A MOMENT, The Nostalgia of Tradition

(c) DFID

More Spring cleaning prompted this post on how my Naples, Fla. apartment takes me back to a time when technology was less invasive in our personal lives.  Perhaps these images (via I-phone) demonstrate my point?

(c) DFID

I don't think my flat screen television could get any smaller- !

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CASABLANCA, MEMORY 1980'S

Alberto Pinto

How very fortunate was I, at a young age, to meet the legendary designer and arbiter of taste, Alberto Pinto ? 
As I was a lowly visual merchandising assistant in Furniture and Model Rooms at Bloomingdales' (Manhattan)~ it just so happened that he flew over the big pond, along with Andree' Putman and Jacques Grange- to create some model rooms back when the store still had them. 

These model "rooms" were a huge draw- and Barbara D'Arcy had been the one who came up with the concept- a four times a year proposition!  That certainly kept me and the rest of the furniture visual staff busy!  Mr. Pinto was born in Casablanca, Morocco.  I recall him being in a wheelchair at the time we met, and oozing a kind of charisma not often seen.  At the same period in time, Ivana Trump was often seen shopping in the Manhattan Bloomingdales, and I loved her in a red suit with her bright blonde French twist bouffant.  She oozed 80's glam!  The excitement!  The sizzle!

Alberto Pinto

For more, see the late designers new book, and do check out his site, which I linked above in the first paragraph. 

After work, I would then walk to the Vertical Club for my work out, and there I would see Donald Trump, (with his trainer) - Brooke Shields, Mary McFadden, Fabio, and Dr. Ruth ! All working out together with little old me!  Sometimes, as I was leaving the gym, I'd see Mr. Trump leaving also, and sliding into his long black limo.  Can I tell you- I loved it then and I love it now!  Looking forward to my next trip with Billy to the big apple!  That's all for now, folks!  XXOO DF

BILLY BALDWIN, on my mind

BILLY BALDWIN

One of my biggest inspirations and favorite decorators of all time, William Williar Baldwin, known as "Billy" - is the subject of todays post, a great look back in order to gain fresh perspective for a new month! 
Way back in 1977, I had the chance to meet the master, but little did I know, I had spent the last two years studying under an early protégé of his- Stan Topol! (1975-77). 
My grand tour chaperone, Robert Morring, placed a call to BB's office from our New York hotel suite, to arrange the meeting- and alas, Billy had already left for Sconset- (Nantucket). 
After a brutal beating by the IRS, the most prominent designer in American decorating was left with very little- and ended his days in a small dependency at the kindness of his friends Michael Gardine and Way Bandy. 
The bookkeepers had not been managing Baldwin's business properly, and it's a minor scandal that dear Billy had to end as he did.  (Albert Hadley was a millionaire at the time of his death, and left substantial bequests to several New York institutions).  Here, a few images to look at and be inspired by- representing the genius of Baldwin!  Enjoy!  DF *****

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

BILLY BALDWIN

Chanticleer, one of BB's favorite spots on Nantucket, see here is very high on my bucket list of places to visit NEXT summer!

Chanticleer, Nantucket

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SIXTIES CHIC: Howard Perry Rothberg, II

Howard Perry Rothberg's personal residence, House and Garden, 1966

So, my blogging friend, Andrea (The Glam Pad) and I were recently conversing about designers of the past, who became iconic, and I started wondering who some of the old guard decorators of Miami (where Andrea lives) might be...and recalled my friend and one time mentor, Maurice Bernstein, (see AD) mentioning Howard Perry Rothberg, II.  I think I even recall seeing a stunning yacht interior in AD by HPR...

Click here  to see a fascinating 1966 story on his personal Coconut Grove residence, a charming small cottage, done in a classic modern style, that still looks fresh, 50 years later! DF
See here for how this house has been restored and updated! 

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A CHAIR, A LOVE AFFAIR

(C) Dean Farris Interior Design 2016

When I first laid eyes on this Spanish copy of a painted Louis XV chair, with gilt decorations -I fell in love, it was love at first sight.  There's a long story behind my acquisition of it, let me share it with you. 

The first time I actually met Albert Hadley was when he came to FIT to give a talk to the interior design students.  He had his assistant at the time, Tice Alexander, with him.  Tice and I had been friends when we both studied at FIT- and I just happened to be wearing a bright-ish teal sweater that day- (a purchase I had spent a lot of time agonizing over, from the old Barneys when it was still downtown)...later Tice told me that the only student that Albert thought had style was that guy wearing the teal sweater!  This was around 1982 or so.

Fast forward to 1996 or 97, and lo and behold, Albert had purchased a small cottage in Old Naples!  I was thrilled. (I had moved to Naples from NYC in 1996) One day AH and I were spending some time in the tiny guest house behind the main cottage, and I saw the chair- the chair I fell in love with- it was TEAL !  I died.  I swooned.  Albert saw how much I loved it and agreed to sell it to me.  I was able to convince a client, who had never paid any fees, to buy the chair for me, in lieu of a fee- and she agreed!  I was in heaven!  :)

While this chair still gives me pleasure, and reminds me of the days of wine and roses with Albert- I do realize that it's perhaps a little too grand for how I really live.  Not that it's museum quality, but the fragility and the provenance...I adore it!  It inspired me to pursue more objects of quality and upped my game when it comes to furniture selection.  I see it as a piece of sculpture in a space.  Not really a chair.  An art object.  An object of desire. 

Teal reminds me of my childhood, when I would see this teal Rolls Royce convertible sitting in a carport on my way home from school.  One day when I happened to be walking on Madison Avenue in New York, I saw Mrs. Petrie being driven up the avenue in HER teal Rolls Royce!  It was a fabulous sight- very glam.  I also love this color as seen in 18th century oil paintings, often juxtaposed with a tomato red.  Beautiful!
DF *****

Victorian Revival, Dean Farris Interior Design

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2016

The Victorians were into maximalism, and they loved to have something they called a "cozy corner" ~ a decorative conceit where they could lounge a la turque in high style, perhaps smoking a pipe or sipping some absinthe....here, Billy and I had fun one day creating our own cozy corner, and it gave our guests a lot of pleasure.  Enjoy!  DF *****

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John Singer Sargent

 



David Bowie, Iman Redux

Iman

The designer Tory Burch inspired me to recall my time at Bergdorf Goodman, when beautiful, famous people like Iman, would come in to shop and to browse. 

I was, like everyone else, saddened to hear of the loss of David Bowie at the young age of 69, and while I never saw him perform, he was a huge influence on me and my friends back in the late 1970's. 

I can't even begin to imagine anyone more beautiful, graceful, or elegant than Iman.  The staff at BG was pretty much numb to seeing celebrities and selling to them, so we really never fawned over them.  We just tried to treat them like anyone else.  DB r.i.p.  DF *****  

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When Albert Wintered in Naples

Albert Hadley's former cottage, Naples, Florida

I have such fond memories of all the time I spent with Albert Hadley, when he had a winter cottage here in Naples...you can read more about this in previous posts of mine...DF

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The Pink Elephant

The Shackelford House, in Albany, Georgia, was designed by the self-taught architect, Edward Vason Jones...and when I was very young, we lived in a less grand house near this one.  I would always notice it when my mother drove by- in her  cream colored Bel Air.  Albany was a very charming place to live~ huge azaleas, and camellias, and always the pecan pies from the groves my grandmother owned.  We always referred to this house as "The Pink Elephant".  (see my post on same under Boca Grande).

One night, when I was visiting my maternal grandparents, we were awakened and told to leave the house tout suite...it was on fire!  We sat in a big circle on chairs and watched it burn to the ground.  After that, all I knew was that my grandmother had built a "house of the week" ~ found in the local newspaper, to replace the old frame farmhouse.

Recently, as luck would have it, I re-connected with an old Atlanta friend, who grew up in Albany, Carol Martin, via Facebook.  She also lived near the Shackelford Home, although we didn't know each other then.  But my mother knew her father, who was a dentist in town. 

Albany is in a part of Georgia known as "the plantation belt" - and has many historic neighbors, including Thomasville, Georgia.  The Flint River winds through the town, (Albany) founded in the early 1800's.  Previously, I had posted about the Pebble Hill plantation, another fabulous old estate.  Click here for more on Pebble Hill.  The Whitney family of New York also had quail plantations in the area.  My uncles used to hunt quail too.  These are some of my fond memories of life in the south.  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Yellow is for Ann

The late, great, Ann Downey, Palm Beach, via NYSD

While I never had the special privilege of meeting the talented decorator, Ann Downey, I had always admired her, and her work.  Read Shannon Donnelly's tribute here - she had a definite, clean, crisp, and strong point of view, which is a hallmark of any successful designer.  As well as a fabulous life!  As evidenced by this William Norwich piece here giving one some idea of how Mrs. Downey lived her life.  I also enjoyed the memoir her friend David Patrick Columbia did in his New York Social Diary. 

Does anyone still remember Baby Jane Holzer?  Baby Jane had a little pied a terre at The Volney, on the UES, and so did Ann Downey.  Baby Jane was born in Palm Beach.  All very interesting.   I used to go over to the Volney when I was at FIT, since my friend Scott Lalley was working for Ned Marshall and Harry Schule, and they had a great apartment there, I think it was a penthouse.  Apparently, when Mrs. Downey came back from living in a penthouse in Paris, she took a little place in The Volney.  Fond memories!

I always admired Ann Downey's sense of color- and no wonder, since she worked later for the famous society decorating firm, McMillen.  Also interesting is that she was quoted as saying that Dorothy "Sister" Parish was her favorite decorator.  Demonstrating a very high taste level indeed, and a love of family, and of home.  Rest in peace, dear Ann.  DF *****

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A Young Designer in New York

My small flat in NYC,  DFID

My dear Mother found these old pictures recently, and shared them with me.  I was 27 or so when they were taken, by the now very well respected photographer, Stewart O'Shields.  Stew and I attended FIT at the same time.  I was working as an assistant to the society decorator, George Clarkson, and learning the ropes from him, a fantastic gentleman and mentor.  Most of George's clients were from old line Wall Street firms, and so, I was exposed to the finest English antiques and the highest level of taste and quality.  The gilt sunburst had been one of dozens, from the old Waldorf-Astoria ballroom, which we found one day in the basement of antiquaire Paul Martini~ the table was draped in a sheet, and my sofas doubled as beds, which I had custom upholstered in the Brunschwig chintz "faux bois".  My mother gave me the beige wool rug, and I painted the walls myself with a Benjamin Moore deck paint in high gloss.  I also added the mirrored wall, in squares.  Lamps, Hansen, toss pillows, Rose Cumming.  

1980's glamour in Manhattan  DFID

That fabulous black lacquer desk I'm standing next to, was attributed to James Mont*, and I discovered it at a wonderful downtown dealer called Robert Gingold...he would go to Paris and find things.  I think the small low table was from Macy's.  Notice the cigarettes!  I used to play Alberta Hunter songs and smoke away...one time Tice was there, and he accused me of copying the apartment that Albert (Hadley) had helped him with, which was even smaller than this one!  Then he re-arranged the furniture and left! Parkin Saunders brought my chandelier, which I never hung...it was an old gilded brass late Victorian number.  And, I never quite got around to ordering the red taffeta festoon shade for my one window.  But, I always saw it as if it was there.  Imagination is a very powerful thing, and I still use it today as part of my way of living and dealing with daily life. Enjoy! DF *****

*Read more about James Mont here

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That Vintage Look

Dean Farris Interior Design

I was inspired last night, to make a slight change in my Naples living room~(flanked the sofa with these vintage Louis style chairs) ~and then got this fun, very 1930's looking image from shooting in the dark, with only two light sources~one in the bedroom and one in the hall behind me.  One would never know this was taken in 2015, not 1935 !  Notice Elsie the cow gazing out from the bedroom!   DF*****

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A Conch House Christmas

A Key West Conch House

One of the most fun Christmas holidays I've ever enjoyed, was back in the gilded 1980's~ when I drove down to Key West, Florida from North Carolina.  Key West still had a hand tinted post card glow then, and I always would stay in the old quarter, known as Old Town Key West~which has been home to luminaries such as Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway, Truman Capote, and many other artists.  Lilly Pulitzer would get her fabrics from Key West for her orange juice making shifts back in the sixties and seventies then.
So, back to my story.  I was playing tennis with a very good, rated player, and as I ran back to make my return shot (this is like Gloria Upson telling her Ping Pong ball story) I very unfortunately turned my ankle and landed on my left wrist! The courts were asphalt, so yes I had a fractured wrist.  Dr. Avery Plowden at the KW hospital put a nice cast on my arm, and gave me a prescription for Tylenol with codeine.  Later, but not too, I was on Duval Street enjoying dinner with a glass of wine, and if you've ever accidentally mixed a beverage with a codeine laced pill, you know that wonderful
naughty  floating sensation!  I just remember feeling so well,  and the little white lights were blurry in a wonderful way, and I wandered into this kind of gazebo, all lined in unfinished plywood.  In the middle of the vaulted ceiling going up up up was a beautiful plain evergreen Christmas tree, and all it had on it was the white lights.The utter beauty and raw simplicity made quite an impression on me, as the familiar thump of the disco-techno beat pounded away in the background. Whenever I think of a memorable Christmas holiday, this image comes to mind.  The breezes were making the palms sway, and rustle in the moonlight, and it was magical.  Merry Christmas, and hope you had a nice Chanukah too! Enjoy!  DF *****

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My Grand Tour

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

Built beginning in 1767, by John Wood the Younger, it took eight years to complete

One of the lovely rooms, a Relais & Chateaux property

When I was very young (20) I was sent abroad to further my education. My chaperone was Robert Morring, an antique dealer from Atlanta, and also a friend. I had a set of tweed luggage... and we did stop in New York for some parties before making the flight over. I lived abroad for a year, staying in various hotels, and I studied at the American Museum in Britain, located at Claverton manor, outside Bath. The Royal Crescent Hotel was a lovely place for a young mans first european trip, and I spent a lot of time in Bath, London, Paris, Athens, etc. I was given a letter of introduction to Jeremy Fry - the heir to Fry chocolates who sold out to Cadbury - and was blown away by the stunning beauty of his 18th century townhouse in the famous Royal Crescent. His drawing room, on the piano nobile, was all done in a shade of white, with white silk curtains, major art, and fabulous antiques. Opera played at full volume, and I was transported to a world of style, taste and imagination such as I had never experienced ! www.royalcrescent.co.uk/ tel + 44 (0) 1225 823333 DF*****

The Shop of Dean Farris Interior Design

Christopher Michael Holzbaur

Back in 1986...I was living in Winston-Salem, NC after having attended FIT in New York. My small shop there, called "The Shop of Dean Farris Interior Design" was located in a bohemian section of town (near downtown), and I had such fun being my own boss. I did meet some very interesting people, and one such person was Christopher Michael Holzbaur... he was an assistant, and always very kind and intelligent. This picture he found recently is really funny! I do seem to have the eighties look... and notice all of my fabric samples... don't you know the ladies just loved me and all my swatches ? I want to thank Chris for sending this to me, it sends me on a trip down memory lane. DF*****

House Beautiful 1935

Here is another issue of "House Beautiful" from 1935. I was looking at the ad for the Camel cigarettes, and noticed that the company who makes them, R. J. Reynolds, was listed in very fine print, of Winston-Salem, N.C., my home town. In the 1980's Kohlberg Kravis executed the largest LBO in history, acquiring RJR/Nabisco for 25 billion dollars ! Needless to say, after that there were some very happy campers in Winston-Salem. (The cigarettes were named AFTER the towns, not the other way around). I grew up in deep middle class comfort, and living in the Piedmont, with its lush trees and rolling hills, often fantasized that I was really in Los Angeles. Compare this 1935 cover with the 2009 "Naples Illustrated" cover... am proud to say I have an ad of my own in this very issue, for Dean Farris Interior Design. As my friend James Andrew would say, "The better it gets, the better it gets !" DF *****

Albert Hadley

About eight years ago, I had the extreme pleasure of getting to know the iconic designer Albert Hadley better, when he owned a 1920's cottage here in Naples. Imagine my keen pleasure and surprise at discovering that Albert had bought a place here as a winter retreat. We had the most wonderful evenings discussing decoration and design over cocktails and dinner. I did meet two of his New York associates, Mark Sciarillo and James Andrew, as well as his local contractor, Johnny Harris. It was a great time in my life, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed, having known Albert from my days living in New York. I also was able to introduce him to clients of mine, who had a larger cottage on the same street, who ended up buying his cottage when he decided to sell. His house was featured in House Beautiful. It was all done in white, gray, and yellow. I loved it, and it had a small guest house as well. Here is a picture of a Spanish Louis XV style chair I spied in the guest house, and was able to obtain from Albert for a reasonable sum. The fabric is Jack Larsen linen with a gold lame' backing which shimmers ever so slightly. I flipped when I realized that I owned this piece, and Albert was so kind and also gave me a lacquered parsons table he once had in his Living Room in New York. I cherish Albert as a mentor and a friend. He is truly an icon and a living legend in our world, just as Julia Child was to Julie !