THE SANDPIPER, 1965

Elizabeth Taylor with Elizabeth Duquette painting, The Sandpiper

I've always enjoyed this Vincente Minnelli film, from 1965, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.  I totally relate to the character Ms. Taylor played- a rebel on the beach with a paint brush- living there in a shack with her young son... and, interestingly, the painting she is shown with (above) is by the beautiful wife of the late Tony Duquette, Elizabeth "Beegle" Duquette.



Elizabeth Duquette

Here, you can see what an elegant woman Mrs. Duquette was- and so talented, just like her wildly creative husband.  They were at the pinnacle of Southern California society- and he was discovered by the iconic and famous decorator, Elsie de Wolfe, who lived in Beverly Hills in the winter...
I read with interest that the Duquettes loved to serve Mexican food at their fabulous dinner parties.  Imagine the fun they must have had!

Elizabeth Duquette

 Just look at this amazing painting by Elizabeth Duquette- a tour de force of mystical and mysterious magic- allegorical, and totally fabulous... I so admire her and her work, just as I admire my dear friend, Judith Auclair, and her amazing work with shelled objects- known as coquillage- their talent knows no limits, then and now.

Mirror, Judith Auclair, Maison Auclair

Judith Auclair is also an elegant, talented woman- and a wonderful friend of many years.  Her taste level is through the roof- and she loves, like I do, to fantasize about schemes and decorative palettes, fabrics, furniture, gardens and architecture-  and for many years she has sold her shelled creations here by the seashore- and has her work included in prominent homes including the Jeffery Smith designed house here with interiors by David Anthony Easton of New York.  She is a dynamo, and, like Francis Elkins, prefers to be near the sea, the coast- and always surrounded by great beauty.

Vanderbilt Beach, Naples, Florida

This past Easter Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending a casual but fun dinner on the beach- adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton- and took this snap shot, as the sun was setting.  While the sun was sinking into the horizon ever so slowly- our friend Norbert sang a most beautiful aria, in Italian of course- which was very beautiful and very soul enriching.  And I thought of dear Judith, Elizabeth, Beegle, and the beauty of our world.  DF ***** 
 

BAROQUE STYLE: Judith Auclair, NAPLES

The latest and greatest from Judith Auclair, progress shot, courtesy, MAISON AUCLAIR, NAPLES

While I've posted many times before about my friend, the decorative artist and antiquaire, Judith Auclair, I had to share this image her firm just sent over~a work in progress, but love the grand and massive scale.  Judith has done many large scale installations, including a grotto bathroom in the Caribbean, an over mantel in a 19th century Old Naples cottage, and chandeliers for a new palace in Russia.  Click here to read an article about her and her work! 

courtesy, MAISON AUCLAIR, NAPLES

courtesy, MAISON AUCLAIR, NAPLES

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Maison Auclair at MP Interiors

Room setting, Judith Auclair

Our dear friend and colleague, Judith Auclair, has recently created a very compelling and beautiful color story, here at MP Interiors, in our third floor showrooms...Do stop by and see more of the creative genius of Judith Auclair, of Maison Auclair antiques and decoratives, including her fabulous coquillage collection!  DF *****

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Fun With My Foyer Continued...

Dean Farris Interior Design 2015

What a designer challenge~ taking an awkward, non-descript and very small hallway, and making it feel like a "moment".  A Sister meets Lilly moment! So Yesterday, Billy walked in and just moved that other chair into the "foyer" ! I thought, "wow I've really rubbed off on him~ he's even moving furniture!" He also mentioned that he liked the placement of objects on my small console~ which delighted me.(that he noticed!!!) and while we were at Trader Joes, I picked up some fresh eucalyptus for those tole planters...which just finished them off!  Oh, and then he commented on how I had created vignettes in my apartment...which pleased me greatly- after all ~we used to have such fun arranging the objet and meubles at Maison Auclair, Naples.  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Foyer Moment

DFID (my personal residence, Naples)

Well, yes, of course I have always wanted to have a real foyer, and the bigger the better!  While I'm not sure this tiny entrance nook could even be called a foyer, you can see here that I made the most of a minimal space, by using the concept of "more is more".  I simply kept adding things, and will continue to do so!  Still need the rug!  Would love a black and white marble floor!  
My dear friend, Judith Auclair, of Maison Auclair recently gave me the pair of "Poseidon" engravings, which really helped to fill in the wall.  The small table was also a gift, as were the pair tassels, the pair blue Bohemian glass vases, the shelled bust, and the small Michael Aram silver box!  Also, the pair bird porcelain candle holders!  I found the pair of tole ware planters in the Chesterdales group shoppes here in Naples.  I did the magnolia arrangements myself.  The small rug and the gilt framed image were also gifts from years ago.  The chair came from Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach.  How personal and comforting!  Enjoy!  DF *****

DFID

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Sip and Shop

Abalone and Sea Glass mirror by Judith Auclair, Chesterdales, Naples

Dear Mary and I had such a nice time last night browsing the wares at Chesterdales Antiques Market~ Naples.  This fabulous hand made mirror, by my dear friend Judith Auclair, caught my eye, isn't it a stunning piece?  I even found something for myself as I sipped my Chardonnay~

DFID

I'd been wanting one of these small copies of a bulls eye mirror with the eagle on top~ and voila! here it is!  Someone had painted over it in a nice stone color ~ with a little gold showing through. Very nice ! (for the price) Enjoy the weekend! DF *****

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Classic Coraux

Brunschwig and Fils

I've always loved and admired the classic "coraux" pattern - and recently have been trying out some of the wallpaper from Thibaut , which is from 2003...

and you might say, oh that's so ten years ago, but not me!

This one, above, has a white background with tan coral branches... I was thinking of it for my kitchen.

And this one, above, is in the reverse- white on beige- which one do you like better? I like both although am leaning towards this one...

And I still like this coral sateen I put on a pair of chairs several years ago- I've forgotten whose fabric this is- anyone?

You can also check out Cowtan and Tout, and Brunschwig and Fils for these patterns, in wallpaper and fabric...

Perhaps it all goes back to my love of nature, and certain romantic places like the Oliver Messel estate on Barbados- with its coral stone walls.  

Our talented friend, Judith Auclair makes these fabulous coral encrusted brackets- I think this is exactly what my living room needs!  If you love coral as much as I do, pay a visit to Palm Beach- or MP Interiors here  it's all over Worth Avenue- Enjoy!  DF *****

Parish-Hadley Redux in Naples

Dean Farris Interior Design

Here's the exciting new ikat printed jute rug I had mentioned in a recent post-! I'm very pleased with it, and it just reminds me so much of some of the vintage images from the P-H archives I had been exposed to while living in New York, and studying my passion, interior design and decoration...this really "woke up" my room!  As I told my good friend and fellow decorator, Judith Auclair- I may have an actual color palette going on for the first time in years, for ME, not the clients! :)  

Above, you can see the teal painted Spanish Louis XV arm chair I obtained from Mr. Albert Hadley- and I had told Judith I thought my new "palette" might be blues, cognac browns, and touches of periwinkle.  Now that the new ikat jute rug is here (Feizy Imports) I see more of the turquoise-teal in it so am thinking of adding that divine colour also - for the satin turkish corner toss pillows I'm planning for the leather chesterfield sofa.  An unexpected benefit of this made in India rug is the warm aroma of jute -like a soft masculine rope smell...which I rather like.  Thanks to the California based artist-designer, Tracy Porter (see earlier post) of Poetic Wanderlust, I now have a new casual rug, affordable, and chic, that I can get excited about!  Cheers!  DF *****(click images to enlarge)   

Where Art Meets Craft, Coquillage by Judith Auclair

All images courtesy Donald Auclair

I've known Judith Auclair for many years, and she is truly a talented designer. Her former shop, Maison Auclair Antiques, here in Naples, was a fabulous repository of the unique and the one of a kind. Recently, Judith sent me these images from a recent installation of hers, she has become a very accomplished artist using shells as a medium for creating superb works of decorative art. See my earlier posts on her work, and have a great weekend! Headed into AUGUST!!! Enjoy, DF *****

The Shelled Mirror

Shelled Mirror by Judith Auclair on Scalamandre' wallcovering

INTERIOR DESIGN BY DEAN FARRIS

PHOTO COURTESY MORAYA BAY

My dear friend, Judith Auclair makes incredible shelled mirrors and objects, and her work can now be seen at the Miromar Design Center. She also has a site http://www.mashellart.com/ and is an amazing artist and designer to work with on most any project requiring this type of look. This example is not one of hers, I saw it in a model at the new Moraya Bay Tower - however, when I saw this one I mistook it for her work. Enjoy the weekend! DF*****

copyright Dean Farris Interior Design