BOOK: Mario Buatta, Anatomy of a Decorator

So excited that our wonderful friend, Emily Evans Eerdmans, along with first rate publisher, Rizzoli, is coming out with this new (the second one) book about our dear Mario... expect to see it in late September, as per Emily. The legacy and legend of fabulous Mario lives on forever! He was a genius, and a wonderful, talented gentleman. With a foreword by the divine Patricia Altschul, and charming book design by the Pandiscio Green agency - you won't be disappointed, I can assure you! DF

CHARM: Charleston SC

One of the highlights of this Summer has been visiting with family in Charleston...we had a ball and even though the temps were soaring, managed to stay cool...it was fun to see Whitney Sudler-Smith driving his mothers Rolls-Royce down Rutledge Avenue on the way to her majestic (yet cozy) mansion -called Mikell House...formerly used for many years as a public library, Pat Altschul has transformed it with the help of her late friend, the decorator Mario Buatta (@mariobuatta) into a fantasy of an Italian villa in old Charleston, which was founded in the 1600's and is known as the Holy City. The town was a refuge for those escaping religious persecution for centuries...

MARIO B: Fond Memories

You know, way back in the early 1980's, I had the most fun getting to work with Mario Buatta and Michael Zabriskie - on a model room setting at the Bloomingdale's Manhattan flagship...and was delighted that dear Emily Eerdmans featured this image of it in her fabulous book called Mario Buatta... he actually used a basic Bloomie's model for the sofa, and created a charming "petit bourgeoise" room setting so that the average person shopping in the store could visualize having a luxurious English inspired sitting room of their very own... brilliant ! DF

GREENERY: Pantone 2017

Pantone Color of the Year 2017

I was recently asked to post about this color- "greenery" the Pantone color of the year for 2017.  I've ALWAYS loved this ultra chic shade of bright lime green!

via internet

Even in small doses, such as this modernist bench in greenery velvet!  Parish-Hadley was known to use this color for elegant glazed walls...

via internet

I did notice that Mario Buatta had used it for a chain cover in the Charleston dining room of socialite and author, Patricia Altschul- see more of this story on  The Glam Pad !!!  You can also read a great story about the color - by Patricia Sheridan - here !!  Enjoy, DF *****

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LOOK BACK: Muse Baron Nicolas de Gunzburg- FORWARD: Todd Alexander Romano

Baron Nicolas de Gunzburg, Horst

I think the first time I ever met Todd Romano, was in the office of the late decorator Parkin Saunders- and I recall being impressed by his personal style, very 1930's playboy, very Baron de Gunzburg!  (He was wearing an ascot perfectly knotted)  I'm sorry to say, we haven't had a chance to reconnect since that first meeting which must have been about 1995.  

Interesting to note, that the Baron, a stylish figure in European and (North) American society, first settled in Hollywood- and later went to New York. 

Todd is now based in San Antonio, Paris, Los Angeles and New York- Click aqui to find out more about the ultra glamorous and very interesting Nicolas de Gunzburg.  Check out this fabulous portrait of Todd Romano which reminds me so much of the Horst photograph of Nicolas, who was known as "Nicky".  (aka Nikki)

Todd Alexander Romano

In researching the Baron, I learned, not surprisingly, that he had been a muse and inspiration to designers Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, and especially Calvin Klein, who considered the Baron to be a style mentor.  When, after his first big fashion show, Calvin approached the Baron to ask his opinion, whether it was a success or a flop- the Baron said "You showed great courage".  Wow!  Can you say "concise" ?

Adding further parallel interest to my story of two gentleman of great style,  Todd has done extensive work for Suzy Hilfiger, a wife of the fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger.  Check out Todd's beautiful site here and you can see for yourself the extent of his talent and fabulous point of view.

I had posted previously about Todd's recent completion in Naples, Fla. of the former cottage of Albert Hadley- which made the cover of House Beautiful, for the second time!  (first time was when Albert was still the owner)  This then reminded me of how my other decorator friend, Mario Buatta, had designed a maisonette previously belonging to Sister Parish - for his client Patricia Altschul.

I recently was riding my bike down the alley where the entrance to Albert's former small guest house is located, and took this snap of it- after I showed it to Mario, he noted  "Very New England" - and indeed there is that quality to this charming property, located in the historic district of Naples.

I-fone photo by Dean

And here's the main house living room when Albert had it- a place where I spent many happy evenings of cocktails and long conversations!

via House Beautiful

And here is the same room from the Todd Romano decoration- some of the renovation had been done by previous owners who were subsequent to Albert's ownership.

Todd Alexander Romano, House Beautiful

What fun for me to have these talented gents in my life, and to have the Baron for inspiration- he makes me want to smoke so badly!  But, I did give up using Tenax in my hair back in the late 70's-
Don't you love how Nicky's hair is slicked back?  Not an easy look to pull off.  But in his day it was THE LOOK !  Check out Todd's Instagram too! DF *****

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Dining at Bricktops, Naples

Blue Bar, Hotel Algonquin, NYC

Last night, Billy and I had great fun, while dining chez Bricktops (Naples and Palm Beach) with our new friend, Mr. Philip Norkeliunas, who was sent to us by dear Mario Buatta, The Prince of Chintz! 
Philip roomed with Christopher Spitzmiller at Saint Lawrence College.  Philip's partner, Dr. Amin Jaffer, lives in London, and works at Christie's ...and he has also written a book, "Beyond Extravagance"...click here ~we also saw our old friends from Gulf Shore Boulevard and Amagansett, Joy and Tom Edwards, which was a delightful surprise.  Tom is a very talented decorator, and a native New Yorker.  All in all, a very enjoyable evening!  DF *****

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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N. P. Trent, Kinderhook, NY

via the NP Trent site

I used to haunt the shop of Stuart Peckner, when he was still on Dixie in West Palm Beach. His taste level is exquisite.  Now located in the charming Hudson River town of Kinderhook, his inventory still contains some of those things I absolutely lust after, including a set of signed French chairs in pale grey original paint. 

Now that we represent the Michael Devine line of fabrics to the trade, I think of this NY town often, since Michael is also located there!  This area is a charming, much less glitzy, alternate to the Hamptons, and one can pick up a country house for a song!  One of the things that I like so much about the image (above) is the citrus-y lime-y yellow wall, which I had first experienced in the Boca Grande, FL home of Mrs. Sheila Labrecque, as decorated by Mister Carleton Varney.  Mario also is known to use this color quite a bit.  It does seem to give a nice lift to the classic antique furnishings.  And, of course, we love to add lots of fresh arrangements from the cutting garden, such as these roses I found on the FB page of designer and author Maureen Footer...

Maureen Footer, via Facebook

Enjoy the weekend, wherever you may be!  DF *****

Cottage Charm !

via The Glam Pad

Remember when I had recently written about my experience in working on the Fifth Avenue apartment of Mary Gilbert, in New York?  Well, this wall glaze is very similar to what we did for her~bold, and inspired by Russian malachite!  The pretty floral chintz combined with the glazed walls reminds me of our friend Carleton Varney...as well as design maestro, Mario Buatta.  I would most likely add a sea grass or sisal large area rug to this room.  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Modern Muse: Patricia Dey Altschul

Beautiful Patricia Altschul

Not unlike Lady Gaga, I've become delightfully obsessed with the fabulous Mario Buatta client, Patricia Altschul.  I think the picture of her above, pretty much sums up why I am so inspired by her~and I first saw it in my Buattapedia on one of MB's bulletin boards...and thought it was Candy Hamm! (I also have worshiped at the altar of Candy, after learning about her from my Stephen Salny book, Michael Taylor Interior Design...(see earlier posts on DFS)

With Mario Buatta

In Charleston

In New York

On Southern Charm, Bravo

With son, Whitney

Charleston

Charleston with Cooper Ray

Nobody can work a pair of shades like Patricia!

In her boudoir, (BRAVO)

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Romantic Bed, Mario Buatta

Mario, by Konstantin Konkanias, via NYSD

What could be more romantic for Saint Valentines weekend than spending it in bed? Dear Mario does the most beautiful beds anyone could imagine~ here he is in the famous Gregory Smith chinoiserie lacquer bed, from an old McMillen job- love this charming portrait by KK, another contemporary of musical Christopher Mason, who is also a friend of the POC (prince of chintz)...

1976 Morristown Mansion in May Showhouse 

Above, my all time favorite bedroom by maestro Mario, I've often thought of just copying this...LOVE!
DF

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Dudley House, London

Dudley House, design by Alberto Pinto, photo Jonathan Becker via Vanity Fair

Well, I was certainly one lucky boy, while working in New York at the flagship Bloomingdale's~ to meet the famous French Moroccan designer, Alberto Pinto.  Sadly, Mr. Pinto died in November of last year, but I vividly recall the Euro chic of the room setting he created for us, along with Jacques Grange, and Mario Buatta.  Mr. Pinto and his large staff spent six years remodeling and decorating Dudley House, in Mayfair, at 100 Park Lane, for the collector Sheikh Hamad Al-Thani.  Check out these spectacular Jonathan Becker images capturing the supreme elegance of the new Dudley House, once the in-town palace of the coal rich Ward family. Inspiring, elegant, and beautiful beyond description.  Enjoy!  DF ***** (images via Vanity Fair)

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photo Jonathan Becker

  

More Really Is More

Lilly Pulitzer

While I never had the pleasure of meeting the late Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau, I had always admired her and her beautiful line of clothing~  When I saw this picture of her former living room in Palm Beach, I thought, wow, what a great example of the old adage, "More is More" !  Large rooms certainly demand a great deal of furniture and decoration, and as you can see here, Lilly did not hold back!  The mix of prints and colors is done with a barely controlled sense of wild abandon, and the art makes a big statement as well.  That large pair of covered porcelain jars on the far wall went for something like $47,000.00 at the Leslie Hindman auction of the LP estate.  
Mimi McMakin, also of PB, has recently been here in Naples re-decorating the Royal Poinciana club (known as the RP) and is now doing up the Audubon Country Club as well!   My old pal, Mario Buatta, is just finishing a large house in Palm Beach, and we have Timothy Corrigan coming to visit Naples in February! Owning a chateau in France is certainly a good example of more is more...and TC has one!
Take a tour of it on the Quintessence blog!
Check out his book on the subject, "An Invitation to Chateau du Grand-Luce'" ~and back to Lilly, I did pop in to a Lilly shop here in Naples (we have two) and found out the men's line has been discontinued!  I only have one of her swimsuits, and it's almost rotten from chlorine in the pool!  Vintage shops here I come!  Enjoy!  Merry Christmas!  
DF *****

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Todd Romano for Schumacher !

Todd Alexander Romano for Schumacher

What's red, white and blue, and read all over? Todd Alexander Romano for F. Schumacher ~ that's what!
Here's to all of our proud, strong, and brave veterans! 

  

Todd Romano

Congratulations to dear Todd, who also worked under Mario Buatta and the late Parkin Saunders, just as I once did!

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Monday Is For Mario

Mario Buatta, The Prince of Chintz, via NYSD

Mario Buatta, New York Magazine

There's only ONE Mario~ and what a great guy he is!  Monday is his birthday, so we thought of posting a tribute to the master on today's DFS...
Mario creates magic for his fortunate clients, and his talent and energy knows no boundaries.  
Lucky me !  I get to call him a friend~ !  Happy Birthday MB you devil !  What a great guy!  DF *****

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More Designer Inspirations!

Ann Getty

Dennis and Leen

Dean Farris Interior Design

J Nelson

Mario Buatta

"This is all just fuel for the fire of our imagination.  We are all in this game together, and what a fabulous game it is."  DF

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More Decorator Scrapbook, East Coast!

Sabina Fay Braxton

Mario Buatta

From the Julia Reed book, One Man's Folly

A few more... enjoy!  DF *****

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My Gilt-y Pleasure

Circa 1810 French mirror, Antiques Center of Naples

I love looking into, and at, my old gilt mirror- it has such romance and mystery...it adds so much charm and character to my smallish living room.

If you've been following me, you no doubt know by now that I very much like patina, and gilt, and things from the past- I suppose I could have my old mirror re-gilded, but it might come off looking too "repro" and I LIKE the crusty old look of it as it is, don't you?  I think it suits the cottage-y proportions of my small condo.

Now, THIS is a gilt-y pleasure!  I LOVE Versailles!  When I was there, touring- I almost fainted, since I had such a minimal lunch....and I was feeling as if I was in one of my spiritual homes...such beauty!

French commode, with gilt bronze mounts

Sean Johnson at the Biennale des Antiquaires

Here I am with my "Versailles" mirror,

as interpreted by Line Vautrin...

Green paint with gilt, Palace of Versailles

I love the mirror over mantel in Mrs. Altschul's flat, by Mario Buatta

(formerly a Sister Parish apartment)

Tom Britt's New York townhouse apartment

All of these images represent something near and dear to my design sensibility- did you know- and I've been known to make a joke at my own expense- that my nickname in design school (in Atlanta) was "Putti Baroque" ? Well, it's true !  :)  Ha!  Cheers!  Enjoy!  DF ***** Check out the GILT site !  XX