway, one was faced with the drama of a half-timbered, white washed "barn" such as Billy Baldwin had on Nantucket!  Tom told the story of Billy sending him a beautiful letter, praising this house, after having seen pictures of it.  Tom was only 26 years old when he built his house, in a former circa 1600's potato field.  He and his lovely companion, Julie, had seen a similar place belonging to old friends who were in the antiques business.  Over fifty years later, "Britthampton" is now sitting in a posh area of mini-estates, each with their own high hedges, reminding one of Palm Beach.

Photo: DK Holland

Britt estate, low table from the Helena Rubenstein sale
I-fone photo by Dean

 

Tall, tall fig trees are growing in the barn~and one especially huge one hangs over a bar set-up on a side table.  These gorgeous trees read as sculpture in the room.  The front door and entry is on an axis with the living room fireplace, which is low and modern, a la Frank, and topped with a tall undivided glass window!  The flue is vented off to the side.  The floors are a wonderful and strange kind of poured concrete with a wavy texture, which seem to have been painted with many thick coats of black, murky, waxed looking paint.  Very dramatic with the plain flat white walls, which have some sand in them for texture.  In true Tom Britt style, all upholstered pieces are classic Parsons style models in a Chanel- like quilted white vinyl.  Big pillows are made of vintage looking textiles, and the low table facing the fireplace is from the estate of the late Madame Helena Rubenstein.  While enjoying evening cocktails, served up by handsome Marcelo, I did notice that the glow from the fireplace was coming through the frosted resin Greek key legs of this ultra-chic table. 

The dining area off of the "barn room" is a simple, white space, furnished very Spartan like with a plain, probably English table, white Parsons chairs by Tom, and a plain white console with shells and coral.  Candles are burning everywhere, but the chandelier is conspicuously absent.  Creating a very calm, artist in the studio mood.  One looks out to a white quartz gravel garden with pergolas shading towering stacks of potted geraniums in pinks and reds.  I had the pleasure of meeting the iconic fashion designer, Jackie Rogers, in this very room.  Her tales of past adventures were enchanting, she's a very interesting lady.

Britt estate, Guest House
I-fone photo by Dean

After saying our good nights, Billy and I wandered back to the very decorative and charming guest house, a pavilion of two octagons flanking a square~ to our magical, octagonal bedroom, but that's coming up in the next part of this post on Thomas and Julie Britt, and their magnificent Hamptons compound.  Until then, I'm yours, sincerely, DEAN 

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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Hamptons Cottages and Gardens

The Whittles Florida home is in this months PBCG

All pictures courtesy Hamptons Cottages and Gardens

My thirst for high quality lifestyle publications seems to have no limit. One of the best of the breed is called "Hamptons Cottages and Gardens". (There is also Connecticut C & G and Palm Beach C & G) - Here's a glimpse of the Georgica Pond home of Chris Whittle and Priscilla Ratazzi, as featured in Hamptons C & G... you can see why I like this magazine so much! Its like you suddenly fell into a world of taste, money and style, and of course you never want to leave! I was first introduced to the hamptons by designers Ned Marshall and the late Harry Schule (see Architectural Digest in the 80's) and later the late designer George Clarkson, who let me and Parkin Saunders drive his dark green Rolls Royce all over Southampton. Ned and Harry introduced to me the chic socialite Lindsay Smith, who had a cottage in Water Mill, and I also am friends with the noted designer Tom Britt, who recently listed his hamptons house for 13 million in the real estate section of AD. What is so amazing is that it all seems so EFFORTLESS! Arthur Dunnam, another designer friend has a lovely place in Easthampton village which I was taken to by my late designer friend Raul Morillas...(see Architectural Digest) - Arthur works in the firm that Jed Johnson created with his partner Alan Wanzenberg. Jed was a protege' of Andy Warhol. The hamptons are all about being social, good food and wine, and playing tennis and going to endless wonderful cocktail parties. It's a Summer place, and many artists have made it their home over the years, as the light and landscape is quite lovely. Enjoy this glimpse of the good life! DF*****