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FLOWER NOV• DEC 2021

HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE

Home for the Holidays

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

NOVEMBER•DECEMBER 2021

Contents

A Twist on Tradition

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

72 FEATURES

Legacy of the Land

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

Enchantment on Long Island

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

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

Merry and Bright

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

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

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

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

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Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

EDIBLES

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

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

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

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

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

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

ARTISANS

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

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November •December 2021

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

Food as Art

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

FLORAL DESIGN BY LESKA GRAVES TAYLOR

Gift Guide • Garden • Decorate: Flowers • Travel

in Bloom

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

FLORAL DESIGN BY LESKA GRAVES TAYLOR

Produced and styled by Amanda Smith Fowler Photography by David Hillegas

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

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in Bloom DECORATE: FLOWERS

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

MATERIALS

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

Carnations Delphinium Lisianthus Lilies Sparkly decorative wire Faux-pearl sprigs

My Inspiration:

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

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in Bloom DECORATE: FLOWERS

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

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

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

STEP 3

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

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

STEP 6

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

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

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

A TWIST ON

TRADITION

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

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

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

LEFT: In the foyer,

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

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

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

ENCHANTMENT

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

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