Miss Rose meets Louis XV Style

I found these charming Louis XV style chairs recently, and stole them for almost nothing ($117) - and then, had some old leftover Rose Cumming Banana leaves fabric that I'd been dragging around - so, can't wait to show you the new chairs - with outside backs in a silk fleur de lis ... I noticed in one of my design books that Mrs. Parish and Mrs. Sherrill both have had similar chairs in their drawing rooms. The banana leaves pattern will add a fun touch of old tropical flair to these possibly dowdy chairs... I had thought of using an elaborate lampas or damask, but I already am drowning in that look, so I used what I had, and I think it will be interesting, although certainly not original. Mrs. Parish and Albert Hadley most likely started the fashion of using modern looking prints on french style chairs, beginning with the Tillets and Alan Campbell. It's a look they still love in Atlanta at Travis & Company, where my friend Dennis Schuhart does the showroom design. Stay tuned ! DF *****

Villa Fever

The beautiful and serene Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is one of my favorite hotels in the world. Located in Cap d'antibes, France it sits on a bluff overlooking the sea, on a 22 acre park... During the recent two year renovation, this elegant villa was added, The Villa Eleana, and its part of the hotel, available for $9.500.00 per night. My good friend Robert and I had lunch on the terrace a few years ago, and I greatly enjoyed it. Visit this one if you get the chance ! DF *****

Decorator Scrapbook IV

I love sharing my random thoughts with you , and here are a few things I have on my mind. Enjoy the day, enjoy your life ! DF *****

Bleu Provence

Very much looking forward to the wines of the Rhone tasting at Bleu Provence on Thursday. Madame and Monsieur Cariot are the consummate hosts, and we always enjoy our time there at the enchanting and charming BLEU PROVENCE, Naples... DF *****

Family Trip: Beverly Hills, California

Luxury suite at the Four Seasons, Beverly Hills

Our lifeguard at the pool

This is so L.A. !

My client/friend Charles Fleck kept a place in Palm Springs for years

When my brother Andrew and I were just young boys, our parents tooks us on a trip to Beverly Hills. Of course, I LOVED it ! I was ready to move on out ! We stayed at the luxurious but not ostentatious Beverly Hilton... as in PARIS HILTON... and I can still smell the chlorine in the pool mixed with the Cali sunshine and the sound of motor traffic from the street. It was just delicious. I read recently that the Four Seasons BH just reopened after a 33 million dollar reno, here is a picture of one of the suites, courtesy of ROBB REPORT. On a later trip I took solo to Los Angeles, I accidentally stumbled across the WeHo studio of Tony Duquette ! At the time, I had no idea who he was, but I was entranced and mystified by what I saw through the iron gate. I truly do love L.A., and all that it represents... I even coined a phrase for how I feel about two of my fave American cities (USA) : "New York is diamonds; L.A. is rhinestones" Well, Nancy, what do you think ? Am I witty or WHAT ? My good friend Joe Ruggiero lives in L.A. and I often see him when he visits Naples (Florida)...I wanted to share my love of California with you, dear reader. Enjoy ! DF *****

Coco Chanels Rolls Royce

An early chapeau by Chanel

I had the pleasure of seeing "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky" this weekend, and enjoyed it very much. Madds Mikkelsen and Anna Mouglalis played Igor and Coco, and what a romance they had ! The way Anna portrayed Madame Coco was fabulous ! Her sultry and chic WALK was to die for ! She wore black and cream throughout, and smoked constantly. Chanel started out making hats, as the mistress of textile heir Etienne Balsan... here is an early example. In this new film, there are several scenes of Coco coming and going in her magnificent Rolls Royce motorcar... all circa 1913 up until her death in 1971. Do see this film if you enjoy the style of Chanel. You will enjoy it as I did, and the critics gave it four stars. DF *****

Cabo’s Enticing New Hacienda

Cabo’s Enticing New Hacienda

Home: Think Tanks

Home: Think Tanks

I still remember the incredible aquariums in the beautiful home of decorator Joan Gnasco in Winston-Salem. Joan's husband built them into the walls, and the walls were all faced in old barn siding, making for a very interesting contrast... Joan's home was one of the first designers homes I had ever seen, and it was a real eye opener. She was always repainting walls and recovering her furniture... I loved her lemon yellow Chippendale sofa sitting in the bay window of her living room, painted a medium flat shade of taupe, with the sun coming in and making everything absolutely sparkle. Her rooms always had the most divine scent. She made her own clothes and used heavy make up and accessories... Joan was, in a word, CHIC ! DF*****

Sanibel and Captiva Islands

I took this one going over the causeway...

A steal on Sanibel for about $800,000 through John R. Wood

What could be more delightful than an island ? I love the name "Captiva", said to derive from captives held there by pirates... perhaps a fishermans tale ? Yesterday, William and I drove out to these islands, once only accessible by boat, and lunched at one of my favorite beachfront spots called the Mucky Duck... It's always a pleasure to drive over the causeway leading to the islands, and we saw lots of tourists as well as many people enjoying the pristine beaches and waters. Most of the restaurants were full as well. Robert Rauschenberg, the artist, was a big Captiva property owner, and lived there for many years. One of the big activities on these islands is shelling, and they have an expression for it called "doing the Sanibel stoop ". Captiva also features a luxury resort called South Seas Plantation... here are a few images to fire your imagination. Enjoy ! DF *****

A Piece of Work

I saw the new film about Joan Rivers, "A Piece of Work" last night and very much enjoyed it. Joan is a workaholic, and she trailblazed the way for talents like Kathy Griffin, Wanda Sykes, and Ellen DeGeneres... Joan lives life to the hilt at 75, and loves to work - she considers herself an actress and works like nobody could believe. I especially enjoyed the glimpses of her palatial apartment, very French. I once attended her show as an audience member when she was on television, and the energy she brings to a stage is incredible. Phyllis Diller started her career late in life, and kept going into her nineties, and that is what dear Joan is hoping to do as well. Good for her, work is what keeps her forever young... Joan is a real New Yorker, and work equals glamour in the city that never sleeps ! DF *****

New York, Italian Style

New York, Italian Style

The List: Leather, Seashells, and Veranda

My small copy of a Louis XVI armchair in leather

Designer Charles Faudree using shells in Jamaica

The latest issue of VERANDA

Chocolate suede leather on Louis XV bergere

I do have such fun executing my thoughts for this post, Monday through Friday. My idea for "The Deans List" has not gotten much comment, so, I am altering the format slightly to create more interest ! Similar to my "Decorators Scrapbook" it is a feature revealing items pertaining to decorating and design that I currently am enthralled with, or simply incorporating into various projects in varying stages of completion. Today, I focus on leather upholstery, shell encrusted mirrors, and the divine shelter magazine "VERANDA" - a lush and gorgeous visual feast of a book with a very definite point of view. If you haven't seen the latest issue, do get a hold of it, I want you to see the dining room in Provence with the leather chairs... ever since I was living in New York, when I spied a pair of Louis XVI chairs upholstered in a taupe leather sitting in the window of a shop on lower Broadway, I've loved leather on french chairs. Cole Porter had some in his library by Billy Baldwin, and I just adore the Falotico leather favored by Albert Hadley. It's often glazed in a high gloss finish... and his colors are amazing. Here are a few images to pique your imagination ! DF *****