BEAUTIFUL, BY MARK D. SIKES

Mark D. Sikes

Fantastic news!  One of my favorite gents, designer-writer-inspiration, Mark D. Sikes, has a new book coming out, called simply, "BEAUTIFUL" !

via the MDS blog

This book promises to be a forever inspiration, covering over 16 of his projects as well as his favorite styles and looks...Enjoy!  DF *****

Trending on Instagram: William Rankin McLure, IV

Artist William McLure, via Instagram 

We're all about this young Southern artist, William R. McLure...check out some of his paintings below...

William McLure, via Facebook

William McLure, via Facebook

via Facebook

The hot designer-blogger Mark D. Sikes also recently posted about William...see "Change is Good" so titled since William, like so many young designers and artists loves to constantly re-arrange his furnishings and art.  DF *****

Mark D. Sikes

Mark D. Sikes Interior Design

Loving this cool blues image from Los Angeles tastemaker, Mark Sikes.  A similar bed is available through MP Interiors, Naples, Florida...MP also represents De Gournay chinoiserie style wall papers....for your total interior design requirements. 
Mark also recently completed an interior design project "Up in the Villa" for the Kips Bay decorator show house, in New York.  Kudos to Mark !  DF *****

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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 !

Trending Classic, Les Touches

Geoffrey Beene

All of us have always loved the way fashion designer, Geoffrey Beene, used the now famous "Les Touches" from Brunschwig and Fils~ in his dining room in Connecticut, many, many years ago...and I do recall the text saying that the pattern had been hand painted on the walls, to match the festoon fabric shades...brilliant!

Brunschwig and Fils "Maisonette" Collection 2015

Recently, perhaps due to the popularity of ikat patterns, this BF classic has become super trendy, especially with decorators...my friend Louise Cronan is planning to use it in the less seen aqua colorway with Kelly green in her new Palm Beach cottage.

via Palm Beach Daily News

Mark D. Sikes for Legends of La Cienega

Michael S. Smith, via AD

When I saw this stunning guest room in the Rancho Mirage home of designer Michael S. Smith, I knew I had to post about the fabric! He also got the cover of the new AD~and what a sensational tour de force that house is! See Architectural Digest...DF*****

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Have a very happy Passover and Easter! 

More Mark !

Mark D. Sikes

Mark D. Sikes

I have TWO designing men named Mark inspiring me right now~ Mark Felix, and Mark Sikes! Mark Sikes of Los Angeles, just updated his blog, and it looks great!  Claiborne Swanson Frank shot this amazing image of Mark, which is on his new Interior Design Site. For more MDS, click here for an interesting (and inspiring) interview ~    Enjoy!  DF ***** 

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Decorator Scrapbook

The World of Interiors

Markham Roberts

Markham's grandparent's house in Naples

Jansen, at James Sansum, NY

Inspiring images...enjoy!  DF ***** Memorial Day!!!

Blue is for Bunny

Manhattan dining room of the late Bunny Mellon

 

 

I was just reading about Bunny Mellon, the late socialite-philanthropist, on the Mark Sikes design blog- and this beautiful blue glazed room caught my attention.  (attributed to John Fowler)  I once had my bedroom glazed in a very similar cross hatch, in a dark brown, and it was sensational.  I hope that this image will inspire you- as it has me!  Enjoy!  Cheers!  DF *****

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 *****

Marisa and Mark, Style Icons

MARK SIKES, the L.A. stylist, has a great blog, and he posted about MARISA BERENSON - a lady I have always admired for her beauty, grace, and polish. This particular portrait of her, by the late, famous Horst - spoke out to me, and I decided to make a post just about this one shot. It screams glamour, and I love the background, as well as her pose. It doesn't show her amazingly striking face, however I feel the image captures a certain intangible glimpse into "la dolce vita" and what true style really is all about, from a fashion editorial point of view. I saw KATHY BECKER today, the editor of Naples Illustrated, and we shot a table setting in our showroom this morning, which was created by one of our talented designers. I am sorry I don't have my own picture of it, however it will be shown in an upcoming issue of "N.I.".

Stay tuned for more news from Naples. ENJOY! DF *****