Buy CREED Green Irish Tweed Candle

Buy CREED Green Irish Tweed Candle

This might make a lovely St. Valentine's day gift... I recently received a very nice Ralph Lauren Home collection candle called St. Germain...
DF*****

The Peak of Chic

I enjoyed hearing from fellow blogger, Jennifer Boles, of The Peak of Chic ...she and I had both been writing about the designer Angelo Donghia .... then, while studying my February issue of "Architectural Digest" I saw that Donghia has come out with a beautiful new fabric called Peacock Cloth, which is made in India out of the feathers that peacocks have shed ! How brilliant and how very fantasy... I can't wait to order a sample of this... http://www.donghia.com/ . Yesterday, William and I had some time off from our hectic winter schedules, and went to the new Mercato shops for lunch at the Stage 62 delicatessen...we ran into Myra Janco Daniels, the famous founder of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and Performing Arts Center ! I enjoyed chatting with her while we waited for our tables. The place was packed. Then we went across the street (the strada) and I showed Billy the Z Galerie shop, and we ran into beautiful Stephanie Waltbillig, the designer. It was nice to see her again. Spontaneously, we happened to arrive upstairs at the SilverSpot Cinema - and caught "A Single Man" which I had loved, and wanted Bill to see... It was just as beautiful the second time around - and I so enjoyed sharing it with him. Back to work this morning... have a great day ! DF *****

Dean Farris in Naples Illustrated

This bedroom shot led to a lot of new business !

February 2010 "The Connoisseur Issue"

The editor of "Naples Illustrated" has advised us that her editorial feature on a Naples house I decorated will be featured in the April issue !

http://www.naplesillustrated.com/ I'm looking forward to lunch today at the new Stage 62 deli in the Mercato... Will let you know how it is... DF*****

Jay Strongwater

Exciting News ! Jay Strongwater, the masterful creator of "Jewels for the Home" will be in Naples tomorrow, at Gattle's in Old Naples. Jay launched his career in his twenties, while a student at the Rhode Island School of Design. He was then discovered by the fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, who hired him for runway jewelry...and the rest is history. One of my favorite clients in Naples owns some of Jay's pieces, and I always admire them. Neiman Marcus in Bal Harbour also has a large selection, as well as Gattle's here in Naples. His works are owned by celebs such as Sir Elton John, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett, and Oprah . If you go, he'll be there from 11 to 4, and you can also stop at Bay Design and see the amazing work of Judith Auclair.... I so enjoyed viewing "A Single Man" last night at the new SilverSpot Cinema in the Mercato. Colin Firth and Julianne Moore took my breath away ! Tom Ford has created a modern masterpiece, based on the Christopher Isherwood manuscript. DF *****

Anglo Indian Style

William relaxes on a Ralph Lauren Edwardian chaise

Wonderful carved octagonal ebonised table...

Edwardian style cocktail ottoman with fringe...

Looking forward to celebrating Saint Valentine's Day this weekend. I 've always enjoyed Anglo Indian style pieces...here are some pieces that are showing that influence...from Maison Auclair - see http://www.mashellart.com/ and I hope you have a wonderful week and a great weekend ! DF ***** Chaise from Webster and Company at Miromar Design Center...

Kudos and Karma

"Tile Blue" gauffraged suede from Edelman leather...

I feel as if I'm on the winning team, since Joe Ruggiero is now following my blog, and my friend Bingo Wyer in New York is as well ! Bingo is a writer and an event planner, and has done parties for Queen Noor and Princess Ghida. See www.cotefleuriestudio.com Joe hosts his own televison show on HGTV, promotes Sunbrella fabrics, and is a lifestyle guru. Then, last night while reading the February issue of "Architectural Digest" I saw credits for Edelman leather. My new client is Mary Edelman Wilson, so, I got a kick out of seeing her name in print, and we are also using some gorgeous Edelman leather in her Naples house...called Tile Blue, it's a suede gauffraged with a damask pattern. I did meet Paige Rense when I lived in New York, and she couldn't be nicer. She published two of my letters over the years, which was exciting, and many of the projects I worked on while in New York were published by her, since I worked for some of the top designers in the city. As they say, it's all good ! I'm hoping the saints will win tonight... GO NO ! DF*****

Roz Travis

We had a great time seeing Roz Travis at the Trudy Labell gallery last night... she looked great as always, in a sage green tweed jacket with beautiful jadeite jewelry...Roz is the mother of my friend Kristin...always so good to see them both. DF*****

in reference to: Coastal Elegance & Wealth Magazine: Naples Social Diary, New York designers and divas liven up the scene in Naples (view on Google Sidewiki)

Judith Auclair on Joe Ruggiero

Custom shellart frame by Judith Auclair, Maison Auclair

I was excited to hear that Joe Ruggiero, the lifestyle guru, had posted about my dear friend and colleague Judith Auclair on his blog, http://joeruggiero.blogspot.com/ including coverage of the party Susan Bay held for her at Bay Design Store here in Naples. I was sorry to miss this event, as, once again, I had a schedule conflict. If you are in Naples, you must stop by Bay Design and see how great Judith's works look in the space, mixed in with decorative room settings. http://www.baydesignstore.com/ DF*****

Parties and Openings

A possibility for the Dining Room... Gavin Oihus

Birds Nest fixture from East Indies Home

In progress...

Monique Shay table and chairs...

I always enjoy attending a party, especially if it's for a good cause. Here are a few on the calendar:

Trudy Labell gallery Thursday, February 4

Fashion Obsession Saturday, February 6

Martini Madness Tuesday, February 9

Gala Preview Party Wednesday, March 3

I will try to make as many as I can... schedule permitting !!! My client, Karin Ciesla, is again working on the Naples Antique Show, after co-chairing last year, and it was great to see her profile in the new E Bella magazine this month. Check out my friend Bingo's work at www.labellabridemagazine.com/blog for more parties. Here is a sneak peek at some progress at one of the remodel projects I'm currently working on...enjoy ! DF*****

Porcelain Mania

Made in Thailand, from Anthropologie

Small bowl is 19th c Imari, vases are new...

Modern dragon bowl with Agraria potpourri...

Bust, Theodore & Alexander. Frogs, from Sri Lanka

Ever since I was a young boy, I've loved anything made of porcelain or ceramic. I fell in love with blue and white porcelain at a very early age. Obviously, I love anything terribly classic ! Here are some of my favorite things, which are not especially valuable, other than aesthetically from a decorators point of view. I really love rooms devoted to the display of porcelain i.e; the Rothschilds in Paris, Carolyne Roehm in Connecticut, and William Eubanks in Palm Beach, as well as many of the palaces of Europe...porcelain displayed on brackets is wonderful. I also have two chargers of Rose Medallion, which are still packed away from the last move. I once was taken to a beautiful house in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the living room had been designed around a significant collection of Japanese Imari. Over thirty years later, I still remember what a warm, gracious, and stunning room it was. DF*****

A Kind of Dining Room

Angelo Donghia loved these small bamboo tables...

Here I improvised a dining area in my apartment with some existing furnishings. All I need now is a round table for draping with the new paper cloth from Caspari... featured in the February issue of "House Beautiful" - in a wonderful salmon and pink damask pattern. What fun ! DF *****

Palm Beach Art Fair Presents Roster of New Exhibitors

Palm Beach Art Fair Presents Roster of New Exhibitors

Looking forward to attending this event..DF*****