FLOWER HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE
Works beautifully in every room.
TABRIZ | NW PERSIA | CIRCA 1900
November • December 2024
54
A Memorable Feast
Rustic meets refined, and traditions are both remembered and made anew when Barry Dixon and Will Thomas host Thanksgiving dinner in the barn at Elway Hall, their home in Virginia.
64
Family Affair
Interior designer Laura Roland marries European elegance a nd Creole eclecticism to transform her parents’ historic French Quarter pied-à-terre into a haven for hosting at Christmas and all year long.
72
Ornaments of Style
We’re dreaming of finding a glamorous bauble (or two) underneath the Christmas tree, and these luxurious jewelry pieces have us making our lists a nd checking them twice.
82
Quiet Beauty
At Juniper Hill Farm in New Hampshire, every addition to the garden is calibrated for its winter presence, including silhouette, texture, and hardiness.
ON THE COVER
Floral designer Laura Dowling creates a Christmas tableau for her Virginia entryway using colors, textures, and natural materials evocative of the woodlands of her native Pacific Northwest.
Photographed by Erik Kvalsvik
“Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly. “One must also have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” —HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
17
From the Field
Find stylish gifts for the merriest of seasons.
29 Shopping
During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, fleurdetroit invites shoppers to pause and soak in the wonder of the season.
36
Decorating
We ask floral designer Laura Dowling to talk holiday decorating, from her days at The White House to what she does in her own house, as featured in the pages of her latest book, Designing Christmas
44
Women in the Garden
As a tastemaker and owner of decorating firm Colefax & Fowler, Nancy Lancaster carried her English country house style into her gardens, making the ordinary into something extraordinary.
IN EVERY ISSUE
Watering Can 12
What’s Online? 52 Sources 94 Floral Moment 96
PHOTOS
IT’S ALWAYS INTERESTING—and challenging—to pen a pensée a few months before the magazine lands in the hands of readers. It is midSeptember right now, and we have no idea of things to come. We are in a land full of question marks and division signs. Though I do not ever hew political on this page or in this magazine, there are things I believe can minister to everyone in the midst of the miasma of our culture—and they happen to intersect with the holiday season.
WATERING CAN A Note from the Editor
Thanksgiving is, if not THE most salutary of perspectives, certainly in the top few. As I look at the strife plaguing our nation, I realize one piece that often seems starkly absent is an awareness of and thankfulness for all we have, what we have in common, and how far we’ve come. No, we’re not in a place of perfection. Nowhere on this earth is or ever will be.
When I think of thankfulness, I often think of interior designer and Virginia gentleman Barry Dixon. There’s no one I know who is more giving or the possessor of a more thankful heart than Barry. Leafing through this issue, I am so warmed and grateful to soak in the abundance of Barry and his partner Will’s exuberant Thanksgiving feast situated in the chic and rustic barn on the property of their home, Elway Hall.
Along with thankfuIness, I believe that hope is an integral part of our nation’s ethos and a keynote of the holiday season. Imagine the hope kindled in homes that celebrate Chanukah as they light candles representing a miraculous victory. When we gather to celebrate the holidays, even if during times of difficulty and sadness, we have hope. It’s what keeps us going and growing.
Consider Charlotte Moss’s piece on Nancy Lancaster and her English gardens. The Virginia expat was dreaming and designing her gardens almost a hundred years ago, and they survive and thrive to this day. I feel certain that Lancaster had hope as she created each garden—hope that the results of her planning (and planting) would linger for future generations to enjoy.
I drink in the timeless beauty and story of a family home in New Orleans’s French Quarter, decorated by Laura Roland and gussied up for Christmas. I so appreciate the hope evinced in the continuation of the Rolands’ highly regarded, family-owned antiques emporium, Fireside Antiques, from which Laura drew several pieces for the home—not to mention the canon of style and grace passed down to Laura from her mother, antiques aficionado Susan Roland. It shows hope for the future of good design and fine antiques—a lovely legacy.
And during the Christmas holiday season, we also celebrate peace. “Peace on Earth, good will to all men [and women].”
I have learned through the vicissitudes of my life that peace must dwell in my heart. Even something as simple as taking a moment to meditate on the magical snow-covered garden in the pages devoted to Juniper Hill—a dreamy, thoughtful New Hampshire property—gives me a sense of calm. My shoulders drop three inches and my heart is at rest when I pore over the images and description of this winter garden. I am at peace.
During this holiday season, if you find yourself making your list and checking it 20 times or just generally having a hard time “getting in the spirit,” try to stop and settle into a cozy seat in your home while gazing at a favorite painting or a spot overlooking a garden. Pause for a moment and think of your blessings. You are ALL blessings to me.
I wish for you, dear readers, holidays replete with thankfulness, hope, and peace.
Love and SDG,
Margot Shaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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VOLUME 18, ISSUE 6
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Find stylish gifts for the merriest of seasons.
PRODUCED BY AMANDA SMITH FOWLER
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID HILLEGAS
the TRAVELER
PREVIOUS PAGE: Marble Wrapping Paper ($10.50/sheet) and Rustic Tree Farm Wrapping Paper ($9.50/sheet) and Ribbons (prices vary) from Paper Source • Hardwick Hall Tapestry Wrapping Paper ($12/3-sheet roll) from Dogwood Hill • French Wire Acorn Ornament ($21) from Shoppe • Deer Deer fabric in Amethyst Moss (to the trade) by Jean Monro • THIS PAGE: Large Cabana Tote ($215) by Paravel • Hanging Travel Cosmetic Otomi Print in Black ($148) from Frances Valentine • Solid Red Wrapping Paper and Ribbons from Paper Source • Zola Two-Piece Set Pajamas ($135) from Averie • Painterly Stripe Gift Wrap Paper ($42/roll) from Frances Valentine • Ribbon from Paper Source • Blanche Hair Perfume ($85) and Young Rose Eau de Parfum ($320) from Byredo • Agata fabric in Celery (to the trade) by Jean Monro
the HOME CHEF
Italian Cutting Board Bowl ($90 for small) and Mezzaluna ($18) from etuHOME • Classic Nutcrackers Wrapping Paper ($12) by Dogwood Hill • Red Ribbon (prices vary) from Paper Source • Parasol Champagne Vinegar ($22) and Aurora Rosemary Olive Oil ($40) from Brightland • Hammered Copper Stock Pot with Pineapple Knob ($390) by Ruffoni through Williams Sonoma • Wooden Serrated Cornbread Knife ($16) by Spoon Man through Stone Hollow Farmstead • Purple and Baby Yellow Popcorn ($13 each) from Stone Hollow Farmstead • Trinket Bowl in Turquoise & Blue ($70) from Bunny Williams Home • Glazed Berry Bowl ($12) from Kate Marker Home • French Blue Windowpane Kitchen Towels ($44/pair) from Weezie • Mola Lattice in Caribe (to the trade) from Fabricut
the GARDENER
Cast Concrete Mushroom Garden Stool ($195) by Unique Stone through Shoppe • Strawberry Rhubarb Jam ($15), Blueberry Jam ($15) and Tomato Brined Pickled Okra ($16) from Blackberry Farm Shop • Handmade Bentwood with Copper Trug ($98) from Gardenheir • Basketflower, Nasturtium, and Four O’Clock Seeds ($3.50 each) from Rare Seeds • Secateurs Wood Handle ($44) from Earth & Nest • Long Gardening Gloves ($28) by Foxgloves from Shoppe • Gold Foil Flurry Stone Wrapping Paper ($10.50/roll) and Ribbon (prices vary) from Paper Source • Hydrangea Leaf Plate by Costa Nova ($39) from Bradley’s Market • Orchard Linen (to the trade) from Osborne & Little
the ENTERTAINER
Folk Glass & Wood Food Dome ($275) from West Elm • 7-Layer Caramel Cake ($70) from Caroline’s Cakes • Tomato Jam Jar ($3,350), Green Pear Jam Jar ($3,200), and Yellow Plum Jam Jar ($3,100) by Buccellati • Watercress Dip ($12) from William Poll Gourmet Foods • Sterling Silver Cocktail Shaker ($1,950) and 1860 English Silver Plated Biscuit Box with Crest ($910) from Croghan’s Jewel Box • Solid Red Wrapping Paper and Ribbon ($10.50/roll) from Paper Source • Beau Rivage fabric (to the trade) from Osborne & Little
the DESIGN LOVER
Sunburst Mirror ($1800) from Henhouse Antiques • The John Fowler 90th Anniversary Two-Tier Flower Holder (check exchange rate for pricing) from Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler • Victoria 7” Etched Dish ($243) by Modern Matter • Hellebore Floral Brooch, ($545) by Helena Simon • Custom Monogrammed Napkins (inquire for styles and pricing) through Table Matters • Tree Trimmings Baubles Wrapping Paper ($12) from Dogwood Hill • Ribbon (prices vary) from Paper Source • “Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule” Vinyl ($26) from The Louis Armstrong Foundation • Flagship M1 Sound Console ($17,600) by Wrensilva • Bogart in Indigo/Moss (to the trade) by Clarence House
The red Chippendale sofa upholstered in chinoiserie fabric serves as a signature moment of style in the boutique, complemented by a theatrical amaryllis arrangement in a Biedermeier urn.
All Is Calm, All Is Bright
During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, fleurdetroit invites shoppers to pause and soak in the wonder of the season.
BY CARRIE CLAY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRACY TUCHOLSKI
Bloomfield’s fleurdetroit, a floral studio and retail space co-founded and owned by Phillip Morici and Joe Nieradka, offers an immersive holiday experience framed by woodland-themed corners on the inside and snow-kissed greenery on the outside. Bonded by their love of gardens and landscape, Phillip and Joe opened their all-encompassing business to serve as both a retail store and a landscape design center. Phillip handles the design and boutique space while Joe primarily runs the landscape side. From the item selection and display design to the friendly customer service team, the duo wants fleurdetroit to feel wholly different from the average retail space. “Even though it’s a store, we never want people to feel pressure,” Phillip says. “We have a lot of customers who visit multiple times a week just to ‘hang out.’ The world’s a little crazy, so it’s nice when they can come in and just get lost in some mindful design.”
For this year’s holiday décor, Phillip edited his selections a bit more than usual. “It allows the shop to breathe,” the designer says. He explains that the store evolves each year to suit what his team anticipates will be the needs of customers. “Our goal is to help buyers recognize that the products in store are intentionally chosen.”
While Phillip enjoys keeping things fresh, he does have some standard themes he keeps to every year, such as the woodland selections that include mushrooms and a variety of mosses. He also notes that repeat customers love anything
LEFT: Co-founder and shopkeeper Phillip Morici knows that starting plans early in the year is the key for a successful Christmas season at the shop. ABOVE: For shoppers who prefer a maximal, glitzy Christmas, fleurdetroit delivers with a metallic corner filled with glossy Christmas trees and ornaments, as well as gold-dipped leaves and pinecones.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
A fresh coat of snow covers winter greens, creating a wonderland moment in the courtyard. • Colorful glass candleholders add a playful note to the elegant Christmas décor.
• The shop provides a bold, contemporary twist on a white Christmas with a polyresin deer and dramatic glass pillar candleholders.
• Trumbull, the shop kitty, always finds a comfortable spot to curl up. • A cedar holiday garland adorns a bronze statue that overlooks the courtyard.
FROM TOP
A cast-iron bust of Nike takes center stage in a woodlandthemed Christmas tree. • The shop team loves to create aspirational design moments across the store. Here, they braided a lavish custom garland with an 1800s French brass candelabra and hung a vintage oil painting in the background. • A feminine take on a holiday table includes Ginori Oriente Italiano plates in Porpora, Murano glass candlestick holders, and Murano glass wineglasses with gold filigree. • As part of the floral studio, fleurdetroit creates custom fresh wreaths during the holidays. This one includes pepper berries, rose hips, clementines, bay leaves, cedar, and juniper pods.
“We have a lot of customers who visit multiple times a week just to ʻhang out.’ The world’s a little crazy, so it’s nice when they can come in and get lost in some mindful design.”
—PHILLIP MORICI
“white Christmas,” while designers always love some glitz.
The real goal behind the displays is to give visitors decorating inspiration. “We like to create things that are aspirational,” says Phillip. “People may not be able to install exactly what we did in their own homes, but they can definitely take pieces and elements to embellish mantels and tabletops with different components.”
To create these displays, Phillip taps over half of his almost 50-person team to get the job done. It takes weeks of planning and sorting that starts in the summer and ends with several grueling days from dawn to dusk in early November. “It’s inspiring to see what we can achieve when working as a giant team,” he says.
For their own personal Christmas celebration, Phillip and Joe keep things simple with a bowl of pomegranates on the table and a “Charlie Brown” tree. Joe is always in charge of the cut flowers and enjoys scattering his arrangements around the house. It’s among this minimal décor that the duo likes to rest and reflect on the year and the things they’ve built together. From Joe’s huge environmental landscape projects to Phillip’s elegant designs inside and outside the retail space, the couple has a lot to celebrate. Some of the things they’re most grateful for are the people they get to interact with and the lives they get to touch. “We wanted to build community through our campus, and we’ve achieved that,” says Phillip. “That’s our number one thing—creating a place of respite and inspiration.”
CLOCKWISE
LEFT:
Decking the Halls
We ask floral designer Laura Dowling to talk holiday decorating, from her days at The White House to what she does in her own house, as featured in the pages of her latest book, Designing Christmas.
BY KAREN CARROLL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIK KVALSVIK
“I favor layers of color, décor, and collections in my interior and bouquet designs, and that’s even more important when it comes to holiday decorating,” says floral designer Laura Dowling. ABOVE: The dining room of her early 19th-century house in Alexandria, Virginia, is trimmed in traditional red and green with accents of plaid.
FLOWER: Flowers evoke memories and emotions, and holidays do too. What were your childhood Christmases like, and how did they inform the way you flower, decorate, and celebrate today?
Laura Dowling: I grew up in the Pacific Northwest—an idyllic place to celebrate Christmas with its natural beauty. My grandparents lived in a big Edwardian house in Southwest Washington, and the season would start in my grandmother’s kitchen in October when she’d begin baking and freezing things. We would craft ornaments and cut paper snowflakes at the table. Everything was homespun, and the tree was probably more of a hodgepodge than my current ones, but it was always so magical. My other grandmother was originally from Baton Rouge. She celebrated with splendor, panache, and lots of parties. Both of my grandmothers influenced my aesthetic and showed me that the act of preparing for the holidays could be a major part of the fun.
How would you describe your floral aesthetic today?
French-inspired garden style with elements of fantasy and whimsy. It’s what I fell in love with almost 25 years ago while on my first trip to Paris. To this day, I can
Belmont Sofa in Regia, Addison Ottoman in Trefolia Velvet, Ashby Chairs in Linden Velvet, pillows and draperies in Kamut Embroidery, Aspen rug
In her new book, Designing Christmas, Laura explores 10 themes, including one inspired by the nearby Virginia Hunt Country. Classic elements such as evergreen garlands, silver vessels filled with roses, and other natural materials such as holly, berries, crabapples, and pomegranates carry through a vibrant red palette that complements the living room’s butter-yellow walls, antique oil paintings, and toile de Jouy patterns.
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With a rustic woodlands scheme, Laura translates the colors, textures, and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, where she grew up, to the East Coast. Dried hydrangeas, pinecone vessels, and greens are given a hint of glamour with touches of burnished gold.
still picture the bouquet that stopped me in my tracks as I was walking by Christian Tortu’s atelier in St. Germain. His petite arrangement of sweet peas, lady’s mantle, and rose hips was a delicate, romantic composition that exuded emotion and encapsulated the ethereal nature of flowers— and life. At that moment, I knew I wanted to study French floristry and change careers to become a florist.
“The raison d’être for designing Christmas will always be to create a wonderful backdrop for celebrating the season in a way that’s meaningful to you, your friends, and your family.”
—LAURA DOWLING
That decision has taken you down an interesting path ever since, including a tenure as chief floral designer for The White House, where you designed and executed decorations on a grand—and very public—scale. Tell us about the experience. The sheer magnitude of decorating The White House at Christmas was always daunting: 55 or more trees (including the 18-foot one in the Blue Room), miles of garland, and dozens of wreaths, in addition to designing the décor for all the parties and events that took place during the season. It was a year-long planning process that included overseeing more than a hundred volunteers to help realize the First Lady’s vision. Overall, it taught me the most beautiful decorations tell a compelling story and benefit from a detailed schedule for implementation.
We’re curious to know what the holiday décor in your own home looked like during that time—and how it has evolved since leaving the White House position.
During those White House years, my own house took a bit of a back seat. After 100-hour workweeks, I was lucky to put a wreath on the door and set out a few poinsettias! In recent years, as I’ve had more time to focus on my decorations, I've found I still really enjoy the process of decorating on a fairly elaborate scale. The secret is to create a flexible timeline that layers in the décor throughout the season. Given my still-busy travel and work schedule, I start thinking about it in the fall, when I craft a few special projects such as nut garlands that can
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Laura tends toward a maximalist approach but believes sometimes having one element can be enough. While chief floral designer for The White House, “I was lucky to put a wreath on my own front door,” she says, “but it’s an important way to be part of the community celebration.”
be done ahead. Then I fold in more elements as the season progresses. As Christmas nears, I focus on the fresh materials—adding a tree, greenery, flowers, and other finishing touches.
You embrace a good theme, and in your latest book, Designing Christmas (Stichting Kunstboek, 2024), you lead us through some of your favorites—from a walk in the woods to a ride through the hunt country to a spin on a Parisian carousel. Could you give us a snapshot of how you take a seed of inspiration and develop it into a full-blown scheme?
I see a theme as an opportunity to experiment and stretch the imagination, and the ones in the book represent a collection of my favorite memories, colors, and sources of inspiration. First, I’ll think about the ambience I want to evoke and what elements and colors will communicate the mood. I create sketches and develop room-by-room plans that include sources for materials, as well as the timeline. I always start with a base layer of favorite décor, including sentimental items I use year-to-year and “workhorse” materials (ornaments in a range of colors, velvet and satin ribbons, and such). Then, I’ll add the special items that speak to the specific theme.
And finally, what do you hope readers will take away from the book?
I hope that readers will understand that whether you are going for a grand or humble aesthetic, the prettiest and most memorable decorations are those that tell a thoughtful, personal story. And the raison d’être for designing Christmas will always be to create a wonderful backdrop for celebrating the season in a way that’s meaningful to you, your friends, and your family.
Holiday Reflections
Laura shares a few more things on her mind this season.
What will get me in the Christmas spirit…
The delivery of fresh evergreen trees to the garden center, the annual Scottish Christmas Walk in Old Town Alexandria, Hallmark movies, and the arrival of Winter Wassail at Trader Joe’s.
Favorite flower to deck the halls…
I could never limit it to just one!
Poinsettias (especially the new varieties that come in special colors and resemble camellias); paperwhites for their lovely scent; amaryllis, particularly the delicate varieties with small, pointy petals; nandina foliage to use in bouquets; evergreens from my native Northwest (I’ll often ship back east boxes of boughs I've gathered from the woods); and magnolia leaves for wreaths and garlands.
Gift on my wish list…
A tour of the Christmas markets in Munich, Venice, Strasbourg, and Vienna—that would be amazing!
It won’t be Christmas without… Friends, family, festive decorations, and a bowl of my grandmother's Northwest clam chowder on Christmas Eve.
Festive color combination…
I have a few: emerald green and gold; fuchsia, red, and gold; plum, orange, and copper; bronze and gold; and, of course, traditional reds and greens with touches of plaid.
My go-to décor sources…
Winward for special ornaments and classical containers; d. stevens for elegant ribbons; and I’ll scour thrift shops and antique malls for vintage things with patina and history.
I’m dreaming of… seeing the holiday vision I’ve created for the Cheekwood Estate in Nashville come to life this year [Nov. 22, 2024–Jan. 5, 2025] .
Inside Out
As a tastemaker and owner of decorating firm Colefax & Fowler, Nancy Lancaster carried her English country house style into her gardens, making the ordinary into something extraordinary.
BY CHARLOTTE MOSS
It has been said that Nancy Lancaster’s favorite things were gardens, houses, and husbands— in that order. A nonconformist originally from Virginia, Lancaster was known for her sharp wit and down-to-earth approach. She never forgot her roots as she shook up the decorating establishment in England with her insistence on pure, old-fashioned Southern comfort. In Vogue’s Book of Houses, Gardens, People, English diplomat and writer Valentine Lawford said, “Anyone so authentically English and authentically American could only be a Virginian.”
With a great passion for houses and gardens, Lancaster made sure that one lured you to the other through the design and location. She never viewed herself as a decorator—in fact she called herself a “percolator of ideas”—yet some of the finest rooms in England resulted from her keen eye and innate style. Similarly, while she was not a gardener by trade, she was once referred to by designer David Hicks as “the most influential gardener since Gertrude Jekyll.”
Intrepid and confident, Lancaster created the English country house style that became so popular in a nation that was not her own. She lived most of her adult years in England, capturing the wonderfully disheveled, timeworn state of life in those country houses and serving it back to the aristocratic class with an airy dose of elegance, comfort, and patinated imperfection. Through her American lens, she saw what was needed to enhance these homes, such as modern plumbing and central heating, and she transformed utilitarian spaces into cozy rooms laid with rugs, lit by fires, and hung with pictures.
Lancaster’s aesthetic was formed by a nostalgia for the faded elegance of grand Southern mansions that had been left to decay following the Civil War, a situation somewhat similar to what was happening with many great houses in post-WWI Britain. For her own three English country houses—a combined total of 3,000 acres at Ditchley Park and Haseley Court in Oxfordshire and Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire—Lancaster worked first with Sibyl Colefax and Stéphane Boudin of Jansen before partnering with John Fowler and buying Colefax & Fowler in 1944. In each residence, she brought about a welcoming sense of comfort with deep, low sofas and plenty of places to set a drink, a book, or even your feet. Every room contained her ideal troika: a warm fire, candlelight, and flowers.
Upon the recommendation of her aunt, Lady Nancy Astor, Lancaster got her education in
PHOTO
BEATON, VOGUE, ©CONDÉ NAST
TOP TO BOTTOM: Lancaster poses on the terrace at Haseley in a striped shirtwaist dress and an omnipresent hat. • The terrace overlooks the 32 boxwood and yew chessmen Lancaster inherited with the house when she purchased it in 1954.
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ABOVE: Ditchley Park, located in Oxfordshire, was designed by James Gibbs in the Palladian style. It is here that Lancaster is credited with redefining English country house style. BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: Successful gardens have several things in common: an inviting place for repose, beautiful ornament, and a little mystery. • The exterior wall of the drawing room at Haseley is covered in white clematis and ivy. Pelargoniums and clipped box balls frame the path.
Henry, meet Chronos.
Introducing Henry Chronos
ABOVE: In 1975, Lancaster moved to the coach house next door to Haseley Court and lived there until she died in 1994 at the age of 97. LEFT: The hand-painted Chinese wallpaper in the drawing room at Kelmarsh reflects Lancaster's love of a good landscape, as well as her fondness for beautiful objects with history and patina.
gardening at Kelmarsh with the help of English garden designer Norah Lindsay. Lindsay used common plants in luxurious ways, a design philosophy that appealed to Lancaster and bonded the two women.
I have visited all three of Lancaster’s houses over the years and discovered that both her gardens and her homes possess an all-embracing ambience. To witness how she employed the same guiding principles in the design of her gardens as she did indoors in her decoration is to experience a formula for living that blends the two seamlessly and magically.
When Lancaster’s marriage to Colonel “Jubie” Lancaster ended, she enumerated 27 items in the divorce papers, including all work to be completed in Kelmarsh’s garden such as plants to be installed and the special care needed for others. She then commenced a search for a new home, and in 1954 she purchased Haseley Court where she lived the rest of her life—almost 40 years. The centerpiece of the garden she inherited with the house was a 19th-century yew topiary garden of enormous chess pieces. The original garden, circa 1530 and later restored in 1850, was one of the earliest known topiary gardens in England. Lancaster’s famous sense of scale and color, always employed with a light touch, is evident. She nurtured the giant topiary
PHOTO (TOP) BY ANDREW LAWSON
pieces and left them to work their magic on a huge empty carpet of grass backed by a ha-ha, a scene that was both impressive and delightful. The simple woodwork in the garden—doors, trellises, obelisks, and furniture pieces—was painted a shade of blue that is pale yet saturated, a hue that ought to be as famous as Jacques Majorelle’s blue in Marrakech.
In her rooms, Lancaster always mixed the haute and the humble innately and unselfconsciously, defining eclecticism along the way but always knowing when to stop. Likewise in her gardens, she counterbalanced formality with wildness. Other friends who advised Lancaster on various garden issues were English horticulturalist Graham Stuart Thomas, English architect Geoffrey Jellicoe, and English landscape architect Russell Page. As a result, Haseley Court included a cascade, a canal, a variety of garden ornaments, and the famous laburnum arbor. Edged borders overflowed with salvias, phlox, lavender, santolina, and verbena contrasted with asparagus and bronze fennel and punctuated by lemon trees, datura, and oleander.
Manicured areas, as thoughtfully designed as the décor, led out into a seemingly uncultivated forest. Roses, Lilium martagon, wild geranium, pink violets, foxgloves, and giant cow parsley added to the color palette. Lancaster also grew big trees of Sparmannia from cuttings given to her by Sir Laurence Olivier. She trained helichrysum petiolatum on wire and created towers of sweet peas. As her rooms beckoned the visitor to linger, the vistas of her gardens also created an atmosphere of invitation at every turn. Part of her genius was the ability to humanize rooms and then do the same in her gardens, creating visual signifiers of her personal style.
Lancaster’s restoration of Haseley Court, in collaboration with John Fowler, was her last masterpiece. There, she transformed a field and created a kitchen garden with romantic pathways leading to beautiful garden rooms—the old gardens of her Virginia childhood emblazoned in her mind, translated and perfected in the English countryside.
With a lifelong love of gardening, designer Charlotte Moss has long been intrigued with what draws people—especially women— into the world of horticulture. She has a forthcoming book with Rizzoli on the subject of gardening women, set to release in 2026.
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: One of the allées at Ditchley that invites visitors to explore beyond. • The tall, imposing gates at Ditchley prepared guests for the house that stands behind them, but the true welcome was the Southern hospitality of Nancy Lancaster.
Christmas Door Décor
Before you deck the halls, be sure the front door is ready for the season. It’s time to hang the wreaths, tie the bows, and install the garland. We’ve gathered a dozen of our readers’ favorite traditional Christmas doors from the pages of FLOWER to inspire your holiday decorating and add a little “wow” to your welcome. See them at flowermag.com/ christmas-doors.
50+ Party Pointers
Tis the season! You’ve selected the date and invited the guests, so now it’s time to start planning the details of your event. Whether it’s a lavish affair for 100 or cocktail hour for a handful of friends, this collection of surefire tips from seasoned planners will inspire. Suggestions for every element from food and flowers to self-care and even which rules to break can help you throw a party your guests will not forget. Start planning at flowermag.com/partypointers.
CELEBRATION-WORTHY APPETIZERS
Hors d’oeuvres should taste great and be easy to pick up and pop into your mouth. Grazers shouldn’t be bothered with utensils beyond serving pieces and maybe a single fork. These 12 party appetizer recipes from FLOWER magazine contributors, including Alex Hitz’s Mini Grilled Cheddar and Goat Cheese Sandwiches, fit the bill. Each can be savored while you talk, laugh, sip, and celebrate the season. flowermag.com/holiday-apps
PHOTOS
December 6, 12 pm to 5 pm
December 7, 10 am to 5 pm
A Memorable Feast
Rustic meets refined, and traditions are both remembered and made anew when Barry Dixon and Will Thomas host Thanksgiving dinner in the barn at Elway Hall, their home in Virginia.
BY KAREN CARROLL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIK KVALSVIK
As the calendar inches closer toward the end of November, Elway Hall, situated in the bucolic horse country of Warrenton, Virginia, settles into the familiar rhythms of the season. The ginkgo, maple, and oak trees that anchor its rolling hills burst into a blaze of fiery color against a clear blue sky. The goats, sheep, and chickens thicken their furry and feathery coats in preparation for much chillier temperatures just around the corner. And the cutting garden— abloom with peonies, roses, and dahlias in previous months—begins winding down for a long winter’s nap. Yet there’s still a bounty of natural materials to be found in rows of scarlet ilex, bittersweet that scales weathered fencing, and pumpkins and squashes ripened on the vine.
Inside Elway, homeowners Barry Dixon and Will Thomas prepare to host their Thanksgiving feast, with a guest list made up of family members, neighbors, and friends who have become like family. The early 20th-century Edwardian house, with its warren of generously proportioned living spaces and a second-floor hall lined with a succession of one sublimely decorated bedroom after another, seems tailor-made for country-house parties reminiscent of a BBC period drama. However, these gentlemen, who are indeed prolific entertainers, orchestrate every detail without a liveried footman or head butler in residence, and always with a graciousness and ease that belies the amount of thought and effort they put into making every guest feel at home.
As a much-in-demand designer, Barry creates richly detailed interiors that take cues from his encyclopedic memory bank of design references, the multicultural influences he draws upon, and his artful eye and experienced hand for making houses as comfortable and welcoming as they are beautiful. Will, a former broadcast journalist and now a senior vice president
for Sotheby’s International Real Estate, handles all the meal planning and preparation with a seasoned negotiator’s skill for knowing when to stick to the script and when to improvise—and one wonders if he may have missed his true calling for commanding the stove in a restaurant of his own. The duo’s respective talents, combined with their shared warmth of manner and innate gift for hospitality, make an invitation to Elway a coveted one when it’s for the most impromptu of reasons, but never more so than on a day like Thanksgiving.
“I light a lot of candles and never set the table the same way twice, whether we have a house full of guests or it’s just the two of us and Dinah [their beloved wire fox terrier],” says Barry. “Some treasured pieces travel from table to table and year to year, but I never want a repeat performance.” Will adds, “Barry usually stays out of the kitchen while I’m cooking, and I will have no idea what he’s doing with the flowers and the table, which makes for a fun surprise. He loves the the drama of a big reveal.”
For this Thanksgiving, guests are in for a truly unexpected reveal as they’ll be loading up in buggies and caravanning down the lane to have dinner in Elway’s restored dairy barn. Will, of course, is in the know for this part of the surprise, as he must factor in the timing and best method for keeping food warm and presentation-ready for its journey from the house’s scullery to the site. “I was inspired by the idea of the splendor of a baroque feast juxtaposed against the rusticity of the barn,” says Barry. With its aged copper roof, mangers on the ground level, and heart pine floors and vaulted chestnut timbers in the finished loft above, the barn “almost feels like a sanctum with a wonderful spiritual quality,” he continues. “It’s the closest thing we have to a chapel on the property and seems especially appropriate for a celebration about giving thanks
THESE PAGES: Barry Dixon and Will Thomas invite friends year-round to their home in Warrenton, Virginia, but they particularly love hosting during the holidays. Guests are always pampered with warm hospitality, delicious food, and a beautifully designed environment, whether at the main house or in the barn. The table is set for dinner with a mix of family heirlooms, antiques collected during European travels, and new pieces found in local shops. PREVIOUS PAGES: Barry imagined a baroque feast in the early 20th-century barn and collaborated with floral designer Barbara Hamilton on arrangements of roses and ilex amid gourds and foraged vines that spill throughout the tableau.
—BARRY DIXON
“I light a lot of candles and never set the table the same way twice. Some treasured pieces travel from table to table and year to year, but I never want a repeat performance.”
for those we love and all we appreciate about life at Elway.”
Even though the hosts have chosen to serve the Thanksgiving repast away from a traditional dining space, what appears on the table hardly wavers from tradition. “I enjoy experimenting with new recipes, but this is definitely not the time for that,” Will says. While his own early recollections of holidays in Northern California revolve less around food and more around the camaraderie among his extended relatives, he is an ever-mindful caretaker of Barry’s culinary memories of Thanksgivings spent at his grandparents’ tables in Tennessee and Arkansas. Will reaches up to a shelf and pulls down a red-leather binder, a gift to Barry from his sister. It’s a compilation of many of the old Southern recipes passed down through generations of his family. “The pages get a new stain now and then from use, but I really do treat it like it’s a rare book,” says Will, as he flips to “Nettie Darr’s Dressing,” one of Barry’s favorites from his maternal grandmother. “As soon as those smells start wafting out of the kitchen, I’m transported right back to her house,” says Barry. “Although I never learned how to cook from my mother and grandmothers, I certainly did learn how to taste!”
In the meantime, Barry and dear friend and floral designer Barbara Hamilton return to the barn to finish setting the stage for dinner. The warm palette of reds, oranges, and umbers— colors that Barry gravitates toward in both his decorating and his product design—echoes the late-autumn landscape framed by the barn’s hayloft doors. Barbara’s arrangements of roses, ilex branches, and greenery foraged from the property mingle
with mottled gourds and pumpkins as textural as the pea gravel driveway that winds up to Elway. Baskets brim with homegrown persimmons, and gnarled wooden candelabras hold tapers that will light the room aglow when the sun starts to set. As Barry unpacks each carefully wrapped bin filled with the tableware he’s brought from the house, he also unpacks fond memories, recalling the provenance or story behind each antique platter or monogrammed silver fork. “Some are heirlooms I’ve inherited, and some Will and I have collected together from our travels,” he says. “Using these things reminds me of happy times and makes me feel like loved ones who are no longer with us are at the table.” As a final touch, Barry threads a wild tangle of vines across the groaning board and chalkboard menu and gives one last check to make sure each serving piece is in its proper place for the turkey and array of side dishes to be delivered a few minutes ahead of the rest of the party.
As guests arrive, they pause to say hello to Betty and Lou, the goats who serve as the barn’s unofficial greeters-in-chief, and then ascend the stairs for the big reveal. With champagne flutes in hand, they take in a setting that looks like it could be an Old Master still life painting come to real life in a Virginia barn. As everyone finds their seats at the table (Dinah’s is underneath with her own dog-friendly plate of roasted turkey and sweet potatoes), Barry and Will raise their glasses and make a toast to the good company, good food, and good times they gratefully share at Elway Hall.
ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: Ham biscuits are served on a transferware platter personalized with the house’s name, a treasured gift from a neighbor. • Will wrote the menu on the chalkboard behind the buffet table, which is laden with his efforts in the kitchen, including roasted acorn squash heaped in an aptware bowl. OPPOSITE: Desserts await on a nearby table, anchored with a massive grapevine from Napa Valley, a nod to Will’s California roots. Barry commissioned the tea service from a silversmith during a trip to Argentina.
FALL SCENES AROUND ELWAY: (Opposite, clockwise from top left) A vintage Chevy truck sports an appropriate color for the season. • Homegrown pumpkins decorate almost every nook and cranny. • Barry designed the henhouse, which echoes architectural elements of the main house. • (This page, clockwise from top left) Goats Betty and Lou are two of the animals who make their home at Elway. • The bittersweet vine that proliferates on the property is used in arrangements. • This Black Copper Marans rooster dons the autumnal palette quite naturally. • A stone bench purchased from Christopher Hodsoll in England offers a spot for reflection.
For more information, see Sources, page 94.
A ffairFamily
Interior designer Laura Roland marries European elegance and Creole eclecticism to transform her parents’ historic French Quarter pied-à-terre into a haven for hosting at Christmas and all year long.
TEXT AND STYLING BY MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACQUELINE MARQUE
Laura Roland loves carrying on family traditions—and not just during the holidays. She is now a thirdgeneration owner of Fireside Antiques, the 18,000-square-foot European antiques emporium in Baton Rouge founded by her maternal grandmother, Cheri McDaniel, and her mother, Susan Roland, in the 1980s. “I attended design school, but my education in the field began much earlier,” Laura says. “Growing up, I used to visit the shop after school and bring pieces home to ‘try out’ in my bedroom. By my senior year, I was joining my mom on buying trips to the flea markets in and around Paris. Those early experiences were precious to me personally and pivotal for me professionally. Aside from the many wonderful memories made, I came home with a deep appreciation for the timeworn mirrors, case pieces, tables, and chairs that have been the heart of European homes for centuries and the soul of my interior design projects today.” This appreciation is particularly evident in one of the designer’s nearest and dearest projects—her parents’ French Quarter pied-à-terre.
Constructed in 1832, the building served a plethora of purposes in its lifetime, including as an artists’ commune and as a bakery. Like most of its neighbors along the cobblestone street of Rue Dumaine, the brick structure reflects the architectural inclinations of the Bourbon Spanish rulers who rebuilt the city following two devastating fires in the 1700s. Its primary features—plaster-slathered brick walls, towering windows and doors, and lacy wrought iron balconies—were
PREVIOUS PAGES, LEFT TO RIGHT: In the entry, a loose arrangement of feathered eucalyptus overflows from an antique French pickling jar filled with ripe persimmon. The Empire trumeau and burled walnut Louis Philippe commode are both antiques. • Interior designer Laura Roland and her mother, Susan Roland, share a love for antiques and gracious living. THESE PAGES: The salon’s relaxed yet refined styling reflects New Orleans’s elegant, “anything goes” aesthetic. Silk ballroom curtains coupled with matchstick blinds, along with Louis XVI bergère chairs upholstered in a contemporary, abstract print, offer a balance of formality and everyday liveability.
Soft coral plaster walls and mohairupholstered fauteuils pop against the faded backdrop of the antique brick fireplace and scenic 17th-century French tapestry. The dining table— adorned with a decadent arrangement of lisianthus, pomegranate, foraged fig vines, red Anjou pears, and eucalyptus pods—is set with the homeowners’ collection of Old Paris porcelain, antique silver, and vintage stemware. A hand-blocked, floral quilt by Walter G. makes an unexpected alternative to a traditional tablecloth.
“It’s often said that New Orleans is America’s most European city, so our antique selections feel authentic and at home.”
–INTERIOR DESIGNER
LAURA ROLAND
also the primary selling points for the Rolands, along with the original white-marble mantels and floors, soaring ceilings, and private courtyard.
“My parents live primarily in St. Francisville but have always kept a place in the French Quarter,” says Laura. “What they love most about this one is its size and layout. It’s perfect for entertaining their large circle of friends and even larger family. I’m one of six children, all with growing families, so the numbers really add up when we get together for celebrations and holidays. Every year since they’ve owned it, they’ve hosted a large open house in early December to kick off the holidays and get everyone in the spirit of the season.”
To sprinkle merriment throughout her thoughtfully curated spaces, Laura called on Ben Miller and Grant Sutton of The Judy Garlands, a floral and event design firm. The duo took their holiday decorating cues from the grand period pieces, important abstract art, and lavish textiles. A sprawling 17th-century French tapestry in the dining room served
OPPOSITE: “Of all the evergreens available, our favorite is the Noble Fir,” says Grant Sutton of The Judy Garlands. “It’s airy with generously spaced boughs, so we can create a layered look that’s not overstuffed.” The tree acts as the centerpiece of the sunlit space that was formerly a sleeping porch. LEFT: A cozy library off the entry is tucked away behind a curtain in Michael S. Smith’s ‘Scarlet Vine’ fabric. The botanical print is contrasted by the geometric pattern on the Schumacher swivel chairs and the clean lines of the antique walnut table and 19th-century Louis XVI trumeau. The ceiling beams wear an authentic patina formed from centuries of flaking and peeling paint.
as the starting point for the old-world feel and the rich, moody palette of the adornments and arrangements. On the ground floor, fresh persimmon, pomegranate, citrus, and Anjou pears mingle among lyrical silver dollar eucalyptus, hardy cedar, pine, fir, and magnolia accented with winecolored Swiss satin ribbon. The second floor is festooned in softer colors and forms including hydrangeas; loose, wild bay leaf; and feathered eucalyptus with blush-colored Swiss velvet threaded through.
“Our goal was to create a sense of harmony between the holiday décor and the everyday interiors while establishing a sense of discovery around every corner,” Ben says. “To do this, we imagined how guests would move from room to room and how spaces would connect to one another. We also contemplated the evolution of materials and colors as you move deeper into the interiors.”
At the center of it all, Ben and Grant positioned a Noble fir with a vintage Suzani around the base. Boughs are trimmed in dusty rose Dupioni silk ribbon with a champagne sequined appliqué bearing a floral motif. The two men sourced handmade glass, ceramic, and pressed metal ornaments from some of their favorite European suppliers and closely tied their selections to the interiors.
“The Rolands’ style aligns with our own take on what a home should feel like at Christmas—relaxed and refined with a combination of natural greenery, humble accents, and hints of elegance here and there,” Grant says. “We’ve been known to go ‘over the top,’ but for this house, it’s less about the glitz and sparkle and more about the abundant bounty of fresh materials.”
ORNAMENTS of STYLE
We’re dreaming of finding a glamorous bauble (or two) underneath the Christmas tree, and these luxurious jewelry pieces have us making our lists and checking them twice.
PRODUCED BY AMANDA SMITH FOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATHRYN MCCRARY
PREVIOUS PAGES, CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: NatureScapes Fijian Shell Blister, Golden South Sea Pearl, and Diamond Earrings by Assael • Chalcedony, Amethyst, and Gold “Col de Cygne” Necklace and Gold Bead and Double Link Necklace by Belperron • Fabric: Club Velvet in Cornflower (to the trade) by Thibaut THIS PAGE, ABOVE: Large Farnese Link Necklace with (top to bottom) Aquamarine & Diamond Pendant, Ancient Roman Bronze Coin Pendant with Rubies, Ancient Roman Bronze Coin Brooch, Gold Queen Bee and Diamond Pendant, and Peridot Pendant all from Elizabeth Locke Jewels through Croghan’s Jewel Box • Designer Gold Hoop Earrings by Roberto Coin
• Fabric: Lyra Velvet in Grass (to the trade) by Thibaut
18K Gold, Emerald, and Diamond Ring by Laura Pearce, Ltd.
• One-of-a-kind Garden of Pearl Bracelet by Gyan Jaipur
Twilight Romance Mosaic Bracelet by Crevoshay
Platinum, Moonstone, Sapphire, and Diamond Bracelet by Oscar Heyman
• Platinum, Sapphire, and Diamond Ring by Laura Pearce, Ltd.
Classic Diamond Mega Sparkler Cuff by Suzanne Kalan
One-of-a-kind Rubellite & Carved Jade Earrings by Goshwara through Croghan’s Jewel Box • 18K Deer Bracelet by Temple St. Clair
• Fabric: Club Velvet in Peony (to the trade) by Thibaut
Chrysoprase Pendant Bead Foundation Necklace by Harwell Godfrey • Bouton Earrings in Lagoon by Tamara Comolli Fine Jewelry • 24K Opal & Diamond Bracelet from the Pointelle Collection by Gurhan • Fabric: Lyra Velvet in Turquoise (to the trade) by Thibaut
Diamond Cuff Bracelet by Laura Pearce, Ltd.
• One-of-a-kind Spectrum Necklace by Gumuchian through Laura Pearce, Ltd.
• Lavender Jade Disc Earrings by Paul Morelli through Croghan’s Jewel Box • Fabric: Club Velvet in Citron (to the trade) by Thibaut
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Vic Ring Large in Gold by Jade Ruzzo • Bloom Ring by Future Fortune Jewelry • Iconica Large Ring by Pomellato • Adrina Ring by Single Stone through Croghan’s Jewel Box
QUIET Beauty
At Juniper Hill Farm in New Hampshire, every addition to the garden is calibrated for its winter presence, including silhouette, texture, and hardiness.
BY TOVAH MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
JOSEPH VALENTINE
Joe Valentine knew he needed to temper winter’s bite. New Hampshire’s Monadnock Region is serene, unspoiled, and achingly beautiful during the cold months, but cabin fever is a constant threat in an area often buried in a few feet of snow. Not long after moving to Juniper Hill Farm, Joe saw a path toward bringing the forgotten season into the fore.
Joe and his wife, Paula Hunter, had been searching for a snowbelt weekend home in the late 1990s to serve as a getaway from suburban Boston. They were renting a historic log cabin in Concord, Massachusetts, and wanted to purchase a property with equally deep roots. Finally, after years spent looking in Vermont, they turned to New Hampshire and stumbled on a house built in 1789 that ticked all the boxes, including its proximity to a small town.
The couple’s love affair with both the landscape and the region’s highly defined seasons deepened, so four years later, Joe and Paula adopted the place as their permanent residence and set about building on the farm persona. While they used the fields to raise heritage breed livestock, they were unsure of what to do with the land closer to the house. Always keen to gather influences from travels, the couple spent their next vacation touring British manors. In the world-class landscapes surrounding those houses, they discovered inspiration for creating their own garden. And once back in the States, they attended a tour by Vermont garden designer Gordon Hayward to garner even more inspiration. There, they saw a pathway for translating a garden into their own vernacular.
Joe and Paula invited Gordon for a consultation, and that was the beginning of the transformation of Juniper Hill Farm from a no-nonsense farm into an intricate series of spaces, each with a nod to its agricultural roots paired with the enduring beauty of antique elements. The couple situated the garden tightly around the house at first, mainly striving to uplift the space outside the kitchen. But then the area in the back called to them. Ultimately, the planting momentum morphed into 10 years of consistent gardening as Joe honed his design skills. In a part of the country where more than half the year might be buried in frost and snow, he needed to factor in strong, defining lines and beauty beyond blossoms. Plants were selected based on their rock-solid hardiness and the role each would play in the outdoor “floorplan.”
Softened in shrubs, etched with tree limbs, circumscribed by fences, and screened by hedges, the garden continues to be a hardworking landscape. “We embrace winter,” Paula says. “And the season is not just admired through the windows.” She and Joe often venture farther afield. Snowshoeing is the couple’s favorite outdoor sport, creating paths that allow their Corgi, Christina, to follow behind, hopping like a rabbit between drifts. And when they return from those long, frigid treks, the landscape around their home welcomes them back in its embrace of gates, hedges, and pillows of snow.
“I think of our garden as a little house where we are always adding ‘rooms,’ ” Joe says. He explains that each room is “furnished” with shrubs, often clipped into topiary forms. Beyond those shapes, every space is delineated by walls composed of shrubs or picket fencing. “We needed to create transitions between the rooms,” he says. “That’s where the various hedges come into play.” Within those partitions, granite posts and agricultural relics stand out, especially when profiled in the sparsity of winter with its ice-accented twigs and snow-lined blades. Birds find cover in the rhododendrons and arborvitae, pecking at the seedheads left standing and feasting on the crabapples and winterberries that look like holiday ornaments. Meanwhile, the snow is given a hero’s welcome for the insulation it provides the perennials slumbering below. In winter, the garden might be stark, but there’s serenity in its simplicity. And as Paula says, “It requires no maintenance in the cold months. We can just sit back and admire the beauty.”
PREVIOUS PAGES: No matter the weather, Joe Valentine and Paula Hunter each make time for a daily half-hour woodland loop around their property.
• When they first began planting the landscape, Joe installed a series of ‘Donald Wyman’ crabapples. In summer, they’re pretty; in winter, they’re poignant. THESE PAGES: A dusting of snow etches the rim of a pedestal urn while lilacs serve as “furnishings” that define the space.
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A grey squirrel steals goodies from a tray bird feeder. • Native sweet fern (Comptonia peregrina) becomes artwork when half-buried in snow. • The classic statue greeting visitors to the garden was dubbed
“Miss Hospitality.” • To create a room-like partition between the Zen garden and the path, Joe crafted a windowpane divider. OPPOSITE, TOP TO BOTTOM: At the end of the pool, Joe built a folly modeled after its match at England's Hidcote Manor. • In the Zen garden, an undulating yew hedge backs a serene granite bench.
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Any items not listed are unknown.
FROM THE FIELD
PAGES 17-26: Marble Wrapping Paper and Rustic Tree Farm Wrapping Paper and Ribbons: papersource.com; Hardwick Hall Tapestry wrapping paper: dogwood-hill.com; French Wire Acorn Ornament: shoppebham.com; Deer Deer Fabric in Amethyst Moss: fabricut.com
The Traveler
Large Cabana Tote: Tourparavel.com; Hanging Travel Cosmetic Otomi Print in Black: francesvalentine.com; Solid Red Wrapping Paper and Ribbons: papersource.com; Zola Two-Piece Set Pajamas: shopaverie.com; Painterly Stripe Gift Wrap Paper: francesvalentine.com; Ribbon: papersource. com; Blanche Hair Perfume and Young Rose Eau de Parfum: byredo.com; Agata Fabric in Celery: fabricut.com
The Home Chef Italian Cutting Board and Mezzaluna: Etuhome. com; Classic Nutcrackers Wrapping Paper Roll: dogwood-hill.com; Red Ribbon: papersource.com; Parasol Champagne Vinegar and Aurora Rosemary Olive Oil: Brightland.co; Hammered Copper Stock Pot with Pineapple Knob: williams-sonoma.com; Wooden Serrated Cornbread Knife: stonehollowfarmstead.com; Purple and Baby Yellow Popcorn: stonehollowfarmstead.com; Trinket Bowl in Turquoise and Blue: bunnywilliamshome.com; Glazed Berry Bowl: katemarkerhome.com; French Blue Windowpane Kitchen Towels: weezietowels.com; Mola Lattice in Caribe: fabricut.com; Why I Cook by Tom Colicchio: hachettebookgroup.com; Bayou by Melissa M. Martin: hachettebookgroup.com; Crumbs by Ben Mims: phaidon.com; Café Cecilia by Max Rocha: phaidon.com; Julia Child’s Kitchen by Paula J. Johnson: abramsbooks.com; The Gourmand’s Lemon by editors of The Gourmand: taschen.com; The Book of Pasta by Academia Barilla: phaidon.com; Persian Feasts by Leila Heller: phaidon.com; A World of Flavor by Gabrielle Langholtz: phaidon.com
The Gardener
Cast Concrete Mushroom Garden Stool: shoppebham.com; Strawberry Rhubarb Jam, Blueberry Jam, Tomato Brined Pickled Okra: blackberryfarmshop.com; Handmade Bentwood with Copper Trug: gardenheir.com; Basketflower, Nasturtium, and Four O’Clock Seeds: rareseeds.com; Secateurs Wood Handle: earthandnest.com; Long Gardening Gloves: shoppebham.com; Gold Foil Flurry Stone Wrapping Paper and Ribbon: papersource.com; Hydrangea Leaf Plate; bradleys-market.com; Orchard Linen:
SOURCES
Who Did It & Where To Get It
osborneandlittle.com; The Food Forward Garden by Christian Douglas, hachettebookgroup.com; Charles J. Stick and His Gardens by Jeff Poole: phaidon.com; Daylesford Living: Inspired by Nature by Carole Bamford: vendomepress.com; A Year in Bloom by Lucy Bellamy: phaidon.com; Tree by Phaidon Editors, phaidon.com
The Entertainer
Folk Glass and Wood Food Dome: westelm. com; 7-Layer Caramel Cake: carolinescakes. com; Tomato Jam Jar, Green Pear Jam Jar, and Yellow Plum Jam Jar: buccellati.com; Watercress Dip: williampoll.com; Sterling Silver Cocktail Shaker and 1860 English Silver Plated Biscuit Box with Crest: croghansjewelbox.com; Solid Red Wrapping Paper and Ribbon: papersource.com; Beau Rivage fabric: osborneandlittle.com; Swing By! by Stephanie Nass: rizzoliusa.com; Entertaining with Charm by Eden Passante: simonandschuster.com; The Hostess Handbook by Maria Zizka, hachettebookgroup.com
The Design Lover
Sunburst Mirror: @henhouseantiques; The John Fowler 90th Anniversary Two-Tier Flower Holder: sibylcolefax.com; Victoria 7-inch Etched Dish: modern-matter.com; Hellebore Floral Brooch: helenasimon.com; Custom Monogrammed Napkins: table-matters.com; Tree Trimmings Baubles Wrapping Paper: dogwood-hill.com; Ribbon: papersource.com; “Louis Wishes You a Cool Yule” Vinyl: louisarmstrongfoundation.com; Flagship M1 Sound Console: Wrensilva.com; Bogart in Indigo/Moss: clarencehouse.com; An English Vision: Traditional Architecture and Decoration for Today by Ben Pentreath, rizzoliusa.com; The Art of Gracie: Handpainted Wallpapers, Timeless Rooms by Jennifer Gracie, Mike Gracie, Zach Shea, and Brian Gracie, rizzoliusa. com; John Derian Picture Book II by John Derian, hachettebookgroup.com
SHOPPING: PAGES 29-34: Shop: fleurdetroit, fleurdetroit.com
DECORATING: PAGES 36-42: Flower Designer: Laura Dowling, @lauradowlingtheflorist
A MEMORABLE FEAST
PAGES 54-63: interior designer: Barry Dixon, barrydixon.com
FAMILY AFFAIR
PAGES 64-71: Interior Designer: Laura Roland, Laura Roland Interiors, laurarolandinteriors. com; Floral and Event Design: The Judy Garlands: @thejudygarlands
ORNAMENTS OF STYLE
PAGES 72-81: (prices subject to change)
NatureScapes Fijian Shell Blister, Golden South Sea Pearl, and Diamond Earrings ($26,600) by Assael, assael.com; Chalcedony, Amethyst, and Gold “Col de Cygne” Necklace ($22,500) and Gold Bead and Double Link Necklace ($31,500) by Belperron, belperron. com; Fabric: Club Velvet in Cornflower (to the trade) by Thibaut, thibautdesign.com; Designer Gold Hoop Earrings ($2,590) by Roberto Coin, robertocoin.com; Large Farnese Link Necklace ($23,500), Aquamarine & Diamond Pendant ($7,250), Ancient Roman Bronze Coin Pendant with Rubies ($5200), Ancient Roman Bronze Coin Brooch ($8450), Gold Queen Bee and Diamond Pendant ($5,900), and Peridot Pendant ($5,300) all from Elizabeth Locke Jewels, elizabethlockejewels.com; One-of-akind Garden of Pearl Bracelet ($135,000) by Gyan Jaipur, gyanjaipur.com; 18K Gold, Emerald, and Diamond Ring ($17,500) by Laura Pearce, laurapearce.com; Classic Diamond Mega Sparkler Cuff ($77,000) by Suzanne Kalan, suzannekalan.com; Platinum, Moonstone, Sapphire, and Diamond Bracelet ($170,000) by Oscar Heyman, oscarheyman. com; Platinum, Sapphire, and Diamond Ring ($120,000) by Laura Pearce, laurapearce.com; Twilight Romance Mosaic Bracelet ($133,900) by Crevoshay, crevoshay.com; Fabric: Lyra Velvet in Grass (to the trade) by Thibaut, thibautdesign.com; One-of-a-Kind Rubellite & Carved Jade Earrings ($24,500) by Goshwara, goshwara.com; 18K Deer Bracelet ($95,000) by Temple St. Clair, templestclair.com; Fabric: Club Velvet in Peony (to the trade) by Thibaut, thibautdesign.com; Chrysoprase Pendant Bead Foundation Necklace ($48,500) by Harwell Godfrey, marissacollections.com; 24K Opal & Diamond Bracelet from the Pointelle Collection ($31,450) by Gurhan, gurhan.com; Bouton Earrings in Lagoon ($13,200) by Tamara Comolli Fine Jewelry, tamaracomolli. com; Fabric: Lyra Velvet in Turquoise (to the trade) by Thibaut, thibautdesign.com; One-of-a-Kind Spectrum Necklace ($120,000) by Gumuchian, gumuchian.com; Lavender Jade Disc Earrings ($32,000) by Paul Morelli, paulmorelli.com; Diamond Cuff Bracelet ($26,000) by Laura Pearce, laurapearce.com; Vic Ring Large in Gold ($7,400) by Jade Ruzzo, departmentnashville.com; Bloom Ring ($21,000) by Future Fortune Jewelry, futurefortunejewelry.com; Iconica Large Ring ($7,800) by Pomellato, pomellato.com; Adrina Ring ($15,500) by Single Stone, singlestone. com; Fabric: Club Velvet in Citron (to the trade) by Thibaut, thibautdesign.com
VOLUME 18, 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.
“The Japanese art of kokedama allows me to bring fresh, long-lasting flowers into the house during the bleakest days of winter. I savor the process of gently cocooning ‘helleborus niger’ in balls of homemade compost, which are then cloaked with foraged moss from our garden pathways and wrapped in twine. Once placed on old china saucers on the dining room table, they last throughout the season, with just the occasional deadhead and drop of water. They provide calm amidst the chaos of the holidays.”
— POLLY NICHOLSON OF BAYNTUN FLOWERS IN WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND
PHOTO BY POLLY NICHOLSON/BAYNTUN FLOWERS
To locate an authorized Herend retail store, please visit www.herendusa.com.
Featured: Waldstein and Waldstein Garland
