ART: Collage 1970's

Collage and interior design by Dean Farris

I was reading one of my Parish Hadley books, and came across (the late) Harold Simmons mentioning how Albert would often mix modern things with more "traditional" ones- which inspired me to drag this old collage I had done about forty years ago into my living room- !

Harold and I met many years ago, when he invited me to come to the old Lilly Dache' building- (Parish-Hadley offices) - (no longer there) for an impromptu interview- it was a terribly hot, HOT day, and unfortunately, I was wearing a very dark blue wool suit !  I was also dragging a huge, HUGE black vinyl clad portfolio case full of fabulous over the top Jeremiah Goodman-ish renderings. Luckily, neither Sister nor Albert were there- so they missed seeing me not looking as fresh as I would have preferred.

When my old friend, the designer Thomas (Tom) Pheasant saw the collage I had done back in 1978 or so- he loved it, and said it reminded him of an illustration in W magazine, which was one of his favorites, as he always adored fashion as well as interiors.  I was flattered that he would make such a remark.  DF *****

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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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Tice Alexander Redux

Tice Alexander, Inc. clients Michael and Zena Weiner, via NYSD

I just finished reading the new Parish-Hadley book, "Tree of Life"~ and thought I'd re-post about my dear friend and mentor, Tice Alexander.  Tice worked for Parish-Hadley from the early 1980's on for about six years, possibly longer, and I was most fortunate to work with him in the early 90's.  Click here to read my post on him from 2010.  

The Weiners, (shown above) were fabulous clients we designed for then, and we did their Park Avenue duplex and their Connecticut country house.  After Tice died, the Weiners hosted a beautiful memorial service in the Park Avenue apartment, which I attended with my friend Mark Nelson.  Albert Hadley was there too of course.  Prince Michael of Greece, a very good friend of Tices', read a lovely tribute.   Click here to read his NYT obituary.  Click here to read a 1982 NYT article on Tice and other young designers working their way up.  R.I.P.  DF

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Book: Parish-Hadley, Tree of Life

Great new book

How wonderful this new book is, and for those who may not know, the cover room belongs to New Jersey socialite Mrs. Nancy "Princess" Pyne...Albert was so proud of having retained the original paint in this room.  Click here to read an interesting (and funny) article by William Norwich...the new book, by Parish-Hadley veterans Bunny Williams and Brian McCarthy, is an excellent insiders look at the world of truly "high-end" decorating ( a term neither Albert nor Mrs. Parish would have ever used) and gives valuable insight for those in the trade who have an interest in this sort of thing.  Please pass the canapés ! Enjoy!  DF *****

DON'T FORGET

 

 

 

TO BUY THIS BOOK!

Low table, Part II, James Andrew

Designer James Andrew, via NYSD

Here's another beautiful low table ~ from the Manhattan apartment of interior designer James Andrew.  It's a custom silver leaf design, known as a Parsons table, which is the same style I showed in my flat yesterday. 

The silver boxes look smart on the silver gilt finish, and since this image is not new, James has added a Rothschild looking Aubusson tapestry type rug.  You can see more of his work on his site What Is James Wearing? or his professional design site , JAMES ANDREW INTERIOR DESIGN, INC.  

The small sculpture, in the center, is by artist Bruno Romeda.  I had shown this piece before, when I posted about using sculpture as an accessory.  Loving the antique look of the silver leaf with the nearby zebra upholstered ottoman...(see yesterdays post on DFS where I had appropriated a scrap of zebra hide) and even more books on top of more books!  It's so chic how this silvery finish is referencing other things in the apartment, such as a mylar ceiling in the adjoining dining area, and the Donghia champagne silk embroidered with small round mirrors in the master bedroom chamber.  Shimmer and glimmer, all very in- town sophisticated and forever classic!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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July Issue AD

Venice

I greatly enjoyed the July 2015 issue of AD -(Architectural Digest) ~and read with interest the feature called "Design Insiders Guide to Venice" ~Brian McCarthy was quoted as considering the Ca Maria Adele as his home away from home, and I had been thinking about Brian lately, since he is coming out with a new book PARISH HADLEY TREE OF LIFE, with Bunny Williams. 
Isn't the gran canale like a beautiful tree of life growing through the center of Venice?  It's just these kind of associations that send me off on a long gondola ride through many fantasies of life in its richest incarnation!  My, how I do carry on!   
Also, I was thrilled to see Chris Spitzmiller featured in this July issue, his house is a beautiful tribute and homage to the late Albert Hadley, which he spent the last nine years working on along with Harry Heissmann.  As Bunny herself was quoted "Albert would have adored it"...
AND I did want to mention another new book "Columns by the Sea" by Richard Hampton Jenrette, which features his house in Charleston, SC, known as Roper House.  The book is only $20.00 and the monies fund his Classical Architecture program.  All part of the design world "Tree  of Life" !  DF *****

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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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William Hodgins

Great New Book !

I recently reviewed this fantastic new book~

William Hodgins

 Having followed and admired the work of Mr. Hodgins for many years, it was great fun to see a well done book on his elegant work.  With a foreword by Margaret Russell no less~enjoy!  DF *****

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Designer Scrapbook, March 2014

My original Albert Hadley sketch (a gift)

I once was spending some time with my friend, the late, iconic, designer, Albert Hadley, and had the utter audacity to bring along a box of samples and things that I had been collecting for some future personal residence (of mine)...I even brought a floor plan of a place I had been thinking of moving in to !

Albert (shown above) was kind enough to look at what I brought- and liked most of it- although he did say that he felt there were better models of the faux french chair I had selected.  He was so wonderful to make this quick sketch for me- which I've kept all these years.  I adore this Wilbur Pippin photograph of AH.  

The iconic, society decorator, Billy Baldwin, above, was a friend of Albert's- and helped him along in his career as well.  I almost got to meet Mr. Baldwin, when I was on my way to London for my grand tour- however he had already left Manhattan for his beloved Nantucket.  Instead, I was whisked away to a very chic party in the Sutton Place apartment of the designer Joseph Braswell. 

Here's the famous former Rory Cameron La Fiorentina drawing room, after Billy Baldwin and Charles Sevigny re-decorated it for the advertising guru, Mary Wells Lawrence.  It's one of my all time favorites, although I've never seen it in person, and it's been dismantled.  Read The Devoted Classicist, by John Tackett, for more on this.  I DID once see Ms. Lawrence when I was walking towards Fifth Avenue, in New York.  A classic Mercedes was pulling out of the garage and she was driving it!  Her blond hair was in a meticulous coif, and she was wearing a cashmere twin set with pearl necklace, and diamond earrings.  She was absolutely stunning.

Carolina Irving, who was a friend of my Parish-Hadley mentor (Tice Alexander) has a line of fabrics, and I really like this one- Andaluz Viola - a linen hand print.  Reminds me of Fortuny and Groves Brothers...She and I got to know each other through Tice, and I've always admired her chic and style.  Carolina just signed on to be the creative director for Oscar de la Renta Home.  Check out her site here

  

Sister Parish was Albert's business partner and muse.  I always think of her as sitting on a white damask sofa- sipping a stiff cocktail.  They say she was wicked, and loved to have a good time.  I was shown two of her offices, and still haven't gotten over them.  They were very pretty, immaculate, very organized, and very smart.  You know you're not in Kansas anymore when the only thing they have by their desk (writing table) is a multi line phone and the latest copy of the New York Social Register.  (aka the blue book) -on a small "telephone table"- It was her phone book, you see.  Pink was her color.  The same shade as the old fashioned roses she must have had in Maine.  I'm sure that is correct.  Yes, Mrs. Parish.

     

Oh, and while we're on the subject of pink, and Sister, here's a collage I made of my own "dear Billy" in his madras shirt.  I recall I took this picture on the day he agreed to work with me - and it was a very happy day indeed.  I pay him with jelly beans.  He only works if and when he feels like it.  I'm so fortunate to have him in my life.  Thanks William!  Cheers!  Enjoy!  DF *****

Babe's 17th Century Mirror

Room by Martyn Lawrence Bullard, AD 2005

This mirror, purchased from John Hobbs, once hung in the Parish-Hadley designed Manhasset, Long Island home of Babe and Bill Paley.  I read this with great interest, having always been intrigued by this mirror.  Imagine, over many centuries, the mirror has traveled from Europe to New York, to California! 

From Parish Hadley, Sixty Years of American Design 1995

 Described as being Portugese, and of olive wood, this stunning object showcases the exquisite taste level of the Paleys and their designers...and is a fabulous example of how a good antique can add so much flair and a sense of quality to a room.  Enjoy! DF*****

Parish-Hadley Redux in Naples

Dean Farris Interior Design

Here's the exciting new ikat printed jute rug I had mentioned in a recent post-! I'm very pleased with it, and it just reminds me so much of some of the vintage images from the P-H archives I had been exposed to while living in New York, and studying my passion, interior design and decoration...this really "woke up" my room!  As I told my good friend and fellow decorator, Judith Auclair- I may have an actual color palette going on for the first time in years, for ME, not the clients! :)  

Above, you can see the teal painted Spanish Louis XV arm chair I obtained from Mr. Albert Hadley- and I had told Judith I thought my new "palette" might be blues, cognac browns, and touches of periwinkle.  Now that the new ikat jute rug is here (Feizy Imports) I see more of the turquoise-teal in it so am thinking of adding that divine colour also - for the satin turkish corner toss pillows I'm planning for the leather chesterfield sofa.  An unexpected benefit of this made in India rug is the warm aroma of jute -like a soft masculine rope smell...which I rather like.  Thanks to the California based artist-designer, Tracy Porter (see earlier post) of Poetic Wanderlust, I now have a new casual rug, affordable, and chic, that I can get excited about!  Cheers!  DF *****(click images to enlarge)   

The Mysterious Mirror



Dean Farris Interior Design

Here's the circa 1800 french giltwood mirror Bill and I just installed, in my Naples apartment.  The dealer, Joe Miller, of Antiques Center of Naples also had a larger, and more costly old mirror, with the interesting provenance of having belonged to the mother of Queen Noor of Jordan.  Lisa Halaby of Washington, DC is the widow of King Hussein of Jordan.  What intrigued me about this, not knowing her, or her mother, was that the style of that mirror was very much like one that Tice had borrowed from the old Parish Hadley inventory, for his small, but chic, apartment on East 69th Street, in Manhattan.  (see my earlier posts on Tice Alexander)

    


Room by Mario Buatta

A mirror, very much like the one dear Mario had hanging in this former apartment of his-I found this picture in the 1976 book, by Norma Skurka, "The New York Times Book of Interior Design and Decoration".  It has very old gilt, and is quite decorative against the beautiful glazed walls.  This mirror is like the one Joe Miller now has in his stock, here in Naples.

 


Room by Joseph Braswell

Above, a stunning room by the late designer, Joseph Braswell (d. 2006) with boiserie incorporating a large trumeau - (without the painting above) - interestingly, Joe had King Fahd of Saudi Arabia as a client.  Joe Braswell also was a Dean of interior design at Parsons.  I was fortunate to meet him, in about 1977 or so, when I was taken to his Sutton Place apartment for a pre- theater cocktail party.  The best was when his partner, Ward Willoughby, made his grand entrance, dropping his full length fur coat on the floor as he entered!  Ah, the seventies! It was pretty glam, and that song "Native New Yorker" was playing...



Room by Harrison Cultra

The elegant, tall room above, by the late Harrison Cultra, (d. 1983) uses another tall gilt mirror, seen at left.  I've always loved this image, and it's from the same Norma Skurka 1976 book.  Mr. Cultra counted Jacqueline Onassis as a client...he was only 42 when he died.  Rest in peace. 



Room by Dean Farris

Above, another shot of the new sofa, with the new mirror installed.  I'm considering getting a seagrass or sisal rug to pull all this together...but this cozy grouping has much more comfort now, and my mother kept telling me to get some kind of leather "easy chair" - I suppose to rest my weary old bones in- and this is what I chose- a circa 1900 english chesterfield, which I use like a chaise. That's all for now kids, see you soon.  Enjoy!  DF *****

Designer Profile: Tice Alexander

Tice Alexander, photo: Fernando Bengoechea

My dear late friend and Parish Hadley mentor, Tice Alexander, was a wonderful and charming man, from Kansas City, who made his home and life in New York. While I've posted about Tice before, I failed to show my readers a picture of him, showing what a handsome and stylish devil he was. This portrait is by the late Fernando Bengoechea - another  fabulous talent, lost to the tsunami. To explain how important Tice was in my life, I should tell you that we were roughly the same age, and we attended classes together at the renowned Fashion Institute, under the aegis of our chairman, the late Stanley Barrows - and Tice went on to work with Albert Hadley at the famed decorating and design firm, Parish Hadley Associates. If Tice was still living I would still be in New York, working with him, just as our old friend Kelly Graham works with John Barman.
Tice was such a beacon for me, and when I lost him, I too was lost. He never tried to re-invent the wheel, he simply chose the best for his clients, and that was always his hallmark- the finest quality and workmanship, with a classical point of view, very timeless and chic. We did the President of Princeton's house, we did a large apartment on upper Park Avenue, and we did a beautiful house in Houston, Texas in the River Oaks section. There were other Park Avenue jobs, less major, as well, and when Tice and I first met, he was living in a large half-floor on Park in the nineties, with socialite Fred Bricker. Imagine my excitement and pleasure at being invited to dine there, and coming into the marble lobby, and then the black lacquer elevator foyer with a coromandel screen - lit with the lowest possible wattage, and the heavy scent of YSL opium hanging in the air! That apartment seemed so HUGE, as all the floors had been bleached and pickled almost white- with french frames "dancing" everywhere you looked. The library was done in classic upholstered pieces, covered in a trashed out Clarence House print. It all made such an impression on me. The master bedroom had been made from THREE rooms- and the king bed looked like a postage stamp in it. Then Tom Britt would drop in and talk about how exhausted he was, which was totally understandable, since he works like a banshee and loves every minute of it. I'm crazy for Tom, and did work for him one Summer many years ago, an experience I'll always treasure.
Stanley Barrows, the former Parsons School chairman - taught Tom and me, and SB told Tice that I reminded him of Tom when he was at Parsons! Tom and Angelo Donghia shared an apartment while attending Parsons. I just love all of this decorating trivia. It's become an integral part of who I am. Tice, you were a great guy, thanks for the ride, it was fabulous! DF *****

Transitions: Albert Hadley

Albert Hadley, the late iconic New York designer, was a man I was very fortunate to know. There are so many invaluable lessons he taught me. What a fantastic designer he was. Having taught at Parsons and worked with Van Day Truex and Billy Baldwin, plus our eminence grise' Stanley Barrows (who died here in Naples), Albert had a vast knowledge of decorative arts history, which was somehow never pedantic. His client list with Sister Parish read like a blue book of high society, and yet, (they) were never mentioned in casual conversation. Just one example of his gentlemanly ways. One of my favorite Hadley-isms was " You must believe it in your heart, your head, and your gut" referring to being a designer or decorator, and your belief in your own point of view, and getting it across to your client, which is the core of what our business is about. My times spent with Albert in his Old Naples cottage were some of my most exhilarating and happy, as we talked for endless hours about iconic people, places, and things. We certainly were not facing a flat screen and ignoring each other! My late friend and mentor, Tice Alexander, was very much trained by Albert Hadley to be a professional (Parish-Hadley) and I had the pleasure of working with Tice for several wonderful and exciting years in New York. I'll always remember the way Albert would smoke those non-filtered Camels, and sip away at his Bombay gin. He loved the fantasy life, and yet was able to live in a very real world, of hard work, steely determination, and brilliant success. I know that dear AH is somewhere in the Park Avenue of heaven, rearranging some chairs, and loving every moment! Farewell Albert, it was great to know you. DF *****

Room of the Week: Miles Redd

I met fellow southerner, MILES REDD, through the famous Bunny Williams, when I went up to her office for a job interview. While no job was proffered, I did enjoy observing the atmosphere of the BW office, (before she moved over to the decorating district) and of course, meeting the smiling and charming Miles (he was working there). Los Angeles tastemaker, Mark Sikes recently posted this Simon Upton photo of a room by fabulous Miles Redd (courtesy Elle Decor) and I was smitten with how chic it was and as always the sensational Redd sense of color. Are you beginning to see that I really do know every decorator in New York, both now and then ? Well, I really do! I just have a sixth sense when it comes to this topic, and it all goes back to Parish-Hadley. One of my college roommates from the mid seventies worked for PH and one of my college instructors from the same time period worked there as well. This culminated with my working with Tice Alexander for several years, who was a decorator for the famed firm, before it closed. Miles Redd is also tied into all of this since, he also is associated with Oscar de la Renta, who is married to Annette Reed. whose mother was a big PH client...so, it's really a very small world dear readers. Enjoy these amazing images from Elle Decor. DF *****

Gunnebo, A Swedish Chateau

I've always loved the style of Sweden, particularly the 18th century decorative arts. Gunnebo Slot (House) has this wonderful room with a concealed door, reminding me of the Upper West Side apartment I shared with Tice Alexander, the Parish-Hadley decorator. Tice very cleverly had a concealed door (I call it a flush door) installed between the living room and the master bath, effectively concealing the passage from one to the next. I camped out on a futon near this door, and enjoyed that time in my life, as I was surrounded by his huge library of amazing books on the decorative arts...it was very enriching, and I almost never watched television, and we had no computer, i-pad, or i-fone...just a few land lines, a fax, and a typewriter! The estimates for clients were cranked out on this IBM typewriter, on triplicate carbon papers...I do tend to carry on about this simpler time, however, my tech phobia seems to have no limits! LOL ! Wish me luck in this brave new world! DF *****

Room of the Week, Oatsie Charles

So, last night I was dining at Chops City Grill, on Fifth Avenue South, with dear Dickie and Troy... Dickie was with the CIA in Washington, which reminded me of my DC days and always hearing about the society hostess, Oatsie Charles. Earlier in the day, I had discovered at Barnes & Noble, a book called "Private Newport" by Newport resident Bettie Pardee, with unbelievable photographs by Mick Hales.... Ms. Charles is also well known in Newport - and then this morning I found on Vanity Fair a piece about Oatsie, with this interesting picture of her...don't you just love her very personal massing of books and objet? I had spent the day with Billy, sorting through endless bibelot at Roberta's apartment, after we had it painted and reupholstered for her (she has lived in this condo for thirty years). Stay tuned for some shots from Roberta's freshening - off to Grey Oaks today to push things around for Lauren. Enjoy the week! DF *****

Pauline and My Party

One of the most beautiful rooms I can imagine...

Wearing hot pink Elton John style glasses from The Party Store

Had those batik napkins for YEARS!!!

Those roses again...

Dining "al fresco"

You gotta love having fresh roses in the casa!

The late beautiful, striking Baroness Pauline de Rothschild, nee Potter, was an elegant arbiter of style and taste. One of my favorite room shots is from when she had a flat or "set" at the Albany, in London. It just exudes European beauty and sophistication. My old late friend and mentor Tice Alexander, who worked for years as a decorator at the former Parish Hadley decorating firm, admired Pauline very much, and once bought Liz Shean's Pauline inspired settee from her Kips Bay showhouse room...which he then placed in Fred Bricker's upper Park Avenue apartment where he was living at the time. Funny, tonight I saw his old friend Peter Dunnam on the new Bravo show called Million Dollar Decorator! They all seem to have British accents...as does dear Peter. Friend Charles Robert Mills of Atlanta shared this (de Rothschild) image with me, which DFID now has in its files.

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I wanted to share a few shots from last nights casual dinner party Billy and I threw for some good friends and clients... there was a wonderful breeze last night and so, we enjoyed lovely al fresco dining, nestled between the pool and the beautiful Moorings Bay. I loved every moment, and received some very nice host gifts too. Sleep well tonight! XXOO Dean *****

Another Favorite, Iconic Room

This beautiful room, by Parish Hadley for Bill and Barbara Paley, is one of my all time favorites. Why? I love the painted and glazed boiserie. I love rich, warm yellow for walls, and I'm crazy for french furniture mixed with custom high quality upholstery. The thing I really like about this room is the basic sense of order and the arrangement, particularly the balance created by the mirror and the salon style paintings...This style is classic, and is always current, since it is based on established design theories. DF *****