Leta Austin Foster, The Decorator

There are a few individuals in our business who truly stand out, and inspire the rest of us. One such amazing lady is Leta Austin Foster, known as Letcy (Leetsie) she has a talent that knows no bounds, although as you can see from these images borrowed from her site, she is grounded in a kind of patrician updated trad style, which I have always loved and admired. Mrs. Foster has establishments in Palm beach, New York, and Maine, and her daughter Elizabeth Dinkel is a top decorator in Los Angeles, California. I once had the distinct pleasure of meeting Lizzie in her east side apartment, and it was the epitome of chic. As was she. I especially loved her emerald green lacquered library/guest room. Daughter India Foster is also working in the business. Letcy has a smart boutique in Via Mizner off Worth Avenue with gorgeous linens and accoutrement for the home, including exquisite childrens clothing. Here are some favorite rooms I chose to share with you, created by Leta Austin Foster & Associates, Inc. ENJOY! DF*****

http://www.letaaustinfoster.com/

Gulfstream Unveils New Jet Interiors

G650 image courtesy Robb Report

Gulfstream Unveils New Jet Interiors
My dad enjoyed flying, and his pilot used to fly me from North Carolina to New York, when I was in college. What a trip! DF***** http://www.gulfstream.com/

Decorator Scrapbook V

Love the chairs and their placement, Albert had this palette in his Old Naples cottage

Love the mood and the flooring, as well as the boiserie

I like the mood of this room, by Bill Eubanks


A favorite house, in Staten island, New York, courtesy NYT

Discovered at Elephants Foot, West Palm Beach, Florida

Many times, when deciding what to post about on DeanFarrisStyle, one wants to use a random approach, since, after all, the word blog comes from web log, which to me, indicates a kind of journal. Here are a few beautiful images from the photo file which I do hope will bring some light and clarity as well as peace to your day. ENJOY! DF*****

Soniat House, New Orleans

Rodney and Frances Smith, Proprietors

The Smith salon, decorated by Nicholas Haslam

I am so intrigued by the boutique hotel in New Orleans called SONIAT HOUSE. This morning, while perusing Ronda Carmans designblog "All the Best", I was reminded of the chic hotel and its interesting owners, Frances and Rodney Smith, who had Nicky Haslam do up their apartment there. William and I look forward to our next visit to the Crescent City. We suggest Muriel's off Jackson Square for dinner, and Acme Oyster House or Deenies for lunch. On our last trip we stayed in the historic Hotel Monteleone, on Royal Street in the quarter. Here are some shots of Soniat House and the sublimely beautiful salon Nicky created for the Smiths. ENJOY! (with many thanks to Ronda) DF***** www.soniathouse.com

Madame de Pompadour on Facebook

Madame de Pompadour

Marie Antoinette

My fun facebook friend, Charles Robert, of Atlanta, recently sent out this image from the recently restored suite of Madame de Pompadour, and since I'm such a fan of French royals, I decided to share this incredible shot with you! The opulence, the luxury, the decadence...it's simply DIVINE! Compare this to the shot of the salon of Marie Antoinette...interesting the subtle contrasts...ENJOY! DF*****

Blue and White Porcelain Pet Bowl | Accesory | Wisteria

Surely my friend Boo Boo would like this bowl from WISTERIA

Here I am with Gracie and Boo Boo...where's Griffin?

Blue and White Porcelain Pet Bowl Accesory Wisteria My good friends Tim and Jerry have three shih tzus, Gracie(Sissy), Preston(Boo Boo) and Griffin... I think these chic bowls would be very nice for their bottled water...! Wisteria has them on SALE now 30% off and I think they are pretty nice for a decorative water bowl that the puppies can get some use out of. I would place them on Porthault linen mats...and hand paint their monograms in chinese red on each bowl, thus customizing the bowls. DF*****

Example: SKC PKC GKC

Progress and Patience II

Monte Cristo Short Sofa by Thomasville

We just need to be patient. We need to listen and take our time. We need to smell the roses, and share with our clients the unseen beauty we have experienced. Here, I offer you a small peek into a recent project begun last year in a new home on a golf course here in North Naples. This part of the county reminds me of the desert in southern California...vast plains, manicured highways, and gorgeous vistas of unspoiled countryside mixed with elaborately landscaped country club communities...all in all a very pleasant experience this time of year. Summer, on the other hand, not so much! Enjoy! DF*****

Pierre Deux, French Country Chic

Room by Billy Baldwin in France

French Country chic at Pierre Deux is all about timeless style, historic reference, and total classic livability. Here, I hand picked some of my favorite updated styles from the PD website, and I'd be happy to assist any client with these at the Pierre Deux showroom in our local design center. Am loving this soft blue used here on these pieces, reminding me of the famed Villa La Fiorentina at Cap Ferrat, as decorated by the famed Billy Baldwin. Leta Austin Foster recently featured some images of this famous house. It is probably one of my all time favorites. ENJOY! DF***** See: Charles Sevigny, David Hicks, Rory Cameron, Van Truex.

Campiello Ristorante, Naples

For a fun evening of see and be seen, in Naples, try CAMPIELLO, located on Third Street South, in the historic district. Here I am enjoying a big tuscan red, and with my Charvet loosened no less... I also like the evening menu at Cafe` Normandie, in the Park Shore area. The escargot and the Canard avec peche is divine! ENJOY! DF*****

Living Room Portraits

What fun to capture these shots of my Naples living room at different times of the day. It's such a pleasure for me to watch the light change in the afternoon, as this room faces west, and we do get some glorious sunsets here, plus, when the sun hits my chandelier, it often creates small prisms of rainbow colored light all over the room like a disco ball! Which then reminds me of Albert and James and the holograph ceilings...DF*****

Pinky, Treillage, and Rearranging the Salon

Lisa and Giggy

Bunny and John's big sale!

Room designed by Dean Farris, private residence

Living the good life in sunny Naples

Lisa Van der Pump of Beverly Hills, known as Pinky, is my favorite new reality star, and someone I'd love to know. She's lived in Monte Carlo and the South of France, and is just the most elegant and beautiful woman. Here's a great shot of her from the magazine she writes a column for called Beverly Hills Lifestyle. Friends John and Bunny are having a sale at their shop in New York, Treillage, which offers wonderful fun things for the garden and home. 50% off on select goodies. Here too, I show you how for absolutely no money I rearranged my living room - which I call affectionately my "salon". Previously the small settee was along the wall under the mirror. I am enjoying the burst of Springtime color the skirted table introduced, packing a wallop of Palm Beach punch! Enjoy! DF*****

Dean Farris on Decorator Tag Sale

Sandra Oster, a decorator based in Greenwich, has created an amazing site called Decorator Tag Sale. http://www.decoratortagsale.com/ and I am listed on it, along with Philip Gorrivan, Amanda Nisbet, Michael Whaley, and others you may have read or heard about. What a great way to start off the new year! Here are a few of the items from our warehouse that will be offered for sale at deep discounts via this new site. Exciting news! Stay tuned for more. DF***** PS Amanda Nisbet just sold a pair of sconces on DTS for $13,000.00 !!!