STYLE: Marylou Whitney R.I.P.

Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson




Style and grace, she had it...Marylou Whitney !

SPRING AHEAD: Fond Memory

Britt Main House

I was just thinking how it's Spring time again- and how glorious the pink tree blossoms will be at the Britt's in Watermill-  Billy and I had the great pleasure of visiting a couple Summers ago- and I had seen the trees in full bloom on Julie's FB page- magnifico!

Britt estate, original main house, via Julie Britt

Julie with the late Eddie Zajac and Richard Callahan 

Look at how gorgeous and glamorous Julie looks here with her old pals from Parsons days!  Tom still has a Zajac and Callahan mirror in his bedroom in the country- plus an old huge one from dear Rose Cumming.

Tom's bed chamber, via Veranda

This is the fabulous bed Tom called me from when I was in my own bed down in the octagonal winged guest house- a place I had dreamt about for years- and finally got to see and to stay in!  He rang as I slept and I awoke as if still in a dream and he wanted me to come up to the house and help him get dressed for dinner- since Marcelo or Rodrigo must have been doing something else- anyway, I hurried up there like a good boy and left Billy behind to his own devices.  You can see the large arched mirror from Rose Cumming in the background of this image behind the bed.

Guest house, Britt estate, via Veranda

The room we stayed in (one night) is on the right- and oh how I loved it!  A magical atmosphere and the genius of Tom in full force!  (I jumped in the pool for about a minute) !!!

Guest house bedroom view, Britt estate

I was looking at a fuchsia and cobalt blue fabric this morning, and it for some reason reminded me of this room- this is the bed I was sleeping in when Tom called me from his tented tester bed- "DEAN - IT'S TOM- CAN YOU PLEEEZE COME UP HERE, I NEED YOU!!!!" (you can see the phone on the right)- and I really did feel so happy and in a dream state- so I guess I was all ready to have dinner with a former CHANEL model by the name of Jackie Rogers- whom I had heard about since the early 80's but never actually met.

Jackie in Chanel

Sometimes things just happen for a reason- and I do think that this all had a beautiful dream like quality- and I loved how Jackie was so animated all through dinner, which started with a fabulous ceviche- Rodrigo is so talented, and Marcelo was serving the apps and drinks before in a way that let you know he'd done it many times before- so charming and warm, so family like and friendly- just the nicest people imaginable.  More like family than anything.

close up of foo dogs in guest house, via my phone

Hoping you enjoyed this fond trip down memory lane of mine- we did that trip in a New York fast whirlwind- probably for the best, since there's nothing worse than a houseguest who doesn't know when to leave!  Thanks again Julie, Tom, Marcelo, and Rodrigo!  DF ***** (see my earlier posts on this subject)

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A Fond Summer Memory

Britt estate, Seashells, I-fone photo: Dean Farris

There was something very sweet and quite special about visiting Tom and Julie Britt after all those years...as if we had just seen each other last week, when in reality, it was more than 20 years since we last met! 
I had taken some random shots of the original house, (where Tom stays), and found this one in my files, and thought of sharing this charming one with you~this table was in the dining room, or Salle A Manger as my late friend Lord Jeremy Fry might have called it.   The simplicity of just those shells, arranged so casually, struck me as nothing short of pure genius.  After all, the sea is not too far away from this house, and so, it's quite suitable.  DF *****

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Manhattan Pied A Terre III

Readers, This is the shot that I wanted to share. Photo by Stewart O'Shields 1984

My view was of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue.

Manhattan Pied A Terre II

Original photo: Stewart O'Shields

I wanted to show you this professional shot of my studio. Here, you can see the aforementioned sunburst and writing table, and the swing arm lamps with white lacquer shades from Hansen, (now Hinson-Hansen). The pillows are an old favorite, "Banana Leaves" in taupe on natural duck from Rose Cumming.

If I were updating this room today, I would add a Louis XV chair, a red taffeta balloon shade on the window, and an interesting chandelier. A Kenneth Noland painting would be nice too ! As it was, I had to tear out an ugly sleeping loft to make the space look like this. Someone had built a tree-house like structure in the apartment before I acquired it.

Manhattan Pied A Terre

My old apartment in NYC. Address: 11 East 66th St, # 2-D, Neighbors: Imelda Marcos, Tom Britt, Sister Parish, Andy Warhol, Carleton Varney, Garrick Stephenson. I wish I could say, like Taki, that this was just a little flat, that I "kept" in New York, but no, I actually lived here in this tiny but stylish studio. This was after F.I.T. when I worked for the big time designer George Clarkson, around 1983 or 84. Every day George and I went antique shopping in his chaufeurred Rolls Royce. Lunch at Mortimers, then call CZ Guest to see what she needed for the tennis house in Old Westbury. Those were the days ! A highlight was working on "Bella Vista" a 1920's Georgian overlooking Long Island Sound in Southport, CT for David and Shirley Johnston. Cole Porter used to live two doors down.

Here at 11 E. 66, I used a Brunschwig glazed faux bois chintz for my bed/banquettes, dark coffee lacquered walls I painted myself, and a writing table attributed to James Mont, from Bob Gingold Antiques. The gilt sunburst came from Paul Martini Antiques,and was saved from the old Waldorf ballroom. I very much enjoyed this small place, and wanted to share it with you.