July August 2023

FLOWER JULY•AUGUST 2023

HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE

PHOTO (RIGHT) BY EMILY FOLLOWILL; ON THE COVER: PLYMOUTH GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF CHIVAS HOLDINGS (IP) LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,MONKEY 47 SCHWARZWALD DRY GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF BLACK FOREST DISTILLERS GMBH. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,FEVER-TREE TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF FEVERTREE LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PHOTO (RIGHT) BY EMILY FOLLOWILL; ON THE COVER: PLYMOUTH GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF CHIVAS HOLDINGS (IP) LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,MONKEY 47 SCHWARZWALD DRY GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF BLACK FOREST DISTILLERS GMBH. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,FEVER-TREE TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF FEVERTREE LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

JULY• AUGUST 2023

Contents FEATURES

32

Second Act

Atlanta designer Heather Dewberry Stoller revives a Georgian-style house with her fresh approach to traditional style, making it the perfect fit for her own family.

44

Creative Confidence

On a quiet, tree-lined street in New York’s Upper East Side, Charlotte Moss’s senior designer, Chrissy Ritter, finds her refuge, her voice, and a place to break all the rules.

50

Summer in Style

Tastemaker and shopkeeper Kate Rheinstein Brodsky blends East Coast chic and West Coast nonchalance when entertaining outdoors at her family’s East Hampton home.

56

Artfully Designed

For a young Dallas family, interior designer Kara Adam curates rooms with plenty of artisan pieces and lively wallcoverings, along with an outstanding art collection assembled by advisor Lynsey Wiley Provost.

ON THE COVER: The poolside

32

“tent” at Kate Brodsky’s home in East Hampton serves as the entertaining hub for family and friends all summer long. Photographed

by Tria Giovan

“Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly. “One must also have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.” –HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN f l o w e r m a g .c o m

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Contents DEPARTMENTS

28 SCENE

13

We’ve got our eyes on...

A trio of can’t-miss collaborations from top talents in the design industry.

IN BLOOM

17

Garden

Once a broken, stripped, and forgotten landscape, Swift River Farm now proudly lives its best life—with a little help from its friends.

22

Drawing on his theater background, event and floral designer Bob Vardaman creates dramatic arrangements worthy of a standing ovation.

24

Women in the Garden

Having discovered her passion for gardening later in life, former Hermès designer Nicole de Vésian flourished in the world of horticulture with her straightforward yet elegant designs.

13

22

28

Market: The Magic of Marble

Transform your décor with swirling patterns of bright colors.

IN EVERY ISSUE Watering Can What’s Online?

Sources At the Table

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July •August 2023

24

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) BY KATHRYN MCCRARY; BY JEAN ALLSOPP; BY CLIVE NICHOLS; BY NICK MELE

Decorate: Flowers

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) BY KATHRYN MCCRARY; BY JEAN ALLSOPP; BY CLIVE NICHOLS; BY NICK MELE

Watering can

A Note from the Editor

“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…”

—Lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward; Song by George Gershwin THERE’S A ROMANCE IN THE WORD “SUMMER” that doesn’t surface in any other word or season. It’s like magic as it conjures up a mystical brew of childhood memories: camps full of arts and crafts, canoes on the lake, and fun-filled skits; beach trips with a thousand “are we there yets,” along with sunburns, oversized hats, and gritty sandy sheets; and time spent at the neighborhood pool, at the movies, or in front of cartoons eating cereal with no place to be—pure bliss.

As grownups, many of us work throughout the year and no longer experience the release and exquisite ecstasy of hearing, in the immortal words of Alice Cooper, “School’s out for summer!” Yet there is a residual emotional imprint that lends the summer months an air of ease—whether we find reprieve from the blazing sun in rooms filled with cool colors, pretty furnishings, intriguing artwork, and seasonal flowers or spend time outdoors serving a light summer supper to friends and family, drinking iced coffee in bistro chairs that have settled into pea gravel, or meandering down a woodland path in the garden. We adults do have our own ritual ways of soaking in summer.

We would love to hear about YOUR favorite summer customs!

Please email me at wateringcan@flowermag.com SDG,

Margot Shaw

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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July•August 2023

PORTRAIT BY BETH HONTZAS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PORTRAIT BY BETH HONTZAS

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 4

Margot Shaw FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Julie Gillis MANAGING EDITOR Nicole Gerrity Haas ART DIRECTOR DIGITAL

Jason Burnett DIGITAL GENERAL MANAGER Carrie Orteza ASSISTANT EDITOR EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Karen Carroll CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Missie Neville Crawford Alice Welsh Doyle James Farmer Kirk Reed Forrester Amanda Smith Fowler Marion Laffey Fox Elaine Griffin Tara Guérard Sallie Lewis Frances MacDougall

Robert Martin Tovah Martin Cathy Still McGowin Charlotte Moss Ellen S. Padgett Matthew Robbins Margaret Zainey Roux Frances Schultz Lydia Somerville Sybil Sylvester

For editorial inquiries: editorial@flowermag.com

Julie Durkee PUBLISHER Jennel O’Brien ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, SALES & MARKETING Marlee Ledbetter MARKETING COORDINATOR ADVERTISING SALES

Suzanne Cooper NATIONAL DIRECTOR, HOME FURNISHINGS Wendy Ellis REGIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER Sara D. Taylor REGIONAL ACCOUNT DIRECTOR For sales inquiries: sales@flowermag.com BUSINESS OFFICE

Mercy Lloyd CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Patrick Toomey ACCOUNTANT Lisa Mitchell SENIOR MANAGER CUSTOMER SERVICE

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

Paula Crockard Winn Crockard Gavin Duke Gay Estes Katie Baker Lasker Mary Evelyn McKee Michael Mundy Ben Page

Angèle Parlange Renny Reynolds Scott Shepherd Mish Tworkowski Remco van Vliet Evie Vare Louise Wrinkle

What’s Online?

Trending Now at FlowerMag.com

Traditional Homecoming After globetrotting and living in the Bahamas for some time, interior designer Kelley Proxmire’s client was ready to return to the D.C. area.

Finding a lot that backs up to her daughter’s home—convenient for visiting grandkids—she and GTM Architects created a new home that looks like it was sitting on its site for generations. Kelley then helped her fill it with tailored sophistication, plenty of color, and treasures that reflect the owner’s travels. See more of the home at flowermag. com/traditionalhomecoming

Water often serves as a magic potion in a garden. The splash of tiered outdoor fountains or the gurgle of water over stone gives the space a voice, while reflecting ponds capture a piece of sky and hold it to the ground. Get inspired by more than three dozen of our most popular garden water features.

See them all at flowermag.com/waterfeatures

COOL SUMMER SIPS Whether hosting a backyard cookout or weekend brunch, welcome guests with refreshing summer drinks. Stir up a batch of James Farmer’s Lavender Limeade or Katherine Cobbs’ Dreamsicle Cocktails. We’ve gathered recipes for alcohol-free sippers, spirited concoctions, and fun floral ice cubes to dress up your own favorite beverages shared by some of FLOWER magazine’s most gracious hosts, drinks masters, and other creative souls. Find the recipes and more at flowermag.com/summerdrinks

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PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) BY KIP DAWKINS; BY TRIA GIOVAN; BY JULIA LYNN

A Garden Splash!

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) BY KIP DAWKINS; BY TRIA GIOVAN; BY JULIA LYNN

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY YORK WALLCOVERINGS

What We’ve Got Our Eyes On

Scene a total of 72 different styles. This new rendition of Blooms expands into fauna with the inclusion of butterflies, tree frogs, and other small inhabitants of plants and trees. “Our Blooms collection harnesses the natural healing power of different florals,” says Carol Miller, trend and color expert for York Wallcoverings.

To celebrate the new collection, York reached out to Atlanta floral talent Canaan Marshall to create designs based on the wallcoverings. Canaan chose his favorite, Rachel Rose Mural, as inspiration. “It really spoke to me,” he says. “The way the flowers pop off the paper makes them look very realistic. I love the mural effect with a black border on the bottom and a white one on top and color in the middle. Sometimes colors on papers are not the same when you see them in person, but these are really rich and saturated.” Other standouts include the airy print Lunaria Silhouette, the bird-and-butterfly-filled Teahouse Floral, the more abstract Brushstroke Floral, and the chinoiserie-inspired Dream Blossom. The only problem will be choosing just one—thankfully, you don’t have to! The more flowers, the better. yorkwallcoverings.com; canaanmarshall.com

Joint Efforts

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY YORK WALLCOVERINGS

TOP TALENTS COME TOGETHER FOR A TRIO OF CAN’T-MISS COLLABORATIONS.

By Alice Welsh Doyle

A FLORAL PAIRING York Wallcoverings debuts the second edition of its Blooms collection and engages Atlanta floral designer Canaan Marshall to choose a favorite print as inspiration for his exuberant displays.

Whether you want bold florals on your walls or more demure ones, York Wallcoverings has you covered with the second edition of their popular Blooms collection—14 fresh designs in multiple colorways for

Rachel Rose Mural by York Wallcoverings

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

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Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

LIKE-MINDED When fashion brand Frances Valentine joins forces with home décor powerhouse Annie Selke, the result is a colorful and pattern-filled bedding collection that is sure to make facing the day a bit more cheerful.

to include all of the Frances Valentine essential details, novelty prints, signature embroidery designs, and of course bold, saturated colors.” Adds Annie Selke, founder and chief vision officer of The Annie Selke Companies, “Frances Valentine’s aesthetic absolutely resonates with me. I’ve always been drawn to their sense of fun, brilliant use of color, and exceptional handcrafted elements.”

With the pairing of these two sought-after, female-founded brands, the bedroom blahs will be banished forever—replaced with cheerful vibes that will make bedtime all the more joyful. annieselke.com; francesvalentine.com

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANNIE SELKE AND FRANCES VALENTINE

Calling all fashionistas and design lovers who long for vivid colors and lively prints. A new collaboration, the Frances Valentine Collection for Annie Selke, fulfills your wishes with great panache for all things bedroom-related—comforters, sheets, and pillows with flora and fauna motifs, watery stripes, and lively geometrics in a rainbow of hues.

Just now introduced, the collection is unabashedly rife with a happy, fun-filled flair that evokes warm breezes and sunny days year-round. Frances Valentine’s co-founder and CEO Elyce Arons says, “We’re celebrating summer, the buzzy energy it brings, and the opportunity to freshen things up. We made sure

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PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT) PORTRAIT BY NICK MELE; BY CARMEL BRANTLEY (2)

Elyce Arons of Frances Valentine (left) and Annie Selke of The Annie Selke Companies

PALM BEACH PANACHE The storied Colony Hotel in Palm Beach celebrates its 75th birthday by teaming up with Society Social to create new guest rooms full of fresh whimsy and doses of glamour befitting the history of the hotel and its location.

Roxy Owens of Society Social (left) and Sarah Wetenhall of The Colony Hotel

PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT) PORTRAIT BY NICK MELE; BY CARMEL BRANTLEY (2)

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANNIE SELKE AND FRANCES VALENTINE

Not that you need an excuse to visit Palm Beach, but if you want one, we suggest a stay at The Colony Hotel to experience the newly outfitted guest rooms. Roxy Owens, founder and creative director of Society Social, curated the furniture along with Sarah Wetenhall, the hotel’s owner and president. “This collaboration was a dream come true,” says Roxy. “Sarah’s genuine passion for the glamorous revival of the iconic Pink Paradise paired with our playful brand ethos and our core proficiencies in working with natural materials led to a very clear vision.”

According to Sarah, the inspiration for the collection was easy. “It came from everywhere in the Palm Beach community, such as pieces seen in historic Colony Hotel photos, items sourced from local antiques shops, and even from my children,” she says. “It was essential that the décor feel authentic and site-specific to Palm Beach. The local history of the area influences even small design details in the hotel, but not in an obsessive way.

We went with a more modern, sophisticated style.” thecolonypalmbeach.com; shopsocietysocial.com

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Garden • Decorate: Flowers • Women in the Garden • Market

in Bloom

A gazebo cosseted in an allée of nepeta and a hedge of Amsonia hubrichtii serves as a lookout point for the garden, as well as a spot for a weekly dinner soiree.

Lost and Found ONCE A BROKEN, STRIPPED, AND FORGOTTEN LANDSCAPE, SWIFT RIVER FARM NOW PROUDLY LIVES ITS BEST LIFE—WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM ITS FRIENDS.

By Tovah Martin Photography by Kindra Clineff

F

or Bruce Lockhart, the second time was the charm. When a realtor first brought him on a site visit to Swift River Farm as a prospective buyer, he immediately said, “Forget it.” The house was badly built from scrap lumber, and the land was stripped. Any natural resource that the previous owner could possibly exploit was lumbered, dismantled, and sold, including the pine forest and stone walls. But somehow, Bruce ended up touring the downtrodden property a second time to find struggling spring

wildflowers studding the fields—and that’s when his perspective changed.

He became determined to rescue the seemingly hopeless Massachusetts property. Together with his partner Gus Block, he decided to adopt the lost cause and turn its life around—you might even say he helped the land find its soul.

From the start, Bruce poured himself into all 87 acres in an effort to make every square foot of land shine—but he knew he had to view it as a marathon rather than a sprint. As a medical doctor in New York City, he could only work on f l o w e r m a g .c o m

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in Bloom GARDEN

the weekends. Every Thursday night, Bruce would hit the ground running. “I would park the truck with the headlights shining on the garden so I could plant under the high beams,” he says.

As the house underwent a complete renovation that also doubled its size, Bruce focused on installing 30 heirloom apple trees followed by 80 boxwoods. But those sentinel plants were just the beginning as he took on projects that entailed years of prep. The woodland garden, for example, required season after season of amendment before the soil could be carpeted by the incredible lexicon of wildflowers that now flourishes in its shade. The landscape also includes a woodland ramble, spring displays, a massive rock garden, a vegetable garden, cutting beds, a pond garden, and a pollinator meadow. He jokes that “this is what happens when you have a burning desire to create every type of garden imaginable.”

The path leading into the woodland garden was one of the first projects Bruce tackled upon purchase. Given a semicircular driveway that curved in front of the house, he began by eliminating the rather prosaic introduction to Swift River Farm and creating a multi-textured garden of epimedium, hellebores, and mukdenia. Then came a series of perennial gardens filled with Bruce’s favorite plants, such as nepeta, peonies, and azaleas—all accented by trimmed boxwoods and other hedging.

“That was my ‘nothing is too difficult to attempt’ stage,” Bruce

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jokes of the maintenance required to sustain perfection in that space. He also added an ambitious vegetable garden that was ultimately reduced in size when it proved too large for the couple’s needs. An old Lord & Burnham greenhouse became the host for starting seedlings. Bruce then turned up some mammoth boulders to build a rock garden, populating it with rarities started from seed in the greenhouse. The rock garden became a full-season favorite that expanded considerably, spilling out into a garden focused on primroses. Helping with all these endeavors was assistant Beverly Duda, who lent her expertise and hard labor.

As the garden grew offshoots, Bruce began to realize that it needed cohesion, as well as better movement connections between the spaces. In 2010, he called garden designer Gordon Hayward, who brought the landscape into a more efficient dialogue while also creating a Koi pond and a gazebo as a place to admire the surrounding landscape. “That’s when the garden really came together,” Bruce says. “Gordon took

OPPOSITE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Bruce Lockhart stands in the garden beside his house with Bocci, his Spinone Italiano. • The front garden is hidden from the road by a viburnum hedge which shelters a sea of narcissus ‘Thalia’, azaleas, mukdenia, and epimediums. THIS PAGE, ABOVE: Shaded under a maple tree, the woodland garden features lily of the valley, hostas, epimediums, and podophyllums.

in Bloom GARDEN

a series of disparate spaces and gave them continuity.”

In addition to the many plants and rocks, Swift River Farm is home to a flock of chickens and several beehives. Thinking that his insect friends might love further fodder beyond the orchard, Bruce decided to try a meadow. Gordon oversaw the project which entailed the installation of 1,600 plants in undulating beds at the crest of a hill. Helen O’Donnell from Vermont’s The Bunker Farm also helped, and her expertise is still called upon periodically as the meadow continues to evolve and mature. “It has always walked the line between a meadow and a garden,” Helen says. “We are continually evaluating the mix to weed out plants that become too big and thuggish.

Everything needs to peacefully coexist.”

The result is an incredible tapestry that changes every year and throughout the seasons, with pollinators of all descriptions reaping the benefits. It’s a wonderful weave that is forever evolving. In fact,

Helen paid Bruce the highest compliment: “He is the most adventurous gardener.” The transformation of Swift River Farm from its beginnings in 1998 is proof positive that not only does land have a soul, it also shows gratitude.

TOP TO BOTTOM: White Spring Green tulips mix with nearly black Queen of Night tulips and azaleas in the garden beside the

house. • In the first garden Bruce installed, an arbor covered in ‘Ghislaine de Féligonde’ roses leads into the boxwood garden accented by Hillary Itoh peonies.

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For more information, see Sources, page 70

in Bloom DECORATE: FLOWERS

Bob Vardaman DRAWING ON HIS THEATER BACKGROUND, EVENT AND FLORAL DESIGNER BOB VARDAMAN CREATES DRAMATIC ARRANGEMENTS WORTHY OF A STANDING OVATION.

By Margaret Zainey Roux • Photography by Jean Allsopp

various posts in theater management until returning to the South to take the role of company manager for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.

There, the success of his on-stage productions placed him in the spotlight, and he quickly became the go-to guy for innovative, extravagant private events for some of the most celebrated hosts in the city’s social and philanthropic circles.

“Thirty years ago, ‘event planning’ wasn’t a widely recognized profession like it is today,” Bob says.

“There were floral designers and caterers, but very few of them tackled both the fine details and the moving parts in between. Coming from a theater background, I realized the impact of a thematic design that incorporates lighting, drapes, props, furnishings, culinary arts, and floral design.”

Inspiration

“Flowers at an event are like characters in a play— they help tell a story,” Bob says. The story of this floral arrangement began with the Fragonard-style mural by New York artist David Braly. The handpainted canvas was originally commissioned as a backdrop for a garden-themed event, although it now steals the show in the dining room of Bob’s Garden District home. Placed atop a modern acrylic pedestal, the floral arrangement appears to pop out of the pastoral scene and bring fantasy to life in 3D. “Its grand stature has a striking presence within the room, but its simple ‘fresh from the garden’ composition exudes humble elegance,” Bob says.

MATERIALS Square tin container Mache liner oated C chicken wire Floral tape

Behind the Scenes

As a young boy growing up in Columbus, Georgia, Bob Vardaman had two passions: theater and gardening. When he wasn’t performing for an audience at the local community theater, he was in the kitchen gabbing with his aunts as they arranged foraged flowers and cooked fresh vegetables harvested from the backyard.

After Bob graduated from high school, his craving for culture took him to New York to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He then held

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Green Tea roses Purple hydrangeas Allium Fatsia leaves Fantail willow branches Johnson grass

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

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STEP 1 Form a loose ball of chicken wire that fits snuggly into the mache liner, and secure it with waterproof tape.

STEP 2 Insert fatsia to create a collar that covers the perimeter of the mache liner.

STEP 3 Create a hand-

tied rose bouquet, and secure stems with floral tape. Slide the bouquet into the mache liner at an angle so that it rests at the front of the arrangement.

Add hydrangeas to fill empty space.

4

STEP 4 Place fantail willow branches in opposite directions depending on the movement of the branch.

Add three allium stems in the center of the arrangement at staggered heights. Add Johnson grass to compliment the willow branches.

“Flowers should steal the show— not blend in like the chorus.”

—BOB VARDAMAN

5

For more information, see Sources, page 70

STEP 5 Place the mache liner in the tin container.

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in Bloom WOMEN IN THE GARDEN

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

Finding Her Place HAVING DISCOVERED HER PASSION FOR GARDENING LATER IN LIFE, FORMER HERMÈS DESIGNER NICOLE DE VÉSIAN FLOURISHED IN THE WORLD OF HORTICULTURE WITH HER STRAIGHTFORWARD YET ELEGANT DESIGNS.

ot everyone can move seamlessly from one successful career to another, especially when you are just shy of your 70th birthday—but Nicole de Vésian did just that. As a consultant and textile specialist in the early years, she worked in both New York and Paris. Later, in the 60s, she was a designer exclusively for Hermès, working alongside a young Christian Lacroix. Jean-Louis Dumas, then director, once described her as “the Hermès style incarnate.” But after 10 years of design in Paris, Nicole felt a calling to make a change and move to the Luberon region of Provence. It was there that she made her mark in gardening lore at her home called La Louve.

In 1986, Nicole settled in the village of Bonnieux and quickly gained a reputation for being both frugal and clever in the garden. Among her signature plants were the flat-topped cypress trees she acquired from nurseries when their tops had been burned by frost. She would continue to strike favorable financial deals with local nurserymen. As she once explained, “When you have nothing, you have to use your wits.”

Any successful gardener knows it takes guts, experimentation, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes, and Nicole’s gardens at La Louve became her laboratoire of sorts. She learned to

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ABOVE: The characteristic

garden style of Nicole de Vésian as seen here with multiple levels executed in varying heights, textures, and shapes in a broad palette of greens. LEFT: Nicole, in her late 70s in the garden—tools always at hand.

PHOTOS: BY CLIVE NICHOLS (CENTER); BY PASCAL CHEVALLIER (BOTTOM RIGHT)

N

By Charlotte Moss

PHOTOS: BY CLIVE NICHOLS (CENTER); BY PASCAL CHEVALLIER (BOTTOM RIGHT)

in Bloom WOMEN IN THE GARDEN

LEFT: Art

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The hillside garden at La Louve was composed of three terraces and is best viewed from above. Many of the chosen plants were placed in groups to give the appearance of little tapestries of green, silver, and lavender. Nicole believed that “pruning is not control, but care.” As she once explained, her plants “only need a little shaping.”

When it came to ornaments in the garden, she kept it relatively lean—a trough with a purpose, an obelisk for punctuation, a table for eating, a bench for rest and conversation.

She unified most of these features using her favorite material, stone.

I recently asked English garden designer Lady Tania Compton her thoughts about the La Louve landscape created by Nicole, whom she met in her days as garden editor for House & Garden magazine.

She distilled it in these words: “Her

PHOTO BY CLIVE NICHOLS

shake off the dirt and move forward, as well as how to look at things differently in order to begin again.

To many, her style was that of a minimalist as she approached her gardens with an “almost biblical search for basics,” according to Christian Lacroix. He also states that Nicole had a “very civilized sense of the natural, which made her places as wild as they are rigorous with a je ne sais quoi all her own.”

Cypress, boxwood, bay laurel, rosemary, lavender, and thyme made up the color, texture, and fragrance palette of the grounds at La Louve.

Occasionally, a random plant or flower would seed itself and be tolerated by Nicole. She was openminded with her garden and knew how to strike the balance between formal and wild—and that sometimes chance may improve upon a design.

PHOTOS: (TOP TO BOTTOM) BY CLIVE NICHOLS; BY CHARLOTTE MOSS

through horticulture: It’s not difficult to see why Judith Pillsbury, who bought the property from Nicole de Vésian, said, “La Louve is the most important work of art I own.” BELOW: Nicole once said, “My job is to give everyday things distinctive style.” Here, simple watering cans are placed for their visual appeal.

PHOTO BY CLIVE NICHOLS

PHOTOS: (TOP TO BOTTOM) BY CLIVE NICHOLS; BY CHARLOTTE MOSS

A still life in stone: Basins, troughs, capitals, and orbs of stone all have purpose in their placement.

garden was thoroughly Provençal whilst evoking the oriental tradition of garden making, where art imitates nature as a means of capturing its essence.”

On a visit to La Louve one summer, I remember standing on one of the stone terraces looking down and thinking how simple this limited palette appears yet knowing that the placement had been carefully calculated. Nicole was known for never drawing up plans—she saw her work as physical not philosophical. In fact, she often asked her gardeners to move pots, trees, and stones on the spot. They grew to accept her modus operandi that she executed with conviction and humor, and they respected her for it.

When Nicole took on projects for clients, she always began by scrutinizing the site and then asking questions of the owners to better understand their desires and needs. She also liked to use an existing dominant feature on the site or something in its viewshed as a starting point. At the same time, she would consult her files of photos for inspiration. Architect and designer Victor Papanek summarized Nicole’s gardens best when he said they are “human in scale” and possess a “sensual frugality that results in true elegance.” A beautiful description and a high compliment indeed.

Occasionally, Nicole would place a bench backwards, allowing visitors the opportunity to review what they had just experienced. Some saw this as a metaphor for life—a reminder to stop and take another look. On reflection, I think not, as Nicole de Vésian was always looking to the future. Even at the age of 80, shortly before she passed away, Nicole remarked to a friend, “It is time to begin again.”

in Bloom MARKET

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The Magic of Marble

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TRANSFORM YOUR DÉCOR WITH SWIRLING PATTERNS

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OF BRIGHT COLORS. Produced and styled by Missie Neville Crawford and Sutton Ward Photography by Kathryn McCrary 1 Marbled Melamine Trays ($48/piece) from Studio Formata through FOUND in Birmingham; foundbham.com 2 Notecards and deckled-edge envelopes ($5/each) from Emily Romero Marbling; emilyromeromarbling.com 3 Sylvie Saint-Andre Perrin Dessert Plates ($254/piece) from John Derian Company; johnderian.com 4 Marbled Paper Lacquer Box ($72) from The MET Store; store.metmuseum.org 5 Artist Series: 12-piece assorted chocolates ($40) from Louis Sherry; louis-sherry. com 6 Black Blue and Red Marble Teapot ($976) in “Large” from John Derian Company; johnderian.com 7 Eye Love Pillow ($32) in “Tigerlilly” from Love Mert; lovemert.com 8 Marbled Paper Lacquer Tray ($105) from The MET Store; store.metmuseum.org 9 Stone Plume Leathers (inquire for pricing) in “Winter White” and “Seychelles” from Rule of Three Studio; ruleofthreestudio.com 10 Vintage Marble set ($70) from Hunt; hunttheshop.com 11 Taplow Print Wallpaper (inquire for pricing) in “Peacock/Gold” from Lee Jofa; kravet.com 12 Marbleized Vase #4203 ($695) from Frances Palmer Pottery; francespalmerpottery.com 13 5" x 7" Photo Mat ($14) from Emily Romero Marbling; emilyromeromarbling.com 14 Rockstreams Glass Decanter Vase ($860) from Guido van Besouw through SARZA; sarzastore.com 15 Stone Plume Fabric (inquire for pricing) in “Sagebrush” on silk broadcloth from Rule of Three Studio; ruleofthreestudio.com

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SECOND ACT

Atlanta designer Heather Dewberry Stoller revives a Georgian-style house with her fresh approach to traditional style, making it the perfect fit for her own family.

Text by KAREN CARROLL Photography by EMILY FOLLOWILL Styling by JIMMIE HENSLEE

RIGHT: The settee in the entry came from

the estate of Dan Carithers, the Atlanta decorator who Heather Dewberry Stoller and her business partner Will Huff both worked for before opening their own design firm, Huff-Dewberry. “It lived in our office for a long time,” says Heather. “When my husband Steve and I purchased this house, Will suggested this would be the perfect spot for it. I re-covered it in a chocolate velvet, Dan’s favorite color.” OPPOSITE: The dining room’s Gracie wallpaper, left behind by a previous homeowner, was one of the initial reasons Heather fell in love with the house. The Chippendale-style chairs, which Heather painted ivory, and the dining table were her grandmother’s.

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H

ouses, like people, sometimes need a second chance—a champion who comes along and appreciates their finest qualities, willingly overlooks any faults, sees the full potential, and encourages them to truly thrive and flourish.

Such was the case for a Georgian-style brick house built in the early ’90s that, despite its distinguished profile and strong bones, had languished on Atlanta’s real estate market for many months. “It was a little dark and dated and perhaps a bit too formal and traditional to appeal to a lot of buyers,” says designer Heather Dewberry Stoller. But Heather and her husband, Steve, could see past those things and decided to make an offer.

The timing was perfect as the couple had just married—a second for both—a few days earlier and were returning from a post-wedding vacation with their four children. The blended family was ready to embark on a new chapter of their own, and the house was as well.

While the home did tick a lot of the right boxes—a desirable neighborhood, interesting architectural details, the necessary number of bedrooms and baths, and spacious, yet well-defined rooms with good flow—there were other elements that didn’t exactly hit the mark, such as a platform tub in the primary bath, a kaleidoscope of paint colors, and a kitchen island shaped like a jigsaw puzzle. “Our mission was to create a light, bright, and happy home, and Steve questioned whether we could make this one work,” says Heather. “I knew we could pull it off.

Other than a significant renovation of the kitchen and the main bath, changes would be primarily cosmetic.”

For Heather, light, bright, and happy interiors are all in a day’s work. As coowner of the design firm Huff-Dewberry,

Heather’s penchant for soft blues and greens and her confidence in combining style with comfort extends to the living room. “I really love a collected interior with sentimental things, but no room should be too precious,” says Heather. “We truly use our living room every day.” A silk scarf that the designer’s great-grandmother brought back from Thailand in the ‘50s hangs above an antique French desk, where Heather’s son often does homework.

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she has been collaborating with business partner Will Huff to shake the dust out of anything staid or stuffy since they first met while working for legendary Atlanta decorator Dan Carithers 25 years ago. The pair share an affinity for traditional elements such as floral fabrics, brown furniture, and antique porcelains, but dark and dated is definitely not part of their stylistic vocabulary. “I fully embrace the word ‘pretty’ to describe our work,” Heather says.

“Although I admire moody rooms, my own taste leans toward fresh and clean with more vivid color in accents, accessories, and art. I love things that tell a story—special pieces that have meaning, whether passed down by family or picked up on travels. A collected house welcomes you in and makes everyone feel at home, which was what Steve and I wanted to achieve.”

Heather’s starting inspiration surprisingly emanated from something a previous owner had left behind—a hand-painted scenic wallpaper of flowering trees, birds, and butterflies in the dining room. “When the real estate agent suggested we could strip it, I laughed because that wallpaper was so me,” Heather says. “It incorporated many of the colors I already loved

OPPOSITE: In the family room, Heather used more saturated shades of blue and green and painted the trim on the doors with Benjamin Moore’s ‘Wrought Iron.’ “It helps them recede and takes down the formality of the moldings a notch,” she says. Rather than use one large coffee table or a matching pair in the spacious seating area, Heather combined an Asian-style table that was in her childhood living room with another from her previous house.

RIGHT: The arrangement of orange ranunculus contrasts with the blueand-white porcelain.

Heather’s Tips for “Light, Bright, and Happy” Go Against the Grain You don’t have to have light floors to brighten the house.

It sounds counterintuitive, but staining them really dark allows lighter walls, fabrics, and painted furniture to stand out.

Err on the Practic al Side With four teenagers, three dogs, and two bunnies, there’s a lot of traffic coming and going through our rooms. I don’t want to stress if someone spills a drink or tracks in mud, so all the fabrics are treated.

Always Mix and Mingle While I love antiques and classic forms, I also incorporate furnishings that are more clean-lined and contemporary, like the acrylic coffee table in the living room.

If you put a piece that’s quiet next to one that has a lot of personality, the juxtaposition elevates them both.

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Turn an Ugly Duckling into a Swan

DIY is More Fun When it’s a Family Af fair

When I was in my twenties, I rescued a dark-stained French chair upholstered in Naugahyde from my neighbors’ trash pile. I worked alongside my decorative painter to strip it and give it a painted finish. It’s been re-covered a time or two since, most recently with a Brunschwig & Fils chinoiserie print.

If those neighbors could see it now, they’d probably want it back.

During the first of COVID lockdown, my daughter and I decided to update our sad laundry room.

We broke one of my cardinal decorating rules and painted the cabinetry before we had even begun looking for wallpaper.

Fortunately, we found a pretty floral pattern by Nina Campbell that works beautifully with Benjamin Moore’s ‘Schooner’ blue.

Pull in Some Flower Power

Embrace the Happy Accident

My mother is a master gardener, and I grew up appreciating flowers. I’d love to say I cultivate them myself, but I’m better at bringing them in through fabrics and wallpapers. I do keep fresh flowers or plants in spaces where our family gathers every day, even if it’s only greenery clipped from the yard.

I’m lucky that my grandmother gave me so many of her wonderful things that I cherish, but one Asian table was, to be frank, too shiny and gauche. I left it in the basement for several years, and it inadvertently developed a patina and crackle that was absolutely perfect. We now use it in our bedroom sitting area, and I love it!

The designer rescued the light fixture in the breakfast room from the floor of her office.

“It was previously black and gold, but Steve spray-painted it blue, which made it fun and fitting for the space,” she says.

and wanted to use. I could see that by painting the moldings and taking out the heavy furniture, the wallpaper would really sing, and the dining room would come back to life.” The day after closing, she posted a photo of the empty room on Instagram, hoping to crowdsource the paper’s maker. The owner of Gracie Studio chimed in that it was indeed their pattern called ‘Celadon Garden.’ It wouldn’t be the first time Heather had been charmed by the company’s exquisite designs. “Steve had a pair of framed Gracie panels in his former house. While I already knew he was the one for me, those panels may have sealed the deal,” she laughs.

As part of what she calls his “decorating dowry,” the panels now hang in the sitting area of their bedroom, the first thing the couple sees when they wake in the morning.

In other main living areas, Benjamin Moore’s ‘Swiss Coffee,’ a white with warm undertones, gave the house an immediate lift and paired well with a palette that includes

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Heather and her daughter

painted the laundry room cabinetry “Schooner Blue’ by Benjamin Moore and chose wallpaper by Nina Campbell.

• For the powder room, Heather selected a small floral wallpaper by Schumacher. “When using wallpaper in more than one room, I try to vary the scales so they don’t compete.” • While the perimeter cabinets remained in the kitchen, Heather updated the space by designing a new herringbone tile backsplash and a marble-topped island.

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Heather chose a striped wallpaper from Peter Fasano for the vestibule that leads from the foyer to the family room. She railroaded it on both ends of the ceiling to create additional interest. RIGHT: When the designer was in her twenties, she purchased the painting in the entry from Richard Keith Langham’s New York atelier. “It has hung in every house I’ve lived in since,” she says.

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‘‘Our house is a great ‘second-chance’ story. My husband and I both had a lot of pieces we brought to our home, and we’ve loved combining them in new ways.’’

—DESIGNER HEATHER DEWBERRY STOLLER

ABOVE: A pair of Gracie panels were part of Steve’s “decorating dowry” and influenced the citrusy palette in the primary bedroom.

RIGHT: “I love a collection of plates on a wall,” says the designer, who arranged cabbage ware over the bed dressed in linens from the Schumacher collection for Matouk. The crystal ball lamps on the painted chest belonged to Heather’s grandmother. “They were always in her guest bedroom when I visited,” she remembers.

She created another graphic composition above the chest with a series of antique lemon prints.

varying shades of greens, blues, and neutrals. Given that both Heather and Steve came into the union with established treasure troves of furnishings, relatively little needed to be purchased. Heather updated upholstery fabrics and relied on her well-honed skills for mixing styles and sensibilities in new ways while also leaving space for the objects and art they would

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collect together. Shortly after returning from their honeymoon, the couple fell in love with an abstract painting by Christina Baker that soon found its way to the living room.

And they spotted the hand-printed floral linen used on kitchen barstools and shades when they happened upon a sale at the Raoul Textiles warehouse in Santa Barbara. The fabric serves

as a daily reminder of the city where they were married.

Heather believes that when decorating with and living among beautiful and sentimental things, making sure nothing is too precious to be used puts everyone at ease. “Now that the kids are teenagers and not around as much on weekends, we have a routine where I cook on Wednesdays and Steve For more information, see Sources, page 70

cooks on Thursdays, and we all sit down to a properly set table in the dining room—even if we’re just having chili or pizza,” she says. “We linger longer than we do at the breakfast table, and the stories that come out are amazing. I don’t know what it is about that room, but if only those Gracie walls could talk.” f l o w e r m a g .c o m

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Creative CONFIDENCE On a quiet, tree-lined street in New York’s Upper East Side, Charlotte Moss’s senior designer, Chrissy Ritter, finds her refuge, her voice, and a place to break all the rules.

By KIMBERLY POWER Photography by BRITTANY AMBRIDGE

Chrissy’s living room is a playful mix of styles and materials, including a pair of ikat chairs from Chairish, a sofa from Pottery Barn, a linenwrapped coffee table from Anthropologie, and a Lucite trunk lined in Oscar de la Renta’s “Sameera” print from CB2. A tortoise lamp from Hayloft Auctions adds soft lighting between the chairs. Wall-mounted étagères offer space-saving shelving to display her collections.

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Like many who move to New York City,

Chrissy Ritter spent several years bouncing between apartments, never feeling settled in a place she could call her own. When she closed on a pre-war one bedroom, she was finally given that opportunity.

After six years of decorating under Charlotte Moss’s mentorship and creating beautiful homes for clients, Chrissy was ready to implement what she had learned and incorporate her personal style.

“What I’ve discovered firsthand is that good design is accessible to anyone,” she says.

“For those who are waiting to create the perfect home, my advice is don’t wait for a limitless budget. Seize the moment. Spend the time scouring markets, sourcing online, and soliciting recommendations from peers.”

Starting with a blank canvas, Chrissy sat in her apartment surrounded by fabrics and paint colors, hoping to find her inspiration. “I was praying the walls would talk to me,” she says. While her original design leaned toward a more modern aesthetic, she wasn’t convinced it was the right direction. “For me, decorating is about storytelling. I find myself drawn to pieces that have had a previous life— objects with history.”

Each piece in Chrissy’s home is a representation of her ABOVE: A small slipper chair found at auction and a velvet Louis XVI-style side chair upholstered in green velvet (just through the door) add flexibility and extra seating for signature style—well lived-in guests. Benjamin Moore’s “Lambskin” provides a warm backdrop for the vintage bamboo and collected. “I am keen on cabinet from Chairish, sisal carpet from Safavieh, and palm prints from art.com. mixing old with new, such as a modern silhouette with a traditional leg,” she says. “You fabric, a longtime favorite of hers, hangs reflection of these concepts. The vintage don’t need to limit yourself to a above the sofa. “Rather than upholsterbamboo china cabinet serves as a bar specific style. If you love something, buy ing the entire room in the print, which for entertaining and as extra storage for it.” She encourages thinking about the clothes when needed. An antique bamboo was my original preference, I took the duality and possibilities of objects as budget-friendly route of stretching table doubles as a writing desk and an essential components of small-space it over canvas,” says the designer. A eight-person dining table when folded interior design. out. And the Oscar de la Renta “Sameera” vintage, framed Hermès scarf, found Chrissy’s living room is a direct

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on a shopping trip in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a surprising focal point in the room. “I had run out of wall space, but the piece was too tempting to pass up.” So she used a Lucite picture rail and placed it over the fabric-wrapped canvas, adding a fundamental layer to the space.

In the entryway, Chrissy wanted to create a transformational space that established a sense of arrival. “This seemed like the one place that called for strong color,” she says. Faded chinoiserie panels are cut to line the original moldings. For the walls, she chose a bold palette similar to the background of the panels.

Chrissy kept the color of the original blue kitchen cabinets and paired it with a new geometric peel-and-stick wallpaper. “If I had started from scratch, blue might not have been my first selection for color. But treating the walls in the same hue made it all

ABOVE: Faded chinoiserie panels from Folly Home are cut to line the moldings in

the entry. Faux hydrangeas atop a rattan bracket from Chairish are the first thing the designer sees when she comes home. BELOW: The vintage bamboo china cabinet from Chairish doubles as a bar. Gloriosa lilies fill a bamboo bud vase from Mecox Gardens. A woven wicker tray from Gilt corrals bar accoutrements.

Small -Space Decorating with Style Chrissy offers her tips for working with tight quarters—and making the most of every square inch.

Be daring with what you select for your walls, whether it is a bold color or wallpaper.

Small spaces are where you can take a chance.

Rearrange the furniture to find the right fit. “Ordinarily, I would avoid placing an ottoman next to a dining table, but it works in here. Most importantly, it works for me.”

Add layers—and more layers!

Think vertical. Varying heights in a room will create movement.

Perhaps pair a tall dresser with a low slipper chair, and create a gallery wall as a backdrop.

Be resourceful. Every piece of furniture counts. Instead of thinking of the original functionality of a piece, look at new ways it can be used.

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“This apartment is a combination of style and determination. It shows the importance of combining passion with confidence and supporting it with know-how. Chrissy has beautifully demonstrated all of those things in her new home.” —CHARLOTTE MOSS | 48 | F L O W E R

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come together,” she says.

“It just goes to show that sometimes you can work with what you are given.” The large hanging shade and woven baskets add softness and personality to the space.

The designer’s bedroom offers a cool blue-and-white palette warmed with rich mahogany. “I really struggled with the decision to buy a four-poster bed,” says Chrissy. “I had to remind myself that a small space doesn’t necessarily mean small furniture. This bed makes an impact.” Because of the lack of square footage in the space, each piece has to double in function. “I needed to take advantage of every inch, so for the bedside tables, one serves as a dresser and one as a desk,” Chrissy says. A Louis XVI chair is covered in leather for practical reasons since the designer uses it for both working and painting.

The walls are covered in a collection of vintage perfume ads found by Charlotte at the Paris Flea Market. And the ceiling is painted blue in a high-gloss finish, reflecting light and adding luster to the room. “The eye should be made to wander all over the room, and often the ceiling is the most forgotten element,” says the designer. “But the blue color captures your attention. It feels like you’re looking at the sky when you’re going to bed.”

Chrissy emphasizes that following your intuition is one of the most important lessons in finding your own style. “Ultimately I really learned to trust myself through this process,” she says. “I often think of the Billy Baldwin quote: ‘Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style.’ For me, that’s always been a guiding principle.”

For more information, see Sources, page 70

OPPOSITE: Outside the kitchen, decoupage botanical

trays from John Derian hang above the antique table from Kenny Ball. Geometric peel-and-stick wallpaper pairs with a pendant from Ballard Designs, accentuating the kitchen’s high ceiling. Baskets placed above the cabinets also enhance the vertical space.

THIS PAGE: Layers of fabrics and prints add softness to Chrissy’s bedroom. Vintage framed perfume ads were found by Charlotte Moss at the Paris Flea Market.

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Summer IN

St y l e Tastemaker and shopkeeper Kate Rheinstein Brodsky blends East Coast chic and West Coast nonchalance when entertaining outdoors at her family’s East Hampton home.

Text and Styling by MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX Photography by TRIA GIOVAN

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LEFT TO RIGHT: Kate Brodsky’s early 20th-century

shingle-style house is located near the beach in East Hampton. • Architects Richard Bories and James Shearron designed the tent to serve as a temporary pool house that packs away during the colder seasons. Appointed in varying shades of green, it blends with the lush landscape.

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LEFT: Freshly clipped flowers from the garden sit on a tray from The Lacquer Company. ABOVE: “It’s like an addiction—I just can’t stop collecting anything and everything for the table,” says homeowner Kate Rheinstein Brodsky, who discovered her passion for collecting at age 6 with miniature watering cans.

“I was intent on having a variety of outdoor ‘rooms’ that serve different functions just like interior rooms do.”

—KATE BRODSKY

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PLYMOUTH GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF CHIVAS HOLDINGS (IP) LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,MONKEY 47 SCHWARZWALD DRY GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF BLACK FOREST DISTILLERS GMBH. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,FEVER-TREE TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF FEVERTREE LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

K

ate Rheinstein Brodsky keeps a packed calendar three-fourths of the year, but when the weather starts to warm up, life slows down a bit—especially when she arrives at her home in East Hampton. “Time seems to stand still a little longer here,” says the wife, mother of three tween daughters, and founder of KRB, her eponymous boutique featuring impeccably curated antique, vintage, and one-of-a-kind furniture, art, and accessories. “It’s a much-needed change of pace.”

Kate knows firsthand about living life in the fast lane. The Los Angeles native moved to New York City to attend NYU and then completed stints with Jeffrey Bilhuber, Ralph Lauren Home, and ELLE DECOR before setting up shop just a few blocks from her pre-war apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Needing an escape from the city, she and husband Alex purchased their circa-1901 home after years of searching for the perfect location.

PLYMOUTH GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF CHIVAS HOLDINGS (IP) LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,MONKEY 47 SCHWARZWALD DRY GIN TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF BLACK FOREST DISTILLERS GMBH. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.,FEVER-TREE TRADEMARK AND TRADE DRESS ARE THE PROPERTY OF FEVERTREE LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A mini bar is set up on scalloped metal consoles by Reed Smythe & Company. The rich green hue of the tables is the same 18th-century shade chosen by James and Dolley Madison for the shutters at Montpelier. Annabelle hydrangeas straight from the garden are corralled in an amber glass leech bowl designed by Kate and hand-blown by local artisans exclusively for her shop, KRB.

The house, situated on almost an acre near the beach, is just a few blocks from the homes of several family members, so when they get away, they can do so in good company. In fact, Kate says that one of her favorite things about retreating to East Hampton during the summer is having the opportunity to gather with family and friends outdoors.

“Growing up in California, we lived a very ‘alfresco’ lifestyle,” she says. “I wanted to replicate that here since that’s not very doable in the city. When we embarked on our extensive

renovation, I was intent on having a variety of outdoor ‘rooms’ that serve different functions just like interior rooms do. I was also firmly against adding any other structures to the property. I love that our house is old, wonky, and a little quirky! Anything too new or too big would have taken away from that.”

With that mindset, Kate worked with Bories & Shearron Architects to create a seasonal pool “tent” in lieu of a permanent pool house. Roughly 15 feet by 9 feet in size, it consists of an all-weather awning that ties to a metal frame so that it can be f l o w e r m a g .c o m

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Kate’s Outdoor Entertaining Essentials A living, interesting centerpiece.

Fresh flowers on a table are lovely, but a potted begonia stripped of its petals is much more intriguing.

I also think an artful arrangement of fruits or vegetables keeps things interesting. There is nothing more fabulous looking than Romanesco.

Glass hurricanes.

In addition to being pretty, they are practical on breezy nights when candles are prone to blowing out. I hoard 19th-century American glass, and I based my KRB hurricane off an extra curvy one I have in my own collection.

Cloth napkins.

I don’t do paper; however, I’m not above using a good-looking dish towel as a napkin if the meal is messy. Some of my favorite cloth napkins come from Houses & Parties. They have a great selection in various sizes and styles.

A “mini” bar.

Not the kind you’re thinking of, but a little bar set up outside so guests (or hosts) aren’t traipsing back and forth to the house for refills. We always have wine, sparkling water, and a cocktail option or two. My husband is partial to a gin and tonic, which feels very summery, so we generally have the makings for that.

ABOVE: “It’s where everything gets done,” Kate says of

the cutting room. Zinc countertops and high-gloss painted wood floors bring elegance and endurance to the hardworking hub. BELOW: Colorful linens and glassware, including Kate’s bespoke handblown hurricanes, adorn the table. Big, bold zinnias are contained in quirky ceramic vases resembling tin cans sourced at Bloom in nearby Sag Harbor.

Takeout.

Put some pre-made goodies on a gorgeous plate.

It’s just that easy! Pre-shucked oysters from your local seafood market are delicious and feel festive when displayed with all the accoutrements. Even chips and dip somehow seem special when you put them in an antique bowl set on a lacquer tray.

deconstructed and stored during the winter months. In true California fashion, the tent is every bit as comfortable for lounging as an interior room would be—and its appointments are just as chic.

For a dining space, the architects dreamed up a pavilion featuring an allée of plane trees trained with bamboo rods to forge a canopy. A slender Fermob bistro table paired with French-inspired folding chairs stands atop the gravel floor, giving off a very Euro-Cali wine country vibe. “A ‘dining pavilion’ sounds so glamorous, doesn’t it?” laughs Kate. “I have to have a little glam—after all, I’m from L.A.!” Then she quickly adds, “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, though! The dinner parties we host usually include something simple like a fresh salad, some roasted vegetables, or even takeout. As I say to my husband, I can cook, but sometimes I just choose not to.

Besides, if you spread out an embroidered tablecloth and bring out festive, colored plates and glassware, no one will think twice about who made the food!”

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For more information, see Sources, page 70

A bubblegum pink embroidered tablecloth by Carolina Irving & Daughters and magenta antique French damask napkins from Guinevere Antiques pack some punch into the layers of green in the dining pavilion. In lieu of a matching dining set, Kate paired a Fermob table with metal folding chairs by Terrain. The chair frames recall the iconic late 19th-century style but feature deeper seats for modern comfort.

Artfully D E S I GN ED

For a young Dallas family, interior designer Kara Adam curates rooms with plenty of artisan pieces and lively wallcoverings, along with an outstanding art collection assembled by advisor Lynsey Wiley Provost.

By ALICE WELSH DOYLE Photography by MICHAEL HUNTER

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ON

a spacious lot in a sought-after Dallas neighborhood sits an elegant yet restrained French neoclassical manse built from the ground up but giving the impression that it has long graced the street with its stately façade. While the interiors tell a similar story with beautiful appointments, compelling colors, one-of-a-kind pieces, and a to-die-for art collection, there’s also some hidden ease at play.

“The owners have three children, so they wanted the home to feel comfortable and not museum-like,” says interior designer Kara Adam. “And they want visitors to feel like they can relax when they are in their house.”

For the architecture, Kara and her clients worked with Larry Boerder,

“The homeowners didn’t want their home to look like any you had seen, and that is always my goal too.”

—DESIGNER KARA ADAM

known for his authenticity and meticulous attention to detail. “Our dream was a home with traditional lines, but we didn’t want it to be overly ornate,” say the homeowners. “We were confident in Larry’s ability to achieve our vision.

He created a house that doesn’t look ‘trendy’ and will stand the test of time aesthetically.”

Inside the home, Kara pushed the limits a bit when it came to selecting furnishings and décor. “I have a great relationship with these clients, so trust came naturally,” says the designer.

“However, some choices were definitely out of the wife’s comfort zone. I told her, ‘We are not building your grandmother’s house.’ I wanted to add some funkier pieces and unexpected accents here and there.” Ultimately, the homeowners were

PREVIOUS PAGES: Employing her client’s favorite blue as a base, Kara Adam added glamourous notes to the living room with a

sinuous vintage Parisian coffee table and a unique purple blown-glass accent table. Artwork from left to right: Bernard Frize, Francis Picabia, Anthony Pearson (over mantel), and Mark Grotjahn. THESE PAGES, ABOVE: Live Oaks frame the exterior of the elegant French Neoclassical-style home designed by architect Larry Boerder. OPPOSITE: Wow moments in the dining room include a tiered-glass Vaughan Designs chandelier, a hand-painted Timothy Corrigan for Fromental wallcovering that evokes the ocean, curved white dining chairs, and a large, peach-toned contemporary art piece from Sam Falls.

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THIS PAGE: Generous furniture pieces provide options for convivial

gatherings. A custom coffee table in Brazilian rosewood and blue ceramic lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller anchor one of the seating areas. Chairs in an Elizabeth Eakins purple print punch up the color scheme. FAR RIGHT: Art by Friedrich Kunath pairs with a Gregorius Pineo chair to create a simple vignette.

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Art Advisor 101

Lynsey Wiley Provost shares her role in helping clients collect meaningful art.

First and foremost, I get to know my clients and their personalities and discuss their collecting goals while also educating them about the market and the process.

I protect them from making hasty or ill-considered choices, and I oversee their collection for the long term.

I look at artists who are on a certain trajectory in their careers and have a certain amount of exposure. If my clients enjoy following the artist, we decide to move forward and try to acquire the artwork.

I like to ensure that the acquisition is the best representation of the artist’s work and that it fits in with the rest of the collection.

I always advise clients to purchase what they love and not pieces to match their décor or for a specific room. For example, you don’t want to purchase something because it looks good with your purple sofa. Your sofa will change, but your art will be for the long term.

I make sure my clients have variety in their collections—pieces from different eras, genres, and schools, as well as a mixture of mediums for contrast and excitement. I’m also available for the installation process to work alongside the designer in choosing the best placement of the pieces.

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pleasantly surprised by how much they love some of these picks, such as the gray lacquer in the bar, the moody palette of the basement, and the statement-making bed in the primary suite.

While her client’s favorite color is blue—and there’s plenty of it in the house—Kara also introduced shades of purple and pink, as well as some warm neutrals, to keep it from feeling too monochromatic. And she employed a plethora of wallcoverings—31 in total— to inject liveliness throughout the rooms.

“They didn’t want their home to look like any you had seen before, and that is always my goal too,” Kara says. “We worked with niche vendors and artisans and had a lot of things customized to fit the scale of these large rooms.”

A pleated silk Élitis wallcovering graces a powder room for texture, while an indigo-and-white Ashley Woodson Bailey

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OPPOSITE, TOP TO BOTTOM: The lower-level lounge is the ultimate hangout spot with a bar and an adjacent room that houses a golf simulator. • Brass strapping on the vent pairs with brass hardware and fixtures to bring a bit of shine to the classic white kitchen. An Urban Electric light fixture with custom shades and an Imogen Heath print on the chairs add bolts of blue. The green botanical painting is by Jonas Wood. THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: A geometric-style print from Lindsay Cowles adds liveliness to a custom bench and bed pillows in the primary suite. • For a girl’s dream of a bedroom, Kara injected a bright pink Highland House fabric for the window panels with a Hickory Chair bed dressed in a playful Ferrick Mason blue-and-white botanical print.

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THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The vaulted pool house with its comfy furnishings provides a gathering spot to escape

the heat. Whimsical artwork by Donald Moffett adds to the relaxed vibe. • A mosaic tile, used as wainscotting in the bath, is topped with a wispy circle wallpaper from Studio E. • The pavilion has many options for seating; this one looks out on the pool. OPPOSITE: In an outdoor eating area, bunches of ‘Little Lime’ hydrangeas speak to the summer season.

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ABOVE: The pool side of the pavilion features a charming eyebrow dormer. All of the outdoor furniture is upholstered in Perennials Fabrics. OPPOSITE: The wallpaper from the pool house bath repeats in the bar for a sense of continuity. A complementary Moroccan

tile forms the backsplash with shelves holding dishware at the ready.

design brings some drama to another space. “Kara certainly pushed us on wallpapers and fabrics too, but having worked with her on multiple projects in the past, we knew to trust her eye for unique selections,” say the homeowners.

“Two great examples are those in the pool house and the dining room.”

To complete the décor, Kara turned to art advisor Lynsey Wiley Provost, who saw the clients through the art curation process. “When you are amassing a collection of this scale, you need to have someone who is on the pulse of

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the industry; someone who is in it every day,” says Kara. Lynsey has been part of the industry for over 20 years, honing her expertise with graduate studies at Sotheby’s and working at the auction house and in galleries in New York.

Along the way, she has garnered a vast network worldwide.

“We really enjoyed working with Lynsey,” say the homeowners. “She has helped us navigate the art world and has made collecting enjoyable. Plus, her ability to collaborate with Kara on dimensions and palettes made the entire

process seamless from start to finish.”

Works by both established and emerging artists fill the rooms with welcome color and texture. “It’s hard to pick favorites, but we love the Jane Freilicher landscape next to our bed, the shaped Sara Crowner piece in our upstairs landing, and the Mark Grotjahn, the Francis Picabia, and the Milton Avery in the living room,” say the homeowners.

Such remarkable pieces serve as the icing on the cake of this thoughtful and beautifully executed home—one that will clearly stand the test of time.

For more information, see Sources, page 70

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

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Sources Any items not listed are unknown.

IN BLOOM PAGES 17-20: GARDEN: Swift River Farm, gardenconservancy.org PAGES 22-23: DECORATE: FLOWERS: Floral designer: Bob Vardaman, bobvardaman.com SECOND ACT: PAGES 32-43: Interior designer: Heather Dewberry Stoller, HuffDewberry, huffdewberry.com; ENTRY: Brown velvet on settee: Schumacher, schumacher.com; green velvet on stool: Lee Jofa, kravet.com; DINING ROOM: Wallpaper: Gracie Studio, graciestudio. com; chandelier: Visual Comfort, visualcomfort.com; mirror: Michael S. Smith for Mirror Home, mirrorhome.com; LIVING ROOM: Paint color: ‘Swiss Coffee’

by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore. com; chinoiserie fabric: Brunschwig & Fils, kravet.com; lampshade fabric: Peter Fasano, peterfasano.com; yellow pillow fabric: Heather Chadduck, heatherchadducktextiles.com; end tables: Holland MacRae, hollandmacrae.com; FAMILY ROOM: Paint color: ‘Swiss Coffee’

by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore. com; paint on door trim: ‘Wrought Iron’

by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com; fabric on floral pillows: Nina Campbell, osborneandlittle.com; bargello fabric on center pillow: Brunschwig & Fils, kravet. com; lampshades: Edgar-Reeves, edgarreeves.com; BREAKFAST ROOM: chair fabric: Groves Brothers, grovesbros. com; LAUNDRY ROOM: Wallpaper: Nina Campbell, osborneandlittle.com; cabinetry paint color: ‘Schooner Blue’ by Benjamin Moore, benjaminmoore.com; POWDER ROOM: Wallpaper: Schumacher, schumacher.com; vanity: Lucy Smith through Holland MacRae, hollandmacrae. com; sconces: Visual Comfort, visualcomfort.com; KITCHEN: Fabric: Raoul Textiles, raoultextiles.com, barstools: Wesley Hall, wesleyhall.com; VESTIBULE: Wallpaper: Peter Fasano, peterfasano. com; PRIMARY BEDROOM: Linens: Matouk Schumacher Collection, matouk.com; chest: Tritter Feefer, tritterfeefer.com; bedside tables: Villa & House, vandh.com; lamps on bedside tables: Christopher Spitzmiller for Visual Comfort, visualcomfort.com; fabric on bench (in front of bed):

Who Did It & Where To Get It

Casa Branca, casabranca.com CREATIVE CONFIDENCE: PAGES 4449: Interior designer: Chrissy Ritter, studio-chr.com; stylist: Kimberly Power, kimberlypower.com; LIVING ROOM: Étagères: CB2, cb2.com; grasscloth shade on lamp: Ballard Designs, ballarddesigns. com; book sconces: Kenny Ball Antiques, kennyballantiques.com; tortoise ice bucket in bar: Ballard Designs, ballarddesigns. com; KITCHEN: Peel-and-stick wallpaper: Home Depot, homedepot.com; BEDROOM: Bedding: Amanda Lindroth, amandalindroth.com; duvet: Matouk, matouk.com; bed: Z Gallerie, zgallerie.com; woven lamp: Anthropologie, anthropologie. com; lampshade: Bunny Williams Home, bunnywilliamshome.com; desk: One Kings Lane, onekingslane.com; lampshade on desk lamp: The Shade Store, theshadestore.com SUMMER IN STYLE: PAGES 50-55: Interior designer: Kate Brodsky, KRB NYC, krbnyc. com; Architects: Bories & Shearron Architecture, boriesandshearron.com; POOL TENT: Leech bowl in Amber: KRB, krbnyc.com; consoles: Reed Smythe & Co., reedsmythe.com; seating: Janus et Cie, shopjanusetcie.com; cushion upholstery: Tillet Textiles, t4fabrics.com; vintage rattan table: JED Design, jeddesign.com; green tray: thelacquercompany.com; vintage Salterini game table: J.F. Chen, jfchen.com; extra-wide lounge chairs: Heveningham Collection, heveningham.co.uk; DINING PAVILION: Dining table: Fermob, fermobusa.com; dining chairs: Terrain, shopterrain.com; tablecloth: Carolina Irving & Daughters, ci-daughters.com; antique French damask napkins: Guinevere Antiques, guinevere.co.uk; glass hurricanes: KRB, krbnyc.com; plates: Christopher Spitzmiller, christopherspitzmiller.com; bamboo flatware: Sabre, sabre-paris.com; ceramic “tin can” vases: Bloom Sag Harbor, habituallychic.luxury ARTFULLY DESIGNED: PAGES 56-67: Interior designer: Kara Adam, Kara Adam Interiors, karaadaminteriors.com; Architect: Larry E. Boerder, Larry E. Boerder Architects, larryboerder.com; Builder: John Jarrett, Jarrett Construction; Art advisor: Lynsey Wiley Provost, Wiley Fine Art Advisory, wileyfineartadvisory.com;

LIVING ROOM: Sofa pillow fabric: Cassaro, cassaro.co; blown-glass side table: Dean & Dahl, deananddahl.com; DINING ROOM: Peach painting: Sam Falls; wallcovering: Timothy Corrigan for Fromental, fromental. co.uk; chandelier: Vaughan Designs, vaughandesigns.com; FAMILY ROOM: Painting in foreground by window: Friedrich Kunath; blue lamps: Christopher Spitzmiller, christopherspitzmiller.com; In the text sidebar: Green painting: Frederich Kunath; chair: Gregorius Pineo, gregoriuspineo.com; PRIMARY BEDROOM: Fabric on custom bench: Lindsay Cowles, lindsaycowles.com; bedding: Matouk, matouk.com; ‘Afghan Agra’ rug: Abrash Rugs, abrashrugs.com; bedside lamps: Roy Hamilton Studios, royhamiltonstudio. com. GIRL’S BEDROOM: Purple painting: Ann Craven; bed: Hickory Chair, hickorychair.com; fabric on bed: Ferrick Mason, ferrickmason.com; wallpaper on ceiling: Lindsay Cowles, lindsaycowles. com; drapery fabric: Highland House Furniture, highlandhousefurniture.com; KITCHEN: Green plant painting: Jonas Wood; light fixture: Urban Electric, urbanelectric.com; barstool fabric: Imogen Heath, imogenheath.com; DOWNSTAIRS LOUNGE: Table lamps: Roy Hamilton Studios, royhamiltonstudio.com; fabric on custom upholstery: Rosemary Hallgarten, rosemaryhallgarten.com; Custom hanging pendants over bar: Vaughan Designs, vaughandesigns.com; Art (left to right): Wayne Thiebaud, Richard Diebenkorn, Harold Ancart (match stick), and Brent Wadden (in the golf room). POOL HOUSE INTERIOR: Art: Donald Moffett; sofa fabric: Travers, zimmer-rhode.com; side tables: Gregorius Pineo, gregoriuspineo.com; POOL BATH: Drapery fabric: Hartmann & Forbes, hartmannforbes.com; wallpaper: Studio E, studioeinc.com; sink basin and plumbing: Waterworks, waterworks.com; POOL PORCH SITTING AREA: Furniture: Janus et Cie, janusetcie.com; gas lantern: Urban Electric, urbanelectric.com; OUTDOOR DINING: Furniture: Janus et Cie, janusetcie.com; POOL: Furniture: Janus et Cie, janusetcie.com; furniture fabric: Perennials, perennials.com; POOL BAR: Art: Matt Connors; barstools: McGuire Furniture, mcguirefurniture.com; wallpaper: Studio E, studioeinc.com; pendant lights: Urban electric, urbanelectric.com

VOLUME 17, ISSUE 4. 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.

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At the Table

Take It Outside PASTEL HUES AND NATURE-INSPIRED PRINTS SET THE SCENE FOR WARM-WEATHER ENTERTAINING. Produced and styled by Amanda Smith Fowler • Photography by David Hillegas

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1 Rose wine hock ($150)

by Moser 2 Pink Lace dinner plate ($80) by Mottahedeh 3 Wild Flower sterling silver flatware (inquire for pricing) by Royal Crest Silver 4 Pink Continental dining plate ($30) by Lenox 5 Burgundy Hampton Court bread & butter plate ($110) by William Yeoward 6 Sterling silver sugar sifter with frog decoration (inquire for pricing) by Tiffany & Co. 7 Mint Silk Ribbon charger (inquire for pricing) by Herend 8 Green Apple Lace dinner plate ($80) by Mottahedeh 9 Morning Glory goldwashed sterling silver fruit/orange spoons (set of 12, inquire for pricing) by Gorham Silver 10 Sterling silver with gold vermeil berry bowls (set of 12, inquire for pricing) by Tiffany & Co. 11 Emerald Clarendon crystal wine hock ($220)

by Waterford Crystal All of the above provided through partnership with Replacements, Ltd., 800.737.5223, replacements.com 12 Mythica F7774-02

fabric (to the trade) by Osborne & Little, osborneandlittle.com 13 Festival napkins ($69, set of four) by Sferra, sferra.com

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