ROSE CUMMING: 100 Years of Elegance and Style

Thomas Britt, via Architectural Digest

Kudos must go to Chuck Comeau, of Dessin Fournir , for saving one of the most iconic and fabulous fabric houses of all time- ROSE CUMMING ! 

One hundred years ago , Miss Rose came to the United States, from her native Australia- and the interior design world has never been quite the same since!  Above, you can see my friend and mentor Thomas Britt's work- using the iconic and beautiful pattern known as "banana leaves".   Tom also used this (metallic) gold over taupe colorway in his own New York apartment- where I was first exposed to the grandeur and high style of his work- and the beauty of Rose Cumming's legacy to him, as he had been a personal friend of hers. 

Actually, I had first purchased yardage of banana leaves myself, in 1976, in the taupe colorway (sans the gold) for my Mother's home in Winston-Salem, NC.  She still has some of the pillows we made and loves them!



"Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies" 

Ashley Comeau of Dessin Fournir, was kind enough to send these high resolution images of some of the most popular designs from Rose Cumming- and you may be interested in reading some of my previous posts on Miss Rose as well.  This is such a dynamic pattern, and it's been used by many top designers over the years. 

I had also installed the wallpaper version in my design studio bath in Winston-Salem, in the camel on black colorway, which was so striking and dramatic.

Rose Cumming "Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies" 

Here's another very chic pattern, called "Sabu" - animal prints being something we never tire of!

Sabu by Rose Cumming, "Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies"

Sabu in green, image via google

And here is "Zebrine"- another very popular and exotic but modern and current design, demonstrating how ahead of the times Miss Rose was.

Zebrine by Rose Cumming, "Photograph courtesy of Dessin Fournir Companies"

Zebrine wallcovering, Rose Cumming, via House Beautiful

I want to thank Ashley Comeau for her assistance with providing information for this post.  As you can see, we barely touched on this subject- one can read more about it in the beautiful book on Rose Cumming and Dessin Fournir here !  DF *****

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via Amazon books

 

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MICHAEL DEVINE: here next week!

via his site

MORE exciting news! Author , designer, textile creator, Michael Devine will be here next week, at the Miromar Design Center, Naples, Fla. for a presentation and book signing!  An Invitation To The Garden is a look into the Kinderhook, NY based designer's world... and what a magnificent world it is!  See his Instagram too!  DF *****

CHIC NOW: Alan Campbell

Alan Campbell through MP Interiors

I've always been a huge fan of Alan Campbell, China Seas, and Quadrille....and especially am fond of this "Mojave" wallpaper.  One of my professors at FIT was Albino Cimonetti, who, along with Harry Hinson, Jay Hyde Crawford, and Anthony Tortora founded Quadrille Fabrics. 

Sister Parish and Albert Hadley promoted Alan when he was first starting out, experimenting with batiks and tie dyes, which he used to make in his bath tub!  Follow him on Instagram!  DF *****

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Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon in House Beautiful

via Love Is Speed

We can't get enough of this Schumacher print "Chiang Mai Dragon" ...see my earlier posts on this iconic fabric design.
DF *****

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Miles Redd for Schumacher

Designer Miles Redd

More great news, Miles Redd has also created a line for SCHUMACHER click here to see it~available to the trade through MP Interiors, Estero, Florida 239-498-9074

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Alessandra Branca for Schumacher

Alessandra Branca for F. Schumacher

Having always admired the work of the Rome born designer Alessandra Branca, who works out of Chicago and NYC, I was struck by the classic beauty of her new chintz for Schumacher, which Alessandra has brilliantly used in her room design shown above~Joni from Cote de Texas is featuring this designer's work today, and ELLE DECOR showed a stunning bedroom by Branca, with a lime green damask fabric, also by Schumacher... DF

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Chateau de Menars

Brunschwig et Fils Menars fabric at the former Wrightsman house, Palm Beach, FL

Besides the old Rory Cameron villa, La Fiorentina, I've always admired the former house of Jayne Wrightsman, in PB, where this Brunschwig cotton print, called Menars ~ was used in a major way by Vincent Fourcade...

Click here to read about the Loire Valley chateau called Menars, which Madame de Pompadour acquired back in 1760.  Enjoy!  DF *****

Madame de Pompadour, by Francois Boucher

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Tony, Hutton, and Maison Objet Americas

Tony Duquette Los Angeles

Did you know that the Maison Objet show has now arrived in Miami?  If you missed it, don't worry, the second annual show will be held in May 2016 !  

Can I tell you how much I like the idea of using a blue malachite fabric with a green malachite bureau plat?

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Do you think More is More, or Less is More?  DF *****

Veere Grenney for Schumacher

London designer, Veere Grenney 

Ah, soothing neutrals to contrast with yesterday's PB post!

Veere Grenney for F. Schumacher

Available to the trade, at MP Interiors, 239-498.9074

What's Hot Now: Schumacher Chiang Mai Dragon

Chiang Mai Dragon, Aquamarine, F Schumacher

This charming and highly decorative design, by F. Schumacher, reminds me of when, years ago, I worked as an assistant to the Washington DC decorator, Bob Waldron~ Mr. Waldron sent me on an errand to the Japanese Embassy (It may have been the ambassador's residence) and I saw the most amazing gardens there.

Beautiful Marine Linard, MP Interiors

Above, my wonderful and talented friend and co-worker, Marine Linard, and her new wing chairs in the Chiang Mai Dragon...she paired these chairs with a lemon yellow settee, and I can't wait to see them in situ .  If you haven't done so recently, please visit the newly updated Schumacher site here and enjoy!  DF *****

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Room With A View, Provence

The view from Marine's Room

Of course, I was delighted to receive this picture today, from my associate, Marine Linard~who is visiting her parents in the south of France...

Dauphine, Charles Faudree for Stroheim and Romann

Yesterday, I had read on The Peak Of Chic, a very interesting piece about the historic toile, called Pommes de Pins, and then I discovered this similar pattern in our wings, called Dauphine, by the late Tulsa decorator, Charles Faudree. Serendipity! Available to the trade through MP Interiors, click here to see all the lines...DF*****

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A Ravishing Print

Cinqueterra Botanical

Old World Weavers has this stunning printed cretonne, Cinqueterra Botanical, which I fell in love with today...
To the trade through MP Interiors... 239-498-9074
DF *****

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Trending Classic, Les Touches

Geoffrey Beene

All of us have always loved the way fashion designer, Geoffrey Beene, used the now famous "Les Touches" from Brunschwig and Fils~ in his dining room in Connecticut, many, many years ago...and I do recall the text saying that the pattern had been hand painted on the walls, to match the festoon fabric shades...brilliant!

Brunschwig and Fils "Maisonette" Collection 2015

Recently, perhaps due to the popularity of ikat patterns, this BF classic has become super trendy, especially with decorators...my friend Louise Cronan is planning to use it in the less seen aqua colorway with Kelly green in her new Palm Beach cottage.

via Palm Beach Daily News

Mark D. Sikes for Legends of La Cienega

Michael S. Smith, via AD

When I saw this stunning guest room in the Rancho Mirage home of designer Michael S. Smith, I knew I had to post about the fabric! He also got the cover of the new AD~and what a sensational tour de force that house is! See Architectural Digest...DF*****

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Have a very happy Passover and Easter! 

Lulu DK for Duralee HC Monogram

Lulu, the designing daughter of the late Henryk de Kwiatkowski

More exciting design news!  Highland Court, the luxury segment of fabric house Duralee, is now offering LULU DK ~
Below, a few of her "Starboard" indoor-outdoor fabrics...

Lulu DK for HC Monogram Duralee

 Represented in Florida by MP Interiors...

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British Elegance: Marvic Textiles

Marvic

I'm very proud, and pleased, to announce that the firm I work with, called MP Interiors, has recently acquired representation for the prestige house, Marvic Textiles...DF

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Chateau d'Anet

Chateau d'Anet

Love the classical simplicity of this chamber~the use of one beautiful textile is sometimes all a room needs!  Enjoy!  DF *****

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Dara Caponigro for F. Schumacher

F. Schumacher Zanzibar Trellis Matte Jade

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F Schumacher 125th Anniversary !

F Schumacher Zanzibar Trellis Matte Canary

Dara Caponigro, the former editor-in-chief of VERANDA~ about a year ago now left for the design director position of F Schumacher, now in it's 125th year!  

Founded in 1889, here are some old classics which have been subtly updated by DC for the anniversary collection.  

Your designer or decorator can find them at MP Interiors, in the Miromar Design Center, Estero, Florida.

(239) 498-9074  MP Interiors !!!

Enjoy the weekend wherever you are~ !

DF ***** 

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Inspiring: Peter Fasano

Isadora in Baltic, 100% hemp textile by Peter Fasano

We (MP Interiors) represent Peter Fasano in Florida~ along with John Rosselli~ and currently, the Quintessence blog is featuring the PF studio !  One of my favorite lines, it inspires me with a fresh and artisanal look
Click here  to read the Quintessence article.

Isadora featured on MILIEU

Enjoy!  Here comes October !  Stay tuned!  DF *****

More May 2014 Inspirations!

Ralph Lauren Home at MP Interiors

Carleton Varney fabrics, MP Interiors

RM Coco at MPI

RM Coco at MPI

Picnic at Versailles, Miromar Design Center

West Indies Home, Naples

Bleu Provence, Naples

Bleu Provence, Naples

Enjoy! DF ***** 

Inspiring: Gilt with Blue Silk

From The Style Saloniste

April...as in April in Paris!  Here's a stunning image
to remind us of the beauty of classic French design.
Enjoy!  DF *****