LOUIS XV: Chinois

DEAN FARRIS INTERIOR DESIGN (c) 2020

I've always liked using Chinoiserie Objet in my decorating projects- in this assemblage I used a few pieces of porcelain to great effect, and may install a climbing vine paper soon!  DF

MONOGRAMS: C'est Chic!

DFID (c) 2020

  Loving the idea of "summerizing" my living room with this euro sham (from the bedroom) designed by Suzanne Kasler for Ballard designs.  It was great fun to see Suzanne's living room at this years Kips Bay Palm Beach Decorator Showhouse - and here in Naples we have Monogram Goods for all kinds of fun items with or without chic monograms- follow @monogramgoods on Instagram... DF

HOUSE BEAUTIFUL: Naples

House Beautiful

A Naples, Florida, living room was decorated by Carrier & Company with shots of yellow, featured in the October, 2013, issue of House Beautiful. Photo by Eric Piasecki.

MORNING: Sunny!

DFID (c) 2020

Here, a layered look was the goal.  Fortunately, this room has an eastern exposure, allowing for glorious morning sun... See my earlier posts on layering and creating a comforting mood of permanence in a space - DF

BOOKS: Escapist Pleasure

via web

  Books! Wonderful books -how could we live without them ? I have so many associations regarding books -a few which I'd like to share with you.

  My first impression of visiting the Manhattan townhouse apartment of Tom Britt was towering Chinoiserie style bookcases which had been lacquered in an ivory color -they were stacked with hundreds of books which had been wrapped in off white glossy vellum paper.  The spine of each book was labeled with small gilt edged titles hand written in calligraphy.  Imagine all of this combined with huge well organized stacks of vogue magazine as well as architectural digest. Of course Tom had been featured in  AD many times during his career.

 Another one which stands out in my memory is summering in Southampton with my mentor Mr. George Clarkson.  He had a handsome son-in-law who would do nothing all day but lay on the bed and read a book between meals -I thought this was fabulous and I hadn't really seen anybody do that before -instead of drinking cocktails or trying to play cards or tennis he simply read ! I admired him for that.

  Many of the best booksellers have closed - but Amazon seems to be the way to go these days.  My good friend the late Tice Alexander, had a very nice collection of books on art and fashion and design as well as gardens and the room that I slept in was flanked by huge bookcases which we had custom designed and custom made containing this collection.  It was a great pleasure to have these available - and that was in the pre-Internet era... It seems that now perhaps devices are replacing actual bound books- but for diehard bibliophiles the desire will always remain!  DF

TOMMY: All American

Dee Ocleppo and Tommy Hilfiger via Haute Living

I chose Tommy Hilfiger as my inspiration for Memorial Day -he's a great American.  His name has become practically synonymous with the American flag - and his all American lifestyle and success story always inspire me..!  Check out this haute living story on Dee and Tommy...DF

COZY: At Home MDW

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2020

  Between the impending rain and the pandemic situation it seems like a good idea to just stay home.  Like most designers and decorators I'm always promoting this idea anyway- it's life enhancing as one of my mentors Albert Hadley would've said.  One of the elements I enjoy about this image which I took with my phone is the quality of light.

  The late great decorator Billy Baldwin was always saying that it's the personal in decoration that makes a room warm and inviting and I think this image conveys that idea.  While I haven't used any chintz in this room I do think it still has a mood of Colefax and Fowler in London- perhaps a Gentlemans club or personal library.

  It's important to use your rooms as much as possible because a somewhat lived-in look is what makes your room the most beautiful and I especially love having fresh flowers and plants. (See my Friday post showing a phalenopsis orchid).  Although I love fresh flowers I'm not above having certain types of artificial flowers if they amuse me.  Above, you can see where I did purchase some silk flowers from Sweetgrass Designs  here in Naples for the pair of tole Cachepot flanking the mirror.  Facing out towards the sliding glass doors I placed a pair of topiary trees (faux) exactly like the ones fashion designer Carolina Herrera has on her office terrace in Manhattan.  These trees have been with me for the last three or four moves and still look great!  Enjoy the weekend as we gradually re-open and get back to living our lives...DF

BLUES: Brunschwig et Fils

Saraya print, Indigo (cotton) Brunschwig et Fils

  Beautiful blues from Brunschwig !  Here, a couple of new introductions that were sent to me - as blue is the most popular color, what better subject for a post?  The gorgeous Saraya -shown above -would make beautiful curtains and perhaps for covering a pair of Billy Baldwin slipper chairs as well.  The registration on this print is spectacular- like the old Boussac of France.
Below, Montguyon in blue/sky is gorgeous -printed on linen- and I'd specify this one for a stunning baroque shaped headboard in a master or guest bedroom.  Beautiful!  DF

Montguyon print in blue/sky (linen) Brunschwig et Fils

COLOR: Unexpected!

Dean Farris Interior Design (c) 2020
Designers own residence, Naples, Fla.

  Color- it changes everything.  Take, for example, this shot of my living room in Naples where I used a vintage Parsons table adjacent to a Louis XV style open arm chair.  The lilac lacquer table looks sensational with the Prussian blue silk pillow in Scalamandre' -

  As for that mercury glass acorn- it was a very thoughtful gift from a dear friend, and I love it as it reminds me of a Christopher Spitzmiller gourd.  Do visit his site for beautiful lamps and objects, and enjoy the poetic images from decorators such as Bunny Williams and Alex Papachristidis !  DF

Hand thrown naturalistic gourd in gold luster, Christopher Spitzmiller 

                                          

EMILIO: Classical Decor

Emilio Terry

 Connoisseurs of the decorative arts are very partial to the architect decorator Emilio Terry, (b. 1890 - d. 1969) who was of  Cuban Irish heritage-  one of his most well known clients was the aesthete socialite Carlos de Beistegui- also known as Charles- read more about Emilio and his charmed circle in this Christie's article here. DF

Emilio Terry

DESIGN: Chuck Chewning

Charles Chewning Interiors, Savannah, GA

I started rereading "midnight in the garden of good and evil" by John Berendt last night and early on in the book, the Armstrong House is mentioned.  After Jim Williams bought and sold a small island off of Georgia he made a killing and was able to purchase the stately landmark Italianate mansion (Armstrong House) directly across from the exclusive Oglethorpe club in Savannah.  A quick Google search of Armstrong house lead me to the designer Chuck Chewning whom I've been following for some time now ever since he took over Rubelli and redecorated the Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice Italy.  With a truly impressive curriculum vitae, Chuck must be one of the most talented and prolific Designers working today.  He is based in Savannah, after years of living in Atlanta, New York, London, and Milan.  Coincidentally he is now working on the Armstrong house- now known as the Armstrong Kessler mansion - for a private client who plans to convert the house back into a residence.  House shown in below image...Enjoy!  DF

Armstrong Kessler Mansion, Savannah, GA

LACQUERED: Billy B

Millie Farwell's library at Mallow, Oyster Bay, NY

When a decorator loves a room that someone did by themselves you know it's a great room.  Take, for example this one by Mrs. Walter Farwell- who was a friend of Ruby Ross Wood- the mentor of Billy Baldwin.  Referring back to yesterday's post here again we see the use of Chinoiserie lacquer.

After showing this room to Billy, Ruby asked him what he thought of it and he said he thought 50 years from that time which was the 30's that it would still be current and I have to agree with him. And there's a striking simplicity and elegant restraint to the decor which I think he responded to very strongly. By the way this house is still standing and is now being used as a school.

In the below image we see Billy in his own lacquer box in a modern building in the east 60s in Manhattan prior to his retirement to Nantucket.  Billy Baldwin Studio, Inc. bought the rights to the BB collection from Luten Clary Stern - and continue to provide superior products to the trade- (see my earlier posts on Kips Bay Palm Beach where Louise Cronan used a Billy Baldwin Studio console in her loggia).

Billy lives on through the legacy of style
and taste he left behind!  DF