56 minute read
Watering Can
Happy Holidays
LATELY, EVEN MORE THAN USUAL, I’ve been contemplating the meanings of words. And since we are entering the season where we hear and read and speak the above salutation over and over, I looked up the defi nitions of “happy” and “holiday.” Happy: Enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment Holiday: Holy day
Ironically, one of the root words of “holy” is the Old English word “holegn,” which means “holly.” I knew if I dug deep enough, I’d fi nd a botanical tie-in.
Now, as I consider these meanings, it occurs to me how we often toss around the phrase “Happy Holidays” without really thinking of the deep and lovely signifi cance of the words. The phrase really says, “I wish for you to have a holy, set-apart day fi lled with contentment.” Wow! Isn’t that just about the best day anyone could wish for someone?!
As I leaf through these pages, I must say that I’m fi lled with my own holiday “contentment,” along with plenty of inspiration. I fi nd the smashing cleverness and richness of Alex Hitz’s new Atlanta digs (capped by Kirk Whitfi eld’s lush fl orals) to be complete eye candy, as well as visual assurance that old-world glamour still lives. Cara Brown’s 18th-century New Jersey farmhouse, fi tted up for Christmas (including her handmade bejeweled ornaments), evokes a sigh of warmth and coziness. Mary Spotswood Underwood’s Tidewater Virginia Georgianstyle house, lovingly and chicly decorated for the holidays, gives me permission to be casual—with a little cheek (there’s a family tortoise under the tree)—and unfussy in my trimmings. And Zoë Gowen’s vibrant interior décor, sugar-coated with fruit and fl owers and some really inventive treatments, is beautifully sophisticated yet attainable.
My wish for you as you dwell in these stories is to be uplifted and enjoy your own happy holidays—now and always.
Love and SDG,
Margot Shaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Please send your comments, triumphs, challenges & questions to: wateringcan@fl owermag.com OR: Letters to the Editor Flower magazine I P.O. Box 530645 I Birmingham, AL 35253 Get the Flower email newsletter! Sign up at fl owermag.com/news
VOLUME 16, ISSUE 6
Margot Shaw FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julie Gillis MANAGING EDITOR
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ADVISORY BOARD
Paula Crockard
Winn Crockard Gavin Duke Gay Estes Katie Baker Lasker Mary Evelyn McKee
Michael Mundy Ben Page Angèle Parlange Renny Reynolds Scott Shepherd Remco van Vliet Evie Vare Louise Wrinkle
What We’ve Got Our Eyes On
Scene
Richard Mishaan transformed modernist slipper chairs into stately seating with an ornately embroidered fabric.
READING LIST
The Gift of Books
WHAT’S BETTER THAN A NEW RELEASE UNDER THE TREE?
By Julie Gillis
Known for his eclectic, inventive style, Richard Mishaan offers an abundance of inspiration in his newest book, Richard Mishaan Design: Architecture and Interiors. The Colombia-born designer offers an armchair tour of some of his most recent projects, including a 400-year-old barn converted into a beautiful family home and a more hard-edged, modern New York apartment transformed into a comfortable, sophisticated dwelling. Readers also get a peek inside some of the custom rooms Mishaan has designed for such notable hotels as the Shelborne South Beach in Miami and the Tcherassi in Cartagena, Colombia.
Richard Mishaan Design: Architecture and Interiors
by Richard Mishaan and Jacqueline Terrebonne (Vendome, November 2022), $70
WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...
READING LIST (CONTINUED)
David Jimenez lives and works in Paris, where he is celebrated for his chic, French-influenced interiors. In his book, Parisian by Design: Interiors by David Jimenez, the designer offers ideas and inspiration to help readers create their own French-inspired spaces with a focus on comfort and style. He also includes a how-to section with tips for decorating, including how to layer with textures and colors and how to arrange art, books, and other collections. In addition, a source section lists the designer’s favorite flea markets, antiques dealers, and art galleries for finding French décor in both Paris and New York.
Parisian by Design: Interiors by David Jimenez
by Diane Dorrans Saeks (Rizzoli New York, October 2022), $55
At the Artisan’s Table
by Jane Schulak and David Stark (Vendome, November 2022), $65
If you’re looking to wow your dinner guests, this is the book for you. Designers and event producers Jane Schulak and David Stark take a unique approach to table settings by pairing historical table wares from the world’s finest design museums with pieces by international contemporary artisans who reinterpret traditional crafts and styles, such as chinoiserie, faux bois, blue-and-white Delft, and trompe l’oeil. Featured artisans include plaster artist Stephen Antonson, ceramicist Roberto Lugo, and quilter Loretta Pettway Bennett. Readers are treated to page after page of stunning tablescapes designed by Schulak and Stark that incorporate the artists’ handmade wares.
WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...
That’s a Wrap!
To commemorate this festive time of year, Dogwood Hill has released its new Holiday Collection of artist-created designs displayed on wrapping paper and cards. In addition, the company has launched its annual Tastemaker Suites, which pairs notable design industry tastemakers with Dogwood Hill’s artists to design the artwork for seasonal gift tags, invitations, menus, and more. This year’s tastemakers include Caroline Gidiere (paired with artist Shanna Masters), Darby Fallon Clark (paired with artist Sally King McBride), and Keith Meacham (paired with artist Willa Heart). dogwood-hill.com
Fabrics in Flower
Nashville interior designer Sarah Bartholomew introduces an exclusive collection of fabrics and wallpapers for Lee Jofa. The collection combines Sarah’s signature style of crisp, layered design with the Southern infl uences found in her beautiful interiors. The printed and woven fabrics were inspired by vintage textiles from Sarah’s personal collection, along with designs from the Lee Jofa archive. Coordinating wallpapers complement many of the fabric patterns. sarahbartholomew.com
LOVELY LINENS
Elizabeth Lake, the creative mind behind her eponymous lifestyle brand, has launched a new Fall-Winter Collection featuring delicately crafted placemats and napkins with appliqués. Motifs include fl owers and pears, along with vintage-inspired designs such as gingerbread men, backgammon boards, and nutcrackers. The limited edition collection is handcrafted on the Portuguese island of Madeira using traditional methods of embroidery. elizabethlake.com
Interiors • Decorate: Mood • Gift Guide Decorate: Flowers • Design • Travel in Bloom Stylish Reboot
DESIGNER ZOË GOWEN KICKS THE 1980S TO THE CURB IN THE RENOVATION OF AN ALABAMA HOME THAT COMBINES FRESH COLOR WITH DÉCOR GROUNDED IN TRADITION.
By Alice Welsh Doyle • Photography by Hector Sanchez • Styling by Amanda Smith Fowler
PREVIOUS PAGE: In the parlor, cedar boughs, pine cones, and magnolia leaves frame the mantel, with more magnolia and tulips in the flanking pedestals. Floral designer Kappi Naftel created the coffee table arrangement of seasonal greenery and hellebores. THIS PAGE, BELOW: Orange and blue ribbons on the stairway garland speak to the floral-patterned runner. RIGHT: An antique silver epergne on the coffee table is filled with red tulips that impart movement. For a novel twist, gilded ferns and palm fronds top the tree.
When Bart McCorquodale received an unsolicited offer on his Birmingham, Alabama, home, which he had meticulously renovated to his liking, the veteran mover, who fittingly owns a moving company, barely hesitated. However, this particular move left him unmoored and scouring a competitive real estate market to find a new place to hang his hat. Bart eventually settled on a bit of a white elephant—a behemoth of a house that had formerly been an Alabama Symphony showhouse. “It was originally a well-designed
Sprott Long home, but it had been added onto and changed without much consideration for the architecture,” he says. “And because it was a showhouse, every room
“I recognized that Zoë had a different spin on the design, and I liked that. This house reminds me of my childhood homes but in a freshly articulated voice.” —BART MCCORQUODALE
was different and nothing made sense.”
As Bart struggled with where to begin for renovating and decorating the house, a friend suggested bringing in designer Zoë Gowen for direction. After reviewing Zoë’s plans, he felt confident ceding creative control. The designer then rolled up her sleeves and got down to the business of reimaging the mishmash giant.
As inspiration for the palette, Bart provided Zoë with a piece of Imari china that had a lot of orangey hues. However, the savvy designer noticed that almost every time she met with her client, he was wearing blue. So while she did pay homage to the china pattern’s colors, she also dialed into blue shades in many rooms with injections of yellow and green. Watery blue subway tiles serve as the backsplash in the reworked kitchen, as well as in the bar carved out of a 1980s-era mirrored butler’s pantry. Zoë gave a deeper blue tone to the dining chairs Bart had discovered in New Orleans. And the Chinese Chippendale-style breakfast room
ABOVE: Sugar pine cones hang from ribbons over the gold mirror, and magnolia leaves, berries, and paperwhites fill the sideboard alongside a moss-covered crèche. LEFT: The living room can welcome a crowd to enjoy the holiday season with a mix of generously proportioned seating options and botanical prints in play.
LEFT: “I love decorating with citrus for the holidays,” says Brooke McAfee of Lilt Floral. She wired oranges and ribbons to customize the wreath over the stove. Lemons, limes, and clementines nestled in greenery line the island. BELOW: The trestle table in the breakfast area is decorated with white pedestal bowls filled with lemons, oranges, and salal (lemon leaf). OPPOSITE: The powder room, with its graphic L’Espalier wallpaper from Pierre Frey, called for simple decoration— sprigs of greenery hung from satin ribbon over the gold mirror.
—ZOË GOWEN
chairs, along with the super long banquette in the breakfast room, were covered in paler shades of blue.
“I also saw that Bart was always very smartly but casually dressed every time we met, so I took cues from that as well,” says Zoë. “I knew he liked antiques and traditional design, but I helped him segue a bit from formal to more comfortably elegant and inviting, especially since he entertains a lot.” The pair took a trip to New York to look at fabrics and wallcoverings, and as Zoë presented options, it was quickly apparent that Bart had a preference for chinoiserie motifs. “Many of the houses where I grew up had décor in this genre, so it reminded me of my childhood in the best way,” says Bart.
The designer embraced this ornamentation with handpainted scenic wallpaper in the dining room and chintz armchairs in the parlor, along with fretwork trim on the window treatments. She also made liberal use of floral and botanical prints that read classic but not stuffy, as seen on the comfortable, sink-in upholstery, as well as in the powder room’s lively wallpaper.
Perhaps the foyer best encapsulates the entire approach to the décor while also offering hints of what’s to come from a palette and scale perspective. “It’s essentially the feel of a tuxedo undone with the black-and-white floors and then the
The dining room chandelier is festooned in greenery, ilex berries, and red tulips, while a low bowl bursts with roses, magnolia leaves, and hellebores. A simple wreath makes a big statement thanks to a thick red ribbon draped over the mirror.
beige-and-white wallpaper,” says Zoë. “We also replaced the heavy wooden stair rail with a custom iron one that has brass rosette accents. This immediately lightened up the space.”
The staircase’s bold floral runner, based on an antique Tibetan carpet remnant, speaks to the colors beyond. “A lot of the selections were made during the height of the pandemic, and the more we felt stuck at home, the more we embraced color and comfort,” says the designer. “This house is so large that it could support a stair carpet like this. Anything too small in scale would look like an afterthought.”
All in all, it’s a new/old house that speaks to Bart’s preference for tradition infused with more lighthearted notes, plenty of color, and a less buttoned-up attitude. “I recognized that Zoë had a different spin on the design, and I liked that,” says Bart. “This house reminds me of my childhood homes but in a freshly articulated voice.”
Colorful Details
WITH AN EYE FOCUSED ON TEXTURAL LAYERS AND BOLD HUES, DESIGNER MELANIE TURNER BELIEVES THAT SOMETIMES THE SMALL THINGS MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.
Produced and styled by Missie Neville Crawford Photography by David Hillegas
Inspired by fashion and borrowing a palette from nature, Atlanta-based designer Melanie Turner creates curated interiors with a timeless quality and an emphasis on architectural details. “My energy and optimism for great style stem from long-held beliefs that we should not only surround ourselves with beauty but also live beautifully,” she says. With that mantra in mind, Melanie shares some of her favorite picks in a seasonally appropriate color scheme of green and gold.
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1 Embroidered fabric (to the trade) from Holland & Sherry, hollandandsherry.com 2 Prima Alpaca Suri fabric in color Lime by Sandra Jordan (to the trade) from Holland & Sherry, hollandandsherry.com 3 Green subway tile (inquire for pricing) from Source, sourceatl.com 4 Brass doorknob (inquire for pricing) from Source, sourceatl.com 5 Misia Paris Mint Green faux fur fabric in color Opaline (inquire for pricing) through Ernest Gaspard & Associates, ernestgaspard.com 6 Brass turtle hardware (inquire for pricing) from Matthew Quinn, matthewquinncollection.com 7 Kufri Commune gold checkered fabric in Shaker Plaid in the color Ochre (inquire for pricing), purchase through Wareco showroom 8 Zellige patterned tile (inquire for pricing) from Source, sourceatl.com 9 Gallant Grasses grass cloth in color
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Garden Valor (to the trade) from Phillip Je ries, phillipje ries.com 10 Organic Mint Greentile (inquire for pricing) from Source, sourceatl.com 11 Green patterned Mineral fabric ($496/yd) by Kelly Wearstler, kravet.com 12 Brass peacock hardware (inquire for pricing) from Matthew Quinn, matthewquinncollection.com 13 Velours Bigg Gold Corduroy fabric (to the trade) by Nobilis through Jerry Pair, jerrypair.com 14 Green hide samples (price dependent on rug and size) by Kyle Bunting in colors Moss and Turf; call 866.488.8575 to order 15 Commune Shiga Brick patterned fabric (inquire for pricing) by Kufri in color Eucalyptus; purchase through Wareco showroom 16 Pyramides Gold and Sherpa fabric (to the trade) by Nobilis through Jerry Pair, jerrypair.com 17 Goldtile (inquire for pricing) from Source, sourceatl.com
Under the Tree
THE MUST-HAVES FOR EVERYONE ON YOUR LIST
Produced and styled by Missie Neville Crawford Photography by David Hillegas
Gift-giving season is here! To help you wrap up your holiday shopping, stylists Missie Crawford and Sutton Ward worked with designer Melanie Turner to curate their favorite fi nds.
1 Garden Glory Christmas tree stand ($799) from Garden Glory, gardenglory.com 2 Miss Mustard Seed Partridge in a Pear Tree wrapping paper ($24/ pack of 5 sheets) from Society6, society6.com 3 Lizzie Fortunato Arc cu in Lime ($195) from Lizzie Fortunato, lizziefortunato.com 4 Lizard jewelry box (inquire for pricing) from 1stDibs, 1stdibs. com 5 Antique gold hand decoration (inquire for pricing) from 1stDibs, 1stdibs. com 6 Lisa Stein jumbo emerald soleil pendant on textured chain ($5,950), lastein.com 7 Richard Ginori Mug ($125) from The Avenue, onlyontheavenue.com 8 Midinette shoes in gold and silver and in green lizard with black trim ($575) from Belgian Shoes, belgianshoes.com 9 Oscar de la Renta Classic Flower Drop earrings ($250) from Halsbrook, halsbrook.com 10 Artifi cial bay leaf tree sprig ($9/stem) from Afl oral, afl oral. com 11 Pistachio baby alpaca throw blanket ($225) from St. Frank, stfrank.com
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Michael Giannelli of East Hampton Gardens
FOR FLORAL DESIGNER MICHAEL GIANNELLI, LUSH GREENS, BOLD BLOOMS, AND WOODLAND VIBES MAKE FOR A VERY MERRY HAMPTONS HOLIDAY.
Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux • Photography by Tria Giovan
Inspiration
Michael Giannelli decks the halls of his idyllic East Hampton Village shop with lush layers of natural elements that capture the elegant, organic beauty of woodland fl ora and fauna. “The deep garden greens dusted with snow, the faded blue hydrangeas remaining from summer, and a pop of red from a cardinal in fl ight drove my vision for this dreamy “Woodland Christmas” decor and helped bring it to life,” he says.
Behind the Scenes
People celebrate milestone birthdays in di erent ways. Some take a bucket-list trip while others buy a new car or try a new hairstyle. For his 50th birthday, Michael Giannelli gifted himself a new career when he forayed from fashion to fl oral design. Having spent close to three decades designing products for brands such as Gap, Loft, and Victoria’s Secret, Michael decided to start over and turn his passion for fl owers into a profession.
“My retail experience taught me how to tell a cohesive story and bring a collection to life,” says the fl oral designer, who attended FlowerSchool New York. “I always look forward to the changing seasons and the fresh ideas and inspiration that come with each one. I love surprising my clients with each story I tell.”
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
MATERIALS
Pre-made, 28-inch wreath (Michael ordered from The Magnolia Company) Ornamental bird’s nest Hydrangeas (Verena classic blue) Water tubes Lavender spray roses (Innocence) Red roses (Francois Rabelais) White roses (Moonstone) Viburnum (red berry) Scabiosa Hellebores Eucalyptus White waxfl owers Ornamental bird Pre-made bow
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STEP 1 A x the bird’s nest a little o center at the bottom of the pre-made wreath. STEP 2 Clip hydrangeas on an angle, leaving approximately 2 inches of stem; remove leaves. Place each stem in a fi lled water tube, and insert tubes into the wreath counterclockwise. STEP 3 Clip lavender spray roses into individual blooms o the stem; remove the leaves. Cluster groups of three blooms together, and place each group inside a water tube. Tuck a water tube behind each hydrangea, alternating sides. Clip red roses, remove leaves, and place each single bloom in a fi lled water tube. Tuck each bloom beneath the hydrangea on the opposite side of the cluster of spray roses. STEP 4 Clip white roses, remove leaves, and place each single bloom in a fi lled water tube. Randomly insert the roses throughout the wreath.
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—MICHAEL GIANNELLI
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STEP 5 Fill in the exposed space between hydrangea clusters with viburnum, scabiosa, and hellebores, alternating placement to achieve an asymmetrical design. Create a fi nal fl oral layer by inserting sprigs of eucalyptus and white waxfl owers into the wreath so that they sit slightly higher than the others and fi ll in all the empty space. STEP 6 A x the pre-made bow to the top center of the wreath, and nestle the bird into the side of the wreath at approximately 3 o’clock.
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Destination Books
FAR FROM A BIG BOX STORE EXPERIENCE, BEACON HILL BOOKS & CAFE ENTICES BIBLIOPHILES WITH BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED ROOMS IN A HISTORIC BOSTON TOWNHOUSE.
By Alice Welsh Doyle • Photography by Sarah Winchester
ABOVE: The handsome front entry includes topiaries in antique iron planters filled with boxwoods and other seasonal flowers, plants, and trailing vines. TOP RIGHT: Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue and Rectory Red combine with Sister Parish Serendipity wallpaper to bring fresh color and a joyful attitude to the book-filled rooms. O pening a bookstore in the age of Amazon involves a leap of faith for sure, but buying an 1840s townhouse in need of significant renovation right before the pandemic requires an even heavier dose of perseverance. Enter the intrepid Melissa Fetter, a Dallas transplant to Boston’s Beacon Hill and former vice president at J.P. Morgan. Like most entrepreneurs, she discovered a deficiency in this celebrated neighborhood and decided to make amends.
“Twenty-five years ago, there were three bookstores in Beacon Hill, but when my husband and I moved here in 2019, there were none,” says Melissa. So when she saw a rare opportunity to purchase a property on coveted Charles Street, she jumped at the chance to reimagine the five-story, 1840s Greek Revival townhouse. “I always envisioned that the store would be in a townhouse, and I could picture people wandering from floor to floor and exploring nooks and crannies,” says Melissa. “I wanted
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A custom-colored Sister Parish striped wallpaper lines the stairwell. • The petite door makes the children’s floor a true destination. • Chairs and a settee in a Sister Parish botanical print (Palmetto) make perfect spots to perch. OPPOSITE: Floral designer Cailla Quinn lined the events table with hydrangeas. The mantel arrangement is filled with Hypericum, roses, ranunculus, variegated pittosporum, plumosa ferns, blue tweedia, and crab apple and pear branches.
it to feel like you were in someone’s personal home.” To help bring her dreams to life, she reached out to local architect Monika Pauli of Pauli & Uribe Architects.
The design, which retained the original fireplaces and other architectural details, includes a café and an upstairs special events space with a long table that can seat up to 20 guests. In Melissa’s quest to make Beacon Hill Books & Cafe a true destination, she engaged her longtime friend and collaborator, Dallas designer Cathy Kincaid, to impart an engaging, intimate atmosphere. “Melissa and I have worked on many homes together all around the country, and I absolutely love working with her,” says Cathy. “She has a great eye and gives amazing attention to detail!”
Eschewing the predictable mahogany bookcases and dark-stained floors, the duo painted all the shelves and trim in Farrow & Ball colors such as Skylight and Light Blue. Cathy then chose a light finish for the floor to create a Scandinavian look. “There’s still a traditional feel, but it’s injected with a little pep,” says Melissa. Every room is filled with signature Cathy Kincaid style—lots of blue tones with pops of red, custom fabric lampshades, engaging light fixtures, wicker furnishings, and a charming mix of prints.
“One of the most unique aspects of the store is the special events component,” says Melissa. “This space has beautiful high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.” Event planners have access to a variety of tablescapes, as well as the café’s curated specialty menus created by Chef Colleen Suhanosky. For those wanting a wine consultation, a sommelier from a nearby private club is available. In addition, the bookstore
—CATHY KINCAID
has engaged with floral designer Cailla Quinn of Ephemirus to create special arrangements tailored to each event.
To add an even more custom appeal to the interiors, Melissa and Cathy chose Sister Parish Design as the exclusive wallpaper and fabric purveyor for the project. “I have worked with Susan Crater and her team at Sister Parish for years, and they are very skilled at doing custom colors, which I employ frequently in my designs,” says Cathy. Melissa appreciated the history of the firm and that it’s been women-run for four generations. (Susan is the granddaughter of Sister Parish, and she resurrected the esteemed company in 2000. Her daughter, Eliza Harris, joined the team in 2018.) “They walk a fine line between traditional and contemporary, which these spaces needed,” says Melissa. “I’ve enjoyed their products in my own homes as well.”
It’s clear that Beacon Hill Books & Cafe is anything but typical. “It’s much more ‘done up,’ ” says Melissa. “My hope is that people will enter ready to engage with the books and then leave with a smile on their faces. This place is meant to be cheerful and fun.”
Island Hopping
REAWAKEN YOUR WANDERLUST AT ONE OF THREE LAVISH CARIBBEAN RESORTS, EACH FULL OF BUZZWORTHY UPDATES.
By Marion Laffey Fox
In Anguilla, Cap Juluca’s lavish $22-million refurbishment oozes luxury in sybaritic vignettes, such as this tranquil sunbathing area surrounded by gently lapping azure water.
CAP JULUCA
CAP JULUCA, ANGUILLA
It’s hard to believe the glamorous island of Anguilla was once a sleepy bare-bones getaway that lacked electricity until the 1960s. Located in the Lesser Antilles, the destination now beckons travelers with its chic resorts and unspoiled beaches. The 35-square-mile island consists of 33 blindingly white, flour-sand beaches. With a firm hand on maintaining its unspoiled authenticity, Anguilla bans large cruise ships, casinos, and duty-free malls, making this tranquil destination even more attractive.
While numerous resorts dot the island, one in particular stands out for its dramatic architecture. Cap Juluca, a member of the prestigious Belmond hotel group, features Moorish-styled villas strung along 179 acres above Maundays Bay. The domed complex,
TOP LEFT: The glistening arched entrance to a pool villa features double-sided water views, a shaded sitting area, and colorful tile floors. TOP RIGHT: Viewed from Maundays Bay, Cap Juluca appears as a magical, dream-like vision. MIDDLE ROW, LEFT AND RIGHT: The bar at Cip’s is a popular pausing place, serving exuberant drinks and divine bites. ABOVE: Dusk bathes the beach dining area in a mesmerizing glow.
MALLIOUHANA
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Paris meets the Caribbean at the resort’s entrance. The infinity-edge pool offers poolside dining among tropical breezes. A teal palette complements the ocean views. Anguilla is known for its culinary scene. The boutique features the latest in resortwear. OPPOSITE: Vividly striped canvases swirl around private dining venues for romantic evenings.
redone after the devastation from Hurricane Irma, includes refreshed accommodations in vibrant colors that perfectly fit with the tropical locale.
Guests of Cap Juluca enjoy exquisite meals at restaurants such as Pimms for authentic Anguillan fare, as well as Cip’s, which serves up a Venetian menu as a nod to the Cipriani, the resort’s Italian sister hotel. For those wanting more casual fare by the pool, Uchu offers a ceviche bar and Peruvian fare. And The Cap Shack, located on the sands of Maundays Bay, is the place to enjoy a laid-back meal laced with Calypso and Reggae music. Reservations: 800.860.4095; belmond.com
MALLIOUHANA, ANGUILLA
On the northwest coast of Anguilla, Malliouhana, part of the Auberge Collection, boasts unmatched views from its perch above the turquoise waters of Meads Bay. The 46-room boutique hotel,
consistently listed among the top 25 resorts in the Caribbean, is a shining jewel in the crown of Auberge Resorts.
Within the breeze-kissed complex, a cluster of buildings amid manicured gardens offers updated accommodations accented in bright turquoise. Although configurations vary, most rooms boast at least one outdoor terrace and a plunge pool. Some even feature Haitian paintings on wood that are repurposed as closet doors. An inviting infinity pool that seems to drop off the cliff’s edge offers a serene escape for guests, while the beach bar is the place to go for livelier surroundings.
NOTE: Malliouhana offers a handful of ground-floor, handicapped options, but there are still lots of steps and slanted walkways to navigate. Guests with walking issues may want to choose other accommodations. Reservations: 877.733.3611; malliouhana.com
LOVANGO RESORT + BEACH CLUB, ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
This 42-acre reserve on a private island off the coast of St. John garnered rave reviews when it opened in 2019 as a day trippers’ destination. Three years later, Lovango still magnetizes wanderers who sail its waters, but now it offers exquisite overnight accommodations.
As the newest hotspot to be built on St. John in 30 years, the resort is the brainchild of Mark and Gwenn Snider, owners of the ever-popular Nantucket Hotel on Nantucket and The Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Martha’s Vineyard. Consistent with the Sniders’ penchant for excellence, Lovango sets the bar high.
Guests enjoy amenities such as the Beach Club with its luxe cabanas and heel-clicking resort service. The club has also become the go-to place for discerning yachties who stop in for the day to enjoy creative coastal cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Stephen Belie.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Elevated glamping tents orchestrated by design director Michael Kramer of Michael Thomas & Co. offer bird’s-eye views. White canvas sling chairs beckon beachside relaxation. Treehouse rooms welcome sea breezes through louvered doors. The Beach Club boasts a swimming pool and private cabanas. BELOW LEFT: The Green Oyster is popular with guests who love casual, alfresco dining.
Overnight options include the spacious Villa, which sleeps nine. But the most heralded accommodations are the recently opened treehouses and glamping tents. Designed for minimal environmental impact, each 640-square-foot suite features a shower with slatted floors, breezy open-air balconies, and cool sleeping spaces. In addition, the rooms are only a short walk from Tree Tops Lobby and are easily accessible to island restaurants and beaches.
Looking to take a bit of the island home? Lovango Village offers an array of boutiques filled with travel mementos, sustainable resort wear, and beauty items. And if all that shopping leaves you hungry, stop in at The Green Oyster to enjoy tapas, tequila, and a raw bar while taking in some live music. Nearby, The Beach Grill offers a wood-fired kitchen menu, as well as gourmet grab-and-go options. Reservations: 833.568.2646; lovangovi.com
CHRISTMAS in the COMMONWEALTH
A young family returns to their Virginia roots in time to make new Christmas memories.
By MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX • Photography by MARY CRAVEN DAWKINS
NNot all family traditions are passed down through generations. Some of the most cherished are those we create on our own— a notion that event and floral designer Mary Spotswood Underwood holds close to the heart. Although her parents owned a historical home called Brooke’s Bank in Essex County, Virginia, for much of her childhood, they never seemed to make it there for Christmas. For the past six years, Mary Spotswood has been making up for lost time every December as she and husband Joe pack up their family of five and set out on the nine-hour drive from their home in Nashville. This year, however, they won’t have to travel far since they now officially call Brooke’s Bank home.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Brooke’s Bank is named for its original owner, Sarah Taliaferro Brooke. She was granted the land by King George II in recognition of her late husband, a Royal Navy officer, who died during battle. Brooke oversaw the construction of the home that was completed in 1751. It has since been lauded by architectural historians as a prime example of Georgian style thanks to exterior elements such as formal lines, fine brickwork, and a
PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT: The entry is wrapped in Adelfi’s Butterfly Chintz, inspired by an 18th-century French floral print from the archives of the Colonial Williamsburg Collection. The vibrant green walls and millwork in the adjoining spaces were custom colored and based off of layers of paint found during excavation. • Green wreaths made of Fraser fir, holly, popcorn berry, and apples deck the Chippendale gates at the entrance of the farmhouse. Mary Spotswood constructed the traditional fruit fan above the transom by pinning fresh fruit to a semi-circular sheet of plywood and garnishing it with greenery. THIS PAGE, ABOVE: Mary Spotswood relaxes on the porch off the kitchen.
hipped roof, as well as interior features including a wide center hall, sweeping archways, and intricate millwork. Over the years, the home has gone through two significant renovations— the first in 1930 by the Enos Richardson family and the second in 1994 by Mary Spotswood’s parents who enlisted architect Peter Pennoyer and interior designer Thomas Jayne with the three-year, museum-quality restoration.
“The most beautiful and special thing about this home is its authenticity,” Mary Spotswood says. “Most of the original architectural details have remained intact after centuries, and what wasn’t preserved or restored was painstakingly replicated. The whole process was a labor of love for all those involved.”
Every design decision that was made was driven by history— even the color scheme. After months of research and testing,
Thomas Jayne devised a historically accurate palette, including shades of greens and blues that would have been used during the Federal period. Mary Spotswood employed a similar approach to create a holiday decorating concept that would respect the home’s distinguished heritage. “The everyday furnishings and decorations are simple and somewhat sparse so that the beautiful bones remain front and center,” she says. “To enhance and balance them, I sculpted greenery in different tones and textures to help them stand out.”
English boxwood, fir, holly, and magnolia are peppered with sweet gum and pine cones to lend a more sculptural quality to the décor, while juniper, cypress, smilax, and mistletoe infuse softness and whimsy. To attain a look that she calls “farm to home,” Mary Spotswood foraged the property to gather all the greenery for her wreaths, garlands, and arrangements. She even sourced the crafting materials and tools the old-fashioned way. “We are a bit isolated out here, so I don’t have the luxury of making a quick run to the garden center or hardware store,” Mary Spotswood says. “I was tickled to find some small, rusty wreath forms hidden in an old drawer in the flower room, but there were not nearly enough. I decided to scour the barn for materials such as twine and chicken wire to make my own.” She even found an old basket filled with bolts of velvet ribbon that had faded over time to create an ombre effect. “I used the ribbon for hanging things whenever I could for two reasons—to protect the walls and woodwork and also for a more colonial look,” Mary Spotswood says. It’s this organic approach to holiday décor that perfectly complements the historical significance of the home—one sure to be filled with new memories for years to come.
OPPOSITE PAGE: The colonial blue cupboard displays a treasure of new and antique creamware bowls, flower bricks, and Blue Willow plates and platters, while the table is set with antique blue feather-edge ironstone. The pattern, common for that period, is believed to be the original pattern used at the house as several chards were unearthed during the restoration process. Garlands and sprays made from magnolia, holly, boxwood, pear, and apples breathe new life into the centuries-old spaces.
—MARY SPOTSWOOD UNDERWOOD
Holiday Traditions
At Christmastime, designer SHELLEY JOHNSTONE delights in welcoming family to her home filled with comfort and joy—and plenty of beauty.
By LYDIA SOMERVILLE • Photography by AIMEE MAZZENGA • Styling by CATE RAGAN
TThe day after Thanksgiving, Christmas music begins playing in Shelley Johnstone’s Lake Forest, Illinois, house just outside of Chicago. “For me, Christmas is all about creating memories,” she says. “My five grown children come home for the holidays and they want all the traditions they remember from their childhoods. I still do the gingerbread houses, as well as the trees in the study, the solarium, and the foyer. And I set the table with treats they’re never too old to enjoy.” For Shelley, the ultimate purpose of a beautiful home is to share it with people you love, and she’s perfected the art of designing spaces to be used and enjoyed.
Growing up in Madison, Wisconsin, Shelley was immersed in the world of creating beauty. Her father was a landscape architect, and her mother owned a pair of flower shops. “My love of florals and appreciation for details was handed down from both of them,” Shelley says. Her introduction to the world of interior design came when she moved to
England and enrolled in London’s Inchbald School of Design. Through that program, Shelley landed an apprenticeship with an interior
PREVIOUS PAGES: In keeping with her love for architectural motifs, Shelley designed the Greek key pattern on the living room rug. Greek key trim also adorns the banquette’s upholstery, while animal prints enliven the mix. THIS PAGE: In the foyer, a classic console table holds an arrangement of branches that changes with the season. At Christmas, magnolia branches, amaryllis, and reindeer ornaments set the holiday tone for the house. OPPOSITE, TOP AND BOTTOM: The solarium is one of Shelley’s favorite rooms, thanks to the reflective, lacquered ceiling that brings movement and life to the space.
designer. “That’s where I learned to love the bespoke details that I’m known for,” she says. The experience also taught her the importance of sharing your house with others. “The English are so good at opening their homes and entertaining both indoors and out,” Shelley says. “They make it a habit, and they regularly use their nice things.”
The designer also credits the school with instilling in her a passion for architecture. Her fondness for architectural motifs is on display in the living room, where a loose Greek key design adorns the custom wool and silk rug. “This house was originally designed by a
Holidays in my Hometown
Shelley Johnstone shares her special spots for Christmas shopping, entertaining, and decorating in Lake Forest.
M ON THE SQUARE The owner, Missy Poth, does beautiful bespoke flower arrangements. The shop also is filled with lovely tabletop items. LORD & MAR Another wonderful flower shop in town. Arturo Mar creates arrangements with a European elegance. FLOWERS BY KATIE FORD Katie makes such beautiful floral designs that you truly feel her intent of bringing joy to the recipient. There is no retail location, but they do offer local delivery. PASQUESI HOME AND GARDENS Based in the neighboring town of Lake Bluff, it’s the place to grab your Christmas trees, garlands, and so much more. AMIDEI MERCATINO This local, outdoor market sells and delivers beautiful Christmas trees, wreaths, and greens. GERHARD’S Indulge in elegant European desserts at this hotspot. They make seasonal gingerbread houses and yummy treats for the holidays. SWEET’S This family-run business is a Lake Forest favorite! Their chocolates are made daily. Christmas wouldn’t be complete without their solid chocolate Santas on our holiday table. INITIAL CHOICE This is my go-to for custom embroidery. It’s so fun to work with the team on monograms for holiday table napkins and gifts for friends. SHELLEY JOHNSTONE DESIGN I have to include my interior design showroom, filled with curated finds for the home. It’s the perfect place to grab a hostess gift (such as our signature candle), as well as pick up items for setting a beautiful holiday table.
THESE PAGES: A trellised hallway opens to the dining room, where upholstered walls and a draped table create a sense of occasion. Tulips, anemones, peonies, and ranunculus fi ll vintage Moroccan glasses. Shelley’s fondness for woven textures is evident in the placemats and glasses.
—SHELLEY JOHNSTONE
student of the great Chicago architect David Adler, so a lot of its elements refl ect his aesthetic,” she says. The symmetry of the room, the plaster moldings, and the neoclassical mantelpiece are Adler hallmarks, but the serene palette and animal prints are all from Shelley.
While the dining room, with upholstered walls and a pretty draped table, feels festive year-round, it’s the layer of holiday decorations that o ers a fresh take on a winter wonderland. The gingham table skirt can be dressed up or down. “I view checks as a neutral,” Shelley says. To complement the blue-andwhite wallpaper, she opted for natural tones accented with juicy pops of pink fl owers. “Red just doesn’t work in my house,” says the designer. “I like to use greens and chocolate tones mixed with gold and silver.”
Shelley loves to display decorations with a deer motif throughout the house. For the Christmas feast, she has a local bakery adorn sugar cookies with a stag design. She also nestles little silver reindeer among the fl owers. “Rather than one big center arrangement, I like to spread the fl owers out in bud vases down the table,” Shelley says. “It’s very loose and fun. I am a fi rm believer in taking traditions and making them your own.” The room has built-in, hidden cabinets, which she says make setting the table a breeze. “If everything is easily accessible, you’ll use it.”
One might think that Shelley’s glassed solarium, with its white rattan furniture, wouldn’t be a hospitable space in the winter. But thanks to its heated fl oor, cozy window treatments, and fi replace, the room is a popular gathering space this time of year. A palette of rich browns and greens warms the space
as well. Most of Shelley’s fabric choices throughout the house have stood the test of time. “The drapery fabric in this space is a great plaid,” she says. “It’s been hanging here for over 20 years.” Chairs upholstered in heavy canvas feel substantial and have also endured decades of use. “The best thing about the room is the lacquered ceiling,” says the designer. “Light bounces off of it, and it makes the room feel current.”
In the study, a tree covered in reindeer ornaments presides over a space with rich references to nature. An antelope rug underpins the room, while the painted ceiling was inspired by a tortoise shell box. The room also features a tea table that Shelley converted into an Hermès leather backgammon board as a gift for husband Brett on his birthday.
For Shelley, this house means family, something that has always been paramount to her. In fact, the designer feels so strongly about her brood that when she recently developed a signature candle for her shop, she wouldn’t sign off on the scent until her family had approved it. “I had my kids smell it, and they said it smelled like home,” she says. “To me, that’s the perfect scent—at the holidays and year-round!”
OPPOSITE PAGE: The tree in the study is covered exclusively with ornaments in the shape of reindeer, a common theme for Shelley’s Christmas décor. THIS PAGE, ABOVE: The breakfast table with vintage rattan chairs accommodates small groups for intimate dining. A white vase by Frances Palmer is filled with a mix of peonies, winter greens, French parrot tulips, and ranunculus. LEFT: Shelley’s classic holiday décor spills over into the front motorcourt.
HOST
with the MOST
For celebrity chef and connoisseur ALEX HITZ, the secrets to a great party are practice, planning, and always fl owers in abundance.
PREVIOUS SPREAD; LEFT TO RIGHT: Alex designed the foyer’s marble floor and painted the walls Benjamin Moore’s Tangerine Melt. An 18th-century French commode greets visitors with an exuberant arrangement of tweedia, Asclepias Beatrix, Miss Piggy roses, snapdragons, Free Spirit roses, hellebores, and shamrock hydrangeas. • Alex relaxes in a corner of the living room.
WWhen Covid shut down the country, Alex Hitz went in search of a project. The peripatetic celebrity chef and man-abouttown is used to staying busy, so he needed an outlet for his creative energy. A down-to-the-studs renovation of an apartment in Atlanta fit the bill quite nicely. “I wanted the apartment to feel a bit like New York in the 1920s,” he says.
The marble foyer floor of concentric squares establishes the simple geometry Alex sought to instill in the rooms. “The apartment had all these weird angles, so I worked to square things up,” he says. “It’s got an art deco spirit.”
Born in Atlanta, Alex spent much of his childhood living in France after his mother married conductor Robert Shaw. His passion for food started there and drove the trajectory of his life. After attending culinary schools in New York and Paris, Alex trained under French chefs André Soltner at Lutéce and Michel Guérard at Les Prés d’Eugénie. Today, the celebrity chef divides his time between New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, and is known for hosting the best parties on both coasts, as well as in Europe. His cookbooks, My Beverly Hills Kitchen, The Art of the Host, and Occasions to Celebrate: Cooking and Entertaining with Style (just released in October 2022), explore his Southerninfused French culinary approach.
When Alex opens the door of his Atlanta pied-à-terre to guests, his food is not the only thing that draws attention— flowers also play a starring role. Floral designer Kirk Whitfield, who has worked with Alex on his cookbooks, is finely attuned to his floral taste. “He loves oranges and pinks,” she says. “He prefers tight arrangements with abundant flowers—and always with lots of roses.” Another passion that Alex enjoys displaying is his love for art and antiques. “My mother collected modern art, so that’s where the Picasso, de Kooning, Giacometti, and Ben Shahn came from,” he says. “I also love English antique portraits.” The modern and classic pieces share space harmoniously, unified by
OPPOSITE PAGE: Floral designer Kirk Whitfield composed a trio of arrangements of tweedia, hellebores, freesia, ‘Miss Piggy’ and ‘Clarence’ roses, astilbes, and asclepias ‘Beatrix’ to adorn the formal living room without distracting from the view. Chairs from French upholstery shop Decour gather around a 10-foot-long linen sofa. THIS PAGE, ABOVE LEFT TO RIGHT: In the hallway between the foyer and library, doors conceal storage for Alex’s collection of silver and china tableware. • A portrait of one of Alex’s Swiss ancestors hangs over an ebony-inlaid Georgian desk in the library. The emerald lacquer is Cat’s Eye by Benjamin Moore.
The dining room shares the same Schumacher striped wallpaper and elaborate crown molding as the living room. The centerpiece includes ‘Royal Palace’ hydrangeas, bouvardia, hellebores, astilbes, weigela, snapdragons, and freesia, along with ‘Free Spirit,’ ‘Miss Piggy,’ and ‘Shimmer’ roses.
Consummate host Alex Hitz shares his rules for ensuring that every gathering is a great occasion.
Set the table properly according to your menu. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen hosts serve a soup course without placing soup spoons on the table.
Turn the lights down. No one came over to bear witness to a root canal.
Sweat all the small stuff. Otherwise, why are you having company? If you’re going to entertain, be all-in. But do everything before your guests arrive so they don’t see the effort. Nothing ruins a party quicker than watching the host straining to get the job done.
Include candles and flowers. I even use candles at special holiday lunches even though Emily Post says no candles in the daytime. There’s so much else to offend our sensibilities nowadays that I think we can let that one go. Sorry, Emily.
Always smile. At parties, just about anything can go wrong, and it often does. As long as you keep smiling, it will be okay.
Plan menus that aren’t too trendy or too complicated. As Karl Lagerfeld once said, “The last step after trendy is tacky.”
Don’t try to please everyone. Be a considerate, generous host, but never forget that the more you try to please everyone by accommodating their special diets or eating habits, the more you will fail. Simple, delicious, hearty food combined with candlelight and plenty of wine will ensure success. Chicken pot pie and good French wine is always a winning pairing.
Adapted from The Art of the Host by Alex Hitz, Rizzoli 2019.
“There is never enough wall space to hang the things I love to see.” —ALEX HITZ
OPPOSITE PAGE: In the sitting room attached to the bedroom, Alex hung some of his favorite framed art, including a shot of himself from 2005 taken by Yul Brynner’s daughter Victoria, who is a close friend. ABOVE AND BELOW: Alex loves an upholstered bedroom, so he swathed the space in a Lisa Fine fabric. Kirk Whitfield used snapdragons, Free Spirit roses, ranunculus, grevillea, and Magical Dark Ruby classic hydrangeas in the floral arrangements to pop within the rich setting.
Alex’s appreciation. A 17th-century portrait of “A Man of Letters” hangs on a wall with a photograph of Alex taken by Yul Brynner’s daughter, as well as a photograph of Frank Sinatra playing golf in Palm Springs in 1962. The collections seem to create a nuanced portrait of Alex the man, offering insight into his history, his taste, and his world view.
Floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room capture the high-rise views, while gilded chairs in damask upholstery set a formal tone. New plaster moldings lend a transportive quality and add a note of old-world opulence. A plump banquette sits with its back to the window with chairs placed around it for enjoying the view. “It’s very glamorous at night with the lights of Atlanta as a backdrop,” says Alex.
In the library, a portrait of Alex himself, painted by Sacha Newly, hangs on the shelving. “There is never enough wall space for the things I love to see, so I just hang things over the books,” he says.
The apartment originally had three bedrooms, which Alex merged into one. The upholstered walls give the space a cocooned feeling. “Fabric designer Lisa Fine and I went to this secret fabric archive in England and found this print,” he says. “I told her she should do this in chocolate.’” The result is a chintz that’s more masculine than most and also channels English country house style through a modern lens. The adjoining sitting room continues the drapery fabric treatment, which ends at a wall painted Benjamin Moore Gingersnaps. And just like the entire residence, the space, with its many pictures and collections, speaks of travels, of family and friends, and of a joyful embrace of tradition.
OPPOSITE: Cara’s husband, David, kicks off the season with a signature cranberry cocktail named after their home, Harvest Field, a reference from the Bible verse Matthew 9:38. BELOW: The windowsill behind the bar displays a sculpture by English artist Ann Carrington. Using silver plate and stainless serving pieces, she fashions bouquets out of cast-off utensils.
Sometimes, the best things really do come in small packages. No one knows this better than jewelry and fashion maven Cara Brown. “I have always loved trinkets,” she says. “There could be 40 little items collected on one tabletop, and I would look at them all.” Cara’s fascination with tiny treasures eventually turned into a passion as she began seeking out things to add her own provenance to, whether it’s a relic she transforms into a necklace or an adornment she adds to the custom vintage tweed jackets she designs. “I’ve always had an affinity for old things,” Cara says. “My mom was an interior designer. During my formative years, she taught me about fabrics, texture, and the importance of learning about antiques.”
Being surrounded by design at a young age propelled Cara’s own creative stirring. After she graduated from Vanderbilt with a degree in marketing and returned to her home state of Texas, a friend introduced her to the thrill of hunting for vintage beads and old jewelry. Together, the duo bought and repurposed their finds by disassembling the baubles and reimaging them as intricate Christmas ornaments. Eventually, they showed them to buyers at Neiman Marcus, and the company immediately placed an order for 200.
In 2001, Cara temporarily put her business on hold when she and husband David moved from Texas to Hopewell, New Jersey, so he could pursue a master’s degree in counseling. Cara turned her attention to raising their children but sated her appetite for design by decorating their 1724 home. “I had always yearned for an old farmhouse,” she says. “There’s nothing like this in Texas!”
Listed on the national, state, and local historic registers, the farmhouse was built by Huguenots forced to flee France for
BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: The property’s gate, built by Amish carpenters, visually relates to the clapboard dormers on the stucco-andstone farmhouse. Pinecone-studded wreaths are tied to garland with chocolate-brown ribbon. • The mudroom door is dressed with a garland of balsam, cypress, and hemlock. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Cara commissioned the large, cheerful, contemporary painting in the living room from local artist Elizabeth Endres. A Picasso print hangs above the fireplace. • Some of Cara’s earliest ornaments were created in tandem with a friend from Texas. “We used about 1,500 pins per ball to hold the beads in place,” Cara says. • The mantel’s garland is studded with amaryllis blooms, gold-dipped pinecones, French tulips, and branches of faux red berries. “The berries are the only faux thing I use,” Jennifer says. “Unlike real ones, they don’t fall off and make a mess.”
“I love scouring markets and shops for hidden treasures. There’s nothing better than uncovering a piece with an interesting history.” —CARA BROWN
religious persecution. “They used stone from this very property to build it,” says Cara. “I especially love the wide plank floors, wood ceilings, and beams.”
Without compromising the integrity of the original structure, Cara and David contributed elements from their own aesthetic lexicon. Additions include a hand-painted mural that extends from the entry to the dining room and up the staircase. Paint colors are from the Williamsburg Paint Color Collection by Benjamin Moore, and rooms are filled with antiques, some purchased together as a couple and others passed down from family members. Pieces include a 1920s English chest used as a bar in the dining room, an 1880s Welsh dresser, and an 1890s French dining table and chairs. The bureau in the enclosed porch belonged to David’s grandmother. “We wanted everything to look like it belonged here,” Cara says. “Our goal was to dress up what was otherwise a fairly primitive home and property.”
The house is elevated even more during the holidays when Cara and David welcome their children home. “At Christmastime, we want to create a beautiful setting where we can all just enjoy being together,” Cara says. To help her set the scene, she calls upon friend and floral designer Jennifer Figge. “We added floral arrangements that reflect the style of the house and also complement Cara’s collections,” Jennifer says. Using clippings
from the garden combined with hothouse flowers, the floral designer conceived an elegant, woodsy scheme that mixes conventional Christmas blooms and foliage such as amaryllis, paperwhites, and evergreens with purple clematis, peach ranunculus, and burgundy Agonis grass. She accented it all with blue-gray silk ribbon. “The mix is festive and playful while also enhancing the colors in the house,” Jennifer says.
On the dining table, a trio of arrangements picks up the colors in Cara’s Persian rug and in her antique Amari china, a collection she keeps on display on a sideboard year-round. Arrangements in the living room play to the jewel tones in Cara’s handmade Christmas ornaments and topiaries arranged on the coffee table. “These are some of the first ones I ever made,” Cara says. “Now that I’m able to fully focus on my design business, I like that these pieces serve as a reminder of where it all started. Bringing them out every year makes the holidays even more special.”
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Lois Lane, the family’s Golden Retriever, is no doubt the best gift under the tree. Floral designer Jennifer Figge filled the tree with antique bells and a combo of fresh and dried florals. Flowers and greenery include Queen Anne’s lace, tulips, bay leaf, eucalyptus, and English ivy. The circa 1800s antique angel crowns the tree. • The antique Amari china cued the colors in the floral arrangements and in the monogrammed napkins from Leontine Linens. • Cara serves up a woodsy-themed cake dressed with meringue mushrooms and dried apples that resemble lichens. OPPOSITE: Antiques fill the Browns’ dining room, creating a warm, cozy scene. Painted by artist Carol Nagel, the mural brings the fields, trees, and barns from the property’s bucolic setting to the interiors.
A love for jewelry, history, and mementos led Cara Brown to her greatest passion—preserving memories in a fresh new way for the next generation.
Cara’s earliest creative endeavor was crafting intricately-designed Christmas ornaments out of vintage beads and jewelry. She later began making necklaces out of relics such as old coins, 1920s belt buckles, and English horse brass. “You don’t always have to use things as they were originally intended,” Cara says. “I like to make my own rules.” The handcrafted designs combine found objects with hand-knotted, semi-precious, or antique beads. “I look for statement pieces that tell a story and can start a conversation,” she says. “The designs look equally good with a T-shirt or black tie.”
In addition to her jewelry collection, Cara is also the founder of LifeJacket™, a line of vintage tweed blazers upcycled and embellished to tell the wearer’s personal story. The jackets are adorned with patches, embroidery, and a Bible verse—representations of significant life moments. “It’s like a grown-up letter jacket for women,” she says. Each design is personally developed by Cara through one-on-one consultation, custom tailoring, and hand embroidery in order to tell a person’s unique story. Her own LifeJacket, a vintage Ralph Lauren tweed, features patches and embroidery that symbolize her children and her home state of Texas. It also includes a verse (Romans 8:28) and Cara’s wedding date. As she likes to say, “Life goes by fast. Jacket required.” carabrowndesigns.com I 609.730.0506
