The Sister of the Island

Mimi McMakin, via Kemble Interiors

Another of my very favorite Palm Beach-New York designers is Mimi McMakin.  There was a wonderful, candid interview with her in Flower magazine~and Mimi trained with famed Polly Jessup after design school...she (Mimi) described Mrs. Jessup, as being like the "Sister Parish of Palm Beach", with a similar clientele.  It's interesting to note that the PB designer, Scott Snyder, lives in Polly Jessup's old house! The last time I visited Scott, his office was on Worth Avenue, in a beautiful upstairs space.  That was years ago.  My friend, Wilcox Cronan, is interning with Scott this summer. 

I recently was taken to the Audubon Country Club, here in Naples, and saw the décor that Mimi created, it's a masterpiece of understated elegance.  I had the best scallops I've ever tasted.  Mimi also did the Royal Poinciana Club here, as well as the Port Royal Beach Club...kudos to Mimi!  I love that she has a dog named Anchovie ! How cute!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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“In life as in design, it is not perfection you should be after. There’s beauty in the faded and worn, the well loved, and the sentimental…After all, life has seams. Your home should be like a loosely woven fabric of desires, memories, practical, notions, and even compromises.” – Celerie Kemble

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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What Is Dean Reading?



Dean Farris 2010

Summer!  A great time to grab a few books and magazines, and READ!  Here's what I'm into right now...1.  REVENGE WEARS PRADA, Lauren Weisbergers new sequel to her #1 bestselling DEVIL WEARS PRADA... I also saw the film and loved it too..
2.  BARE BLASS, by Cathy Horyn, Harper Collins 2002...my dear friend Mary gave this one to me, and I was thrilled, since Bill Blass was the commencement speaker at my graduation from famous F.I.T. (one of the top five fashion schools in the world).  The voice of BB in this book is heard as if he's in the room with you...and great photos too.  As Diana Vreeland said- "This is a big rich country, and Bill Blass looks it right in the face."
3.  BAG OF TOYS, by David France, Warner Books 1992...the titillating and scandal ridden tale of art dealer Andrew Crispo- the partner of the late Arthur Smith.  Hide this one from the children- for adults only!
4.  HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, July-August 2013...I'm in love with the Mimi McMakin project - in the Major Alley enclave of Palm Beach, a very charming place near Worth Avenue that I once discovered while visiting the island years ago.  Charm does not begin to describe the enchantment that Mimi has created here.  Her talent knows no bounds, she's a favorite decorator of mine, along with Leta Austin Foster, also of PB.  Enjoy!  DF*****