September October 2023

FLOWER

HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE

Contents

FEATURES

56

Under the Big Top at Round Top

Known for creating memorable occasions, Rebecca Gardner pulls out all the stops for her own circus-themed soirée at the annual antiques fair.

66

Countryside Charmer

From the ground up, like-minded professionals come together to realize a meticulously designed home nestled into its enviable setting outside of Charlottesville, Virginia.

74

A Powerful Statement

For Susan and Rob Power, a request for a Donald Pelldesigned landscape results in a garden that overcomes a mountain of obstacles on its way to awe-inspiring beauty.

80

For the Love of Flowers

Connecticut-based designer Stephanie Woodmansee combines large doses of florals with classic East Coast style as she helps her best friend and former business partner redesign her historic Kansas City home.

ON THE COVER:

To commemorate Lee Jofa's 200th anniversary, we set our fall table with the company's Leyland Print in “Berry/Forest.” from the 200 Icons collection. Photographed by David Hillegas

“Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly. “One must also have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”

–HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

SCENE

19

We’ve got our eyes on...

Must-read book releases, eye-catching wall coverings, hand-thrown ceramics, and the latest market trends.

IN BLOOM 31

Entertain Event designer Blair Laborde teams up with her close friend and client Kelli Haywood to create an unforgettable blue-ribbon birthday bash.

40

Women in the Garden

Thanks to the stewardship of the Duchess of Devonshire, visitors continue to appreciate her vision of Chatsworth that has stood the test of time.

44

Decorate: Flowers

Instead of relying on the traditional colors associated with the season, Maria Maxit of Houston’s Maxit Flower Design finds inspiration for this floral creation during the transition time between summer and fall.

48

Market: Shimmer and Shine

Golden hues and glass reflections bring a touch of glamour to fall style.

50

Shopping: Heirloom Artifacts

50 44 IN

40

PHOTO (TOP TO BOTTOM) BY AARON INGRAM; BY ELLEN RENEE; BY CHARLOTTE MOSS

I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THIS QUOTE, AND I SAW THE MOVIE 25 YEARS AGO. Now that’s good dialogue.

I don’t live in New York, for better or worse, and I don’t necessarily need a “bouquet of just-sharpened pencils” as I do most of my writing now on a keyboard; but I do well recall and relate to the anticipation, the frisson of a new school year—and a new season, especially fall. Fall, with its fresh palette of golds, deep reds, burnt oranges, charcoal grays, and vibrant grapes; its lingering dahlias; the welcome gentle breezes; a thousand pumpkins lining the walkway in front of Whole Foods (or wherever you buy your groceries); and that first day when we feel the need to grab a pashmina or lightweight jacket. Fall, when we turn our thoughts toward gatherings, because everyone has been scattered to the four winds in summertime. It’s a time of reconvening, and it signals the start of the slow, then quick march to “the holidays.”

One of the fall’s must-see gatherings happens in Round Top, Texas, at the Antiques Fair. Folks from across the country respond to the siren call of looking and shopping for furniture, rugs, fashion, books, and that 150-year-old American boot scrape you didn’t know you just had to have. Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties put together a retail opportunity and hoedown

in her Round Top space that captured the attention and imagination of all who experienced it. And we’ve captured it for you. I can’t help thinking there may be some wilder home and party décor this season after seeing “Under the Big Top at Round Top.”

Set in a more subtle side of fall, the Blue Ridge Mountains outside Charlottesville, Virginia, beckoned a couple of Texans to build a country house and property that o ers a quiet, idyllic beauty they can settle into for the next season of life. They put together a team of architect, landscape architect, interior designer, and even floral designer that created a picture-perfect place.

And what better season to highlight two dear friends, Henry and Co. designer Stephanie Woodmansee and her former business partner Ellie Clymer, as they collaborate on Ellie’s flower-focused house! These two talents make the perfect pairing, having come up together in the atelier of interior designer Ashley Whittaker.

Any season is the time to see beautiful gardens, both brand new and historic, and to learn about the personalities behind their conception, creation, and stewardship. Landscape designer Donald Pell painted a pastoral landscape with wild grasses and other natives for an adventurous and obliging couple in Pennsylvania. And Contributor Charlotte Moss takes the likeness of the Duchess of Devonshire and her legendary life’s stewardship, the house and gardens of Chatsworth.

In anticipation of my first pumpkin-spice latte and Alabama football game...

SDG, Margot Shaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”

—Joe from Nora Ephron’s “You’ve Got Mail”

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 5

Margot Shaw FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Julie Gillis MANAGING EDITOR

Nicole Gerrity Haas ART DIRECTOR

DIGITAL

Jason Burnett DIGITAL GENERAL MANAGER

Carrie Clay ASSISTANT EDITOR

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Karen Carroll

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Ashley Hotham Cox

Missie Neville Crawford

Alice Welsh Doyle

James Farmer

Kirk Reed Forrester

Amanda Smith Fowler

Marion Laffey Fox

Elaine Griffin

Tara Guérard

Frances MacDougall

Robert Martin

Tovah Martin

Cathy Still McGowin

Charlotte Moss

Ellen S. Padgett

Matthew Robbins

Margaret Zainey Roux

Frances Schultz

Lydia Somerville

Sybil Sylvester

For editorial inquiries: editorial@flowermag.com

Julie Durkee PUBLISHER

Jennel O’Brien ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, SALES & MARKETING

Marlee Ledbetter MARKETING COORDINATOR

ADVERTISING SALES

Suzanne Cooper NATIONAL DIRECTOR, HOME FURNISHINGS

Wendy Ellis REGIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER

Sara D. Taylor REGIONAL ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

For sales inquiries: sales@flowermag.com

BUSINESS OFFICE

Mercy Lloyd CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Patrick Toomey ACCOUNTANT

Lisa Mitchell SENIOR MANAGER

CUSTOMER SERVICE

For change of address and subscription inquiries: 877.400.3074 or CustomerService@FlowerMag.info

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

Mish Tworkowski

Remco van Vliet

Evie Vare

Louise Wrinkle

What’s Online?

Foraged

and Fabulous

When floral and event designer Lewis Miller of Lewis Miller Design was in Birmingham, Alabama, for an event at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, he treated us to a floral arrangement demonstration at the home of FLOWER editor-in-chief Margot Shaw. He foraged materials from her garden and included some locally-grown dahlias to create a vibrant fall arrangement. See the video and Lewis’s tips for arranging at flowermag.com/howtodahlia

Inspired Tables

FALL FARE

Autumn gatherings call for relaxed, soul-soothing dishes. Satisfy your guests with a slow-simmered braise or comforting pot pie, hearty vegetables, robust drinks, and rich, warming desserts. We’ve gathered some of our most popular fall recipes shared by chefs, tastemakers, and entertaining gurus. One of our all-time favorites is the showstopping Savory Chicken Pot Pies from Babette’s Kitchen in Millbrook, New York. Find all 15 recipes at flowermag.com/fallrecipes

For almost every issue of FLOWER, our stylists set a fantastic table (see page 96 for the latest from contributor Amanda Smith Fowler). They curate gorgeous, seasonal table settings and share tablescape ideas using the latest wares and classic pieces from

Replacements, Ltd.; Kravet; Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights; and others. We’ve gathered more than two dozen of these wonderful tables—something for every occasion—to inspire your entertaining. See them all at flowermag.com/tables

BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO BY MONICA BUCK; BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO BY DAVID HILLEGAS

On Our Bookshelves

FAVORITE RELEASES

FULL OF DESIGN, GARDEN, AND FLORAL INSPIRATIONS

By Julie Gillis

Defining Chic: Carrier and Company Interiors by Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller

(Rizzoli, September 2023), $60

Sit back and enjoy this armchair tour of inspired interiors designed by Carrier and Company. For almost 20 years, firm principals Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller have been creating timeless, uniquely customized homes for their clients. As the talented duo explains, “We care deeply that the spaces we create are comfortable, that they function effortlessly for the lives they support, and that they are never under-decorated or overdesigned.” Readers will delight in the designers’ firsthand accounts of their individualized process for a variety of projects, including a historic, art-filled New York duplex; a refreshed Mediterranean-style California home; and an updated Connecticut lakeside retreat replete with glass expanses to capture the views.

PHOTO (TOP) BY DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN; (BOTTOM RIGHT) COURTESY OF RIZZOLI

WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

READING LIST (CONTINUED)

City Parks

by Christopher Beanland (Batsford, May 2023), $35

Public parks in cities around the world have long been favorite gathering places for those seeking a bit of nature within the confines of concrete jungles. And the pandemic only emphasized the fact that these parks are an essential part of modern life. Journalist and author Christopher Beanland explores famous spots such as London’s Hyde Park and New York’s Central Park while also treating readers to the beauty of lesser-known nature escapes like Tempelhof in Berlin (formerly an airport) and Freeway Park in Seattle, situated over a motorway. With 50 featured parks, this book showcases every genre from the iconic and historic to the newest and most cutting-edge—each one with its own unique take on combining nature and architecture.

The New Classic Home by Paloma Contreras (Abrams, October 2023), $45

Successfully combining traditional and modern elements in a space is a design task that many people—both amateurs and professionals—find challenging. In her newest book, award-winning designer Paloma Contreras offers tips for creating classic yet fresh interiors using her four main techniques—color, scale and proportion, texture and pattern, and tension. She demonstrates how to incorporate timeless pieces while also mixing in a bit of glamour. According to Contreras, this book is “a tangible representation of my evolution as a designer and features some of my best and favorite work to date.” Her text is accompanied by stunning images of her projects in locations ranging from Houston to Palm Beach and New York to Cashiers, North Carolina.

READING LIST (CONTINUED)

Designing Rooms

with Joie de Vivre by Amanda Reynal (Abrams, October 2023), $40

In her first book, designer Amanda Reynal offers an in-depth look at her style philosophy that favors comfort over formality. Known for her stunning interiors, the designer has a knack for balancing beauty with practicality in a manner that welcomes family, friends, and even pets. She deftly incorporates bold color in a modern way while also layering spaces for livability and ease. Throughout the book, Reynal guides readers through her rules of interior design and pairs those lessons with beautiful images of her projects. The designer’s artful blending of sophistication with functionality resonates with today’s homeowners as she celebrates interiors dedicated to busy families who love to entertain.

The Artistry of Flowers: Floral Design by La Musa de las Flores by María Gabriela Salazar (Rizzoli, March 2023), $50

Floral designer Gabriela Salazar appreciates florals in the same way she appreciates art—and she wants her readers to do the same. As she explains, “Colors, textures, movement, shape—it all seems an artist’s work, with everything needing to strike a fine balance, like a composition.” The designer draws from her painting background as she shares her methods for creating arrangements that range from simple and sculptural to intricate and colorful. Celebrated photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo joins Salazar in this journey with her stunning images that bring the floral designer’s words to life.

A Classic Combination

Canadian ceramicist Malory Tate, known for her sculptural vessels inspired by the 17th and 18th centuries, has collaborated with Elizabeth Lake, the creative behind her namesake lifestyle brand, to release a line of ceramics. Malory’s creations consist of hand-thrown pieces of semi-porcelain that are glazed with a watercolor effect. The limited-edition collection includes a tulipiere (left) and flower brick with matisse cutouts (above), as well as a bud vase, a flower basket, and a centerpiece with matisse cutouts. elizabethlake.com

NOTE: See page 28 to learn about Elizabeth Lake’s new linen tabletop collection.

Natural Surroundings

British artist and textile designer Sarah Gordon has released a new line of natureinspired wallpaper printed from SUPPLY Showroom in Austin, Texas. The collection displays Gordon’s contemporary flair as she e ortlessly weaves the enchantment of the botanical world into her artwork. Patterns include Lily Pad (top left and bottom right) and Lotus Vine (top right and bottom left), as well as Trellis, Marsh Flower, and Heron Garden—each available in multiple colorways. sarahgordondesign.com; supplyshowroom.com

PHOTOS (TOP) BY LAYTON THOMPSON; ILLUSTRATIONS (BOTTOM LEFT GRID) COURTESY OF SARAH GORDON AND SUPPLY SHOWROOM

Market Report

By Ashley Hotham Cox

Curve Appeal

When it comes to style, classic forms will always have a seat at the table. They just require a fresh approach from time to time. From modern to traditional, silhouettes are becoming softer with curvature, including sinuous forms like the Freeform Writing Table by Baker Luxe (left). Inspired by the unpredictable shaping of modernist art, the gently flowing legs and top make this piece adaptable to any setting. For second-generation designer Nellie Howard Ossi, her take on the new traditional is displayed in her capsule collection, Nellie Jane for Mr. and Mrs. Howard. Blending classic with modern, as seen in the Angie slipper chair with its scalloped skirt (below), results in a fusion of grand millennial style and new traditional design. bakerfurniture.com; mrandmrshoward.sherrillfurniture.com

From shapely, sculptural detailing to soft-lined silhouettes to rattan caning, these recent debuts have all the staying power to flourish.

MATERIAL MOMENT

An art form as old as time, cane webbing is as relevant today as it was in ancient days. With its stylish versatility and sustainability qualities, cane furniture continues to prevail in popularity. However, as skilled artisan weavers phase out and fewer individuals pick up the vocation, such workmanship could become a relic of the past. Thankfully, companies such as Serena & Lily are committed to employing hand craftmanship and leading the way in cane preservation. New to Serena & Lily’s line is the Nassau bar cabinet (below). This handsome, fullywoven piece works as a well-stocked bar or as storage for entertaining essentials. Interior shelves and drawers keep things organized, while brass pulls accentuate the natural oak veneer frame with rattan caning. Corey Damen Jenkins also included a piece of cane furniture in his collection for Hancock and Moore. The Ulysses Wood Chair (above) features handwebbed cane detailing on the inner and outer backs of the frame. Hand-wrapped metal along the chair adds a decorative element. serenaandlily.com; hancockandmoore.com

In Detail

Sculptural detailing and interesting motifs are popping up in abundance. From carved wood table bases to hand-embroidered linens, it’s the small (and sometimes big) things that make the di erence. Case in point: Celerie Kemble’s inaugural collection for Woodbridge gives voice to her spirited design as seen in the sculptural shapes of the collection, including the Tulip Dining Table (above). With its central column accented with carved laurel leaves over a hexagonal base and elevated on bun feet, the table makes a floral statement of a di erent nature. Perfect for topping o the table, Elizabeth Lake’s new collection (below) features a colorful assortment of whimsical florals with saturated hues of marigolds, greens, and blues, as well as vintage-inspired motifs. Employing traditional methods of appliqué and embroidery, the thoughtful collection is handmade in small quantities on the Portuguese island of Madeira. woodbridgefurniture.com; elizabethlake.com

By Margaret Zainey Roux

Photography by Mary Craven Dawkins

Kelli Haywood loves a little friendly competition. So, when the Texan-turned-Tennessean began planning her 40th birthday party with husband

Dave Haywood (of the country music group

Lady A), she wanted it to be remembered as the BEST game night of all time. “Next to her people, what Kelli loves most is winning—whether it’s games, sports, contests, or anything else for that matter!” says the honoree’s close friend Blair Laborde of Sarah Blair Event Design. “So we planned an event that really spoke to Kelli’s passion for fun and games with festivities that would start in the afternoon and continue well past dinner.”

In an homage to Kelli’s roots, more than 70 of her nearest

and dearest wore their “Texas best” and convened at West Glow Farm, an enchanting 65-acre property in Kingston Springs, just a short drive from her home base in Nashville. The event kicked off with an afternoon skeet shoot offering challenging speeds and angles for the advanced shooters, along with instructors to assist the first-timers in the group. As dusk drew, the gang strapped on brightly-colored “fanny packs” filled with tokens and chips featuring photos of Kelli from the past four decades. They headed to The Barn for 80s arcade games such as Skee-Ball and mini-golf, as well as casino games like poker and roulette. “It’s rare for adults to just ‘play’ anymore, so the best gift I got was seeing everyone having

PREVIOUS PAGE: “I wanted the floral trees to look as though they were growing straight up from the table,” says floral designer Meg Hutchinson. “They add a sense of whimsy and accentuate the dramatic height of the ceilings.” THIS PAGE; CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Dave and Kelli Haywood • Custom cocktail napkins were a special surprise from Blair to Kelli. • Although decadent desserts were served, a birthday party isn’t complete without a birthday cake. Blair commissioned the single-serving cake and custom candle topper for use during the ceremonial birthday song.

some good, old-fashioned fun,” Kelli says. “Some friends got really into it and even developed strategies to collect the most tokens and chips.”

Those taking a break from the competitions could be found at the bourbon-tasting bar or imbibing specialty cocktails. In addition to enjoying passed hors d’oeuvres, guests also grazed at the 6-foot-long charcuterie station before taking their dinner seats beneath the canopy of bistro lights and basket chandeliers. There, they indulged in four courses of farm-to-table fare prepared by Chef Steven Bailey of Kindred Farm.

Much like the theme, deciding on a decorative scheme was a no-brainer for Kelli and Blair as long as it included nature, flowers, and anything green—“Kelli” green

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: White ranunculus, foxgloves, hellebores, heather, and assorted white flowers pop against the green-and-white botanical tablecloth. • Passed hors d’oeuvres included sourdough toasts topped with turmeric hummus, heirloom tomatoes, English cucumbers, and herb Noble Springs chèvre. • Menu cards were hand-calligraphed in green on ivory watercolor paper.

GETTING PERSONAL

Event designer

Blair Laborde takes her clients’ parties personally.

“Party favors are a wonderful way for a host or hostess to show their guests how much their presence is appreciated,” she says. “I like to take them one step further by creating a favor that reflects the giver’s personality or passion. It not only serves as a tangible memory of the event but also as a special reminder of the giver.”

Here are a few of Blair’s gift ideas that reflect different givers:

FROM THE GOLFER

Personalized golf balls or golf towel.

FROM THE GAME LOVER

A customized deck of playing cards.

FROM THE GARDENER

Personalized packets of flower or vegetable seeds.

FROM THE WINE ENTHUSIAST

A bottle of the host’s favorite vino with a personalized label.

FROM THE NIGHT OWL

A customized “breakfast box” for late night or early morning munchies.

TOP TO BOTTOM: Guests pose with Kelli (second to right) and event designer Blair Laborde (right). • Nature-inspired decks of playing cards accompanied place settings.

to be exact. Billowy linen tablecloths featuring birds and botanicals made the perfect backdrop for wood-handled flatware and chargers, white ceramic plates, and delicate blush linen napkins topped with hand-calligraphed menu cards. In lieu of traditional centerpieces, Nashville floral designer Meg Hutchinson of The Florista constructed towering floral topiaries to accentuate The Barn’s soaring ceilings and offer a major wow factor. For movement, she wove hurricanes and flowerfilled compotes into the mix and paraded them down the length of the table.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” says Kelli. “It is not every day—or even every birthday— that you get to partake in all of your favorite pastimes with all of your favorite people in one place. Everything came together so seamlessly, and I loved knowing that the evening was just as special for my guests as it was for me. We could start planning now for my 50th, but I’m not quite sure it could top this one.”

LEFT AND ABOVE: Guests test their luck at casino games and a variety of arcade games such as Skee-Ball.

With a lifelong love of gardening, designer Charlotte Moss has long been intrigued with what draws people— especially women—into the world of horticulture. Some have made it their professions, while others have become enthusiasts, patrons, philanthropists, or simply weekend hobbyists. And then there are those who write about all things gardening. In her new column for FLOWER, Charlotte explores some of these women and the journeys that led to their passions for plants and flowers. She also has a forthcoming book with Rizzoli on the subject of gardening women set to release spring 2025.

A Living Legacy

THANKS TO THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE, VISITORS CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE HER VISION OF CHATSWORTH THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.

By Charlotte Moss

Ifirst visited England’s Chatsworth in the early 90s with the American Friends of the Georgian Group. We toured the house, walked the gardens, and had lunch in the family dining room with Andrew Cavendish (then Duke of Devonshire) and the charismatic Duchess Deborah (“Debo,” as she was known to friends). I remember the beautiful table setting, the tall Chinese screen from which the waiters emerged, and the commanding portrait of Henry VIII looking over us. But I also remember seeing a dog bed and large bag of dog food under the gilded William Kent console. To experience this extraordinary place in such a personal manner, to have history interlaced with personal anecdotes, makes the bricks and mortar come alive and leaves you wondering what tales the 200-year-old trees there could tell.

Chatsworth was built by the indomitable Bess of Hardwick, the wealthiest and most powerful woman in Elizabethan England next to the Queen. Upon marrying her fourth husband (the Earl of Shrewsbury and the wealthiest man in England), Bess set about building one of

ABOVE: Chatsworth stands majestically over the River Derwent. The house is the focal point of the 35,000acre estate that has been in the same family since 1549.

LEFT: A portrait of the Duchess by Mogens Tvede from 1949 when she was the Marchioness of Hartington and living at Edensor House on the Chatsworth estate.

PHOTO (CENTER) BY CHRISTOPHER FURLONG

the greatest treasure-filled houses in Britain. Through subsequent generations, Chatsworth became the home of the Cavendish family. The Duchess was a mere 30 years old when she and Andrew assumed ownership upon the death of Andrew’s father. His older brother, the heir apparent, had been killed in World War II, leaving Andrew as the next in line to assume the enormous responsibility of stewardship of Chatsworth, a role he and the Duchess performed handsomely for 54 years. Debo, the youngest of the often

celebrated and occasionally scandalous Mitford sisters, took her new responsibilities seriously, making Chatsworth and its gardens one of the most successful English Country estates today.

Imagine the task of being the chatelaine of a property with these stats:

273 rooms

24 baths

7,873 windowpanes

17 staircases

3,426 passages

359 doors

1.3 acres of roof

40,000 acres of land, with 105 acres devoted to the gardens

As we continued our tour in the garden, we listened to the Duchess explain to the American architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen that the trees destroyed in the brutal storm of 1987, which devastated parts of Britain and France, “will soon be replanted for others to enjoy in 200 years’ time, just as we have enjoyed them.” In her own metaphorical terms, “ … the battle with nature, which is gardening,” was

tragically in evidence here. I will never forget listening to her explain this to Hugh and the impact it had on me. It was a testament to her far-reaching vision and understanding of the responsibility incumbent upon her and the Duke to secure the future of the Cavendish family home and its grounds as an important historical monument in Britain.

Approaching the West Lawn, the Duchess shared how her idea came about for the design of the garden there. I knew of the story prior to my visit, but hearing it firsthand gave it new meaning. She explained that while viewing some drawings of Lord Burlington’s Chiswick House, it occurred to her that the dome of Chiswick was the approximate scale of the round pool of water on the West Lawn at Chatsworth. From that single similarity, she conceived a plan to re-create the floor plan of Chiswick by planting boxwoods. With the help of her local nurseryman, she accumulated 3,300 golden boxwood shrubs and designed an architectural conceit of a garden. This project was just one example of the determination the Duchess had to see projects like this

LEFT: The Duchess, pictured here with Hugh Newell Jacobsen, pointing out where a new allee of trees would be planted. ABOVE, LEFT AND RIGHT: In the garden on the West Lawn, golden boxwoods form a replica of the floor plan of Chiswick House. OPPOSITE, TOP TO BOTTOM: A tour of the grounds included the Duchess’s lupine garden that fortuitously was in perfect bloom at the time of our visit. • The Duchess with a couple of the family dogs.

through to execution—a special skill and one direly needed in order to continue to secure the interest in and relevance of English country houses. Debo’s creativity, inventiveness, and foresight are all part of her legacy at Chatsworth.

In the late ‘70s, Debo opened the Farm Shop at Chatsworth that included garden furniture made in the estate’s joinery, along with a café. While she somewhat jokingly attributed her retail acumen to Ginger and Pickles, the story by Beatrix Potter, that savviness resulted in a substantial annual income for the estate that continues today. The success of the shop at Chatsworth no doubt set the groundwork for other successful farm shops to follow, such as Highgrove and Daylesford.

Debo also turned her attention to writing books about Chatsworth. Later in life, her autobiography, “Wait for Me,” became a best seller. Her matter of fact, honest, and laconic style amassed quite a following, of which I am sure her older sister, novelist Nancy Mitford, would be reluctantly proud and perhaps a little envious. Nancy, who died in 1973, would never see the magnitude of her baby sister’s success. Debo’s exemplary stewardship shone through in her limitless energy that created the Farm Shop, her vision that was evidenced on the West Lawn, and her astuteness for planting trees that would thrive in the future. All of this has contributed to the future of Chatsworth—the place that she simply called “The House.”

DECORATE: FLOWERS

Maria Maxit of Maxit Flower Design

INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE TRADITIONAL COLORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEASON, MARIA MAXIT OF HOUSTON’S MAXIT FLOWER DESIGN FINDS INSPIRATION FOR THIS FLORAL CREATION DURING THE TRANSITION TIME BETWEEN SUMMER AND FALL.

Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux • Photography by Ellen Renee

love of flowers into a profession. Since founding her eponymous firm in 2010, Maria has grown Maxit from designing flowers for intimate weddings and social gatherings in her hometown of Houston to developing extravagant floral installations for corporate events all over the world. But for Maria, there is more to growth than just numbers. “My designs are constantly evolving because I am driven by a desire to try something ‘new,’ ” she says. “I love learning, traveling, and simply experiencing all the beauty that life has to offer. The more I do, the more inspired I become. The greatest thing about the creative process is that it’s ever-changing.”

Inspiration

When it comes to creating fall arrangements, Maria Maxit of Maxit Floral Design is not afraid to admit that sometimes she gets a little spooked. “Most often, when we think of fall flowers, we think of oranges, yellows, and reds— colors that seem to go with Halloween. But none of these are my personal favorites,” she says. “For this arrangement, I wanted to embrace the softer side of the season by capturing the transition that occurs between summer and fall. To do this, I integrated some unexpected pastels into the mix like green hellebores and pink snowberry. They lighten the weight of the brown tones and darker colors to add a sense of freshness and serenity.”

Behind the Scenes

Maria doesn’t remember a time when flowers weren’t a part of her life. “My mother had a rose garden, and my father was passionate about taking care of it,” she says. “Those blooms, as well as other types of flowers, practically took over my childhood home. But I never imagined that flowers would, or even could, impact my adult life the way they have.”

Twenty years ago, she left the hustle and bustle of corporate America in search of greener pastures and took a part-time job at her favorite local flower shop. While her stint there was temporary, it solidified her desire to turn her

MATERIALS

Coated chicken wire

Toffee roses

Quicksand roses

Caramel tulips

Brown sweet peas

Green hellebores

Preserved Copper

Snowberries

in Bloom

DECORATE: FLOWERS

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1 Form the base of the arrangement by mounding coated chicken wire inside the vessel. Hold the wire mound in place by topping it with an X made from waterproof floral tape. Fill with water about one inch at the top.

STEP 2 Working from the outside in, insert the Copper beech branches in a

grid to help shape the arrangement. Do not overstu . The Copper beech should take up ⅓ of the vessel, leaving ⅔ for the florals.

STEP 3 Anchor the arrangement with focal flowers starting with the To ee roses followed by the Quicksand roses. Insert them as clusters, and then stack

them by color. Add brown tulips.

STEP 4 Add groupings of more delicate accent flowers starting with the sweet peas followed by the hellebores and snowberries.

STEP 5 Check all sides of the arrangement and fill in as needed.

“It’s not just the rich colors but also the rich textures that give this arrangement a rustic nature that translates into a ‘fall’ aesthetic.”

—MARIA MAXIT

Shimmer and Shine

1 The Jaguar’s Paradise Silk Twill Scarf ($130) in “Butter/Pine” from Sabina Savage; sabinasavage.com 2 Hand Painted Tulip

Water Glasses ($650/set of 6) from Fiona Finds; fionafinds.co.uk 3 Gold

Silk Trimmed Table Lamp Shade ($324) through Houses & Parties; housesandparties.com 4 Gold Twist Pitcher ($260) through Houses & Parties; housesandparties.com 5 Herend

Queen Elizabeth Bonbon ($2,560); from the Queen Elizabeth II Collection; herendusa. com 6 Herend Corgi with Crown Collar ($535) from the Queen Elizabeth II Collection; herendusa.com

7 Assorted Gold Bud Vases ($32 each) from Paloma & Co.; shoppalomaandco. com 8 The Furniture Bible ($40); christophepourny.com 9 Moroccan Slippers ($58) in “gold” through Bella Cucina; bellacucina.com 10 Vintage Vine Floral Peel & Stick Wallpaper ($47.99/roll) from Tempaper & Co. in “Victorian Teal Vines”; tempaper.com

11 Jennifer Behr Kalina Gold

Floral Drop Earrings ($160) through Halsbrook; halsbrook.com

12 Pienza Round

Decanter ($160) in “Green” from Il Buca Vita; ilbucovita.com 13 One of a Kind Vintage

Venetian Glass Bowl ($85) through Chelsea Antiques; chelseaantiques1.com 14 Gold

Bamboo Serving Set ($170) from Paloma & Co.; shoppalomaandco.com 15 Hourglass

Table ($6,200) in “Gold” through Bunny Williams Home; bunnywilliamshome.com

16 Madre Linen Napkins ($90/set of 4) through Food52; food52.com 17 Fern Napkin

Ring Set ($78/set of 4) through The MET Store; store.metmuseum.org 18 Brass

Coasters ($49.95) from Williams-Sonoma; williams-sonoma.com 19 Multi-Colored

10 oz Tumblers ($216/set of 6) from Il Buca Vita; ilbucovita.com 20 Footed 14K

Gold Vessel ($480) from Paloma & Co.; shoppalomaandco.com 21 Spun Honey

Haystack Bottle in “Ruby/Gold” ($295) from Orbix Hot Glass; orbixhotglass.com

Produced and styled by Missie Neville Crawford and Sutton Ward

Photography by Kathryn McCrary

Surprise in Store

NASHVILLE-BASED INTERIOR DESIGNER STEPHANIE SABBE TRANSFORMS AN UNASSUMING BELLE MEADE STOREFRONT LOCATION INTO AN UNEXPECTED CREATIVE HAVEN.

By Christiana Roussel • Photography by Aaron Ingram

Nestled in the heart of the Nashville suburb of Belle Meade lies Heirloom Artifacts, designer Stephanie Sabbe’s response to the clamor of quick-and-easy, space-filling interior design and disposable décor. Its location in an unassuming strip mall often surprises customers as they open the door to find a well-curated collection of pieces that imbues a sense of place. Stephanie likens the space to her own experience of growing up in a spec house as a child—the bones are just a place to start. In her mind, there is no need to be limited by the plain, white-box beginnings.

As founder and principal of Sabbe Interior Design, a full-service design firm, Stephanie has spent more than 15 years working in both residential and commercial interior design. The Nashville native began her career in Memphis, working for Gresham Smith and Partners and then Hnedak Bobo Group, where she focused on commercial interiors. But it was her unexpected move to Boston that helped hone her vision and the aesthetic that now resonates with her clients. “Because I grew up in a home with very little architectural integrity, the move to Boston really opened my eyes to historic interior architecture,” she says. “From that point on, I could never unsee the

ABOVE AND RIGHT: Owner Stephanie Sabbe with a few of her favorite finds, including collected artwork sourced from a dealer in Ukraine and a Haomy apron hanging from a Shaker peg rail. • Custom cabinetry in Benjamin Moore’s “Brewster Gray” creates the ideal backdrop for the ever-changing array of goods offered in this cozy respite of a shop.

possibilities within four walls. When I returned home to Nashville, I brought this mindset with me because we have so much opportunity here for the same type of creativity.”

Stephanie set to work putting this ethos into practice as she transformed a former local insurance agency outpost into a tightly edited retail space that serves as a hub for her eponymous design business as well as an extension of her own home. “You can have a strip mall or you can have a spec house, but the outside does not have to limit what you do with the interiors,” she says. Riffing on her affection for moody British spaces, such as the ones created by deVOL Kitchens, the designer painted the walls in Benjamin Moore’s “Brewster Gray.” She then added interior windows and

CREATIVE COMMUNITY

While in Boston, Stephanie found great connection through adult education.

“I had been working in commercial interior design for five years and was just really burned out,” she says. “I wanted to do something different.” She took a weekend job teaching classes at the Boston Center for Adult Education, which not only fostered new connections but also inspired her desire to host classes of her own at Heirloom Artifacts. Once a month (or more often as schedules

allow), the broad farmhouse table at the heart of the store is cleared of merchandise and set for creativity and connection. Small groups of fewer than 10 participants gather to learn the art of calligraphy, floral arranging, knitting, or needlepoint. As hands get busy developing skills that create more than simple handicrafts, the literal and figurative walls seem to fall away. It’s that sense of community that fulfills Stephanie and keeps her customers coming back.

ABOVE: The bar and stools are found objects from Stephanie’s travels. Small-scale Turkish rugs nestle in a vintage basket. The Floral Society candlesticks are a perennial design favorite and can be used in a variety of design styles, lending instant mood wherever they’re employed.

“I don’t usually like matchy-matchy, but I quickly realized that in a space this small, I needed to work from a firm palette so that pieces did not stick out in an odd way.”

—OWNER STEPHANIE SABBE

transoms to wash the space with natural light. “When I was in Boston, I did a lot of work in brownstones, which are so charming from the outside but can be rather gloomy on the inside,” says Stephanie. “They only have a light source at the short end wall, which is similar to how this was originally set up. I knew I wanted to build out a space where my staff would get to see natural daylight.”

From there, she affixed molding painted in Benjamin Moore’s “Knoxville Gray” to lend a little residential interest to the shop. Inspired by an image of an antique pharmacy cabinet, Stephanie engaged a local cabinet maker to build pieces that can be moved around based upon the seasons and the designer’s whim. She painted the pieces the same color as the walls to create a consistent backdrop for the candles, pillows, books, baskets, glassware, and other creatively sourced home goods. “I don’t usually like matchy-matchy,” says the designer, “but I quickly realized that in a space this small, I needed to work from a firm palette so that pieces did not stick out in an odd way.” She also recognized that, unlike larger

ABOVE: This vintage painting is one of two Stephanie has in the shop. She commissioned local artist Jane Douglas to reimagine and modernize them by adding flowers to cover the subjects’ faces.

THE GOODS

Displaying a decidedly moody British palette, Heirloom Artifacts o ers a tightly edited array of textiles and useful goods for everyday living—think woolen Bronte throw blankets from UK-based Abraham Moon & Sons, ticking-striped bedding from Taylor Linens, thickly quilted Euro shams that hold their shape, French linen napkins, and those Fermoie pleated lampshades which are having a hot moment right now. But the one item Stephanie might be most excited about is something all her own: a small tabletop cordless lamp with a hand-turned wooden base. The twotone wood design is an homage to the Jenny Lind spindle bedpost, part of a bedroom design which really launched this chapter of Stephanie’s career. The simple Scandinavian-influenced lines play well with a number of styles, while the cordless aspect works in a bookcase, on a tabletop, or beside a bed.

retail spaces that can house several vignettes, this smaller shop can only display one. “That’s why there is a lot of color similarity between the textiles, candles, and other things we sell,” Stephanie says. “I felt like the space didn’t work if I didn’t create some sort of jumping-o point palette-wise.” The colors she naturally gravitates toward—blues, greens, muddy oranges—have become her personal default choices in the shop. As a result, the tapers play o the linen aprons which play o the lampshades which meld beautifully with the accent pillows. “Customers come in and say it feels like a warm hug in here,” says Stephanie. “That description actually feels like a hug to me.”

Stephanie, pictured here with daughter Cora, has always wanted Heirloom Artifacts to feel like an extension of her home.

Under the Big Top AT ROUND TOP

Known for creating memorable occasions, Rebecca Gardner pulls out all the stops for her own circus-themed soirée at the annual antiques fair.

By MARGOT SHAW Photography by ADAM KUEHL

Mick Jagger was once overheard pronouncing confidently, “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” That sentiment is embraced by Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties as her professional mission message. But don’t be deceived—her version of overdoing entails more of a tastefully considered, whimsical, and sometimes irreverent maximalism. Rebecca, with a Southerner’s sense of story and a love of antiquity, layers every scene, shop corner, party plan, and home design with compelling cues that woo the viewer into further examination and appreciation. One is intrigued.

A native Texan who was raised in Mississippi, Rebecca has been dreaming of parties since the age of 7 and realized the inherent thrill of gathering guests around a theme— be it a pink-and-green-colored Barbecue Field Day ice-cream social complete with piglets or a “styleshow wedding picnic” where she dragooned the local news broadcaster into playing emcee. Early on, she also understood the power of the party, as evinced by her cajoling a cookie from a cousin with the threat of this cousin being crossed off the guest list of one of Rebecca’s upcoming fêtes. Pair this innate love of exuberantly entertaining others with an encouraging mother and a grandmother who was steeped in party-ready practices and elegant entertaining style, and you have a hostess for the ages.

As for the “Houses” part of Houses & Parties, Rebecca attributes that to her uncle, W. Gardner, who instilled in her a love of good design and antiques while she was still in high school. “He travels around the world buying antiques and has the best imagination and the finest taste,” she says. “He knows absolutely everything regarding design and furniture and its history. He’s the twisted, indulgent, opulent, devil-may-care part of me. When he bellowed, ‘Get your L.L. Bean backpack off my Fortuny cushions,’ I wanted to know more.”

Fast-forward to Texas’s Round Top

PREVIOUS SPREAD; LEFT TO RIGHT: Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties holds the reins and welcomes guests to her Circus Soiree from aboard this vintage Barnum & Bailey caravan. • Each dinner guest was treated to a souvenir—a marbleized party cracker containing edgy party games and shiny costume jewelry. Reminiscent of faience, the colorful Izmir dinner plates were from Laboratorio Paravicini. Vintage Moroccan tea tumblers were used as votives, and the tables were dressed in cloths from Houses & Parties’ Traveling Salvation Show Collection. THIS SPREAD, ABOVE AND RIGHT: A dapper waiter serves Sofia Coppola’s Blanc de Blancs in lustrous red cans as guests arrive. • A group of merry party-goers costumed for the occasion: (left to right) Zach Weiss, Illa Gaunt, Leslie Pitts, Natalie Steen, and Bailey McCarthy.

Antiques Fair and an opportunity for Rebecca to take her show on the road. “The fair is a riot!” she says. “Women (and a few men) descend on the small strip of Texas farmland—whose motto is ‘Big Time Small’—to shop, eat, drink, see, and be seen.” Once purveying simpler fare such as Blue Willow platters

and French armoires with chicken wire, the event now includes an updated designer inventory with such notables as Kelly Wearstler for Royere, Alessandra Branca for Casa Branca, and Bobby McAlpine and Suzanne Kasler giving book talks. This is not your grandmother’s Round Top. It is, however, the

LEFT: Party guests peruse the treasures in the Houses & Parties tent. “Our shopping experience features all things to make memorable occasions, such as unusual continental antiques and copper bathtubs cooling cases of champagne,” says Rebecca. “We reupholstered some of the antiques in wild tiger stripes, chartreuse duchess satin, and yards of passementerie. Hundreds of scaled model hot-air balloons hung from the ceiling and around a giant, fanciful Italian breeding cage from the 19th century. And we sold nostalgic sugar eggs, Elizabethan dog collars, and molded plastic piggy banks from Germany, along with costume jewelry that rivals anything J.R. gave Sue Ellen.” ABOVE: Rebecca designed exotic lampshades to create pools of light in the space. This shade is made of cotton from Décors Barbares with Samuel & Sons fringe.

ideal location for a heaping dollop of Houses & Parties’ playful hospitality.

To tell her company’s story throughout the two weeks of the fair—and especially on the twinkly party evening—Rebecca came up with a circus theme. She ran to ground an early 20th-century Barnum & Bailey caravan and positioned it at the edge of her site to signal something special. She imported a tranche of her magical Houses & Parties inventory and styled it with chic and allure in a red-andwhite-striped circus tent. Guests of the event shopped the enchanting emporium, had their fortunes told to the strains of flamenco guitar music, and sipped Sofia Blanc de Blancs from rubyred cans, as well as Ginger Margaritas

(Rebecca’s favorite from Jean-Georges’ ABC Kitchen in New York City).

As “liquor” was not allowed to be served on-site, Rebecca, ever the rebel, had cups fashioned with a French phrase straight out of the Dadaist artist Marcel Duchamp’s playbook: “Ce n’est pas une Margarita”—but of course it was.

Dinner was set in an adjacent tent under multicolored cantina lights, low-hanging painted panels that came from a 1920s French carousel, hot-air balloons made of rattan that housed blousy wildflowers, and romantic 19th-century Spanish iron chandeliers. “We covered the tables with mismatched textiles with folkloric charm as if on a clothesline in the clouds,” says Rebecca. “The Gypset print tablecloths are part of our Traveling Salvation Show collection designed especially for the occasion.”

To interpret Rebecca’s food vision, she called on KB Table out of Austin. The spread had to encompass her personal provenance: Texas, Mississippi, and, most recently, Savannah, Georgia. Platters were passed from the beds of nearby pickup trucks to the tables. The menu featured tiny ham biscuits, a wedge salad with ranch dressing, fried chicken from

“The fair is a riot!

Women (and a few men) descend on the small strip of Texas farmland— whose motto is ‘Big Time Small’— to shop, eat, drink, see, and be seen.”

—REBECCA GARDNER

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Rebecca Gardner, hostess and head of Houses & Parties, with Alexis Traina, founder of HiNote. • Lighting the candles is Houses & Parties lead designer Sophia Uribe. • Ruth Davis, owner of Found, alongside designer Ken Fulk • A guitarist serenades guests with exotic flamenco tunes.

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT:

Rebecca Gardner and designer Max Sinsteden lead the post-prandial singing of “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” • For dessert, guests were offered a Texas favorite, Blue Bell ice-cream sandwiches along with fresh strawberries.

Bush’s (a Round Top favorite), green bean salad, and Savannah Red Rice with pickled shrimp. During a dessert of regionally sourced Blue Bell ice cream sandwiches, Rebecca, the ringmaster, stood and gave a handful of poetic and affectionate toasts. She began by proclaiming to the party, “You are ALL my greatest show on earth.” Post-toasts, she joined with one of the guests to lead everyone in a jolly round of “Deep in the Heart of Texas.”

Rebecca had compiled a rich stew of guests who were as colorfully and thematically attired as the tents. And they came from all points of the compass, all fields of art and design, and all different parts of Rebecca’s life: Ken Fulk and Alexis Traina from San Francisco; Lucy Harte, Illa Gaunt, Bailey McCarthy, Wendy Konradi, Lindsey Looke, Linsay Radcliffe, Fern Santini, Augusta Hoffman, and Leslie Pitts from Texas; Alessandra Branca from Palm Beach; Nick Olsen, Eliza Harris, Max Sinsteden, and Zach Weiss from New York; Colby Goetschius from Savannah; and lastly, from Alabama, me and my husband, Gates. There was a palpable air of love and just sheer fun throughout the evening, attributable to Rebecca’s generosity, creativity, and humor.

Rebecca paraphrases and tweaks another favored quote, this one from P.T. Barnum of Barnum & Bailey: “Fortune always favors the brave and rarely helps a man without dear friends.”

Countryside CHARMER

From the ground up, like-minded professionals come together to realize a meticulously designed home nestled into its stellar setting outside of Charlottesville, Virginia.

By ALICE WELSH DOYLE Photography by ERIK KVALSVIK Floral Design by MALLORY JOYCE Photo Styling by KK HARRIS

“We wanted a house that fit into the landscape; one that would make sense when you look at it,” say the owners of this property outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. That refrain was the jumping-off point and the continuing touchstone throughout the entire project, from the plantings to the architecture to the interior design. The savvy stewards of such choice acreage had the foresight to begin with the outside. “The property had been used for agriculture, so there was barely a tree in sight,” says landscape architect Anna Boeschenstein of

Grounded. “We created a screen with native evergreens mixed with some deciduous trees and shrubs all along the edge of a fairly active road for both privacy and noise reduction. And because of the early installation, the trees had some growth on them by the time construction began.”

Next came determining the siting for the home for the sake of the views and livability. Anna and the owners teamed up with architects Keith Scott and Julie Dixon of Rosney Co. to create a plan—one that was not the most obvious perhaps. “I think a lot

of people’s instincts would be to automatically place the house on the highest point,” says Keith. “Instead, we tucked it in behind the knoll to create a natural divider from any busyness beyond. There is also this welcome sense of arrival as you progress down the driveway. The house slowly reveals itself and, while private, it still offers exceptional views.”

For the style of the home, the clients were seeking authenticity—no splashy new build but rather a home that felt like it could have been there for generations. Taking cues from the Middleburg area and the Shenandoah Valley, the architects crafted a one-room-deep farmhouse with an engaging façade that looks like it has been added on to and tinkered with over the years. “The owners didn’t want one big mass or block. They wanted the house to tell a story,” says Keith. “We also chose quality materials in a classic palette that will age well—fieldstone, cedar shakes, and painted metal.” And to keep the house in a continual conversation with the outside throughout the four seasons, the team added a dining porch and side porch for taking in the views, as well as an outdoor fireplace with a reclaimed chimney.

Anna’s landscape design—a series of rooms that include a cutting garden, a fountain garden, and a fireplace terrace garden— ensures that something captivating is always in bloom throughout the year. In the spring, tulips, daffodils, liriope, and the cherry

PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT: The seating area with stacked stone fireplace extends the outdoor experience as temperatures drop. • Built of fieldstone, the home feels like a farmhouse from the past. Wooden sides flanking the home give the impression that they may have been added over time. THESE PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT: In the entry, an antique table topped with an eye-catching piece of art is set off by a graceful arch. • Antiques bring welcome character and a sense of age to the light-filled living room. Anne hand-picked art that would provide another layer of interest throughout the home.

ABOVE: A cozy family room doubles as a library and home office with big picture windows to take in the view. The warm palette reflects autumn on the farm. LEFT: The dining room strikes a balance of casual and formal elements; slipcovered chairs impart ease while the antique dining table adds a note of gravitas.

tree allée make their debut, while in the summer, frothy hydrangeas such as ‘Little Lime’ and ‘Dwarf Oakleaf’ appear. For fall, grasses like smoky pink muhly and Mexican feathergrass put on a show, along with scarlet oaks. And in the winter months, Virginia and Loblolly pines and ilex varieties of winterberry and inkberry keep color in the landscape. “The clients also wanted the grounds to have some age, so we introduced found objects such as old millstones as a repeating motif in the design, including one used as a water feature in the cutting garden,” says Anna. Add the homeowners, “It’s just what we envisioned. It’s not overly planted or overwrought. It feels natural.”

That desire for authenticity extended to the interiors curated by Anne Hulcher Tollett of Hanover Avenue in Richmond, who was hired early in the process to collaborate with the team. “In keeping with such

ABOVE: The landscape is dotted with delightful moments such as this bench with an antique millstone framed by a bank of hydrangeas. BELOW: A columned side porch with a pair of swivel chairs provides the ideal spot for morning co ee and taking in the fall color.

thoughtful architecture, we leaned into the idea of a collected house where it feels as if pieces have been brought in over the decades, although we basically started from scratch,” says Anne. “Antiques were essential so that the furniture would feel like it was perhaps inherited from the owners’ parents and grandparents. But we avoided anything too ornate or embellished.”

Anne also encouraged her traditionally-minded clients to embrace a little whimsy here and there. “I wanted the house to reflect the cool grandparents that they are—the ones who enjoy live music and going on yoga retreats.” This mindset is best reflected in the choice of art for the home. Anne introduced her clients to Reynolds Gallery in Richmond where she helped them build a meaningful collection with many local artists in the mix. She even commissioned Charlottesvillebased Cate West Zahl to create a landscape of the property itself that hangs over the living room fireplace. And in the primary bath, the designer added a contemporary work by Mark Fox that evokes seedpods found on the property.

Anne and her team also dialed into the idea of the all-season house. “We are so fortunate to have four distinct seasons in Virginia, especially in the mountains, so I broke the home into

these ‘moments,’ ” she says. “The primary suite reflects the landscape in winter when it’s covered in snow—how the sun hits the icy terrain outside. It’s full of these candlelight shades of white, blue, and peach.” She explains that the living room speaks to summer with its sky blue and green palette, while the dining room, which is a pause before the kitchen, is “like a breath of spring air.” The library/study evokes fall with its harvest palette—saffron, earth tones, mustards, and warm grays. Anne had a custom rug designed that captures the mood and has important years woven into the pattern—her clients’ wedding date, their children’s birth dates, and the year they moved into the house.

For the homeowners, this home is in harmony with their next chapter. It’s a place to indulge in outdoor pursuits and to enjoy all that Charlottesville offers while having the countryside life they envisioned. “We didn’t want a big sprawling house with all these designated rooms for certain activities but rather one that’s very livable,” says the couple. “We have everything we need on the first floor, while upstairs are three bedrooms at the ready for our children and grandchildren.” This unpretentious yet beautifully realized home is truly one for the ages.

ABOVE: Anne convinced her clients to turn an unfinished space into a special bedroom for grandchildren. A blue floral wallpaper extends to the ceiling, and tall, striped custom-upholstered beds tucked in the eaves draw the eye up. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The primary suite offers a serene attitude that evokes a snowy winter landscape. The beauty is in the details, such as the embroidered tape trim along the bottom of the bed skirt. • In keeping with the wintry feel in the primary bedroom, Mallory Joyce created an arrangement of dahlias, cosmos, hellebores, and celosia. • The primary bathroom pairs an old-fashioned footed bathtub with contemporary art by Mark Fox.

For more information, see Sources, page 94.

A Powerful Statement

For Susan and Rob Power, a request for a Donald Pell-designed landscape results in a garden that overcomes a mountain of obstacles on its way to awe-inspiring beauty.

By TOVAH MARTIN Photography by ROB CARDILLO

When homeowners Susan and Robert Power first invited landscape designer Donald Pell to view the site of their Pennsylvania home, Don was unsure about taking on the project. While the property offered thrilling views that rivaled the glorious panoramas of Yorkshire, England, it also came with some big hurdles. The lay of the land on a hill in the Blue Mountains seemed like a dream, but Don could quickly see that the wind-buffeted landscape had fallen victim to much more than occasional mild gusts. Luckily, when the designer dug deeper to consider the underground situation, he found that the soil presented potential. Rather than amending a site, Don prefers to work with what he is given, and in this case, it was shale. “This was a rare opportunity

for me since I am used to working with varying degrees of clay,” he says.

Once on board, Don began putting pen to paper to realize the Powers’ vision. The couple, having replaced the former house with a window-rich home surrounded by a wraparound porch, desired a landscape that would complement both the house and the mountains. “Our one wish was to create a broad, sweeping, Impressionistic scene that would read from the road below while also spreading like a blanket to skirt the house and frame the view,” says Bob. And that’s exactly the sort of design that Don does so well.

Given the blank slate to be creative with composition, Don saw an opportunity to interweave a symphony in various textures and mixtures. Every square foot of the garden is a dialogue featuring harmonies between plants

performing their various moments of splendor, from emerging foliage to flower to seedhead and dried blades. It looks natural and fits comfortably into the scene. In fact, from a distance driving by, some of the townsfolk are not sure there is a garden at the top of the hill. But in truth, the entire scene has been meticulously orchestrated.

Don is a true plantsman. In his office about an hour away from the Powers, he constantly experiments with mixtures of plants in a flowing, naturalistic style. He tests how combinations coincide and speak with one another, and he creates color accents that reverberate back and forth between interwoven blocks of perennials. Making it work requires quantities of plants to create the illusion of a meadow. He calls the Powers’ landscape

PREVIOUS PAGES: In autumn, rivulets of Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly’ interweave with Amsonia tabernaemontana and Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ to form a broadloom. THIS PAGE, ABOVE: Landscape designer Don Pell wades in a planting of ‘Standing Ovation’ little bluestem and Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ at his studio/test garden. By trialing the plants, he learns personality traits to help mingle them effectively for clients.

ABOVE: When creating plantings abutting the Powers’ wraparound porch, Don harmonized stem colors, leaf textures, and growth habits, as well as flower hues. Additionally, he factors winter performance into the formula.

BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Eryngium yuccifolium blushes red in autumn to heighten its beauty. Don creates combinations like Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ and Pycnanthemum muticum based on their year-round performance, as well as his vast knowledge of the plants.

a “stylized Impressionistic prairie.”

While ornamental grasses form the backbone of the plantings, they also serve the very necessary function of anchoring the site with deep roots tenaciously clinging to soil that could easily erode. As a result, they shoulder the gusts rushing up the hill. Even on a calm day, the garden is rustling. “The grasses also help shade the tender, coolseason plants,” Don says. “It all functions as a plant community—sort of an ecosystem.”

The garden reaches full volume in autumn, but the beauty of the scene is that it remains dynamic throughout the year. Cutback is held until late winter/ early spring, letting the bulbs emerge. In spring, bulbs kick o the growing season. Some self-seeding is permitted, although when certain perennials begin to overdominate, their seedheads are removed before they can scatter. That was the case for the Eryngium yuccifolium and Echinops. Amsonia also proved a little too generous with its will to increase. “Getting the succession right is part of the challenge, but that’s what an ecological planting is all about,” says Don. Having experimented with various cultivars, he suspected that ‘Standing Ovation’ little bluestem would perform best in the shale soil. Other plants that appreciate the gritty location, such as Russian sage (Salvia yangii, formerly Perovskia), also thrive particularly well. Although the composition is deftly orchestrated, Don does not do complex layouts on paper. “I function di erently compared to other garden designers,” he says. “I work with palettes.” His gardens are roughly drawn out on paper to plan the number of plants needed and to communicate the hardscape with contractors. Then Don personally lays out the design to achieve the symbiosis he desires. Even now with a national presence, Don still installs each site. “That’s when I have the most fun,” he says. “And we’re all at our best when we’re having fun.”

The Powers mention another perk of the garden that they didn’t predict—the music created as the winds wave through the plants and the blades sway in the breezes. “It’s almost like an ocean,” says Susan. She has also discovered a fondness for the crunch of gravel as she follows the pathways skirting the house. And then there’s the wildlife and its contribution to the dialogue. Beyond the hum of insects, there is the whoosh of goldfinches and other birds that adds to the harmony. It truly is a powerful composition.

To frame the neighboring cornfield, Don created a block of Sedum ‘Matrona’ abutting Amsonia tabernaemontana var. salicifolia. Carpinus caroliniana (American hornbeam) is among the few trees able to tolerate the windswept hill.

For the Love of FLOWERS

Connecticut-based interior designer Stephanie Woodmansee combines large doses of florals with classic East Coast style as she helps her best friend and former business partner redesign her historic Kansas City home.

By MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX

Photography by READ MCENDREE

OPPOSITE: The 1916 Georgian-style home was originally built by Shepard, Farrar & Wiser of Kansas City.

THIS PAGE: Schumacher’s iconic Hollyhock fabric covers the walls, setting the tone for the sunroom that spills out into the backyard.

Elle Clymer’s love of flowers comes naturally. Her mother was an avid and award-winning rose gardener, and her childhood home was always abloom with the season’s best and brightest. Although she strives to carry on that legacy, Elle, wife and mother of three, admits that she doesn’t get her hands in the dirt quite as much as she would like. Instead, a variety of botanical motifs are planted inside her Kansas City, Missouri, home to keep her perennially connected to the outdoors.

In addition to these lush layers, Elle’s abode displays a culmination of all the things—and people—that she cherishes most. Heirloom antiques passed down from her grandmother hold memories, as well as places of prominence, in rooms otherwise adorned with art, furniture, and décor that she and husband Greyson have

ABOVE: The antique broken pediment mirror and bird etchings are hung the “old-fashioned” way using cables and clips tacked to the picture molding to maintain the pristine condition of the Gracie panels. TOP RIGHT: To make a grand entrance in the foyer, wood floors are painted to mimic marquetry. The antique burl-wood center hall table, topped with delphiniums and eremurus, infuses the space with formality that is toned down by the crusty zinc pendant.

THE SIXTH WALL

Interior designers often refer to the ceiling as the fifth wall—an area of opportunity for unexpected adornment. But don’t forget the floor! Undoubtedly, it is vital to the structural foundation of the house, but it can support the design foundation as well. Interior designer Stephanie Woodmansee shares a few uncommon ways to “step up” your floor décor game.

PAINTED WOOD

From an elegant marquetry-inspired style to a mod geometric motif to a transitional checkerboard pattern, the design and color options are endless when it comes to painted wood floors. They are also an affordable alternative to professional refinishing and can be fun and cathartic for the weekend DIYer.

ALTERNATIVE NATURAL FIBERS

Sisal, seagrass, and jute are perhaps the most popular members of the natural fiber rug family, but a few lesserknown fibers are having a heyday. Abaca is three times stronger than sisal and can be woven into statement-making patterns. Hemp is soft like cotton but eight times stronger and can be mixed with finer materials like silk and wool for a more formal aesthetic. Cork is hypoallergenic and, because it is moisture-wicking, it inhibits the growth of mold and mildew.

SCORED CONCRETE

Scored concrete floors are more than durable—they are also low maintenance, making them downright dreamy for hightraffic areas. Aesthetically, they bring depth and texture into a space and can be custom mixed, poured, and scored for a look that is totally bespoke. New engraving technology now allows for finer, more intricate design motifs.

The image of an elephant in the living room is by photographer Karen Knorr. Built-in corner cabinets are backed in blue to contrast a collection of majolica. The Pierre Frey floral fabric on the custom settee corrals all of the colors in the room.

collected over the years. But the greatest influence on her home’s casually chic aesthetic is her close friendship with interior designer Stephanie Woodmansee.

Elle and Stephanie met fresh out of design school while working in the New York office of Ashley Whittaker Design. They bonded instantly over a shared passion for classic styles, bright colors, and bold prints—namely florals. In 2013, the duo branched out and established their own firm, Henry & Co. Design, headquartered in Elle’s 900-square-foot starter apartment in Chelsea. “You get to know someone really well when you work that closely together,” says Stephanie. “We became like that ‘old married couple’ who could finish the other’s sentences. We made a great team not only because we complimented one another, but also because we pushed each other creatively. To this day, we still do!”

Elle has since stepped back from design and the firm, but she and Stephanie continue to enjoy an incredibly strong synergy. So when the Clymers returned to their roots in Kansas City and purchased a 1916 Georgian-style home in the older enclave of Sunset Hills, they knew just who to call—literally. For eight months, Elle and Stephanie collaborated via phone, text, and FaceTime, taking the concept of “working remotely” to a whole new level. They stayed up many late nights swapping links to one-of-a-kind finds on sites like Chairish, Etsy, and eBay and, whenever they could, they would meet up to shop the New York City galleries and the antiques fairs in Round Top and Brimfield.

Given her background, Elle didn’t necessarily need an interior designer, but she knew that she didn’t want to be her own client. “After years in the field, I had adopted a ‘been-there-done-that’ attitude,” she says. “Nothing felt original, and it was hard for me to get wowed, so I told Stephanie to just go for it! No one knows what I like—and dislike—better than she does. She has a way of turning my somewhat crazy ideas into something brilliant, and she is the ultimate mix master.” Together, the talented duo incorporated all the random pieces that spoke to Elle and her family in a way that made sense. Elle sums up their work best: “We share the sentiment that life is too short to limit yourself when it comes to living among the things you love.”

ABOVE: “Elle and I have had so much fun collecting artwork over the years,” says Stephanie. For the stairwell gallery, they combined pieces from local artists and flea markets with fine art gems.

OPPOSITE, TOP: Lacquered paneled walls rival those of a traditional library, but their soft, smoky hue reads more casual. The batikinspired print on the 12-foot-wide valance perfectly aligns with the shade below it. • THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: A Marthe Armitage floral wraps the walls and the dresser in Elle’s daughter’s room. • In the master bedroom, fresh floral prints in crisp whites and shades of navy, cobalt, and cornflower play nicely with the patina of the canopy bed, Louis Phillippe-style mirror, and marble mantel.

Any items not listed are unknown. IN BLOOM

PAGES 31-38: ENTERTAIN: Event design: Sarah Blair Event Design, sarahblaireventdesign.com; Floral designer: The Florista, the-florista.com; Catering: Steven Bailey, thekindredfarm. com; Cake: Baked on 8th, bakedon8th. com; Rentals, tableware, glassware: Please Be Seated, pleasebeseated.com; Linens: BBJ La Tavola, bbjlatavola.com

PAGES 44-46: DECORATE: FLOWERS: Floral design: Maxit Flower Design, maxitflowerdesign.com

PAGES 50-54: SHOPPING: Design/shop: Heirloom Artifacts, heirloomartifacts.com

UNDER THE BIG TOP AT ROUND TOP

PAGES 56–65: Event design: Rebecca Gardner of Houses & Parties, housesandparties.com; Catering: KB Table, kbtable.com

COUNTRYSIDE CHARMER

PXGES 66–73: Architecture: Rosney Co., rosneyarchitects.com; Interior design: Anne Hulcher Tollett, Hanover Avenue, hanoveravenue. com; Landscape architecture: Anna Boeschenstein, Grounded Landscape Architecture & Design, groundedllc.com; Landscape contractor: J.W. Townsend, townsendlandscape.com; General contractor: Element Construction, elementbuild.com; Floral design: Mallory Joyce, malloryjoyce.com; Photo styling: KK Harris Design, kkharrisdesign.com;

LIVING ROOM: Club chairs: Wesley Hall, wesleyhall.com; Club chair fabric: Cowtan & Tout, cowtan.com; Club chair trim: Fret Fabrics, fretfabrics.com; Coffee table: Kenny Ball Antiques, kennyballantiques. com; Paint color: Farrow & Ball No. 2005, farrow-ball.com; Chandelier: Scofield Lighting, hmwpa.com; Sofa: Lee Industries, leeindustries.com; Drapery fabric: Dedar, dedar.com;

Who Did It & Where To Get It

Drapery trim: Samuel & Sons, samuelandsons.com; Area rug: Stark Carpet, starkcarpet.com; Floating rug: Asia Minor Carpet, asiaminorcarpets. com; FAMILY ROOM/LIBRARY: Sofa: Wesley Hall, wesleyhall.com; Sofa fabric: Nobilis, nobilis.fr; Floor lamps: Circa Lighting, visualcomfort.com; Coffee table: Ironware International, ironwareinternational.com; Paint color: Farrow & Ball No. 40, farrow-ball.com; Armchairs: Wesley Hall, wesleyhall. com; Side table: Shwung, schwung. design; DINING ROOM: Chandelier: Scofield Lighting, hmwpa.com; Dining host chairs: Lee Industries, leeindustries. com; Dining chairs: Lee Industries; Chair fabric: Perennials; perennialsfabrics. com; Rug: Asia Minor Carpets, asiaminorcarpets.com; Sconces: The Urban Electric Company, urbanelectric. com; TWIN BEDROOM: Bedframes: Lee Industries, leeindustries.com; Bed fabric: Schumacher, schumacher.com; Ceiling light: Circa Lighting, circalighting. com; Wallpaper: Sanderson, sanderson. sandersondesigngroup.com; Armchair: Wesley Hall Furniture, wesleyhall.com; Armchair fabric: Christopher Farr Cloth fabric, christopherfarrcloth.com; Ottoman: Wesley Hall, wesleyhall.com; Ottoman fabric: Schumacher fabric, schumacher. com; PRIMARY BEDROOM: Bed skirt fabric: Jane Churchill, janechurchill. com; Bed skirt trim: Stroheim, fabricut. com; Roman shade fabric: Peter Fasano, peterfasano.com; Bed pillow fabric: Vaughan, vaughandesigns.com; Armchairs: Wesley Hall, wesleyhall. com; Armchair fabric: Holland & Sherry, hollandandsherry.com; Bench: Vanguard Furniture, vanguardfurniture.com; Sconces (above fireplace): Julie Neill, julieneill. com; Wall color: Farrow & Ball No. 204; farrow-ball.com Ceiling Color: Farrow & Ball 2004, farrow-ball.com; PRIMARY BATHROOM: Lantern: Shades of Light, shadesoflight.com.

A POWERFUL STATEMENT

PAGES 74–79: Landscape design: Donald Pell Gardens, donaldpell.com

FOR THE LOVE OF FLOWERS

PAGES 80–85: Interior design: Stephanie Woodmansee of Henry & Co., henryandco. com; SUNROOM: Wall fabric: Hollyhock by Schumacher in aqua and lemon, schumacher.com; Sofa: custom by Luther Quintana Upholstery in “Arbre de Matisse” by Quadrille, lqupholstery.com; Antique console: Round Top Antiques Fair, roundtoptexasantiques.com; Marquetry side table: Round Top Antiques Fair, roundtoptexasantiques.com; Lamp on round table: Circa Lighting, visualcomfort. com; Lampshade: KRB NYC, krbnyc. com; Coffee table: custom finish through The Fabulous Things, thefabulousthings. com; Rug: Abaca collection by Patterson Flynn, pattersonflynn.com; FOYER: Center bone inlay table: Antique and Artisan, theantiqueandartisangallery.com Light fixture: Vaughan, vaughandesigns.com; Wall covering: Schumacher, schumacher. com; Tape trim border: custom from Le Manach fabric through Pierre Frey, pierrefrey.com; Floor: custom by Dean Barger Studios, deanbargerstudios.com;

FAMILY ROOM: Wall color: Benjamin Moore ‘Blue Smoke’, benjaminmoore. com; Sofa fabric: Rogers & Goffigon, rogersandgoffigon.com.

DAUGHTER’S

BEDROOM: Wall covering: Marthe Armitage, marthearmitage.co.uk

PRIMARY BEDROOM: Bed: The Federalist, thefederalistonline.com; Paper-backed fabric on walls: Muriel Brandolini, murielbrandolini.com; Chaise: custom by Luther Quintana Upholstery in “Ikat de Lin” by Lee Jofa, lqupholstery.com; Curtains: custom by Luther Quintana Upholstery in “Volpi” by Quadrille, lqupholstery.com. Bed linens: Julia B. Casa, juliab.com

The Feel of Fall

DRAW INSPIRATION FROM AUTUMN’S EVER-CHANGING PALETTE TO SET A TABLE DRENCHED IN VIBRANT HUES.

1 Accent Soleil Levant salad plate ($100) in “Peach” by Bernardaud

2 Khazard goldencrusted service plate ($220) by Jean Louis Coquet 3 Baltimore Rose Landscape sterling hollowware water goblet (inquire for pricing) by Schofield

4 Fortuna dinner plate ($200) by Herend

5 Chinoise Blue service plate ($200) by Mottahedeh 6 Accent Soleil Levant salad plate ($100) in “Chocolate” by Bernardaud

7 Victorian-Sheraton sterling place setting (inquire for pricing) by Durgin 8 Genova Rhine wine hock ($200) by Baccarat

All of the above provided through partnership with Replacements, Ltd., 800.737.5223, replacements.com

9 Fabric: From the Lee Jofa 200 Icons collection: Leyland Print in “Berry/Forest” color SKU: 2017133.193 (to the trade), kravet. com 10 Napkin: Stylist’s own

Produced and styled by Amanda Smith Fowler • Photography by David Hillegas