Nov/Dec 2021 by FLOWER magazine

FLOWER NOV• DEC 2021

HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE

Home for the Holidays

PHOTOS BY HECTOR SANCHEZ (RIGHT) AND DAVID HILLEGAS (TOP RIGHT)

NOVEMBER•DECEMBER 2021

Contents

A Twist on Tradition

For Birmingham interior designer Stephanie Lynton, decking the halls takes on a whole new meaning each year

72 FEATURES

Legacy of the Land

A grand Philadelphia estate returns to its glory days as it recapitulates the vision of Frederick Law Olmsted

Enchantment on Long Island

PHOTOS BY HECTOR SANCHEZ (RIGHT) AND DAVID HILLEGAS (TOP RIGHT)

Designer and blogger Tina Yaraghi takes her signature blue-and-white palette one step further in decorating her New York home for Christmas

Merry and Bright

Ware Porter hosts a holiday happy hour at his New Orleans home, where Creole flair and Colonial style flawlessly mix

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

ON THE COVER: In Tina Yaraghi’s Long Island home, the blue-and-white color scheme was inspired by her collection of Chinese

export porcelain. Miniature versions of the exotic vessels hang from the tree as ornaments. Photographed by Brittany Ambridge

f l o w e r m a g .c o m

Contents

DEPARTMENTS

SCENE

We’ve got our eyes on...

New home and garden books, chinoiserie-inspired wallpaper, fashion-forward cake art, artist collaboration with Weezie Towels, and more

IN BLOOM

Gift Guide

Only the best: a roundup of treasures hand-picked by our editors

Garden

An excerpt from a new book featuring the best projects from English landscape designer Tom Stuart-Smith

Decorate: Flowers

Travel

Where to go, stay, and eat on Italy’s Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri

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November •December 2021

IN EVERY ISSUE Watering Can What’s Online Sources At the Table

6 47 78 80

CENTER AND BOTTOM PHOTOS BY DAVID HILLEGAS

Atlanta’s Erin McClendis brightens up the classic Christmas palette with jeweltoned blues and pinks

CENTER AND BOTTOM PHOTOS BY DAVID HILLEGAS

Watering can

A Note from the Editor

“Blessed is the season that engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” —Hamilton Wright Mabie

sense of fear, subterfuge, negativity, and—let’s face it— a bit of crazy. That doesn’t mean that there are not conspiracies afoot, for good or for ill. However, I am enamored by Mabie’s use of the term here. What would it look and feel like for the whole world to simply drop arms, prejudices, grudges, fears, malice, and condemnations and ask for our hearts to be filled with love? Not just love for our friends, family, and others who are easy to love, but love for those who act and think and believe differently from us. I have a vision of people whispering, “Psst, I love you; pass it on.” To this dream, let’s add a healthy dollop of gratitude as we gather this holiday season at the Thanksgiving table and around football games on television while bouncing our children or grandchildren on our laps, welcoming college students home, swapping gifts and stories around the tree, taking long walks, and delivering provisions to those in need.

As you peruse the pages of our holiday issue, my hope is that the festively dressed houses—a designer’s warm and chic home in New Orleans; a cheerfully self-confident Birmingham house; and a peaceful, elegant Long Island residence—will add joy and inspiration to this season. We also invite you to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of iconic American Master Gardener Frederick Law Olmsted with us as we visit one of his lovingly restored gardens outside Philadelphia. Sending much love for the holidays and beyond,

Margot Shaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Please send your comments, triumphs, challenges & questions to: wateringcan@flowermag.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 flowermag.com/news

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November•December 2021

PORTRAIT BY DAVID HILLEGAS

FOR THE MOST PART, the word “conspiracy” instills a

PORTRAIT BY DAVID HILLEGAS

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 6

Margot Shaw FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julie Gillis MANAGING EDITOR Nicole Gerrity Haas ART DIRECTOR Terri Robertson DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Amanda Smith Fowler STYLE EDITOR Kate Johnson PRODUCTION/COPY EDITOR Maren Edwards EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Karen Carroll CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Alice Welsh Doyle James Farmer Kirk Reed Forrester Marion Laffey Fox Elaine Griffin Tara Guérard Sallie Lewis Frances MacDougall

Tovah Martin Cathy Still McGowin Charlotte Moss Matthew Robbins Margaret Zainey Roux Frances Schultz Sybil Sylvester

For editorial inquiries: editorial@flowermag.com

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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 Remco van Vliet Evie Vare Carleton Varney Louise Wrinkle

PHOTO BY JOE CORNISH

What We’ve Got Our Eyes On

Scene

Humphry Repton’s influence is evident in the rolling meadows of the many English landscapes he designed.

PHOTO BY JOE CORNISH

READING LIST

On Our Nightstands A ROUNDUP OF MUST-READ

INTERIORS AND GARDENS BOOKS By Julie Gillis

Humphry Repton: Designing the Landscape Garden by John Phibbs (Rizzoli, 2021), $75

Regarded by many as the last great landscape designer of the 18th century, Humphry Repton left his indelible mark on gardens across his homeland of England. This definitive survey explores 15 of his most celebrated landscapes, including his early gardens at Courteenhall and Mulgrave Castle and his more adventurous landscapes at Stanage, Brightling, and Endsleigh. With photography by Joe Cornish, as well as reproductions of key illustrations and plans for gardens from Humphry’s personal “red books,” this volume gives readers an inside look at the intricacies of the designer’s vision and process. f l o w e r m a g .c o m

Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

READING LIST (CONTINUED)

by The Countess of Carnarvon (Rizzoli, 2021), $40

Best known as the setting for the historical drama Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle is the epitome of an English country manor. This book, written by Lady Fiona Carnarvon, who currently resides in and runs the estate, offers insights into how the seasons govern daily life. In addition to detailing activities and gardening responsibilities, the countess, a consummate hostess, shares her tips and menus for seasonal entertaining. Vaux-le-Vicomte: A Private Invitation

by Guillaume Picon (Flammarion, 2021), $85

VICTORIA HAGAN: LIVE NOW ABOVE: While Victoria Hagan’s book features 12 magnificent homes, they all share a classic elegance, strong palettes, textural depth, and aesthetic rigor, as seen in this living space.

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November •December 2021

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte’s rich history began in 1641 when infamous French finance minister Nicolas Fouquet, the original owner, worked to create a harmonious relationship between architecture and landscape. To assist him, Nicolas enlisted a number of talented artisans of the time, such as architect Louis Le Vau, painter Charles

Le Brun, and garden designer André Le Nôtre. So spectacular were the results that Louis XIV used the gardens as inspiration for Versailles. This book traces the château’s history from the 17th century through the Belle Époque, World War I, and its public opening in 1968. The Garden Book

by Phaidon Editors, Toby Musgrave, and Tim Richardson (Phaidon, 2021), $60

Originally published in 2000, this revised edition includes over 150 new and updated entries. The book is a veritable who’s who of the world’s finest garden makers, planters, and horticulturists, along with their signature works. Victoria Hagan: Live Now by Victoria Hagan (Rizzoli, 2021), $55

Acclaimed interior designer Victoria Hagan wrote this book after, like all of us, spending a year at home during the pandemic. She began to see her life and space with new eyes. The result is this life-affirming look at the nature of home and how it connects, comforts, and nourishes us.

PHOTO (BOTTOM) BY WILLIAM WALDRON

Seasons at Highclere: Gardening, Growing, and Cooking Through the Year at the Real Downton Abbey

PHOTO (BOTTOM) BY WILLIAM WALDRON

Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

HOME DECOR

TRAVEL

Swanky Sippings

Banish the traditional vineyard wine-tasting room and bring on some serious chic. Elizabeth and Guy Pelly, owners of Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard near Charlottesville, Virginia, engaged project head Jenn Grandcamp of the spirited design firm Kemble Interiors to revamp their wine-tasting room. Elizabeth explains her vision for the space: “I wanted the tasting room to feel like a home, both architecturally and decoratively. Jenn and I used eclectic furnishings—a mix of modern and old—along with personal artwork and lots of color, pattern, and texture. There is a lot to look at—sort of a maximalist wonderland.” The duo also took inspiration from old cabinets of curiosities. The decor is a mash-up of eras and ideas— zoological wallpaper, custom blownglass chandeliers from Rothschild & Bickers, and copper bars. With a simple menu of shareables such as cheese and charcuterie, chicken salad, and pimento cheese, the wine-tasting room is making its mark in this quaint area, inviting visitors to eat, drink, and be Merrie! merriemillfarm.com

FLOWER

Taking inspiration from historic Asian royal gardens, home décor design company Mind the Gap has launched its new Chinese Garden Collection. Based on the floral patterns of Chinese hand-painting and chinoiserie, the collection includes 11 wallpapers full of dramatic color and captivating details. In an effort to re-create the whimsical scenes replete with Asian flowers and birds, the papers showcase an array of botanical elements and motifs. With this homage to China’s extensive horticultural history, consumers can journey into a world of painterly blossoms, with Mind the Gap’s commitment to sustainability at the forefront. mindtheg.com

ACCESSORIES

Botanical Beauties Liz Poole, known for her work creating costumes for musicals, theater, and most recently the Netflix period drama Bridgerton, is always looking at her own country garden in Sussex, England, for creative inspiration. Within her Velvet Linen line, she has launched various collections that include pillows, clutches, quilts, and home accessories, all influenced by flowers and foliage that change throughout the seasons. Her newest, The Jewel Collection, launched in October, just in time for holiday gift giving. velvetlinen.co.uk

TOP LEFT: Elizabeth and Guy Pelly combined their devotion to warm hospitality and their

penchant for quirky, maximalist design to create a unique experience in the wine-tasting room at Merrie Mill Farm & Vineyard. TOP RIGHT: With its new collection, Mind the Gap pays homage to China’s vast history and exquisite craftsmanship. ABOVE: Liz Poole’s Velvet Linen line is becoming a favorite of those who love bold, beautiful, refined design.

November •December 2021

PHOTOS CIURTESY OF (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) MERRIE MILL FARM & VINEYARD,, MIND THE GAP, VELVET LINEN

FLORA AND FAUNA

PHOTOS CIURTESY OF (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) MERRIE MILL FARM & VINEYARD,, MIND THE GAP, VELVET LINEN

Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

EDIBLES

“I love the challenge of making bespoke products, and I love to push boundaries,” says London cake designer Emma Dodi. One look at her artistic creations and it’s clear that she has pushed well past those boundaries as she expertly captures the personalities, characters, and styles of her clients. Emma’s goal is to translate the vision of each person into reality, bringing elegance and romance to every design. While the talented baker has always had an artistic eye, it wasn’t until a friend suggested she take a cakedecorating class that she realized her calling. That led

to the official launch of Emma Dodi Cakes in 2016. But cakes are not the only confections she creates. The baker is also known for her hand-painted macarons.

These intricately detailed sweets appear as dainty pieces of art that almost seem too beautiful to eat. Even with so much focus on the aesthetics of her

creations, Emma doesn’t overlook the importance of taste. She constantly experiments with new methods and flavors that keep customers coming back. By using only the finest ingredients, Emma ensures that the inside of each cake is just as exquisite as the outside. emmadodicakes.com

ABOVE: This floral cake by Emma Dodi (left) was inspired by a dress designed by Oscar de la Renta (right) and worn by Taylor Swift to the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony. BELOW: Ceramicist Susan Gordon uses a custom shade of Weezie blue to create flower-

patterned pottery pieces that perfectly coordinate with the brand’s luxury towels.

ARTISANS

A Perfect Match Weezie has taken its beloved luxury towels—and the brand’s custom shade of blue—one step further by teaming up with Birmingham, Alabama–based ceramicist Susan Gordon to launch a limited edition collection of bath accessories and coordinating hand towels. This uniquely giftable collaboration offers two floral-patterned trays and one toothbrush cup, along with white hand towels with French blue piping and embroidery. Customers can also opt for a single embroidered letter. Pottery set, from $230; towels, from $70. weezietowels.com

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November •December 2021

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMMA DODI CAKES, OSCAR DE LA RENTA (DRESS), WEEZIE TOWELS

Food as Art

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMMA DODI CAKES, OSCAR DE LA RENTA (DRESS), WEEZIE TOWELS

Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

In true bibliophile form, writer Julia Reed built bookcases that encircle her entire dining room. Nothing says home quite like being surrounded by the things you love.

INSIGHTS

“My house in the Mississippi Delta was born on a legal pad in Birmingham’s Highlands Bar & Grill over martinis with the gifted architect James Carter,” wrote the late Julia Reed of the house she built on a piece of land near her childhood home. Her musings are included in Home: A Celebration (Rizzoli, 2021), a collection of personal reflections on the concept of home compiled by designer Charlotte Moss. In addition to Julia’s insights, this ode to sanctuary includes essays by other notables such as Tory Burch, John Derian, John Grisham, Corey Damen Jenkins, Jon Meacham, and Kelly Wearstler. Inspired by Edith Wharton’s 1916 Book of the Homeless, which raised funds to aid refugees and children during World War I, Charlotte collaborated with No Kid Hungry, a campaign committed to ending childhood hunger. A portion of the proceeds from book sales goes directly to No Kid Hungry.

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November •December 2021

PHOTO BY PAUL COSTELLO

CHARLOTTE MOSS TAKES US HOME

PHOTO BY PAUL COSTELLO

FLORAL DESIGN BY LESKA GRAVES TAYLOR

Gift Guide • Garden • Decorate: Flowers • Travel

in Bloom

Santa’s on His Way OUR FLOWER FAMILY SHARES THEIR FAVORITE THINGS TO WRAP UP UNDER THE TREE

FLORAL DESIGN BY LESKA GRAVES TAYLOR

Produced and styled by Amanda Smith Fowler Photography by David Hillegas

“I love that Ray Booth’s modern container acts as a foil to the conventional reds and greens of this arrangement. I’ll forgo a little tradition—dare I say predictability—in order to create and find gifts and decorations that are timeless.” —FRANCES MACDOUGALL, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

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in Bloom GIFT GUIDE

“Nothing is more flattering—and festive—than candlelight, especially during the holidays when those we hold near and dear come to celebrate with us at home. These chic lamp shades give off a similar, sophisticated glow and come in a myriad of colors. They are just as lovely unlit during the day as they are magical at night.” —AMANDA SMITH FOWLER, STYLE EDITOR

Previous page: Short Foundry urn ($845) by Ray Booth for Arteriors, arteriorshome.com • This page: Marbled paper table lamp shades ($48 each) in Green & White and Green & Yellow paired with brass table lamp bases ($130 each) • Leap ornament ($34) from Houses & Parties, housesandparties.com • 3-Step Skin Recovery System with Restoring Eye Serum ($549/3-piece kit) by Sapelo Skin Care, sapeloskincare.com • Leather keepsake box ($250) by Moore & Giles, mooreandgiles.com • Lucy Cope matchstrike ($850) from Circa Interiors & Antiques, circainteriors.com • Snow Ball plate ($72) by John Derian Company, johnderian.com • Classic throw in Herringbone Sage ($445) by Alicia Adams Alpaca, aliciaadamsalpaca.com

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in Bloom GIFT GUIDE

“One of the most fun things about the holidays is giving little luxuries or something homemade to friends. I’m not super crafty but limoncello is easy to make— it’s like tasting Italian sunshine in a bottle.” —KAREN CARROLL, EDITOR-AT-LARGE

To see the recipe Karen uses for her homemade limoncello, visit flowermag.com • Arcade lacquer tray ($295) by Jonathan Adler, jonathanadler.com • Perfect Pair ornament ($38) and Friandise service ($886) from Houses & Parties, housesandparties.com • Custom-colored Solid Sweet cookies ($40/box of 49) by The Rounds, theroundsnyc.com • Herend Nutcracker Drummer figurines ($495 each) through Martin’s Herend Imports, herendusa.com • Cashmere Tiger Rug throw in Mustard ($1,425) through Circa Interiors & Antiques, circainteriors.com • Oyster Wood acrylic block soap dish ($40) and Dorset Gold Lion’s Head guest soaps ($20/box of 4) by Reprotique, reprotiqueart.com

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in Bloom GIFT GUIDE

“The best holiday gifts are those that keep giving. This is especially true with the gorgeous rose box that assails you with its scent and beauty from the moment you unwrap the package. You will be reminded of the giver’s generosity all year long.” —MARION LAFFEY FOX, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Fern covered bonbonniere ($745) by William Yeoward Crystal, williamyeowardcrystal.com • Strawberry layer cake ($79) from We Take the Cake, wetakethecake.com • Estelle cake stand ($225) in Rose by Estelle Colored Glass, estellecoloredglass.com • 16 Pink Blush jewelry box ($349) by Rose Box NYC, roseboxnyc.com • Graeter’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip ice cream ($80/6 pints) through Goldbelly, goldbelly.com • Pink Dahlia dinner napkins ($40/set of 4) by Julia Amory, juliaamory.com • Multitasker ornament ($52) from Houses & Parties, housesandparties.com

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in Bloom GIFT GUIDE

“I adore a timeless AND sentimental gift that also qualifies as a work of art. The Elizabeth Locke dog intaglio checks all three boxes, especially since I have a new Brittany Spaniel.” —MARGOT SHAW, EDITOR IN CHIEF

In the Garden canvas (from $25), Sunlit Ferns canvas (from $126), and Gingher Stork embroidery scissors ($24), all by Lycette Designs, lycettedesigns.com • White, Light Blue, and Electric Fire Hose vases ($50 each) from Surcie, shopsurcie.com • Blow Hard ornament ($42) from Houses & Parties, housesandparties.com • Deluxe Vine & Bloom Box of gardenias ($249) from High Camp Supply, highcampsupply.com • Sorrento bowl ($495) by Lily Juliet from Vanessa Fox, shopvanessafox.com • Rock crystal stone intaglio bracelet ($16,925), Orvieto gold chain necklace ($14,875 for 31-inch), and cerulean Hound Head Venetian glass intaglio pendant ($4,725) by Elizabeth Locke Jewels, elizabethlockejewels.com • Prince of Peace stocking ($85) by Bauble Stockings, baublestockings.com • The Plush Mat ($78) by Jollie, bejollie.com (every purchase helps fund yoga-therapy programs for pediatric cancer patients)

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in Bloom GARDEN

Natural Inclinations IN AN EXCERPT FROM TOM STUART-SMITH: DRAWN FROM THE LAND, THE ENGLISH LANDSCAPE DESIGNER SHARES INSIGHTS AND INSPIRATIONS THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS DECADES OF WORK Text by Tom Stuart-Smith

t was the encounter with Piet Oudolf’s work which encouraged me, along with so many others, to plant on a more expansive scale. I had read about some of the Dutch and German work with perennials but had never visited Westpark in Munich or Piet’s nursery at Hummelo in the Netherlands. But Piet’s garden for John Coke at Bury Court was eye-opening. I recall seeing the meadow of Deschampsia cespitosa with Trifolium rubens scattered through it like loose purple confetti. By today’s standards the garden layout seems quite mannered, but there was the beginning of a freeing-up of the plan so that plants were not just arranged in linear sequences but were all around, interacting in countless, often

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PHOTOS BY (TOP TO BOTTOM) ANDREA JONES AND ANDREW LAWSON

In his more recent projects, Tom Stuart-Smith takes an experimental, naturalist approach to horticulture, as seen in the landscape at a vineyard in Spain’s Duero Valley. BELOW: At his own home in the Hertfordshire countryside, Tom designed a courtyard around steel water tanks he had previously used in a 2005 Chelsea Flower Show garden.

PHOTOS BY (TOP TO BOTTOM) ANDREA JONES AND ANDREW LAWSON

in Bloom GARDEN

unforeseen ways. The balance between man and plant was readdressed in favor of the plant. This seems to me the important catalyst. Using plants in these larger expanses inevitably means getting away from composing a merely linear flower arrangement, where plants seem like lines of suspects subjected to the scrutiny of an ID parade. The viewer is forced to ask, how do these plants relate to one another? It’s then a short step to looking into how they grow in their natural habitat. I saw the Bury Court meadow, which is actually quite a modest area, in its prime, before the Deschampsia died out and the clover went rather leggy. It had such simple grace, as if it were just getting on with its own business of being grass and clover. Growing, flowering, and of course dying. Piet is the evangelist of decay. At this time I was filling my own garden with short-lived verbascums, giant thistles, and other unruly things that suckered, seeded, and generally misbehaved. It was up to me to keep them in check. This is all very well on your own watch or if you are lucky enough to work with a gardener with lots of patience and understanding, but I gradually learnt that the spontaneous and slightly disorderly look I was drawn to had to be reined in a little if it (and me, I suppose) wasn’t to come off the rails. I remember once coming quite spectacularly unstuck when I enthusiastically recommended a clump of Sambucus ebulus, the handsome herbaceous dwarf elder, for a planting on heavy

“jewel-box” garden for a Worcestershire manse. ABOVE: This project in North Yorkshire, England, consists of two terraced gardens in completely different styles. The yellow tones of phlomis, digitalis, and eremurus envelope the upper level, while the plantings become darker and richer below the pool. LEFT: In Dorset, England, Tom designed a yew-hedged “paradise garden” to sit within a walled garden of wildflowers.

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PHOTOS BY (TOP TO BOTTOM) MARIANNE MAJERUS, ANDREW LAWSON, AND ANDREA JONES

TOP: Tom designed this

PHOTOS BY (TOP TO BOTTOM) MARIANNE MAJERUS, ANDREW LAWSON, AND ANDREA JONES

in Bloom GARDEN

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tom collaborated

clay in the middle of France. The elder duly helped itself and in nine months covered an area about half the size of a tennis court, engulfing all before it in an inexorable flow of green. Sometimes a plant can be just a bit too happy. As I developed my own practice I was able to expand my garden at home, and my experimentations with plants accelerated. The garden began to take some shape, and various patterns started to fall into place about how I was using plants. I moved away from the idea of having very different types of planting in different areas of the

garden, which I think I had inherited from all those Arts and Crafts gardens I had visited. This seemed more a collector’s approach than one in which planting is a tool to create and manipulate the atmosphere of a place. Instead I gravitated towards the concept that planting is like a medium that can flow between spaces, gradually being transformed by them to take on a character that emphasizes the physical setting or the desired mood in relation to the nature of the surroundings. So there might be a subtle gradient of change between different parts of a garden, but not sudden discontinuities.

Tom Stuart-Smith: Drawn from the Land by Tim Richardson (Thames & Hudson, 2021), $75, barnesandnoble.com

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PHOTOS BY ALLAN POLLOK-MORRIS; COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF THAMES & HUDSON

with horticultural ecologist James Hitchmough to create the meadows at Oakhill in Kent, England. • Another project in Kent involved platforms planted with persicaria, Euphorbia cornigera, Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’, and Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’, all leading to a pool building designed by architectural firm Sergison Bates. • In Wiltshire, England, a distinctive thatched wall serves as the backdrop for an abundance of perennial plantings.

PHOTOS BY ALLAN POLLOK-MORRIS; COVER IMAGE COURTESY OF THAMES & HUDSON

in Bloom DECORATE: FLOWERS

Erin McClendis of E. Vincent Floral Design THE ATLANTA-BASED FLORAL DESIGNER MAKES A HOLIDAY WREATH WITH JEWEL-TONED FLOWERS AND SPARKLING DETAILS Produced by Alice Welsh Doyle • Photography by David Hillegas

MATERIALS

Wire wreath frame Floral water tubes Floral wire Douglas-fir Juniper berry clusters Ilex berries Roses

Carnations Delphinium Lisianthus Lilies Sparkly decorative wire Faux-pearl sprigs

My Inspiration:

I wanted to step away from the traditional wreath and include a variety of fresh flowers, berries, and faux materials, mixing up the classic Christmas palette with some brighter hues like blues and pinks. Turn to page 38 for step-by-step instructions

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in Bloom DECORATE: FLOWERS

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS STEP 1 Use precut pieces of the Douglas-fir to create individual bundles that will serve as the base for the wreath. Gather four or five pieces per bundle to ensure they are dense enough to cover the wire frame.

STEP 2 Wire the first bundle directly onto the wreath with floral wire. Hold the bundle against the wire frame, and then wrap floral wire around it to attach it. Wrap the bundle several times to secure it.

Layer the second bundle on top of the first. As you add more bundles, start layering in additional texture and color using the flowers, juniper berries, and faux materials. When adding flowers into the bundles, make a fresh cut, and then insert the stems into a floral water tube. That will make it easy to change out the flowers when they fade.

STEP 3

STEP 4 Continue to vary the flowers, juniper berries, and faux materials you add to the greenery in each bundle. Most of the flowers I chose, such as carnations and roses, have a long bloom life and strong stems. STEP 5 Be sure to alternate bundles between ones consisting of only fir and ones with a mix. Step back occasionally to view the whole wreath and make sure you are happy with the look.

Fill the entire wire wreath, making sure some of the fir drapes off the frame for movement. Then check that every bundle is secure. Make adjustments if needed.

STEP 6

STEP 7 Tuck some of the bright red ilex berries into the wreath to provide additional texture. Because the stems of the berries are so strong, they can simply be inserted into the prewired bundles of greenery and flowers.

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STEP 8 Add some sparkle to the wreath. (I picked a shiny, copper-colored wire and wove it throughout the design.) Then choose the best place to showcase your wreath, such as on the front door, on a garden gate, or inside your home.

in Bloom TRAVEL

La Dolce Vita on the Amalfi Coast DISCOVER WHY THESE SOUTHERN ITALY SHORES HAVE LONG INSPIRED ARTISTS AND TRAVELERS ALIKE by Marion Laffey Fox

t’s no secret that the island of Capri and the stunning Amalfi Coast have epitomized glamour, beauty, and sybaritic indulgences for the rich and famous for centuries. When Roman emperors such as Augustus and Tiberius claimed the area for personal pleasure, it became synonymous with a rarefied type of la dolce vita that was later relished by notables such as Richard Wagner, Gore Vidal, Sophia Loren, and Elizabeth Taylor, to name a few. Begin your adventure when you hop aboard a hydrofoil in the chaotic Naples harbor, where hordes of day-trippers fill the rocking boats for a voyage to Capri’s craggy, 2-by-4-mile rocky surface. Upon disembarking, skip the long funicular

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queue that can take over an hour. Instead, hand your suitcase to a porter, who will transport it to your destination, and then hail an open-air taxi to take you as close to your hotel as possible. (That means you will be dropped off somewhere in the vicinity of Capri and Anacapri, the two towns where most hotels are located.) Once ensconced in your hotel, you can turn over sightseeing arrangements to knowledgeable staff members who can orchestrate the nuances of life on this rocky needle jutting out of the sea. Request advance reservations for a boat excursion to The Blue Grotto, where you will be exhilarated by the color of the water. And don’t miss the splendor of

PHOTO BY MARTIN BACHE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Low-slung excursion boats, designed to slip under cave openings, crowd the entrance to The Blue Grotto, Capri’s most famous attraction.

PHOTO BY MARTIN BACHE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

in Bloom TRAVEL

touring the Gardens of Augustus. Grab a taxi to enjoy an overview of the island, but be sure to allow ample time to wander around the two towns and explore the magnificent shopping on foot. By late afternoon, most day-trippers have piled back onto vessels bound for the mainland, leaving Capri at its best. After the mass exodus, this fragrant island of myrtle, juniper, oleander, heather, and lemons seems to sigh with relief, rewarding overnighters with views bathed in its eternal light. In the distance, the outline of the coast switches on, and Piazza Umberto, the social hub of the island, fills with a quieter crowd. Now is the time to savor moments of gazing out to sea over a glass of wine while the sky is electrified with incandescent streams of aquamarine, hot pink, bright orange, and violet. You are sure to hear the sound of music wafting from a local gathering spot or perhaps even someone singing opera—quite appropriate for this beautiful scene. Just off the piazza, the Capri Tiberio Palace hotel is lavished with a throwaway-chic sensibility and plenty of stop-in-yourtracks views. The indoor/outdoor pool is a favorite place to chill out away from the crowds. Book a treatment in the Spa Tiberio, dine on fresh Mediterranean fare at the Terrazza Tiberio, and enjoy a nightcap in the Jacky Bar. There are casual eateries and pizzerias tucked into improbable

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PHOTOS (TOP LEFT AND RIGHT) COURTESY OF TIBERIO PALACE HOTEL, PHOTO (BOTTOM LEFT) BY BARRY MASON/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

ABOVE AND RIGHT: At the Tiberio Palace hotel, guests enjoy dramatic views, whether from the pool outside the Bellevue Suite or from a balcony laid out with a chefprepared breakfast. BELOW: Capri’s Marina Grande is alive with tourists boarding vessels bound for The Blue Grotto.

PHOTOS (TOP LEFT AND RIGHT) COURTESY OF TIBERIO PALACE HOTEL, PHOTO (BOTTOM LEFT) BY BARRY MASON/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

in Bloom TRAVEL

RIGHT, TOP AND BOTTOM:

nooks everywhere. Le Grottelle, whose kitchen is in a cave, features sublime seafood with views of the Amalfi Coast’s Li Galli Islands, while L’Olivo, in the iconic Capri Palace hotel, boasts memorable two-Michelin-star fare. Shopping is an art form on the island and was first encouraged by Emilio Pucci, who opened his original boutique here in the 1950s. It seems that almost everyone on Capri sews or is an artisan, so visitors are tempted around every curve of the road by windblown garments hanging from limestone rock faces or fine handmade jewelry that fills up shop windows and specialty boutiques.

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Canfora, the island’s most famous sandal maker, is known for having shod Jackie Onassis. Family-owned Farella makes irresistible knitwear, while Autori Capresi features luxurious resort clothing for all ages. Be sure to stop at Carthusia, the perfumer with roots as far back as 1380, when a monk unexpectedly created a fragranced water. Everything is so bespoke and beautiful that it will be hard to pick a favorite scent. Also check out 100% Capri, known by many as having “the finest linen in the world.” After a few pampering days in Capri, hop on a boat for the mainland and spend some additional time taking in the sheer

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CANFORA AND FARELLA

Vintage black-and-white photos, including ones with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, document the long history of Canfora’s sandal-making enterprise, dating from 1946. Choose a style and leather color, get measured, and pick up your bespoke sandals the same day. BELOW: Be sure to visit the beautiful linen and cashmere shop Farella.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CANFORA AND FARELLA

in Bloom

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Cocktail time is best enjoyed with

a crisp Italian wine and delectable canapés over riveting water views, such as those from Il Riccio at the Capri Palace hotel. • A high wall covered with flowering vines lines a walk in the Gardens of Augustus. • Mount Vesuvius, towering above the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, is a must-see. • La Lanterna’s outdoor tables offer another flavor of Capri’s dining scene.

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beauty of the Amalfi Coast, a veritable cornucopia of stacked towns, Roman ruins, monasteries, coves, gardens, and fishing villages. The ideal way to experience this gorgeous slice of heaven is to choose one or two overnight spots and then plan day trips to the others. Farther north, 4,000-foot-high Mount Vesuvius, mainland Europe’s only active volcano, smolders over the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii. And don’t miss the iconic destinations of Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, and Ravello. Carved into the cliffs in Positano, Il San Pietro, one of the most romantic hotels in the world, appears to be an architectural wonder. Up the road, Le Sirenuse is another beauty known for its superb service and cuisine. Honeymooners flock to the evening champagne service, over which they can relish canoodling in romantic nooks with views of the bay. Ravello, site of the famed summer music festival, offers a dramatically different mountain perspective. And be sure to stop in at Hotel Villa Cimbrone, set over the sparkling sea amid flower-filled gardens. Wherever the tortuous roads take you on the Amalfi Coast, you are sure to be rewarded at every turn. Its natural beauty and miraculous light continue to inspire artists and travelers who are drawn back year after year. For more information, see Sources, page 78

PHOTOS BY (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) ALBERTO BLASETTI, FRANCESCO BONINO/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, INCAMERASTOCK/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, AND HELMUT CORNELI/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

TRAVEL

What’s online MAKE THE SEASON SPARKLE HOLIDAY HOMES Explore beautiful dwellings festooned in their seasonal best from the pages of Flower magazine. flowermag.com/ holidayhomes LEFT: A vignette of amaryllis,

holly berries, pine cones, and evergreens at the Maryland country home of event planners Rick Davis and Christopher Vazquez

CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS Find how-tos and creative inspiration for centerpieces, wreaths, garlands, and more. flowermag.com/ christmasflowers

RIGHT: A classic red-and-

green centerpiece by floral designer Canaan Marshall

PHOTOS BY JENN VERRIER (TOP) AND LAUREY W. GLENN

TABLES MERRY AND BRIGHT Our collection of holiday place settings brims with ideas for your own table. flowermag.com/ holidaytables LEFT: Shiny baubles and a nutcracker add festive flair to an opulent setting styled by Amanda Smith Fowler.

FLOWERMAG.COM FOLLOW US

Glass windows overlooking the courtyard reflect the lights of the 13-foot blue spruce from Pine Hill Farm. OPPOSITE: The designer and her Malshipoo, Jack, stand below an abundance of garlands made from cedar, Douglas-fir, dusty miller, ilex berries, and amaryllis.

A TWIST ON

TRADITION

For Birmingham interior designer Stephanie Lynton, decking the halls takes on a whole new meaning every year By SALLIE LEWIS Photography by HECTOR SANCHEZ f l o w e r m a g .c o m

ost people view the holidays as a time for unearthing old traditions. For Birmingham, Alabama, designer Stephanie Lynton, however, those traditions look a little different. “Not much stays the same around here when it comes to Christmas,” she says. “You might say our tradition is change.” Stephanie begins planning her holiday décor in the summer and purchasing materials in early October. “There are so many things I love about decorating for Christmas,” she says.

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“I don’t want to be locked into any one thing, so I like to take my time looking at all the possibilities. It’s the same with my design business.” In 2014, after years of practicing construction law, Stephanie decided to focus her energy on her real passion, interior design. Since then, she has mastered a style that is both colorful and inviting. Behind the playful aesthetic, however, is a driven entrepreneur with a unique set of tools. “I bring a special skill set to the table as a designer

LEFT: In the foyer,

Arbre De Vie wallpaper by Clarence House establishes the vibrant palette. A terra-cotta faux bois planter purchased from the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville overflows with greenery. BELOW: A silver punch bowl anchors an arrangement of 'Heart' garden roses, ranunculus, eucalyptus pods, orange freesia, hypericum berries, red parrot tulips, and ruscus.

Taking cues from the floral design of the Chinese screen, Stephanie lined a row of amaryllis behind the sofa in the living room. She filled the vases on the mantel with ruscus and honeysuckle vines.

because I know about the PSI of concrete and what the geotechnical friction of soil means for your foundation,” she says. “At times, those things have helped me land clients that I wouldn’t have otherwise.” Stephanie has a prowess for pattern play and unexpected color pairings that is evident throughout her home, as seen in the pink-and-green palette of her foyer covered with Arbre De Vie (tree of life) wallpaper by Clarence House. “I also have an all-pink room, a red room, f l o w e r m a g .c o m

Stephanie commissioned a wall-sized painting from artist Sheema Muneer to set the pink tone in the eat-in area of the kitchen. Hand-painted ornaments on the tree continue her folk art holiday theme.

and a green room,” says the designer. “In each one, I kept layering both color and pattern until I felt I had enough.” Between these colorful spaces, she breaks up the boldness with a few neutral rooms, such as her mostly white kitchen and airy stairwell. In addition to her vibrant color schemes, Stephanie likes to incorporate one-of-a-kind, character-rich pieces and materials into her designs, as seen in the entryway, where a terra-cotta faux bois planter overflows with wild greenery. Underfoot, the 100-year-old reclaimed Bessemer Grey brick floors create a textured, historic ambience. “Those bricks are pretty tough to come by, so I was lucky to get them,” she says.

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“To achieve the pillowed look I wanted, I used a tile saw to cut both faces of each brick. Then I flipped them over and tumbled them together to knock the edges off.” That personal touch and attention to detail pervade the 1930s home, which Stephanie and her husband have renovated and expanded upon since buying it more than 20 years ago. As in most houses, the kitchen is the place where the family spends the most time. The room’s inviting wing chairs are a favorite spot for her husband and daughter to relax. Open shelves full of cake stands speak to the designer’s love of baking. An adjoining butler’s pantry, painted

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a playful light green, reflects even more of Stephanie’s interests. “I like to call it the JOATMON room because it’s the Jack of all Trades, Master of None space,” she says. “It’s as much my pantry as it is my wrapping paper niche. And it also holds all of my gardening supplies.” For the holidays, Stephanie likes to really flex her design muscle and experiment with different themes and influences from around the world. She pulled inspiration from European folk art to create her front door décor, which includes a medallion of amaryllis, sugar pine cones, berries, and evergreens, along with two doves joined by a ruby heart. “Since we still can’t travel

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Stephanie’s floral-filled desk niche includes wallpaper from Schumacher and a vase full of red parrot

tulips. • The designer’s auricula theater features porcelain flowers by Pam Tidwell. • Stephanie's "tree lamp" takes center stage on the kitchen island. "It's a bronze sculpture that originally was the base of a glass-top table," she says. A pagoda-shaped vent hood adds a decorative Asian element to the space.

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LEFT: An antique pine hutch doubles as a bar for holiday cocktails. BELOW: The butler’s pantry, painted a custom shade of Hollandlac Brilliant by Fine Paints of Europe, is stocked with linens, dishes, and silver, as well as gardening accoutrements.

STEPHANIE LYNTON’S TIPS FOR HOLIDAY DECORATING When it comes to holiday decorations, it’s hard to go wrong with simple red, green, and white. After all, who doesn’t love fresh green garlands with red berries and sprigs of mistletoe? While Stephanie enjoys decorating with these classic seasonal colors, she’s not afraid to use her imagination to change things up. Whether she chooses a vintage, hot-pink tree from the 1960s or blue-and-white pottery loaded with red blooms, the designer is a proponent of playful creativity and not taking oneself too seriously. "Start by looking at your own home and experimenting with colors that are already part of your décor," she says. Although the designer is known for mixing colors and themes from room to room, she also understands the

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virtues of simplicity. If that's what you prefer, she says to “pick one thing, do lots of it, and spread it throughout the house. Then it’s cohesive and easy yet still makes a statement.” Stephanie also suggests finding inspiration by observing the holiday traditions of other cultures, such as the Dutch use of Delft Blue porcelain. Organization is the key to stress-free entertaining. Stephanie advises ordering things like flowers 60 to 90 days in advance. “You will be glad you planned ahead,” she says. “That takes so much worry off of you.” Another tip? Mix real and artificial greenery. The latter can be used year after year and is a lifesaver for family members who suffer from cedar allergies.

“My design motto was inspired by Dr. Seuss, who said fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. I like to let my imagination go.” —STEPHANIE LYNTON

ABOVE: Pieces from Stephanie’s blue-and-white transferware collection shine in

a caramel-colored alcove. The lidded vases are part of a garniture set from David Herndon Antiques. She found the tobacco leaf–patterned platter at RoundTop.

much because of COVID, I’m bringing the world to our house,” she says. Working with her hands and making things is a passion that Stephanie shares with her mother-in-law and daughter, both of whom enjoy helping with the holiday decorations. On the other end of the kitchen, adjacent to the stairwell, the trio created a special tree that they For more information, see Sources, page 78

placed on the base of an oversized blue-and-white tulipiere the three women made years ago. “We call this ‘The Nana Tree,’ ” says the designer. “It has become so special to us over the years because we work on it together.” The round ornaments were handpainted to look like Dutch art, while the others, in the shapes of hearts, stars, and

gingerbread men, were sugared to look like cookies. “We are huge crafters in this family,” Stephanie says. “The Christmas joy for us is doing the project together, coming up with a different theme each year, and seeing it from start to finish. And while we like to change things up, there is one constant: It's always a family affair.” f l o w e r m a g .c o m

Legacy of the Land A grand Philadelphia estate returns to its glory days as it reverberates the centuries-old philosophy of celebrated landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted By MARION LAFFEY FOX Photography by ROB CARDILLO

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The iconic estate unfolds gently beyond scrolled iron gates, almost as if plucked from an English storybook. OPPOSITE: A circular island of mounded evergreens partially hides the arch-embraced entrance, while stained glass windows and half-timbers underscore Krisheim’s Tudor façade.

A raised grotto-shaped enclosure of exquisitely chiseled, local Wissahickon schist provides protection for the Boy Fountain, created by Norwegian-born artist Johan Selmer-Larsen in 1912. By the pool below, a bronze of the mythological Narcissus by George Hancock admires his reflection. BELOW: ‘Sunny’ is a hardy, showy Knock Out rose with a bright-yellow center that fades to creamy white.

AS THE COUNTRY PREPARES TO CELEBRATE THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF RENOWNED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED, much of our

attention focuses on the great public parks and recreational spaces he created—Central Park; the park systems in Boston and in Buffalo, New York; and roughly 100 others. In addition, the talented designer was responsible for 50 residential communities and the campuses of around 40 academic institutions. However, it was his firm’s involvement in more than 200 private estates that is most fascinating. While Biltmore, constructed in North Carolina for George Washington Vanderbilt, represents the pinnacle of Frederick’s late career, it’s the Krisheim estate, located in Chestnut Hill near Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, that constitutes one of the firm’s most elegant private projects. Although the estate’s timeline coincided with Frederick’s impending retirement, his overarching philosophy strongly influenced the design and is evident down every woodland path, around each splashing water feature, and through every sun-dappled vista. Krisheim’s story began when 50 wooded acres of rolling land acquired by Henry Howard Houston were left to his daughter Gertrude after her marriage to Dr. George Woodward

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THE ESSENCE OF OLMSTED EARLY NEW ENGLAND YEARS Frederick Law Olmsted was born in 1822 in Hartford, Connecticut. Throughout his childhood, his father took him on frequent horseback rides into the countryside to teach him to appreciate the scenery. Frederick credited those cherished forays for instilling a deep, lifelong reverence for nature. EDUCATION He privately studied surveying, chemistry, and scientific farming with several professors at Yale, allowing him to be listed as a non-graduate alumnus. THE INFLUENCE OF ENGLAND A six-month walking trip through vast natural English landscapes profoundly influenced Frederick’s future work. His observance of Birkenhead Park’s recreational space for working classes to enjoy the outdoors infused every subsequent park commission he was given and led him and Calvert Vaux to win the competition to design Central Park.

THIS PAGE: A private corner of the Upper Terrace features stone stairs that seem to lead nowhere but were once used by gardeners to access tool storage in a concealed shed over the wall. A stone bench beneath a carved wall plaque invites rest, in keeping with Frederick Law Olmsted’s penchant for “quiet spaces.”

EARLY CAREERS Before becoming a landscape architect, he spent time as an apprentice seaman, a merchant, a farmer, a journalist, and a gold-mine manager. During the Civil War, he ran the U.S. Sanitary Commission, which later became the Red Cross. RETIREMENT After Frederick retired, his sons continued his legacy by founding the Olmsted Brothers firm in 1898. Taught at their father’s knee, Frederick Jr. and John Charles became founding members of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1899.

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ABOVE: A lush border of hydrangeas lines the Annabelle

Walk leading to the cool, rustic Summer House, whIch offers respite from Philadelphia’s summer heat. BELOW: An island of layered evergreens studded with seasonal blooms highlights the graceful circular drive.

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in 1894. Upon returning from a yearlong honeymoon, the couple hired James Frederick (Fred) Dawson, a landscape architect who subsequently joined the Olmsted firm, to plan the gardens that would frame their splendid home designed by Peabody and Stearns. “They wanted the grounds and the home to look as if they had always been there,” says Philadelphia landscape architect Robert (Rob) J. Fleming. Plans and historical correspondence indicate the ambitious exercise took about 15 years, with the house foundations laid in 1910 and the final project completed in 1912. As for the gardens, Fred Dawson, who by then was a partner in the Olmsted Brothers firm, faithfully adhered to Frederick Olmsted’s love of peaceful, pastoral design. “Parts of the property are steeply pitched, while others feature broad grassy areas studded with important trees,” says Rob. In 1964, after serving as the beloved Woodward family home for 52 years, Krisheim was given to the Presbyterian Church. Twenty years later, the Woodwards’ youngest son, Charles Henry, bought it back and refitted the top two floors into nine apartments. But it was the Woodwards’ grandson, Charles (Chuck) Woodward, who resolved to return the estate to its former glory. Determined to remain true to the land’s original intent, he hired Rob to oversee the garden restoration, and the two men pilgrimaged to the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, Massachusetts, to study relevant documents. Propelled by their discoveries, the duo began the project in 1989. “The gardens had been totally neglected, so we realized the task could not be accomplished quickly,” says Chuck, who explains that almost all of the boxwoods and dogwoods had been removed and the most prominent water features were no longer in existence. “Even the Long Pond had been covered in flagstone,” he says. “Reclamation was painstaking work because we had to be careful not to destroy original walls and stone enclosures that were laid over 100 years ago.” Twenty-two years later, Chuck’s wife, Anna, further refined

Shafts of early-morning light course through the branches of an ancient red maple that appears on Fred Dawson’s original plan.

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The 90-foot-long pond below the Upper Terrace had to be hand-dug during Chuck Woodward’s intense garden restoration. A thick patch of ‘Sunny’ Knock Out roses enhances the water’s edge, while a hardy border of lilyturf lines the brick walk. ABOVE RIGHT: The green foliage of Itoh peonies, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune,’ Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother,’ and Calamintha ‘White Cloud’ flanks the steps to a dining terrace and patiently awaits springtime’s season of blooms.

the project. “Anna reworked the original outdoor rooms with a fine-tooth comb,” says Chuck. “She made them feel airy and put a lot of polish on them.” To accomplish this, Anna worked with Krisheim’s head gardener, Nina Schneider, and her team, vetting plant materials with a keen eye. “This was necessary because some of the original plants were obsolete,” Anna says. “We also replaced 200 Buxus ‘Green Velvet’ boxwoods to reestablish original hedging in the walled garden.” Thorny, overgrown pyracantha espaliers were replaced with swaths of Knock Out roses planted for their lengthy floral display. The Annabelle Walk, lined with hydrangeas, became a charming introduction to the Summer House, and waxy white franklinia was added for its showstopping beauty. As Nina says, “Throughout the process, we kept the Olmsted brothers’ mantra in mind: This was never intended as a flower garden but rather as an architecturally landscaped garden.” As the gardens were refreshed, the house also underwent a restoration, five years in the making. Upon completion, the monumental project, orchestrated by John Milner Architects, won the prestigious Grand Jury Award from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. “Awards or not, what it all really means is that this house and its gardens have been—and always will be—an important part of our family’s heritage,” says Chuck. “I would never pretend to accomplish anything like my forebears did, but I feel I have now done my part. Krisheim will remain an important part of the story of Chestnut Hill for a long time.” f l o w e r m a g .c o m

ENCHANTMENT

The impeccably set E.J. Victor dining set seats up to 16, so it can comfortably accommodate extended family at the annual Christmas dinner. OPPOSITE: Hand-tied garland made from cedar, magnolia, and seasonal greens softens the Indiana limestone and custom ironwork of the front entry while also adding a festive, natural layer that complements the English ivy–clad façade.

ON LONG ISLAND Designer and blogger Tina Yaraghi takes her signature blue-and-white palette one step further as she decks the halls of her New York home Text & Styling by MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX Photography by BRITTANY AMBRIDGE

Tina Yaraghi doesn’t consider herself an influencer, despite having more than 150,000 followers on Instagram. The housewife, business owner, and hostessturned-blogger gained a loyal following in 2011 when she documented the ups, downs, and aha moments of home building during the four-year construction of her house, a château-inspired manse in the idyllic town of Mill Neck on Long Island’s north shore. “It all started with a journal,” Tina says of her ever-popular blog and brand,

The Enchanted Home. “The journal then evolved into a blog with an audience of two—my mother and me. I wasn’t trying to influence anyone or promote anything. I just wanted to connect and exchange ideas with others going through the process of designing a home from the ground up. Writing and sharing my thoughts and experiences became cathartic for me, so I’ve kept going even though our home is complete.” The architecture of the house, a hybrid of English Tudor and French Norman

styles, was inspired by a visit to Tina’s aunt’s home in the Loire Valley of France. Upon returning, Tina and husband Michael tasked architect Michael Jay Wallin with the tall order of converting a folder full of travel photos, book pages, and magazine clippings into a design plan that places authenticity and aesthetics on equal footing. Reclaimed wood and stone were sourced for the flooring, mantels, and millwork, while skilled craftsmen replicated centuries-old plasterwork and ironwork.

LEFT: Inspired by the stairwell at Ralph

Lauren’s Madison Avenue store, the foyer’s curling banister is fabricated from one continuous piece of iron that connects the home’s three levels. The flooring is a modified version of the classic checkerboard style, featuring honed French limestone and Absolute Black granite instead of marble. ABOVE: Form meets function in a monogrammed wine bucket from Sasha Nicholas. Tina elevated its holiday look by filling it with magnolia leaves and a bottle of champagne. OPPOSITE: Despite its grand size, the living room exudes a sense of warmth thanks to various layers of texture, such as honed limestone, rich mahogany, and painted finishes with patina. The sprawling Kashan rug corrals multiple seating areas and supports the blue-and-white palette inspired by Tina’s Chinese export porcelain. Miniature versions of her personal collection of ginger jars, urns, and tea caddies serve as Christmas tree ornaments.

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“My home is my refuge, especially during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. It’s the one place where I can experience the beauty of being still and enjoy complete silence but for the sound of a roaring fire.” —HOMEOWNER AND DESIGNER TINA YARAGHI

Accessible from the living room and library, the loggia is designed for both revelry and relaxation. Heat from the massive hand-molded brick fireplace warms the space in the colder months, while cross breezes keep it naturally cool during the spring and summer.

ABOVE: Hand-weathered mahogany ceiling beams and limed-oak paneling add warmth to the lofty breakfast room with its 20-foot cathedral ceilings. From a sitting area in the bay window, views of the holly trees and boxwood hedges can be enjoyed in the winter, along with tulips, roses, and hydrangeas come springtime. RIGHT: In the foyer, tulipieres and a trellis floral bowl, all available from Tina’s online shop, stay filled with blooms not only during the holidays but also year-round.

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The interiors also convey a sense of timelessness thanks to well-appointed rooms stocked with family heirlooms, antique furnishings, and a myriad of vintage, antique, and reproduction Chinese export porcelain. Acquired by Tina over decades, the exotic vessels were the starting point for the classic blue-and-white palette that prevails in the textiles, upholstery, and decorative accents in every room—and in every season. “Once a favorite, always a favorite,” says Tina of the iconic color combo. “I don’t break away from it just because it’s Christmastime. Some years I may add in a little red or a bit of green, but this year I stuck with shades of white to play up the blue. It’s pure and simple.” Around every corner, a mélange of ginger jars, bowls, tea caddies, and footbaths overflows with paperwhites, amaryllis, and garden roses, as well as poinsettias and fresh seasonal greens. Giant sugar pine cones are also thrown into the mix, along with red holly berries and kumquats freshly clipped from the yard. Aside from her precious porcelain, Tina has another self-described obsession: tableware. Whether it’s silver passed down through generations of family or crystal carefully packed and shipped from abroad, these pieces are not just for show. On Christmas night, the Yaraghis host close family members for an elegant seated dinner. But unlike most hosts who live for the party, Tina lives for the prep work as well and takes time to relish the art of entertaining. “I am passionate about setting a pretty table. I inherited that from my mother,” she says. “I can say with certainty that we are among the few who actually enjoy the entire entertaining process, from polishing the silver and pressing the linens to lighting the candles just minutes before the guests arrive. It can be tiring, but it can also be a labor of love and an opportunity to share your gifts with special people during the most wonderful time of the year.” For more information, see Sources, page 78

In the powder room, silk draperies, an antique Louis XVI armchair, and a Friedman Bros. French Rococo mirror recall the elegance of a lady’s dressing room. The custom onyx-topped vanity was repurposed from an inlaid walnut-andcherry Louis XV commode. Schumacher’s Jester Caprice wallpaper wraps the room in whimsy.

Merry and Bright Ware Porter hosts a holiday happy hour at his New Orleans home, where Creole eclecticism and classic Colonial style blend together like a smooth craft cocktail By MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX Photography by DAVID HILLEGAS

Ware commissioned floral artist Kim Starr Wise to dress the living room mantel in traditional greens, including a hand-tied garland made of cypress and rosehips, a wreath of evergreens and pine cones, and a towering arrangement of rosehips and bay leaves.

RIGHT: Ware Porter (standing) and

Jordi Land in the sunroom of their century-old Colonial Revival home in Uptown New Orleans BELOW: A large silver wine cooler serves as a vase for an overflow of red and blue blooms and seasonal greens. OPPOSITE: Natural light filters through wool sheers in the dining room. The oversized scale of the antique lantern gives it a modern sensibility.

ARE PORTER IS THE CONSUMMATE MAXIMALIST. Whether

it’s a matter of color, art, food, or flowers, the New Orleans– based interior designer believes that there is no such thing as too much or too many. “At the risk of sounding hokey, I run with the old adage ‘the more, the merrier,’ ” he says. “In our home, we surround ourselves with whatever makes us happy, and it just so happens there is a whole lot that makes us happy.” The house—a rare, redbrick beauty in a city stocked with Creole cottages and Greek Revival manses—was purchased by Ware and his partner, Jordi Land, in 2019, although it looks as though they have lived there for decades. Collections of antique silver, rare books, and fine art photography infuse individuality into every nook and cranny, while handwoven rugs, blousy sheers and shades, and sumptuous pillows and upholstery radiate warmth throughout perfectly proportioned rooms. Furnishings range in period and provenance but are all simple in profile, generous in scale, and impeccably tailored with details like bullion fringe

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ABOVE: Ware likes to add a surprise element to gatherings, such as this server dressed as a nutcracker. OPPOSITE: Ware and Jordi bought the antique Georgian sideboard from the previous homeowners, whose family had owned it for generations. The 18th-century Italian mirror is from Les Puces flea market in Paris.

and crisp accordion pleating. And while the interiors cannot be defined by a particular “style,” per se, they might best be described as an intoxicating concoction of Mount Vernon elegance and Mad Men chic spiked with a shot of quintessential Big Easy quirk. Known for his innate ability to layer and his fearless use of color, Ware carefully curated rooms with one-ofa-kind finds, custom finishes, and a mere 23 of his “favorite” hues, ranging from creamy white to aubergine. Each

space has its own distinct personality and palette but plays well with the others, allowing the flow to remain remarkably cohesive. Among the myriad colors are varying shades of red and green, suggesting that the interiors might have been designed with Christmas in mind. “It wasn’t intentional, but the holiday spirit lasts year-round for us,” the designer says. “However, it has less to do with the red accents or green walls and more to do with the vibe. It’s so cozy and festive!

It seems to say, ‘Grab a drink and come sit by the fire.’ ” Although the home’s fluid footprint can comfortably accommodate large parties, the couple prefers small get-togethers and intimate sit-down dinners that allow time to enjoy the company of close friends. Like the décor, the guest list is always colorful and never fails to include an element of surprise—a troop of carolers singing or a nutcracker passing drinks. And at every gathering, a bounty of champagne, caviar, and flowers awaits across the threshold. Says floral artist Kim Starr Wise, “Ware and I share a passion for grandiosity, but we also understand that balance is key to any type of design— whether interior or floral. Because we chose simple, seasonal greens for the living room, we used them in a big way to make a big impact. The wreath, garland, and arrangement are lush and voluminous, so they can carry the weight of the mantel and the oversized mirror while also balancing out the 12-foot Christmas tree.” For the dining room, Kim created an enchanting display of flowers, foliage, fruits, and berries so fresh and organic in form that it appears to have sprouted straight from the center of the white oak dining table. Blue hydrangeas, inspired by Ware’s antique English transferware, anchor a cloud of Adromischus festivus, princess pine, and bay leaves punctuated with red and burgundy roses, ranunculus, snapdragons, anemones, and pepper berries. “I like my flowers how I like my décor—a little wild with a lot of whimsy,” Ware says. “Everything has been loved and has the patina to prove it. Nothing is that precious here—except, of course, time spent with friends.” f l o w e r m a g .c o m

Sources

Hill Farms, pinehillfarms.vpweb.com. PAGES 50–51: Living room sofa and chairs by Verellen, verellen.biz; foyer wallpaper, Arbre De Vie in Rani Pink/Green by Clarence House, clarencehouse.com. PAGES 52–53: Desk niche wallpaper, Lotus Garden in Jade by Schumacher, fschumacher.com; porcelain auriculas by Pamela Tidwell, Vieuxtemps Porcelain, IG: @vieustempsporcelain; pink painting by Sheema Muneer, IG: @sheema713.

Prices are subject to change. Any items not listed are unknown. in Bloom DECORATE: FLOWERS

MATERIALS

Wire wreath frame Floral water tubes Floral wire Douglas-fir Juniper berry clusters Ilex berries Roses

Who Did It & Where To Get It

Carnations Delphinium Lisianthus Lilies Sparkly decorative wire Faux-pearl sprigs

My Inspiration:

f l o w e r m a g .c o m

IN BLOOM PAGES 37–38: DECORATE: FLOWERS: Floral design by Erin McClendis, E. Vincent Floral Design, evincentfloral design.com.

ENCHANTMENT

in Bloom TRAVEL

La Dolce Vita on the Amalfi Coast DISCOVER WHY THESE SOUTHERN ITALY SHORES

ON LONG ISLAND Designer and blogger Tina Yaraghi takes her signature blue-and-white palette one step further as she decks the halls of her New York home Text & Styling by MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX

HAVE LONG INSPIRED ARTISTS AND TRAVELERS ALIKE

Photography by BRITTANY AMBRIDGE

by Marion Laffey Fox

ENCHANTMENT ON LONG ISLAND

FLOWER

PHOTO BY MARTIN BACHE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Low-slung excursion boats, designed to slip under cave openings, crowd the entrance to The Blue Grotto, Capri’s most famous attraction.

November•December 2021

PAGES 40–46, TRAVEL: Lodging, Hotel Tiberio Palace, capritiberiopalace.it; La Grottelle, capri.net/en/c/le-grottelle; Capri Palace, capripalace.com; Il San Pietro, ilsanpietro.com; La Sireneuse, sirenuse.it; Hotel Villa Cimbrone, hotelvillacimbrone.com. Shopping, Canfora, canfora.com; Farella, farella.it; Carthusia, carthusia.it; 100% Capri, 100capri.com; Dining, La Lanterna, lalanternasorrento.it.

PAGES 64–71: Interior design by Tina Yaraghi, The Enchanted Home, enchantedhome.com, IG: @theenchanted home. Architecture by Michael Jay Wallin, architectwallin.com. PAGE 65: Regency dining table and Imperia side chairs by E.J. Victor, ejvictor.com. PAGE 71: Powder room wallpaper, Jester Caprice by Schumacher, fschumacher.com; mirror by Friedman Brothers, friedmanbrothers.com.

MERRY AND BRIGHT

A TWIST ON

TRADITION

For Birmingham interior designer Stephanie Lynton, decking the halls takes on a whole new meaning every year By SALLIE LEWIS Photography by HECTOR SANCHEZ f l o w e r m a g .c o m

A TWIST ON TRADITION

PAGES 72–77: Interior design by Ware Porter, Ware M. Porter & Co., waremporter.com. Floral design by Kim Starr Wise, Kim Wise Floral Events, kimstarrwise.com.

PAGES 48–55: Interior design by Stephanie Lynton, Stephanie Lynton Home, stephanielyntonhome.com. PAGE 48: Christmas tree in courtyard from Pine

United States Postal Service 2021 Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation 1. Publication Title: Flower • 2. Publication No.: 1941-4714 • 3. Filing Date: October 1, 2021 • 4. Issue Frequency: Bi-monthly • 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 6 • 6. Annual Sub. Price: $19.99 • 7. Location of Known Office of Publication: 3020 Pump House Rd., Birmingham, AL 35243 • 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 3020 Pump House Rd., Birmingham, AL 35243 • 9. Full Name and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, and Editorial Director: Publisher: Julie Durkee, 3020 Pump House Rd., Birmingham, AL 35243; Editor-in-Chief: Margot Shaw, 3020 Pump House Rd., Birmingham, AL 35243; Editorial Director: Julie Gillis, 3020 Pump House Rd., Birmingham, AL 35243 • 10. Owner: Peony Publishing, LLC, 3020 Pump House Rd., Birmingham, AL 35243 • 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgages, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None • 12. Not Applicable • 13. Publication Title: Flower • 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Sept/Oct 2021 • 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months a. Total Number of Copies: 73,661 b. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 58,420 (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: 3,340 (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail through the USPS: 138 c. Total Paid Distribution: 61,898 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541: 0 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS: 0 (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail: 1,166 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: 1,166 f. Total Distribution: 63,063 g. Copies not Distributed: 10,598 h. Total: 73,661 i. Percent Paid: 98.2% No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date j. Total Number of Copies: 78,925 k. Paid Circulation (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 62,832 (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: 3,470 (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail through the USPS: 149 l. Total Paid Distribution: 66,451 m. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail): (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 3541: 0 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS: 0 (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail: 3,183 n. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: 3,183 o. Total Distribution: 69,634 p. Copies not Distributed: 9,291 q. Total: 78,925 r. Percent Paid: 95.4% • 16. Paid Digital Circulation: Not included • 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership will be printed in the Nov/Dec 2021 issue of this publication. • 18. Signature and Date: Silvia Rider, General Manager 10/1/21 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 6. Flower magazine, ISSN 1941-4714, is a bimonthly publication of Peony Publishing, LLC, located at 3020 Pump House Road, Birmingham, AL 35243. Periodicals postage is paid at Birmingham, AL, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to Flower magazine, P.O. Box 8538, Big Sandy, TX 75755. For subscription inquiries and customer service, please call 877.400.3074. All unsolicited materials will not be returned. Printed in the U.S.A.

FLOWER

November •December 2021

FLOWER • S H O P •••

••

Shop this collection at f lowermagshop.com

At the Table

Grenadiers dinner plate, accent salad plate, and bread & butter plate by Bernardaud; Adirondack Red buffet service plate by Fitz & Floyd; Bubbles chartreuse wine hock by Saint-Louis; King Richard 4-piece place setting, cold-meat serving fork (medium), and salad serving spoon by Towle; 2021 Acorns & Snowflakes sterling silver bell by Wallace; weighted candlesticks (set of 4) by Whiting; and dinner napkins (set of 4) by Sferra. All of the above provided through partnership with Replacements, Ltd., 800.737.5223, replacements.com.

Happiness & Cheer NOTHING USHERS IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON QUITE LIKE A WELCOMING TABLE SETTING FULL OF REDS AND GREENS—AND PLENTY OF PATTERN Produced and styled by Amanda Smith Fowler • Photography by David Hillegas

FLOWER

November •December 2021

Joyeux standard taper candles ($28/set of 2) by La Petite Abeille, thelittlebee. net • Holiday gift tags ($42/set of 10) by Casa Felix, casafelix.com • Palmier fabric in Forest Green by Thomas O’Brien for Lee Jofa, kravet.com • Floral design by Leska Graves Taylor, 205.799.2991

Nov/Dec 2021

Articles inside

What’s Online

Watering Can

Sources

At the Table