A Lilly In The Garden



Minnie, Lilly, and Liza, 1963 NYT

 Of course, I've always loved the ultra prep style of Lilly Pulitzer, and so, I was somewhat saddened to hear of her recent death.  Look at this beautiful, charming 1963 image of Lilly with her two daughters.  She also has a son, Peter. 
Years ago, I met and "hung out" with Mac and Zac, the twins that Herbert "Peter" Pulitzer had with Roxanne Pulitzer, here in Naples...they were dressed alike, in jeans, Hermes' belts, and flip flops.  
I would have loved to have met famous Lilly, as I'm sure she was a totally fabulous original person.  I own one LP swimsuit, which is totally faded out, but I still like it and wear it sometimes.  Thanks T and J...



The Orricos

Representing the new Lilly- after she sold out- the ladies above own two LP boutiques in Palm Beach and two in Naples, plus Delray and Hobe Sound...  it's always a lot of fun to visit an LP boutique- an explosion of bright, fun colors...



"That's me, far left, in bright PINK!" 

Here I am, out to dinner, with Billy, Sherry, Maureen, Arnold, Ernie and Becky-one of Billy's clients at Maison Auclair Antiques, was Mrs. W. Clarke Swanson, Jr. (Elizabeth) who was introduced to Mr. Swanson at a lunch on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, by none other than Lilly Pulitzer.  The Swansons have kept a place in Naples for many years, and it was decorated by one of my mentors, the fabulous impresario, Tom Britt... a bit of decorating trivia for you, dear readers... 



Decorator Kevin Stefanni in Lilly

Above, my friend and fellow designer, Kevin, sports a "new" Lilly blazer, from the men's collection-

Here's a pretty, fresh, pink and green image, which I dedicate to the memory of Lilly, I feel as if I did know her- and have always been inspired by her original talent and style.  DF *****

 

  

A Fun Day Along The Shore



Former Winter Home of the late Albert Hadley, Naples

I started today with a wonderful relaxing swim in the pool- highly recommended if you have a bad back- or just need to let go of some stress- my clients bought the former Hadley cottage- after I introduced them to each other- and they added the pool and small addition that AH never had- the house including a guest cottage, has since been resold twice. 


Looking north up the bay, towards Venetian Village

After breakfast by the pool, and catching up with my new neighbor Andrew, who lives in Ft Lauderdale, and weekends in Naples, Billy stopped by, and we went up to the Village for a beautiful lunch- facing south down the bay, shown above.



Danieli boutique, Venetian Village, Naples

After our long luxurious lunch at Bayside, upstairs and outdoors- facing the long bay view- we shopped the Village.  If you visit Bayside - do ask for Kelly, she was at Campiello's for ten years!  I had a trio salad, Billy had a grilled chicken on focaccia, and we shared a split of Prosecco, followed by a luscious chocolate mousse cake and cafe' americain.  I did pick up a couple of end of season sale items at Danieli, a small reverse painted plate with a yellow bird- and a small baroque style photo frame in a pretty Florentine finish.  We also saw old friend, Doug, at the provencal shop-always nice to see dear Doug, who lives in the neighborhood with his French wife.  



Tinsley Mortimer

Later, but not too, I met up with my friend and neighbor, Sherree, who is one of the most attractive and nice women I know.  She is like a cross between a young Catherine Deneuve and the New York socialite, Tinsley Mortimer- very Palm Beach-Naples, and a southerner too, from Knoxville, TN.  We shared Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, tapenade, crab bites, and baked brie- and I saw some old clients from the Lausanne, which is near my building.  M Waterfront Grille is elegant and casual at the same time, and while I was waiting for dear Sherree, an older lady pulled up to the valet parking in her Mercedes 500 convertible- it was interesting because she was a ringer for Vivien Leigh in the film version of the Tennessee Williams play The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone! And the valet was like an Italian gigolo hunk type!- I love these observations of mine- crazy but profound at the same time.  She has the money, he has the youth- and there you have it, the ageless struggle of man to rise above his or her quotidian existence.



Dean Farris Interior Design

I came back to the cabana I call home early- and found this moody and romantic looking room waiting for me- a lovely retreat after a pleasurable day of fresh air and relaxation along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, in the town known as Naples- lucky moi!  Enjoy! DF *****     
  



Home of the Month: Starting Over in Bay Colony - Gulfshore Life - March 2013 - Naples, FL

Home of the Month: Starting Over in Bay Colony - Gulfshore Life - March 2013 - Naples, FL

Congrats to Dominique LaManna, Caroline Ficquette, and Edgar Ramirez, Interiors by Design West, Naples for the recent editorial feature in the current issue of Gulf Shore Life...DF*****

The Editor at Large > Ireland debuts fabrics, bold ad campaign for Scalamandré

The Editor at Large > Ireland debuts fabrics, bold ad campaign for Scalamandré

I was most excited to read about the new collection for Scalamandre' by Kathryn Ireland- on The Editor at Large.  The aristocratic English taste has always appealed to me.  Congratulations to Steven Stolman and Ms. Ireland!  DF ***** 

Spring 2013 Inspirations

Flowers and gardens, always inspiring, always a joy to experience! This house and garden is in Naples, Florida- I love the extravagant look of the layering of elements here.

My friend and collaborator, Judith Auclair, makes amazing things in the art of coquillage, and recently made some large chandeliers for a palace project in Russia.

Authenticity is a recurring theme of mine, and is a major inspiration, not just for Spring 2013, but any time of the year.  I like the suggestion of outdoor living here, and the sunny Mediterranean lifestyle always inspires and lifts me up.  The peach wall with the pale green shutter is sensational, and classic.  DF ***** 

Tony Duquette, The Inspiration

Space of the Week: Every Cockatoo Needs a Headdress

Check out this fabulous piece by Wendy Goodman... DF 



Duquette for Dodie Rosecrans, Venice



Le Style Rothschild - Waddesdon Manor




The Red Drawing Room

I've always, like many people, been fascinated by very grand houses, and lately I've been looking at one of my books called "The Rothschilds at Waddeson Manor".  Recently, James Reginato did a piece on Lord Jacob and his stewardship of this amazing house in Buckinghamshire, England. (Sotheby's Magazine)  
In the colour plate in my book, the damask on the walls of the room above, looks much brighter, and more "red"- here, it appears to be a more rosy shade.  I LOVE the opulence of damask on walls!  Have you ever seen the film called "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" - with Debbie Reynolds?  See it!  Waddeson Manor, built in the late 19th, is the second most visited National Trust property in the U.K. - Lord Jacob de Rothschild recently added a new complex called Windmill House, which will house more of the vast family archives.  Apparently, the Rothschilds built over 44 houses throughout Europe, many in this French Renaissance style, which became known as "Le Gout Rothschild."

The exterior of Waddesdon Manor, shown above, was used in season two of "Downton Abbey" - It was styled after famous chateaux of the Loire in France, on a more modest scale.  I am reminded of the Vanderbilt estate at Asheville, North Carolina, called "Biltmore".  Before WWII, when the family was still using the house as a residence, there were hundreds of servants, including gardeners and stable boys.  Imagine the lifestyle!  A bit daunting no doubt- and difficult to grasp in this day and age.  Enjoy!  DF *****
    

Bentley Party, Naples



Brooklands

 Looking forward to this annual party- celebrating the fourth anniversary of business in the new building, and a new Bentley model.  Meeting with new clients earlier that day, from the U.K. - they have a home on Majorca as well.  Did you know that Ibiza (near Majorca) is pronounced "e-beetha" ?  Well now you do!  See you soon XX DF



Arnage

Gorgeous, cream leather interior...so luxurious, and so very private.  Home James! :)




Continental

I test drove the cabrio version of the one above- it was a like a visit to heaven! Love it! :)



Azure

The shot above, gives an idea of how luxe the Bentley is- 12 cylinders of pure bliss! :)  DF  

(Still) Loving Ikat Designs



Stout Fabrics "Darlington" Color-3  Jasmine

I was out shopping for clients this morning, and very much by accident discovered this linen and cotton print, by Stout, called "Darlington" (hello Reggie Darling) and immediately loved it on sight.  Most of my clients don't really fancy ikat patterns- so this is for ME.  There are four colorways, the only one I didn't bring home to try was the orange/gold one, as I had that palette in my old Bridgewater Bay apartment.

I would LIKE to make fat down filled pillows from this, for the new sofa, and use it on a pair of Louis XV style chairs...AND have my workroom make some drapery panels, with a very Colefax-Fowler cotton fringe...then I just need a couple of new area carpets...



Stout Fabrics "Darlington" Color-2 Waterway

This one, ABOVE, (and below) is more teal- with chocolate- and I like it for a very neo-baroque style tufted headboard and hangings for my dreamy new bedroom I'm conjuring up...

At first, I thought I loved that one the most- and I do- only for the bedroom, not the living room, then I also liked this chic mulberry-amethyst colorway (below) which I once had in a similar design from Brunschwig, on an ottoman, and a Kingston swagged valance.




Stout Fabrics, "Darlington" color- 1 Raspberry



I love that this fabric is a mix of linen and cotton.  I do like the slightly soft, wrinkled look and feel of it, and it ages well.  Stay tuned to see if I actually order this and have it made up!  Who knows?  DF *****
 

 

Cupola House

Billy and I have been working on the design-build of this new 14,000 square foot house for the past two years- located in the up country of South Carolina, we've christened the property "Cupola House" - for obvious reasons- here are a few shots from our last trip up.

The weather was FREEZING, like a damp English winter- and the temps were in the mid twenties...our thin Floridian blood was CHILLED.  Luckily, there were space heaters in the house. 



We used a brick called "Old Jefferson"


The garage, known as the EAST WING, will hold two Jaguars, a Chevy Suburban, and a Rolls-Royce...still waiting for the new doors to be installed.

The house is sitting on five acres... I took a hike to the lower part of the property to get this shot, eventually we plan to have an allee' of magnolias from the upper area down to the valley, with a decorative folly at the bottom.

A shot I took, looking up into the new cupola, before the small army of finish carpenters arrive to add all the gorgeous finishing mill work...

I couldn't get a good front shot of the new structure, since this existing ranch house is blocking the view- soon to be cut in half and moved to a lot in the nearby area...bye bye tear-down!  Stay tuned for future updates- DF *****

Project Help

Project Help.  17th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza, live and silent auctions, tropical music, hors d'oeuvres, Champagne, wine and an array of chocolate desserts,  Naples Botanical Garden; 239-649-1404  March 2, 2013

 

Jewels On The Bay, Sarasota Showhouse 2013



Chuck Bolton Interior Design, to benefit The Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota

My good friend, and fellow decorator, Charles"Chuck" Bolton has created this charming and beautiful bedroom, for the 2013 Jewels On The Bay Designer Showhouse, the 18th annual such event, benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and Manatee Counties.  I elected to post about this gorgeous, classical chamber, as I love the way Chuck used a dramatic cerulean blue wall colour (very Devil Wears Prada) and simply elegant curtains, beautifully tied, with a classic Louis Phillipe style bed...I also am very partial to having a chandelier over a bed, as he's done here.  Tailored masculine elegance!

 


Chuck Bolton

Chuck has a natural talent, and hails from the affluent town of Johnson City, Tennessee.  Chuck has lived in Palm Beach, Key West, and Naples- and now resides in Sarasota.  He's been associated with top firms, such as Betsey Godfrey, Godfrey Associates, and Robb and Stucky.  He has also taught interior design in Atlanta- not unlike Stan Topol, and Billy Baldwin (Parsons).  For quality, value, high taste, and a ton of fun, consult with Chuck on your current or upcoming project.  You will not be disappointed, I can promise you that!  Finally, we used to hang out at Albert Hadley's cottage, when the late, great, dear Albert had a cottage here in Naples.  Enjoy!  DF *****


Albert Hadley