ICED TEA: Cornelia in Flower Magazine

Beautiful Cornelia Guest photographed by Michael Mundy for Flower Magazine

A favorite New York memory is meeting famous C. Z. Guest and her beautiful daughter, Cornelia...here she is in her Templeton garden- and check out her fabulous iced tea recipe! (via Flower Magazine)...DF

Templeton was famous for its iced tea. People constantly asked for the recipe, and the secret is fresh-squeezed orange juice.
Ingredients:

• 2 quarts boiling water
• 8 herbal lemon tea bags
• 1½ cups fresh-squeezed orange juice
• fresh mint

Directions:

1. Pour 2 quarts boiling water over tea bags.
2. Brew for 30 minutes and let cool. Remove tea bags.
3. Add orange juice and serve over ice with fresh mint.
4. Enjoy!

SHINING KNIGHT: Ralph Lauren

From Left: David Lauren, Lauren Bush Lauren, Andrew Lauren, Ricky Lauren, Prince Charles, Ralph Lauren, Dylan Lauren, Paul Arrouet, and Jerry Lauren..

Great article in Town and Country about Ralph being knighted for his contribution to fashion !  Great timing with the film Downton Abbey coming out too...Bravo !  DF

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BOOK: Cathy Kincaid

PARIS: Feelin' Fall-ish

Stéphane Chapelle – 29 rue de Richelieu 75001 Paris – 10am till 8pm

September has me thinking of Paris...DF

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GARDENS: Penny Bianchi

Penny Bianchi in Montecito, CA

This article about the restoration of the house and garden belonging to designer Penny Bianchi in Montecito
after the second largest wildfire in California history damaged her gardens, garage and guest house- inspired me!  

I was intrigued by this image above, as it has so many elements I like in a house- a touch of age, decadence even, a bit of classical whimsy, a la her friends, the late Tony and Beegle Duquette... it's amazing, inspiring and even, yes, magical- that she (Penny) was able to overcome the devastation and destruction of her charming european inspired property... Kudos to the Bianchis !  DF

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STYLE: Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor

What could be more soothing and beautiful than this timeless and dramatic bedroom by the late Michael Taylor ? This chamber could just as easily be the work of the late William Hodgins also...so, I consulted with dear Stephen Salny, author of the book, "Michael Taylor Interior Design", and he confirmed that this room was designed by Mr. Taylor, for his client Eileen Michael.  Thanks Stephen!

Notice the big, heavy travertine cocktail table in foreground...the Giacometti slipper chairs, the gilt "frog" chair- and the Dodie Thayer cabbage tureen... the quilting on the bed hangings seems especially luxurious in this setting, speaking eloquently to the raised knot carpet in oyster...a place for sweet dreams...DF

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Floral Inspirations, LILIES/PALM: Naples/Charleston

Dean Farris Interior Design 2019

I always love receiving fresh flowers, and to me, they're a great luxury ... it's also a lot of fun to source greenery from local gardens, such as the owners of this house in Charleston did, (32 Legare)... enjoy!  DF

32 Legare, Charleston, SC

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MORNING COFFEE: Sunroom

Dean Farris Interior Design 2019

I always watch the morning light as it changes...from one season to the next- here in Naples ...

Dean Farris Interior Design 2019

Something about the morning sun hitting these topiary trees on my terrace intrigued and almost hypnotized me... DF

MOUNT AIRY: Circa 1758

The John Tayloe Emery family at Mount Airy

I discovered this amazing family house, called Mount Airy , in Virginia- near Warsaw- it was the first Neo Palladian Villa to be built in the pre Civil War colonies- sitting on 1,600 acres- and amazingly still owned by the 10th generation of Tayloe descendants!

Dining Room, Mount Airy

 This view above, shows one of the Tayloe ancestors in the portrait above mantel-

Orangery ruins, Mount Airy

This Orangery- "in ruins", is what inspired me the most from looking at various images of Mount Airy- the romantic nature of an old orangery cannot be overstated.  I recall reading how (decorator) Billy Baldwin was entranced by one of these at Wye House- an old plantation owned by relatives of Pauline Potter - later the Baroness de Rothschild-.

Mount Airy facade (flanking wings not shown)

Tayloe Emery, who now lives in Mount Airy with his young family, has an interesting background working with non profits to direct celebrities towards helping impoverished Africans- an interesting note since these old farms were sustained by slaves prior to the War Between The States-. Similar to owners of Stately Homes in Britain and Europe, the family resides here while also making the house and grounds available for tours, events, and weddings- portending a most promising future for this important piece of our nations history.  DF

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BEFORE/AFTER : DFID

Dean Farris Interior Design 2018

My Naples Living Room - before with carpet, and after with travertine floor- ! DF

Dean Farris Interior Design 2019

HOUSE: Painted White

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

I've always been drawn to a white painted house- like so many of us- the crisp look of the white painted brick against the background of bright green lawns and even brighter blue skies is a sight to behold... this "Monterrey" style house is facing the intracoastal, just off of Las Olas Boulevard, and is probably my favorite in a neighborhood where it would be hard to decide which one is the prettiest-

I also found this one (below) on Acacia, in the same neighborhood- it reminded me of the one belonging to my friend Louise in West Palm Beach- the awnings are something I'm very partial to- like a tuxedo!  DF



BOOK: Henri Samuel

Henri Samuel via AD

More Henri Samuel, so enjoying my copy of "Henri Samuel, Master of the French Interior"...by Emily Evans Eerdmans-
Enjoy this article by Emily on 1stdibs.... DF

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