SUMMER 2019: Where Fantasy Meets Reality

Renzo Mongiardino for Drue Heinz

I chose this image to represent my summer and all my dreams coming true- Heather Clawson of habitually chic had posted about the sale of the Drue Heinz estate yesterday- And I admired the hand painted mural behind the gilt console as a fabulous example of fantasy meeting reality- (and notice the unicorn!!)

Looking forward to upcoming trips- plus seeing the new "Rocket Man" the story of Bernie Taupin transforming  Sir Elton John- When I was a lad of 17, I met Stan Topol who eventually did extensive interior design work for Sir Elton- Stan was the chairman of the interior design department when I attended the art institute of Atlanta- In Alana Hamilton's biography "rearview mirror" she mentions that her husband Rod Stewart was good friends with Elton John also- They had funny nicknames for each other too-

I enjoy watching television especially the bravo network where I saw my friend Mario Buatta with his client in Charleston- on "Southern Charm" - But my favorite program is called "project runway" and there's a girl on there that I'm very partial to and her name is Hester Sunshine - She is now in the top four and I'm rooting for her to win the big $300,000 purse plus mentorship with CFDA and being published in Elle magazine- Follow Hester on Instagram- ( @besta_hesta ) she's an authentic talent with star potential following in the path of Betsy Johnson.

Years ago I saw the documentary film "queen of Versailles " about Jackie Siegel building her dream house near Orlando Florida- So recently I met the charming and beautiful Pamela Smith who is best friends with Jackie and she has invited me to the grand opening party of Jackie's "Versailles" - Pamela has already been to the house and seen the progress which has been 15 years in the making and just Jackie's dressing room alone is over 4000 ft.² !  The icing on the cake is that Pamela and Jackie were flown to Nice by Bravo and will be featured on "below deck" ! Can't wait ! See you in September!  DF

Monte Carlo

CHARM: Printed Cotton

Thibaut, via Marbella Design Miromar Design Center

I've always loved the quaint charm of printed materials including glazed and unglazed chintz -
Here's one Under consideration for a current project in Grey Oaks Naples- DF

BEFORE: DFID

My Naples living room before remodel

Every single thing had to come out of this room since I'm getting the new travertine floor installed- Once that is completed I can edit and replace furnishings however it will all have to come out again when the lanai gets enclosed with glass becoming a solarium of sorts-
My dear followers and readers may have to wait until September however as I usually take a break from writing and posting in the summertime- enjoy!  DF

CHIC: BF Durbar Tait Strie'

Brunschwig et Fils 

As you probably know by now I'm very fond of ikat patterns- And this one I discovered from Brunschwig while shopping for my client Loreen is made in Italy which makes it even better- It's a heavenly blend of cotton, viscose (Italian rayon) and linen- with a "softened" finish.  $198 a yard through your designer -

I still vividly remember opening my account with Brunschwig and fils in Atlanta and how proud I was to have an account with them - samples of which I showed in my shop in the west end section of Winston-Salem.  I used one of their most magnificent floral chintzes for the entrance hall at 1040 Arbor Rd. -the stately home of leigh and selwyn rose which they loaned out for the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival.  DF

J. SPECTRE: Patriotic Palette

Jay Spectre Interior Design via Architectural Digest

My Memorial Day tribute - another New York dining room - with a dramatic point of view- even though this is a "vintage" image it still resonates today- lets call it classical modern-

 The designer Jay Spectre lived at 800 Fifth Avenue- ( a rental building where Donald and Ivana lived while Trump Tower was being built)- overlooking Central Park- Many years later after Jay had moved out, my friend Parkin Saunders moved in- And I suppose I'll never forget my first visit to Parkin's apartment where he had Annie Lennox blasting "no more I love you" - As the lights of Central Park West glittered in the distance I took in the French furniture and the dark coffee brown lacquered walls- it was glamorous- just like Parkin- fond memories.  R.I.P. DF

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H. SAMUEL: Salle a Manger

Gutfreund Residence, New York

Serena Boardman of Sothebys international real estate also has the listing for this amazing apartment on Fifth Avenue which the king of Wall Street lived in with his wife Susan-  This apartment at one time was the most expensive in Manhattan going for the asking price of $120 million but it has now been reduced to 59 million- I always admired the Winter garden which this dining room opens into-
Fin de Siècle beauty!  The stripe on the walls in this dining room reminds me of the Getty drawing room also on Fifth- as decorated by Parish- Hadley many years ago.  DF

UPDATE: see my post on Chartwell, the Perenchio estate in Los Angeles, also decorated by Henri Samuel !  DF

SALON: Nan Kempner

Park Avenue salon of the late Nan Kempner, via Sotheby's 

Serena Boardman has the listing for this beautiful apartment belonging to the late socialite Mrs. Thomas Kempner, known as Nan- a native of the charming town of San Francisco she had worked with Billy Baldwin and Michael Taylor on this apartment which is now on the market for 18 million-


I've always admired this classic drawing room where the banquettes were originally upholstered in a wide wale corduroy- An Innovation at the time- I mentioned to my friend Andrea that I had seen Nan Kempner once- standing in a doorway on Madison Avenue wearing a trenchcoat and she was beyond chic but also beyond thin ! So thin! Darling one can never be too rich or too thin!


I was often taken to the society restaurant called Mortimers for lunch in Mr.Clarkson's
dark green Rolls Royce and sometimes I would see her there picking at a salad- After Mortimer's closed she would sometimes be seen at Swifty's -a similar type of establishment which had been decorated by Mario Buatta- may he rest in peace.  DF

VIEW: Through the Glass

Sunset cocktails Naples, FL

I was delighted to sit with Loreen and talk about the decoration of her apartment in Naples while sipping Prosecco and nibbling on fabulous bites- She took this picture and sent it to me as we were chatting and I truly enjoyed our time together- Have a great weekend wherever you are!  DF

ARCHITECT: Byron Simonson

Byron Simonson, Architect

I was reading Avenue magazine on line yesterday and came across the piece about the 64th international debutante ball in New York- Two of "my"girls were in it -Miss Ireland Irving of Naples, Florida and Miss Mary (Mimi) Valentine Apple of Winston Salem, North Carolina!

Miss Ireland Irving

Mary's home in Winston Salem is located on property that once belonged to the Reynolda estate and it was designed by Palm Beach architect Byron Simonson -who was associated with Addison Mizner and Maurice Fatio.

Here are two interesting images of a modernist house with classical interiors- notice the coromandel screen used on the fireplace wall- more inspiration for you- and by the way, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!  DF

SISTER: 960 Fifth Avenue

Ailsa Mellon Bruce

I was reading my copy of "sister the life of legendary American interior decorator Mrs. Henry Parish the second" and came across an interesting quote from the late Mark Hampton- (paraphrase) "Mrs. Mellon Bruce was sitting in Sisters drawing room wearing a purple brocade suit and tons of Rubies like an inanimate  object while everyone waited on her" - !  I found this to be such a provocative remark that I had to find out more about Mrs. Bruce-  Turns out when she died she was known as the richest woman in America-  as she was the daughter of Andrew Mellon and the sister of Paul Mellon who married Rachel Lambert Lloyd (Bunny Mellon)- Apparently Mrs. Mellon Bruce had an apartment in the same building as Mrs. Parish-  nice neighbors!  DF

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CLASSIC: New Stone Floor!

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2019

I still love this shot of my Naples living room where I had installed a wool Wilton carpet from Designers Rug Center- In a very  pale spa blue with ivory hexagonal Design- but I have news!

Beginning in June I will have a beautiful travertine floor in a pattern known as French country garden also known as an ashlar  pattern- !  It's a medium taupe color with a cream/sand grout color-
Check back to see the new floor!  DF

SWEET DREAMS: Penthouse Bedroom

NYC bedroom of The Hilfigers

I had this photo in my files as an inspiration for a bedroom I was preparing to design for one of my best clients in Grey Oaks here in Naples- My client had requested a blush and pale gray color scheme- The stunning bedroom shown above belongs to Tommy and Dee Hilfiger- a true Manhattan power couple- notice the gorgeous pair of topiary flanking the Louis XV mantel- the fur throw- the monogrammed linens- it all screams luxury!  They have had this trophy apartment on the market for 50 M - as far as I know it's still available- what an inspiring room and a truly inspiring all American couple!  DF