FLOWER MAY•JUNE 2023
HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE
Summer’s Here!
PHOTO BY CARMEL BRANTLEY
MAY• JUNE 2023
Contents FEATURES
42
Grey Gardens
Rich with provenance and personality, this East Hampton property lands in the capable hands of style maven Liz Lange for a thoughtful, sophisticated makeover.
56
Glamour in the Garden
Wearable art made from precious metals and stones reflects the diverse colors and compositions of some of the world’s great gardens.
64
Beauty in Bloom
Interior designer Lindsey Herod let floral textiles lead the way for the design scheme of her clients’ Houston home.
70
The Pull of Palm Beach
Designers of every genre are migrating south to this burgeoning mecca of talent and style.
PHOTO BY CARMEL BRANTLEY
ON THE COVER:
70
This cheerful flower room—part of a glamorous redo of Grey Gardens, the legendary East Hampton summer home to many intriguing personalities in the past—signals a bright future. Photographed by Michael Mundy
“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
|7|
Contents DEPARTMENTS SCENE
16
We’ve got our eyes on...
New book releases to keep you inspired with the latest in decorating, floral design, and entertaining.
IN BLOOM
19
Floral Design
Tattie Isles and her team at Tattie Rose Studio create immersive experiences with an abundance of foliage, florals, and all manner of foraged materials.
19
At the Delaware Botanic Gardens, a bouquet of committed volunteers combined with superstar designer Piet Oudolf and his vision to transform this creekside former farmland.
16
30
Decorate: Flowers
Floral designer Kelly Marie Thompson of Chicago’s Fleur Inc. finds inspiration under the Tuscan sun for her colorful, fragrant, and flavorful arrangements.
34
Market: Beach Club Vibes
Whether you are lounging on the sand, swimming in the surf, or exploring on a catamaran, these seaside essentials will have you sunning in style.
38
Women in the Garden
Best known for serving as empress of France while married to Napoleon Bonaparte, Joséphine also created her own legacy in the gardens of Château de Malmaison.
| 8 | FLOWER
May•June 2023
30 IN EVERY ISSUE Watering Can What’s Online? Sources At the Table
10 14 84 88
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) COURTEESY OF TATTIE ROSE STUDIO; PROVIDED BY VENDOME PRESS; BY ERIKA DUFOUR
25
Garden
PHOTOS (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP) COURTEESY OF TATTIE ROSE STUDIO; PROVIDED BY VENDOME PRESS; BY ERIKA DUFOUR
Watering can
A Note from the Editor
“How will we know it’s us without our past?” —John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
Delta Air Lines Sky Club playlist, periodic flight update announcements, the PSA of the Atlanta mayor urging us to play our part in the fight against human trafficking, and the low hum of human conversation. This is the soundtrack of my travel life. I’m not complaining. I’m cataloguing and rejoicing, for it signals I’m going someplace wonderful or am returning home from someplace wonderful. Both are good. As it happens, I’ve just had the pleasure of visiting, for the first time, St. Petersburg, Florida, where I attended the glorious Art in Bloom at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA). But really the whole trip was glorious. The city is sophisticated yet has a small-town feel. There’s a real pride of ownership in its residents—from the chairman of the board of the MFA to the guard at The James (of Raymond James fame) Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, where I lingered so long they had to kindly tell me to leave. Paired with my recent visit to Dallas and the Harlan Crow Library, which is filled with extraordinary treasures of the art world past and present, as well as my trip to Wilmington, Delaware, to tour Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library (Henry Francis du Pont’s house of American decorative art and antiques), I find my heart full of wonder at and gratitude for the
generosity of private collectors. They give new meaning to the term “share the wealth.” As I recall my visit to the once rescued and recently restored and redecorated Grey Gardens, I’m struck with the same sense of appreciation. Liz Lange, like the great aforementioned collectors, was determined to preserve, enhance, and encourage others to enjoy a piece of history—in her case, an iconic American house and garden. She references its museum-like quality as the home of the legendary Beales, as well as her desire to preserve what she deems essential while maintaining her personality and privacy. She’s succeeded, splendidly. See what you think. Wishing all our FLOWER friends a summer replete with beauty and generosity. Love and SDG,
Margot Shaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Please send your comments, triumphs, challenges & questions to: wateringcan@flowermag.com OR: Letters to the Editor Flower magazine I P.O. Box 530645 I Birmingham, AL 35253 Get the Flower email newsletter! Sign up at flowermag.com/news
| 10 | F L O W E R
May•June 2023
PORTRAIT BY BETH HONTZAS
AS I TYPE THIS LETTER, I’m hearing the soft stew of the
PORTRAIT BY BETH HONTZAS
Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...
READING LIST
Volumes of Inspiration OUR ROUNDUP OF NEW RELEASES OFFERS
THE LATEST IN DECORATING, FLORAL DESIGN, AND ENTERTAINING. By Julie Gillis
Charm School by Emma Bazilian and Stephanie Diaz (The Monacelli Press, 2023), $55
Everyone loves a good comeback story, and there’s one happening right now in the decorating world. Schumacher Books, a division of FSCO Media, has teamed up with Monacelli to explore the old-school techniques that are showing up in fresh ways. Discover how to execute traditional design for the next generation while exploring timeless rooms by talents such as Celerie Kemble, Markham Roberts, and Ashley Whittaker. French Blooms: Floral Arrangements Inspired by Paris and Beyond by Sandra Sigman (Rizzoli, 2023), $40
While living in Paris in her twenties,
| 16 | F L O W E R
May•June 2023
award-winning floral designer Sandra Sigman discovered that the French view each floral arrangement as a work of art. Here, she shares the design principles she learned and offers tutorials for creating French-inspired arrangements. Topics include how to choose the right containers, the correct way to care for various flowers, and the tools needed for each project. Stunning photographs, many taken in Paris, Provence, and Normandy, add authenticity and inspiration throughout the book. An Entertaining Life: Designing Town and Country by Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen (Vendome Press, 2023), $60
After 30 years together, both professionally and personally, design gurus Paolo Moschino
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PUBLISHERS
AN ENTERTAINING LIFE: DESIGNING TOWN AND COUNTRY
and Philip Vergeylen have created countless projects around the world. In this book, they feature their own houses in London and Sussex, as well as many client projects, such as a Balinese-style home in the Caribbean and a luxurious villa in Sicily. Readers are treated to several chapters focused on the design duo’s collections, home office, and formal gardens that they use for entertaining. In addition, the two talents share personal anecdotes, tips about their design philosophy, and delicious recipes from their favorite dinners. Think Like a Decorator: To Create a Comfortable, Original, and Stylish Home by Leslie Banker (Rizzoli, 2023), $45
Leslie Banker, daughter of legendary designer Pamela Banker, has been surrounded by decorating experts her whole life. Her mother taught her that in order to think like a decorator, you have to focus on developing the story of the space and of those who live in it. Now Leslie is showing readers how to use that advice to give a room style, depth, and a personalized look. She also includes Q&As from celebrated designers such as Amanda Nisbet, Christopher Spitzmiller, and Alexa Hampton.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PUBLISHERS
FRENCH BLOOMS: FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS INSPIRED BY PARIS AND BEYOND