That Collected Look We Love

Kate Rheinstein Brodsky, Elle Decor, via Mark D. Sikes blog

I was excited to see this new Elle Decor feature, while perusing Mark D. Sikes~this totally stunning room, belonging to the daughter of famous Suzanne Rheinstein, has many, many elements that I'm very, very partial to...the chairs, the fabrics, the lacquered ceiling, the Kent table, the sisal carpet, (or is it wool?) and the chartreuse festoon shade...very smart, up to date, and yet oh so trad! Thanks Mark!  Love!  DF *****

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"A collected look in a room gives the feeling of it having evolved over a long period of time, which in turn, gives the people in it a great sense of permanence and comfort..."

Your quote for the day, by Dean Farris !

Inspiring Bedroom by Todd Alexander Romano

ROOM BY TODD ALEXANDER ROMANO, ELLE DECOR

I first saw this wall color back in the 1980's ~ when I was visiting friends at the Parish-Hadley offices in New York.  How stunning is it ?  PH used it with a leopard carpet in the entrance area of their offices.
I met Todd years ago, through the late Parkin Saunders, when I worked with Parkin at Saunders and Walsh, Inc.  
To me, the very French combination of the chartreuse velvet with the peacock lacquered walls is inspiring!  I also adore the white gesso on the Federal style mirror...you can see the rest of Todd's NY apartment on the Love Is Speed blog~ (it was published first in Elle Decor)~ Enjoy!  DF *****
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Shutters or Walls?

From Things That Inspire

We were most amused today, when perusing the Atlanta based blog, Things That Inspire, click here ,to see our choice of Brandon Beige by Benjamin Moore, used for exterior shutters- when "we" had only recently selected the same colour for our interior walls!

Brandon Beige satin walls, DFID

As y'all may recall- :) we had originally chosen (selected) a very rich, custom, aubergine lacquer finish for our walls- however, due to a lower than desired ceiling, and the constraints of a budget, we went with a more conservative choice; Brandon Beige...in a tasteful satin finish.

No. 6, Saint Michael's Alley, Charleston, SC

This also reminded me of one of our pet projects in Charleston- with the "Sevres" green shutters and door- so adroitly chosen by our discerning, very well traveled clients.  We used many hundreds of yards of Scalamandre' silks and trims in this house, and one day, the Bitters (founders of Scalamandre') came by and wanted to rent the house!  I am so partial to this very French shade of turquoise....

The Pink Door, Greensboro, NC

Now, the last time I was in Greensboro, the walls of this section of The Pink Door Interiors were painted in a very similar shade of green...perhaps this image is just distorted in colour due to the photography?  It is fun to see how colours on the outside can also be seen on the inside.

Tom Britt, NYSD

We also adore the relationship between fashion and interiors- here, NY decorator (and a mentor of mine) Thomas Burgin Britt used a blue satin on his Billy Baldwin slipper chairs, one of my and our all time fave models.  How fabulous!  James Andrew, another dear friend, and former Hadley protege' is WEARING blue satin (below) !!!

   

Scott McBee, James Andrew, Bennett Weinstock, Jamie Drake, NYSD

If you follow design blogs, you may know that dear James has a fantastic one, What Is James Wearing, to view, click here .  James Andrew is most often seen in Tom Ford era Gucci...we love this highly decorative group shot of super powerful NY decorators!  Check out today's post on NYSD (New York Social Diary) for more.

From Michael Taylor Interior Design

Above, the 1973 room, which was in San Francisco, created by our fave decorator of the past, Michael Taylor.  Pink and green...who (whom?) does that bring to mind?  hmmm.... LILLY PULITZER !!!

The late, great, Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau 

So, I guess we all just know- these colour palettes have an endless, wonderful, inspiring way of being seen in dual relationships.  Very intriguing!  Food for thought, no doubt.  Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF ***** 

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Vintage Mercedes Benz  Convertible

Hermes' Limoges tray from my friend Jerry

Anything Cartier...that's my Mummy in a dress I
bought for her on my first trip to Paris...

Charvet ties

Napoleon III Chinoiserie Lacquer Commode

The porphyry lacquer walls in Hilary Geary Ross's former living room
by my friend Mario Buatta...

Mario Villa faux emerald cuff links from my friend Mary 

Cocktails with Bourbon

Greek Revival houses

Private aircraft

Just a few of the things that make life worth living!
Cheers!  DF *****

Room of the Week, Todd Alexander Romano

I met Todd Romano through my friend the late Parkin Saunders, in New York. Parkin was quite fond of Todd as he is such a talent, and a Texas native. (Parkin was from Arkansas) - anyway, Todd has showrooms in New York and L.A. and he did a dining room at the 2012 Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. I went on TAR's site and found this gorgeous lacquered living room he did for a client in NYC. I love the way Todd has showcased Andy Warhol and other artists in his rooms, and his sense of color and use of sexy chairs (French) as well as his overall point of view. This long banquette he used is sensational, and we could certainly provide something similar through either KREISS or our design service, Interiors By Design West, here in Naples. Enjoy! DF *****(P.S. this lacquer wall treatment reminds me of the townhouse duplex Angelo Donghia lived in - which I was lucky to visit back in the day) .