Flower July/Aug 2021

FLOWER JULY•AUGUST 2021

HOUSE l GARDEN l LIFESTYLE

THROW A MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY BASH

Entertaining with Michelle Nussbaumer VISIT A HAMPTONS GARDEN OASIS

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Takeaway Bouquets

JULY•AUGUST 2021

Contents FEATURES

40

A Serene Retreat

With care and imagination, a creative couple restore their Hamptons home to its original elegance and design a garden to match

48

Singin’ in the Rain

Nashville event designer Blair Laborde celebrates going ‘over the hill’ with an over-the-top evening of dinner and dancing

54

A Coastal Charmer

Interior designer Meg Braff infuses a grand 1901 gem in Maine with layers of freshness that feel like a hug

64

Faux Real

PHOTOS BY NATHAN SCHRODER (PORCELAIN) AND J. SAVAGE GIBSON (BOAT)

Artist Suzonne Stirling’s paper flowers are perennially in bloom

32

A Moveable Feast

Designer Michelle Nussbaumer throws a summer party in her Dallas home, inviting guests to explore rooms filled with captivating treasures collected from years of travel and floral arrangements that celebrate the bounty of her garden

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

–HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

ON THE COVER: A floral and summer vegetable bounty from the garden of Dallas interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer. Floral arrangements by Jimmie Henslee; photography by Nathan Schroder.

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Contents DEPARTMENTS

28

SCENE

11

We’ve got our eyes on...

Garden-party-ready jewelry and handbags, flower-infused cocktails, new wallpaper collections, and more

IN BLOOM

17

Decorate: Flowers

A colorful centerpiece of blooms and vegetables by Kappi Naftel of Kap Flower

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11

24

IN EVERY ISSUE Watering Can 6 What’s Coming Up 70 Sources 70 At the Table 72

Decorate: Mood

Bright pops of color for summer

28

Entertain

With their shop and design firm, three New York expats with Southern roots bring a taste of Sicily to New Orleans

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July•August 2021

22 PHOTOS BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY (PLACE SETTING) AND CAROLINE ALLISON (GARDEN)

Garden

Mike Kaiser on creating harmony among house, garden, and homeowner

PHOTOS BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY (PLACE SETTING) AND CAROLINE ALLISON (GARDEN)

Watering can FLOWERS

A Note from the Editor

“That translucent alabaster of our memories.”

—Marcel Proust

AS I PORED OVER THIS ISSUE, with its glorious and gorgeous

entertaining stories, I began to dream of my early awareness of the magic of shimmery summer parties.

I remember very distinctly the sounds, sights, and smells on the day of a summer party at my house growing up: the hum of the lawn mower; the strains of show tunes from the hi-fi setting the tone; the stacks of plates, platters, crisp linen napkins, and silver; and the fragrant bouquet of silver polish, lilies (my mother’s favorite flower), the sophisticated Ma Griffe (my mother’s perfume of choice), and whatever was cooking— humble and homey red beans and rice (my father’s specialty), shrimp boiling in his special spices, or even something fancy and complex like bouillabaisse. My parents were top-notch hosts and enjoyed nothing more than setting the scene and filling it with an ensemble of fascinating and varied guests. I was weaned on the soundtrack of clinking glasses, a cacophony of conversation and laughter, and whatever the pianist hired for the occasion played—usually standards and jazz.

Today, my gatherings have a soupçon of my parents’ style, mixed with my modern take: a playlist that’s still full of plenty of jazz and standards but, as the night progresses, becomes a more boisterous compilation of Motown and other dance-y tunes from the ’70s on; most likely a catered dinner (as “cheffing” is not my forte) that usually consists of just good food, nothing fancy; and plenty of lilies everywhere except near the food, as we don’t want to overpower the aroma of a delicious dinner.

There are as many styles of entertaining as there are people, and in my mind, each, if it truly represents the hosts, is a smashing success and a generous gift to the guests, who now more than ever mean the world to folks.

So, whether you’re a veteran party planner or a novice embarking on your first dinner party, serve what YOU like, play music YOU like, include flowers YOU like, and invite guests YOU like, and you will have given the greatest gift you can, YOU. Love and SDG,

Margot Shaw

Please send your comments, triumphs, challenges & questions to: wateringcan@flowermag.com OR Letters to the Editor | Flower magazine

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P.O. Box 530645

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July•August 2021

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Birmingham, AL 35253

PORTRAIT BY BETH HONTZAS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PORTRAIT BY BETH HONTZAS

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 4

Margot Shaw FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Alice Welsh Doyle EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Ellen S. Padgett CREATIVE DIRECTOR Terri Robertson DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Amanda Smith Fowler STYLE EDITOR Kirk Reed Forrester ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kate Johnson PRODUCTION/COPY EDITOR Gregory Keyes INTEGRATED OPERATIONS MANAGER EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Karen Carroll CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

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Cathy Still McGowin Charlotte Moss Troy Rhone Matthew Robbins Margaret Zainey Roux Frances Schultz Lydia Somerville Sybil Sylvester

For editorial inquiries: editorial@flowermag.com

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

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Ben Page Angèle Parlange Renny Reynolds Scott Shepherd Remco van Vliet Evie Vare Carleton Varney Louise Wrinkle

What We’ve Got Our Eyes On

Scene Garden Party Style

By Alice Welsh Doyle

T

HE BACKYARD is in bloom, the terrace is overflowing with potted herbs and flowers—it’s time for a summer garden party and a reason to add a couple of new pieces to your warm-weather wardrobe.

Loren Hope’s fanciful floral jewelry and hair accessories with a retro vibe, created in Rhode Island, caught our attention. Loren’s fascination with costume jewelry took hold in childhood, when she opened jewelry boxes in her grandmother’s thrift shop to examine the treasures inside. She is also inspired by nature. “During the warmer months here in New England, I spend most of my weekends in my flower garden or shopping for more flowers at the nurseries,” she explains. “Since I was a little girl, I have always loved spending time outdoors and have been captivated by the colors found in nature.” Her feminine creations are versatile and engaging. And Loren has, dare we say it, made the brooch chic again! lorenhope.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Bouquet earrings, $228; Cressida necklace, $148 (top),

and Daphne necklace, $168 (bottom); Pauline earrings in white/yellow opal, $168; Gardenia flower brooch, $428 ABOVE RIGHT: Vervain flower brooch, $428 RIGHT: Daphne tiara, $1,398

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Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

READING LIST

The Flower-Infused Cocktail ALYSON BROWN IS A FLOWER ENTHUSIAST, A

CLOVERJITO Makes 1 drink

The Cloverjito combines two of my favorite summer drinks, iced tea and the classic rum-based mojito, into a fresh cocktail.

CLOVER SUN TEA 2 tablespoons red clover blossoms 1 tablespoon dried mint 1 tablespoon dried lemon balm 1 teaspoon dried lemon peel Add the clover flowers and herbs to a 64-ounce jar, and fill with cold water.

Allow to infuse in warm sunlight for 4 hours. Strain into a clean jar, and store in the refrigerator for 1 week.

Handful of fresh mint leaves 2 limes, cut into wedges 2 teaspoons sugar 2 ounces white rum 2 ounces Clover Sun Tea Sparkling water Red clover blossom In the bottom of the glass, muddle mint leaves and lime wedges with the sugar to release their juices. Fill glass with ice. Pour in the rum and Clover Sun Tea, and top off with sparkling water. Stir to combine. Garnish with a red clover flower and mint leaves.

ABOVE RIGHT: Pierre Frey’s Patio and Patio exotique wallpapers from the Eternel Eté collection RIGHT: Manuka Textiles’ Night Lotus mural

was inspired by designer Roxana Eslamieh’s Los Angeles garden, in particular, the night-blooming pitaya plant.

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TEXTILES

Against the Wall Pierre Frey’s new Eternel Eté collection finds its inspiration in Provence in the South of France, a place dear to Patrick Frey. “For me, Provence is profoundly alive, a region steeped in history, of great culture, a territory rich in contrasting landscapes,” says Patrick, who took his entire creative team there “to understand the creative power of this territory.” The collection speaks to different aspects of Provence—the artists who painted there, such as Picasso and Fernand Léger, and its rich ceramics history. Some of the designs speak to the landscape of the region as well—the sun and, of course, the flowers. There are diminutive floral patterns like Fleurs de corail and oversized ones like Grasse and Pays d’aix, which command attention. pierrefrey.com Designer Roxana Eslamieh of Manuka Textiles, known for hand-drawn silk screen wallpaper, will introduce a line of murals this spring, starting with Night Lotus. “Previous wallpaper collections were inspired by distinctive textures and geological formations found throughout the world,” says Roxana.

“For the mural collection, I was influenced by the French Impressionist tradition of plein air painting, inviting the temporal beauty of nature into living spaces.” Printed on linen-textured vinyl, the murals are available in five colorways. manukatextiles.com

DRNIK PHOTO BY ALYSON BROWN; PORTRAIT BY JESSICA BENTLEY/SHE AND SAVY PHOTOGRAPHY

cocktail creator, and founder of the Wild Folk Flower Apothecary. Though she resides in Oregon, she often references her Southern upbringing near the Florida Gulf Coast beaches. In her new book, The FlowerInfused Cocktail: Flowers, with a Twist (Folk, 2021), Alyson showcases her mixology skills using botanical ingredients. She also gives tips on “marvelous mocktails,” building a bar, and the art of the garnish.

Her favorite summer sippers use wild rose, calendula, red clover, and sweet alyssum. Serve up a pitcher at your next gathering. theflowerinfusedcocktail.com

DRNIK PHOTO BY ALYSON BROWN; PORTRAIT BY JESSICA BENTLEY/SHE AND SAVY PHOTOGRAPHY

Scene WHAT WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON ...

WHAT’S COOKIN’ GOOD LOOKIN’?

If the kitchen is truly the heart of the home, then why not make it a lively, happy space with the addition of some statement-making color. We are dreaming about the options from L’Atelier Paris. The spring collection showcases 15 exclusive colors of wow in its line of elegant French ranges, which can be customized with a wide array of materials, finishes, and accessories. These ranges are like sophisticated jewelry for your kitchen and are guaranteed to be the talk of any gatherings at home. Your only dilemma will be settling on a color! leatelierparis.com CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: L’Atelier Paris Le Classique range and hood in Menthe de L’orient • MME.MINK The Picnique No.3 Overniter Tote, $475 (choice of six ribbon colors), and The “Court” Clutch, $395 • Courtyard and guest suite at Hotel Amparo in San Miguel de Allende

IN THE BAG

STAYING POWER

Hotel Amparo A trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, has been on our wish list for quite some time, and the opening of the five-guestsuite Hotel Amparo has moved it to the top.

Owners Mariana Barran Goodall of Hibiscus Linens and her husband, Taylor, have created a private oasis in the heart of the city, located in the former mayor’s residence, which dates back 300 years.

Texas designer Aaron Rambo imbued the

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rooms with international flavor. “I imagined if this was a family home for generations, with the rooms holding pieces that had been brought in over the years from the family’s travels,” says Aaron. “None of the pieces were intended to be together but somehow work as a group.” Think contemporary with ancient, shiny with rough, and plenty of patina. All guest suites are situated around one of two courtyards and are, naturally, outfitted with beautiful Hibiscus Linens. With so few guests, you’ll feel like you are going to a friend’s home, which seems a perfect way to dip your toes back into travel mode. hotelamparo.com

For more summer style fun, consider the handbags of MME.MINK, created by fashion veteran Jan Haedrich, whose style goals are classics that stand the test of time, peppered with a bit of whimsy. MINK stands for “Many Individual Niceties We Keep,” and each piece in the collection is numbered and authenticated with its own luxury label. We love the woven totes, with their ribbon-bedecked handles, and The “Court” Clutch from the Hedge Fund collection is a garden party conversation starter. mmemink.com

HOTEL PHOTOS BY LUIS GALLARDO/LGM STUDIO

Keep Chic and Carry On

HOTEL PHOTOS BY LUIS GALLARDO/LGM STUDIO

Decorate: Flowers & Mood • Entertain • Garden

in Bloom DECORATE: FLOWERS

Kappi Naftel of

Kap Flower AN ASSORTMENT OF COLORFUL SUMMER BLOOMS AND VEGETABLES COMBINE FOR A CHEERFUL CENTERPIECE Produced by Alice Welsh Doyle Photography by David Hillegas

“My inspiration was the bounty of summer—classic seasonal flowers that I grow in my home garden and wonderful heirloom tomatoes that are at their peak.”

For step-by-step instructions, turn to page 20. >

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in Bloom FLOWERS

MATERIALS LIST (above)

Rudbeckia Chocolate lace flower Queen Anne’s lace seed pods ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas Chaste tree seed heads Weigela Heuchera foliage Loropetalum

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MATERIALS LIST HOW-TO MATERIALS LIST (right)

Zinnias Celosia Dahlias Heuchera foliage Foxgloves Rudbeckia Weigela Coneflowers Chocolate lace flower Chaste tree Fig Hydrangeas Fresh herbs An assortment of tomatoes in different colors and sizes Other produce, such as squash and mini eggplant Small glass vases Twine Handled container

(above)

Heirloom tomatoes Variegated grasses Garden roses Rudbeckia Coneflowers Dahlias Begonias Celosia Silene Weigela Fern

July•August 2021

ADAC in

in bloom PRESENTS

A VIRTUAL EVENT

Join us for a day of online programming with style and design talks, demonstrations & more

CHARLOTTE MOSS

FERNANDO WONG

INTERIOR DESIGN

LANDSCAPE DESIGN

NEW YORK, NY

MIAMI, FL

PAULINA NIELIWOCKI FLORAL DESIGN BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ

JULY 21 Open to the public. For more info: adacatlanta.com/events Bimini in Coral designed by Charlotte Moss for Fabricut

ADAC in Bloom 21 AD_V1_esp.indd 1

5/26/21 2:05 PM

in Bloom FLOWERS

STEP

BY STEP

STEP 1 Prep the materials (see page 18): Strip lower foliage and trim stems, and organize bundles on work surface.

STEP 2

Begin your hand-tied bouquet by creating a binding point—the point at which the first stem is held vertically. The second stem should cross the first at an angle. All other stems can be added in a counterclockwise angled fashion, almost as if they twirl around the primary stem. The higher on the stem the binding point, the smaller and tighter the bouquet, and vice versa. Combine colors and blooms as desired.

STEP 3

Once you have created the basic shape of the bouquet, you can start to poke in other materials to add fullness, color, and texture.

“This arrangement does double duty as a centerpiece and then as take-home gifts for your guests. It’s a fun surprise moment at the evening’s end.” —KAPPI NAFTEL STEP 4

STEP 6

STEP 5

STEP 7

Once you are happy with your bouquet, it needs to be secured with twine. Wrap the twine around three times, tie off, and trim the ends of the twine.

Place your tied bouquet next to the container you are using to determine where to trim the stems so the bouquet sits well in the container. Trim the stems straight across and evenly.

Repeat the steps above to create enough hand-tied bouquets to fill the glass vases, and then place in the large handled container, which will serve as the centerpiece.

Create a summer vignette by placing farm-fresh tomatoes and other colorful produce around the arrangement. When placing on a dining table, you can also arrange produce by each table setting, if desired.

For more information, see Sources, page 70

in Bloom GARDEN

Relationships IN GARDEN DESIGN MASTER CLASS, 100 GARDEN DESIGNERS SHARE LESSONS ON THE ART OF THE GARDEN. HERE, MIKE KAISER DISCUSSES THE WAY ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE RELATE TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE

By Mike Kaiser • Photography by Caroline Allison

W

hen creating a garden, it is essential to consider the complex relationships between the land, the home, and its inhabitants. My work as a landscape architect grew out of my fascination with the architecture of the home and my conception of the garden as a magical place where architecture and landscape become one.

Designing a garden that is a seamless extension of the home requires a deep understanding of the house and how it reflects the personalities and desires of its owners.

Ideally, home is a sanctuary. At its finest, it encompasses comfort and beauty while capturing the unique characteristics of its inhabitants. The garden is the extension of that refuge into the outdoors, a place where we experience the transitory pleasures of nature and light, the change of seasons, and the passage of time.

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An ancient scrub oak that arches over the fountain and rill, spilling into the pool, was carefully preserved to lend age to the composition of this garden in the shadow of Mount Olympus in Greece.

The greenhouse from which this view is seen serves as a favorite location for dinner parties, and in early evening the setting sun illuminates the house, garden, and mountain in dazzling colors, all reflected in the cool, dark surface of the pool.

Designed to complement each other, architecture and landscape can merge into a nurturing, harmonious whole.

Every family has its own idea of the perfect home and garden. To make that vision a reality, I begin by getting to know my clients: how they live, entertain, relax, and play.

I ask questions ranging from the practical to the personal.

Will they harvest vegetables for cooking or cut flowers for decorating? In what rooms do they spend the most time when they are indoors? What inspires them? I ask about the aesthetic and emotional qualities they are seeking from their outdoor spaces, as well as the ways in which they want those spaces to connect with the rooms inside. I want them to see their gardens as places where special moments and memories are made.

Next, I study the house along with the surrounding landscape. I need to understand the scale and flow of interior spaces, the arrangement of furniture, and the way in which the home visually and functionally connects to the outdoors in order to make thoughtful decisions about how adjacent outdoor rooms relate to the home and its inhabitants.

This exploration must be guided by several key design principles, including scale, enclosure, intimacy, privacy, and solar orientation, as well as what I like to call screening of the objectionable and framing of the favorable. We can draw from the language of the architecture in the creation of outdoor rooms by careful repetition of materials, forms, and patterns. Masonry walls, paved terraces, level changes, landscape hedges, swaths of lawn, and carefully positioned canopy trees are all devices designers can use to define outdoor spaces and reinforce the relationship of house to garden.

The revitalization of a historic Tudor home in Holladay, Utah, provided the perfect setting for exploring these dynamic relationships. Invited by frequent collaborator Greg Tankersley of McAlpine to extend his architectural vision into the landscape, my firm and I sought to complement the interior spaces with a series of outdoor rooms in every direction. The theme of each garden emerged from its visual and physical relationship to adjacent interior spaces and reflected the owners’ interests and lifestyle.

On the south side of the house, the architect added a spectacular glass conservatory containing the home’s central gathering places and the family’s collection of treasured mementos from a lifetime of travel. Not wanting to compete with the buzz and color within, we created a simple lawn outside the conservatory surrounded by a semicircular hedge of pleached European hornbeams to provide privacy and shade. To the east, the formal dining room and outdoor terrace overlook a restrained, meditative walled garden, where the gentle murmur of a bubbling grotto provides just enough sound to accompany any gathering. By contrast, the western side of the house, where a new swimming pool and poolhouse echo with children’s laughter all summer long, was the perfect site for an exuberant display of perennial blossoms.

Whether a designer is tasked with creating a series of outdoor rooms in the English Tudor tradition like the ones I’ve just described or planning a single, modest garden, considering these relationships between landscape, structures, and people is essential. For me, taking the time to explore these unique personalities and characteristics is an exciting process, yielding unexpected insights that leave a human imprint on the natural world and bring the outdoors into the most intimate spaces of the home.

Excerpted from Garden Design Master Class: 100 Lessons from the World’s Finest Designers on the Art of the Garden, edited by Carl Dellatore (Rizzoli, 2020)

The details of the garden walls, the gates, and even the rustic rope-­­ bound fence were inspired by a recent visit to Lutyens’ Great Dixter in England and draw from the language of Tudor architecture. Plant selections were guided by the overall color palette, consisting of blues and pastels, each intended to unite home and garden.

in Bloom DECORATING: MOOD

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1 SCULLY & SCULLY

Outdoor Flair WITH BRIGHT POPS OF COLOR AND CLASSIC SHAPES, THESE PIECES ARE CERTAIN TO AMP UP THE SUMMER FUN Produced by Amanda Smith Fowler

Brookshaw Melon Rectantular Lacquered Tray

Form and grace for any outdoor space

$275

$1,440

scullyandscully.com

curreyandcompany.com

2 AUTHENTIC PROVENCE

5 HUDSON GRACE

Classic lines and curves

$16 each

Saint Nicholas Chair Price upon request authenticprovence.com

Altea/Helios Collection A rainbow of color to add to the table

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July•August 2021

Butterfly Ballerina Bronze

An ideal tray for serving outdoors

3 CAPDECO

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4 CURREY & COMPANY

Henri Glasses

Not just rosecolored glasses hudsongracesf.com

6 BUNNY WILLIAMS FOR BALLARD DESIGNS

Bunny Williams Bird Feeder

$110/5-piece place

Every birdie will stop here.

setting

$99

ladentelliere.com

ballarddesigns.com

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in Bloom DECORATING: MOOD

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7 JULISKA

Berry & Thread and Field of Flowers Melamine Take the plunge with these lovely pieces. $18–$25 juliska.com

8 MCKINNON AND HARRIS

Perrow Drinks Cart

A perfect periwinkle blue on a timeless cart $8,610 mckinnonharris.com

9 VIETRI

Drop Collection

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Bright and bubbly for your next summer party $39–$145 vietri.com

10 SARAH BRAY

Sea Grass and Palm Leaf Sun Hats 10

Switch out the ribbon for a new look. $125–$200 sarahbraybermuda.com

BRAVA, SARAH BRAY

“These charming hats are pretty enough for a party and sturdy enough for the beach and garden— heirlooms in the making.”

—MARGOT SHAW

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9

in Bloom ENTERTAIN

Due South THREE NEW YORK EXPATS BRING A LITTLE SLICE OF SICILY TO NEW ORLEANS

By Margaret Zainey Roux • Photography by Sara Essex Bradley

R

ichard Dragisic chuckles as he recalls an encounter he had with a shopper shortly after opening his Magazine Street shop, Sud, in 2019.

“A customer came in, looked around, and asked me where I slept!” he laughs. “The question seemed so strange at the time, but I get it now, and it’s quite a compliment. We’ve created more than just a shopping experience here; we’ve created a sense of home. Since then, we’ve made a point of always having one bed in our inventory for that very reason.”

Perhaps the shopper’s confusion stemmed

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from the genuinely warm welcome she received at the door or the sound of a teakettle whistling from the cozy galley kitchen in the back. But most likely it was because the shop was actually a home in its former life. Built in 1906 in the heart of Uptown New Orleans, the iconic Creole cottage’s original heart pine floors, pocket doors, plaster ceiling medallions, and 10 coal-burning fireplaces present a rich backdrop for the art and antiques, potions and lotions, textiles, and other curiosities that Richard and husband Bill Brockschmidt

ABOVE: Courtney, Bill

(center), and Richard on the front porch of Sud and their design studio TOP RIGHT AND OPPOSITE: The firm’s reference library doubles as a dining room for events. Small mixed arrangements and an Antonino Piscitello vase filled with almond and crape myrtle branches bring the outside in. Hand-painted plates by artist and architect Benedetto Fasciana depict flowers and foliage that caught his eye in Sicily.

ABOVE RIGHT: An abstract baroque border encases a window and creates a whimsical backdrop for 18th- and 19th-century Sicilian antiques.

hand-select and import directly from Sicily.

The other side of the double shotgun–style structure houses the bustling studio of the internationally renowned interior design firm of Brockschmidt & Coleman, founded by Bill and business partner Courtney Coleman.

Many moons ago, as volunteers at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, the trio forged a friendship thanks to their shared passion for architecture, decorative arts, and travel. After nearly two decades in the Big Apple, they relocated to the Big Easy to return to their Southern roots (Richard is

from Texas, Bill is from Virginia, and Courtney is from Mississippi) and to be closer to their clients, although they still maintain a Manhattan office.

When shuttling between the Gulf Coast and the East Coast grows tiresome, Richard and Bill retreat to their home in Modica, an ancient city along Sicily’s southeastern coast.

On a whim, they purchased a crumbling villa that was once part of the Grimaldi palazzo.

After three years and an unheard-of number of what-were-we-thinking moments, the villa was meticulously restored from nearly 6,000

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in Bloom ENTERTAIN

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Floral designer

Kim Starr Wise arranges flowers in the kitchen. • Pampas grass and sanguisorba fill a classical-style stamnos jar by sculptor Rosario Muni of Sicily. • Campari spritzes in antique crystal coupes. The vintage napkins were made in Sicily. • Bill, Richard, and Courtney enjoy prosecco over a game of scopa. • Homemade bruschetta on a white cactus-form plate by Sicilian artist Dario Magro.

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miles away thanks to the divine intervention of interpreters and craftspeople. Like all true Southerners, the couple enjoys entertaining and hosting friends and family there, but for those who can’t make the 20-hour trek, there’s Sud. “We designed it to be not just a shop, but also a learning lab,” Bill says. “Here, we host book signings, cooking demonstrations, and movie nights to highlight Sicilian culture within our community. New Orleans is such a melting pot of cultural influences, so it’s a natural fit.”

Bill seems to have left one activity off the list that frequently takes place at the shop, and that is scopa. On lazy afternoons, the proprietors can be found playing a friendly round of the popular Italian card game. The objective of scopa, which means “broom” in Italian, is to sweep all the

July•August 2021

cards from the table. Much like poker or bridge, the social aspect of the game is as important as the outcome. “In Italy, you see all ages and walks of life playing scopa at all kinds of venues, from public parks to private clubs,” Courtney says.

“It’s fairly easy for a novice to pick up, but for seasoned players it flies by at lightning-fast speed.

For them, it can get very competitive—think voices raised and arms flailing—especially when there is prosecco or passito involved.”

“Watching a game of scopa can be as much fun as actually playing it,” says Bill, who admits he’s a long way from being “seasoned.”

While the card players at Sud may still be perfecting their scopa skills, they’ve had great success in bringing a Sicilian attitude with a dose of Southern charm to Magazine Street.

For more information, see Sources, page 70

Showho

ShowHouse FLOWER

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BIBB COUNTY, ALABAMA

coming in the

september/october issue follow our progress at

flowermag.com/showhouse

INTERIOR DESIGNER: Mary Evelyn McKee

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ARCHITECT: Pete Pritchard Architects Inc.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Ben Page, Page l Duke

Showhouse Ad_V1.indd 10

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BUILDER: Larry Gemmill

5/24/21 4:00 PM

A MOVEABLE FEAST

Designer MICHELLE NUSSBAUMER throws a summer party in her Dallas home, inviting guests to explore rooms filled with captivating treasures collected from years of travel and floral arrangements that celebrate the bounty of her garden

By KAREN CARROLL • Photography by NATHAN SCHRODER Floral design by JIMMIE HENSLEE

W

W “Walking into an entry should be like stepping through a stage set. It’s really the opening act that establishes the mood for what’s to come,” says interior designer Michelle Nussbaumer. The moment you enter her 1940s Hollywood Regency-meetsDallas house, you know you’re in for a glamorous adventure that will be vibrant and unexpected, with just the right dash of drama. Peonypink walls and a profusion of potted flowers worthy of an English country-house conservatory will be your first tells, as will the hostess who greets you dressed in a flowing caftan and looking every bit the part of a glamorous movie star (she did major in theater at college, after all).

Michelle’s stylish flair reflects a life spent cultivating a global perspective. With houses she and husband Bernard own in Texas, Mexico, and Switzerland, and decorating projects at points in between and beyond, the designer seemingly spends as much time in the seat of an airplane as she does in a chair upholstered in a fabric of her own design in her living room.

It’s not surprising she titled her first book Wanderlust: Interiors that Bring the World Home (Rizzoli, 2016), as her personal environs brim with saturated color, plentiful pattern, and a mix of cultures and design periods, all expertly brought into harmony and focus through her maximalist lens.

When Michelle does find her feet firmly rooted in one place, she indulges another of

ABOVE AND OPPOSITE:

her passions: gathering friends for a party. Although she’s been known to host Thanksgiving for 75 and cocktail soirées for throngs, and has a more-is-better philosophy that extends to a dining room table that seats 32, “That doesn’t feel right for the moment we’re in right now,” she says.

On this summer day, she plans for a much smaller

group and, as usual, there will be no hint of pretense on the menu. “I really don’t have a lot of rules about decorating or life in general, but I don’t enjoy giving or attending parties that are too formal— that’s just not interesting to me,” she says. And as for a table (or room) where everything matches? “It drives me to tears,” Michelle says, with a laugh.

Continued on page 39

Michelle’s more-is-better decorating aesthetic transfers to her entertaining style; she stages multiple rooms with a mix of antique and new tableware and bountiful floral arrangements.

Michelle’s drapery fabric, Neopolitan Ice Cream, will be available in her shop, Ceylon et Cie and on her website. PREVIOUS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT: A centerpiece of garden roses, cockscomb, and strawflowers. Chair fabric is Cartagena, one of her designs for Clarence House. • The patio table features zinnias, Mexican marigolds, coleus, and roses from the garden.

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In the living room, Michelle puts out a spread of desserts with a mass of pink roses for additional eye candy. RIGHT: Dahlias, black-eyed Susans, Japanese maple, garden roses, wild grape vine, and more tumble from Old Paris porcelain on the mantel.

That doesn’t mean details won’t be carefully considered.

Michelle scripts every element except for the cocktail chatter, and even that is sure to be lively, as she maintains that bringing an eclectic mix of people together is absolutely key to her success as a hostess— bland and boring simply won’t make the cut, whether in a design scheme or on a guest list. “I’m also a big believer in engaging multiple areas of the house,” she says. “People can mingle freely, perch on the edge of a living room sofa with drink in hand or a plate in their lap, and then move on to the library or outdoor patio to join another conversation.”

Although it would be virtually impossible to upstage the decor, Michelle is always game to gild the lily with a generous layer of flowers and greenery.

“Flowers inspire me,” she says. “I look to nature for my design work, whether it’s the crazy color combinations and patterns in coleus leaves, which I love and grow so many varieties of, or the vibrant yellow and orange fields of cempasúchil [Mexican marigolds] near my house in San Miguel de Allende.”

While Michelle enjoys creating arrangements herself, she frequently turns to her dear friend Jimmie Henslee, a floral designer and stylist, to kick things up a notch. “He just gets me and the vibe I want to achieve,” she says.

“I like wild mixed with refined, and that sums up Michelle’s magical style,” says Jimmie. His interpretation of Michelle’s aesthetic includes vines dripping from

When Michelle does find her feet firmly rooted in one place, she indulges another of her passions: gathering friends for a party.

ABOVE: On the patio, the

chandeliers (“that’s one of her signature moves,” he says) and the contrast of high and low, a philosophy they both embrace. Controlled masses within a singular palette or flower variety appear in casual baskets and pottery, while more humble clippings from Michelle’s garden spill from elegant containers such as Old Paris porcelain.

“When people come to my house for a party, they probably go into a bit of

For more information, see Sources, page 70

sensory overload,” says Michelle, “but the idea is to have plenty of beautiful things to look at, flowers that smell fabulous, good food to eat, and a place to feel relaxed and happy.” As she turns up her playlist—one that includes African beats, Portuguese morna, and a little Johnny Cash for good measure—it’s evident her wandering spirit thrives even at home, and she relishes taking her guests along for the journey.

peacock chairs are from Michelle’s Dallas design gallery, Ceylon et Cie. Pillow fabrics include Joseph’s Coat, (the stripe on right chair) and Fez Embroidery (left chair, front pillow) from her Clarence House collection. “My garden never looked better than last summer, because for once I was actually home to tend to it,” she says. OPPOSITE: See previous spread, left.

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David Austin roses climb the deer fence Lisa created in her vegetable garden to ward off four-legged intruders. OPPOSITE: The couple’s living room features a Michael Dweck photograph and a monochromatic palette that makes the space feel airy and uncluttered.

A SERENE RETREAT

With care and imagination, a creative couple restore their Hamptons home to its original elegance and design a garden to match

By KIRK REED FORRESTER Photography by TRIA GIOVAN

F

Fourteen years ago, when landscape designer Lisa Bynon and Mona Nerenberg, owner of the beloved home goods store Bloom, were hunting for a new house outside the bustle of Sag Harbor, they almost passed by an elegant but unassuming home in the hamlet of North Sea. But Mona remembered driving by the house when she was a little girl growing up on Long Island and looked it up. Shockingly, the house was for sale, so she and Lisa jumped in the car to scout it out.

“We came, but no one was living here,” says Lisa. “I said to Mona ‘I’m sure the key is right under the mat’ and sure enough, we found the key, got in the house and walked around for an hour.” The home, built in 1830, had not been renovated and was just what the couple wanted. “We love old houses,” says Lisa. They called the real estate agent and said they’d like to see the house. They returned the next day, took a quick cruise around, and said they’d like to buy it. “That was it,” says Lisa.

Though the house had never been renovated, its beauty had been covered up by shag carpet inside and poison ivy and tree overgrowth outside. There was no garden, a fact that Lisa set about to quickly remedy. Though overgrown, the property—3 acres surrounded by 6 acres of nature preserve—had great promise. Lisa, whose style leans toward clean lines and understated elegance, cleared the land, creating a great sweep of lawn and garden rooms separated by privet hedges. “I wanted something really simple that looked like it had always been there,” says Lisa. “I didn’t want it to look like a Hamptons garden that you spent a fortune on.”

For Mona, the interior was a similar exercise in excavation. “Originally, I wanted to take the kitchen, saw it off, and drag it out to the back to make it a guest cottage,” said Mona. “But I’m glad I

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July•August 2021

The wisteria arbor off the back of the house is Lisa’s favorite place. “I sit under this arbor for hours each day,” she says.

OPPOSITE: A view of the house from the fern garden. Lisa used privet hedges at various heights to create garden rooms.

“I wanted something really simple that looked like it had always it to look like a Hamptons garden that you spent a fortune on.” didn’t do it because that would’ve been an intrusion on the house. My friend [decorator] Mark Cunningham, who helped me, laughed and said, ‘Who would spend money making their house smaller?’ ” Mona echoed Lisa’s serene garden ambience inside the house. “I like the feeling of space,” says Mona. “I don’t like the feeling of clutter. The only thing you can never have too much of is artwork.”

Fortunately, she represents the photographer Michael Dweck and has his work, among others, on the walls.

For a couple who met at Parsons (Mona was there for fashion, and Lisa for illustration), they do occasionally run into creative differences. “When we were working on the house and garden, we both had strong feelings about both, and we kind of learned that the outside is mine and the inside is hers,” said Lisa. Mona, a near absolutist when it comes to an affinity for natural light, originally argued against any light fixtures at all. “We have a

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July•August 2021

be

—LIS

ays .”

CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: In the living room,

an antique mirror hangs above a mantel that’s original to the 1830 house.

• Lisa’s deer fence provides protection, structure, and visual interest. • She loves cutting flowers from the garden, such as this dahlia on a bedside table.

• Raised beds offer a variety of produce and flowers throughout the growing season.

been there. I didn’t want —LISA BYNON

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LEFT: Four olive trees in wooden containers anchor the lavender garden, which is surrounded by a privet hedge. ABOVE: The terrace offers sweeping views of the lawn and gardens, as well as

the nature preserve beyond the property.

couple of lamps now, but she’s always turning them off,” laughs Lisa. When the deer obliterated their garden, Lisa designed a fence made of 8-by-8-foot squares with an X pattern in the middle—a stylish take on a smaller deer fence she’d seen at an English estate. Mona hated the fence at first, but Lisa refused to budge. “When it comes to the outside, it’s my way or the highway!” she laughs. Now the couple grow tomatoes, basil, spinach, bok choy, beets, and kale, as well as cutting flowers like dahlias and peonies, in their protected vegetable beds.

Of all the places in the house, the most magical may be the wisteria arbor, which Lisa planted the year they moved in. Now, 14 years on, the greedy, gorgeous vine covers the arbor, lending its shade and scent to anyone sitting underneath. “I sit out here all day long,” says Lisa.

“I’ll get up in the morning and send my landscaping crews off to work, go to the nursery, then I’m back here under this arbor.”

Unlike so many homeowners who seem fueled to constantly rethink, reconfigure, and reconceive their spaces, for Lisa and Mona there is pleasure in the ease of an edited-down approach. “We really do love it the way it is,” says Lisa. “We’re grateful that we can be out here.”

Each morning the couple wakes and drives to the beach for a walk along the ocean. “Every morning Mona asks, ‘Did you say you were grateful this morning?’ says Lisa, “and I always say, ‘Absolutely.’ ”

For more information, see Sources, page 70

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SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

Nashville event designer Blair Laborde celebrates going ‘over the hill’ with an over-the-top evening of dinner and dancing

By MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX • Photography by MARY CRAVEN DAWKINS OF MARY CRAVEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Blair (center) with friends Stephanie Norris (left) and Ellen Street.

OPPOSITE:

White tulips in a simple vase impart effortless elegance.

Mother Nature clearly missed the memo that April showers bring May flowers because on May 5, just days before Blair Laborde’s 40th birthday fete, the forecast projected a week of wet weather ranging from light sprinkles to full-blown thunderstorms.

“Tents were oversold almost everywhere by the time I rolled out the rain plan,” says the Nashville event designer, who had spent months planning the outdoor dinner party in the backyard of her Belle Meade home. “When I finally found a company that had one left, I went into overdrive to adjust the floor plan and lighting setup. My mood needed major adjusting, too, so I tried to lighten things up by adding a few fun, unexpected touches. I had eight dozen white umbrellas shipped overnight from a vendor in Virginia to give to all the guests. I was so bound and determined to have them that I would have driven all night to pick them up if I had to!”

It is this kind of creative energy that has Blair’s social calendar perennially packed. Since founding Sarah Blair Designs in 2016, she has produced some of the Music City’s most exclusive events and developed an A-list client roster. A self-described dreamer, Blair had been pondering party plans for her milestone birthday since she was in her mid-30s. With the exception of the inclement weather, the night was everything she envisioned and much more.

“In my head, it was always going to be a white party,” Blair says. “I’m a traditionalist at heart, but my personal style gravitates towards modern, and white is in line with the crisp, clean aesthetic I’m drawn to. I knew there would be a lot going on, between the band, the bars, and the

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: In lieu of string, cotton zipper tape dangles from the balloons. • Blair sets the tables in the dining tent.

• Oversize beach balls create a sculptural look and provide entertainment for the kids. • Sea grass baskets with whitewashed wood name tags were filled with goodies for each guest.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A plywood bar covered in mood moss brings the outdoors in. • Peonies lend texture and visual interest to the monochromatic table. • The band, Halfbrass, led guests to the dining tent with a Second Line parade.

banter of nearly 90 guests, so I wanted to keep the color story calm, from the invitations to the attire.”

As she does for all of her events, Blair designed and arranged all of her own flowers. A mix of ceramic and glass containers in a myriad of shapes and sizes overflowed with ranunculus, peonies, garden roses, king protea, orchids, hydrangeas, and tulips—all in shades of white. Each place was set with a single peony in a bud vase for guests to take home at the end of the night. Handcalligraphed and watercolored place cards and menu cards by artist Lexie Armstrong had guests’ jaws dropping and mouths watering in anticipation of the meal, which featured Gulf Fish à la Commander’s Palace, a nod to Blair’s Louisiana upbringing.

“It might have been a white party, but it was such a colorful night,” Blair says. “Having my family and close friends from all over the country and all phases of life underneath one tent was the best birthday gift I could ever receive. Fifty will have some big shoes to fill, so I better start planning now!”

Continued on next page

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“mother nature can be moody! She’ll give you blue

skies one day, and the next day stormy grays. As long as you are shining, sunshine is inconsequential.”

—EVENT DESIGNER BLAIR LABORDE

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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Hot

chicken with homemade pickles and pickled onions • Mixologists concocted watermelon palomas and other bespoke libations. • Guests were all aglow despite the rainy weather. • Cregan and Blair Laborde • Bruschetta on homemade crostini • Local arugula tossed in lemon vinaigrette and topped with roasted beets, fennel, goat cheese, and honey-roasted pecans OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Italian

string lights kept guests seeing stars even beneath the tent.

• “When we bought it, I barely even looked at the interiors,” says Blair of her Belle Meade home. “I was focused on finding the perfect party yard, and that we did!” • Clusters of lush, loose arrangements look organic and have the same visual impact of large, formally mounded displays. • Guests arrived in white attire and in the party mood.

For more information, see Sources, page 70

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A COASTAL C Interior designer MEG BRAFF infused a grand 1901 gem

i

L CHARMER

m

in Maine with layers of freshness that feel like a hug

By MARION LAFFEY FOX • Photography by J. SAVAGE GIBSON

The front hall features a vintage bamboo console table (opposite) and an octagonal table dressed in white linen with blue trim.

The arrangement of honeyscented Cimicifuga spires came from the garden.

PREVIOUS SPREAD, LEFT TO RIGHT: From its ledge-edge

perch, the house boasts unobstructed water views. • The sunroom, with its collection of vintage wicker, conveys an understated Maine vernacular.

T

The first time Wendy Fentress visited an island on Penobscot Bay’s dramatic boulder-littered coast, she was awestruck by its sheer beauty. The Westchester native, who had always summered on Long Island, had never been to Maine before but readily succumbed to its picturesque virtuosity. “My future husband’s family had been coming here since he was 13, and he cherished every moment of those summers,” Wendy says. “I knew it had to be special, but until I experienced it, I had no idea how wonderful it is.”

When they arrived on the lumbering ferry, the busy dock revealed salty island life, unchanged since the summer crowd started coming here more than a century ago. Choppy, deep-blue water lapped the rocky shore beneath squawking seagulls, clanging halyards, and ensigns rippling in the prevailing wind.

After they married, the couple spent 16 happy summers visiting his family in this beloved spot. Their three children, who are now

ABOVE: A white linen Regency settee is flanked by pale-blue chairs. The

painted celadon table, shades, and curtains mimic the woodland scene outside. OPPOSITE: An oversize fireplace dominates the living room, where a seating area features an apricot cotton–covered sofa and a pair of club chairs upholstered in a cheerful Bob Collins & Sons chintz, all arranged around a vintage brass and glass coffee table.

teenagers, feel totally at home here, having learned to kayak, canoe, paddleboard, and sail in the chilly waters bordering Penobscot Bay’s 1,000 miles of coastline.

During countless boat trips, Wendy remembers, they would inevitably cut the engine as they approached a certain three-sided spit of land dominated by a distinctive, half-timbered house with high dormers. “My husband would tell us that he always loved that house and hoped to own it someday,” she says. So, when the 6-acre waterfront parcel came on the market in 2016, they “put a word in the owner’s ear.”

After their subsequent purchase, they learned the house was commissioned by a prosperous Philadelphia banker in 1901. The unknown architect was remarkably talented, as were the craftsmen from nearby Rockland who executed his plans. Inside, spacious rooms had fireplaces and window seats. All eight bedrooms overlooked captivating water views, while two in the barn faced the gardens. It would be perfect for them. Wendy says the proprietors were “happy to have it go to a young family who would love it as they did.”

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“I’ve always been intrigued by the summer resorts that dot the coastline, so I jumped at the opportunity to decorate this magical Gilded Age cottage for a new generation.”

—MEG BRAFF

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ABOVE: The dining room is the scene of frequent parties. The table is set with hydrangeas from the

garden, white cabbage ware plates, bamboo flatware, and Amanda Lindroth rattan hurricane lamps.

The graceful chairs were a gift from his parents. OPPOSITE: Inviting seating across from the fireplace is anchored by a sofa in green-and-white ticking beneath a grid of contemporary works on paper.

Soon after settlement, Wendy hired Meg Braff of Meg Braff Designs to help with the interiors. “I had worked with Meg on small projects and was delighted to have her on board for the big kahuna,” says Wendy.

Meg was thrilled with the project. “The house feels so light and airy and was in such great shape; there was no need for major construction,” says the designer. “We incorporated several wonderful pieces the sellers left, such as a baby grand piano, a pool table, books, and vintage wicker and club chairs that reflect the spirit of old Maine. We bought some new furniture, refreshed the upholstery on all the rest, and used sisal and cotton dhurrie rugs to connote casual ambience.”

Underscoring a symbiotic relationship with the island’s forests and ferns, Meg chose shades of green throughout. “There are elements of green and blue in every room,” she says. “It works great with flowers and china in the dining room and creates a happy, bright look everywhere else.” Wendy loves tropical themes as well, and when someone said she couldn’t use banana leaf wallpaper in the powder room, she replied, “Just watch me!”

Consistent with the late 19th- and early 20th-century practice of using heavy oak paneling

For more information, see Sources, page 70

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BELOW: The glossy cerulean-blue library is an adults’ hideaway. The window seat invites perusal of books left by the previous owners, while Quadrille fabric–covered chairs and a Chinese red-lacquered table add a punch of color. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: In the second-floor kids’ space, a grass-green sleeper sofa is flanked by vintage wicker swivel chairs and club chairs covered in Meg’s Vienna Woods fabric. Shade fabric is by Peter Fasano. • The powder room and vestibule are done in Meg’s Beverly Hills wallpaper. • Charlotte and Ella play a board game in the kids’ area. • The kitchen Wendy calls “the epicenter” boasts an original black soapstone sink with brass fittings.

in Maine cottages, this treatment appears on the first floor.

Although former owners had painted most of it white, Meg used ivory grass cloth above the wood to bestow the warmth she was seeking, then carpeted all the corridors in vivid blue-and-green striped runners. The scheme creates a wonderful blend of nostalgia and dewy freshness that pays homage to Old Maine, punctuated with a cheerful, young vibe.

Today, the tennis court provides entertainment near gardens brimming with dahlias, snapdragons, and hydrangeas.

A steady stream of houseguests fills bedrooms and dinner | 62 |

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tables, which often feature lobsters and fish from the sea, produce from local farms, and plenty of favorite friends to share it all. Everyone acknowledges the emotional tug of this magical spot, but 13-year-old Ella sums it up perfectly: “I love our summers in Maine, which are special because we have so much family there. We go on picnics to uninhabited islands, dive off cliffs, and my dad lets me take the dinghy out without him. I feel happy and free! I love my bedroom in Maine too.

I watch the moon rise over the water, and every time I see it, I never want to leave.”

For more information, see Sources, page 70

PA P E

R ARTIST

SUZONNE STIRLING

faux real

Artist Suzonne Stirling’s paper flowers are perennially in bloom

By MARGARET ZAINEY ROUX • Photography by SARA ESSEX BRADLEY • Produced by AMANDA SMITH FOWLER

f

Flower: How long have you been creating paper flowers as a hobby?

Suzonne Stirling: I’ve been dabbling on and off for 20 years, but I began getting serious about them in the summer of 2014.

I was grappling with autoimmune disease and burnout, and making them became an act of meditation for me—a way to calm my nervous system. Later that same year, something clicked and it became a much more joyful experience—the kind of transcendence I had experienced when I made things as a child. When you find something that makes you feel better than whatever afflicts you, you grab onto it with your whole heart.

How was your work discovered? A few years ago, I was commissioned to create a piece for a magazine. The day after publication, I had my first order, and suddenly I was in business! But I’m really more of an artisan than a businessperson. I sell my flowers and accept commissions, but I don’t see it as a full-time business—mostly because I love it too much to do that.

What do you mean by that? I want to keep the passion intact. Over the years, I’ve scaled the business aspect up and down, but it’s important for me to find the right balance. Occasionally I’ll need to take a break, but I always come back to making flowers.

I was amazed to learn that you taught yourself how to make paper flowers.

Do you have any kind of fine art background? I am self-taught in all things creative, but I also had the good fortune of having a curious and brilliant grandfather who was a hobbyist. He encouraged me to use my hands to create the things I wanted or imagined, and I’ve always kept that with me.

Tell me about the materials you use and the creation process. Generally speaking, each one is made using a combination of

Artist Suzonne Stirling in a paper garden of double hibiscus, Meyer lemon, passionflower, bougainvillea, Shirley poppies, loquat, and fig branches OPPOSITE: A vibrant arrangement of bougainvillea made from bleached and dyed tissue paper

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Tissue layered atop crepe paper gives lilacs a sense of depth. • For these collarette dahlias, the pale-pink and white petals are dyed using watercolored tissue paper, whereas alcohol ink is used for the darker-petaled version. • Shirley poppies in progress • To give the double hibiscus its rich hue, Suzonne dips double-sided crepe paper in water so that both sides bleed into one another. OPPOSITE: Iris, gardenia, and kumquat. The kumquats are hand-wrapped around the core of a spun-cotton egg, colored with pastels, and coated with Mod Podge (a decoupage medium) for a smooth, shiny finish.

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“The gardenia is one of my favorite flowers in nature and is also among my favorite to create.

If only I could replicate that scent!” —SUZONNE STIRLING

“The lack of a garden is no obstacle to creation.

Botanical illustrations are a great tool for plant and flower construction when the real thing isn’t available.” —SUZONNE STIRLING

ABOVE: Tissue and crepe papers give passionflower color variations that feel organic. The vine is fully wired,

allowing it to mold to different surfaces or be hung on a wall. Here, it is displayed in an antique distiller’s tube.

OPPOSITE: Suzonne credits a fellow flower artist for teaching her how to form the pea pod.

crepe paper, tissue paper, glue, wire, pastels, watercolors, paint, dyes, bleach, and gouache. I use different papers of different weights for each type of flower.

So much variation is possible with just a few materials.

As far as the process goes, I start by dissecting a natural flower to better understand its construction and scale, or I’ll use photographs or botanical drawings to guide me. Once I’ve done that visual research, I dive right in.

Sometimes I get it right immediately; other times I have to work at it until it feels right. The first design could take anywhere from an hour to all day or all week. Subsequent versions of that flower usually move much faster though. The length of time it takes can also depend on the type of flower I’m creating. For example, a gardenia might take me less

For more information, see Sources, page 70

than an hour, whereas a magnolia might take 6 to 8 hours.

The type of flower also dictates which technique I employ. Sometimes I bleach, dye, paint, or water-dip my paper before construction. Other times, I construct a flower with plain paper and use pastels or paint to finish the details. When I’m making larger flowers, I sometimes layer papers together with glue and wet-sculpt the paper. Smaller flowers might get nothing more than a simple stretch to create movement.

Lots of parts! How do you keep them all together? Most elements are wired and added to a primary wire stem. Once complete, I bend them to convey a movement or posture that makes them feel most natural.

This certainly sounds like a labor of love for you. Has there been a time

when it’s been hard to detach from a piece that sells? I always take time to photograph the flowers before sending them to their new homes. That part of the process is almost as special and enjoyable to me as making them. When I’ve captured the mood of the flowers in a photograph, then I’m emotionally ready to send them on their way. It’s an individual quirk, but definitely part of my process, even if no one else besides me ever sees the photos.

Do you find that your collectors feel that same connection with their flowers once they receive them? I do.

Often, I’ll get a commission from someone who wants a particular flower as a way to remind them of a happy event or to remember someone they loved or lost. I always feel the weight of that just a bit more.

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Sources

Who Did It & Where to Get It

Prices are subject to change.

Any items not listed are unknown.

IN BLOOM PAGES 17–20, DECORATE: FLOWERS: Floral design, Kappi Naftel of Kap Flowers, Instagram: @kapflower. PAGES 28–30, ENTERTAIN: Interior design, Bill Brockschmidt and Courtney Coleman of Brockschmidt & Coleman, brock schmidtandcoleman.com; retail shop and select vases, Sud, sudneworleans.com; floral design, Kim Starr Wise, kimstarrwise.com.

A MOVEABLE FEAST PAGES 32–39: Interior design, peacock chairs and select décor, Michelle Nussbaumer, michellenussbaumer.com; floral design, Jimmie Henslee, Instagram @hensleejimmie; select fabrics and trims, Michelle Nussbaumer for Clarence House, clarencehouse.com.

A SERENE RETREAT PAGES 40–47: Garden design, Lisa Bynon of Lisa Bynon Garden Design, 631.283.3438; Interior design, Mona Nerenberg of Bloom in Sag Harbor, 631.725.5940, and Mark Cunningham, markcunninghaminc.com. Select art photography by Michael Dweck, represented

by Mona Nerenberg at Bloom.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN PAGES 48–53: Event and floral design, Blair Laborde of Sarah Blair Event Design, sarahblaireventdesign.com; catering, South Fork Catering, southforktn.com; desserts, Dessert Designs by Leland, dessertdesignsby leland.com, and Copper Whisk Cakes, copperwhiskcakes.com; photography, Mary Craven Photography, marycraven.com; entertainment, Halfbrass, halfbrass.com, Instagram: @halfbrass; tableware and glassware, Please Be Seated, 615-712-6940, pleasebeseated.com; linens, BBJ Linen, bbjlinen.com; rentals, Bright Event Productions, 615.866.8796, brighteventproductions.com; menus and artwork, Lexie Armstrong Watercolors, lexiearmstrong.com, Instagram: @armstronglexie; invitations, White Ink Calligraphy, whiteinkcalligraphy.com, Instagram: @whiteinkcalligraphy.

A COASTAL CHARMER PAGES 54–63: Interior design, Meg Braff of Meg Braff Designs, megbraffdesigns.com.

SUNROOM: Leopard pillow fabric, Bob Collins & Sons Leopardo in Azure/Sea, bobcollinsand sons.com; wicker furniture, vintage. LIVING ROOM: Chintz fabric, Bob Collins & Sons Starflowers in a custom color; peach zigzag

fabric, China Seas Raffles in Peach on tinted linen, quadrillefabrics.com; carpet, Fibreworks, fibreworks.com; sconces, brass Mastercraft-style coffee table, and set of botanicals in gilt frames, all through Meg Braff Antiques & Decoration, 516.801.4939; curtain/shade fabric by Pindler, pindler.com; wood settee in cream fabric by Studio Belle, Instagram: @studiobellelv; antique chairs in Quadrille Volpi fabric, quadrille fabrics.com; Bungalow 5 lamps through Meadow Blu, meadowblu.com. DINING ROOM: Curtain fabric, Meg Braff Designs Up a Tree; dining table and chandelier through Meg Braff Antiques & Decoration; hurricanes by Amanda Lindroth, amanda lindroth.com; white cabbage plates, Bordallo Pinheiro, bordallopinheiro.com; carpet, Fibreworks. POWDER BATH: Wallpaper, Meg Braff Designs Beverly Hills.

LIBRARY: Patterned fabric, Quadrille Les Indiennes; vintage chairs, table, and lamp through Meg Braff Antiques & Decoration; sofa, Hickory Chair, hickorychair.com, in Pindler fabric. UPSTAIRS FAMILY ROOM: Art, Paule Marrot through Natural Curiosities, naturalcuriosities.com; vintage wicker swivel chairs through Meg Braff Antiques & Decoration in an Alan Campbell fabric, quadrillefabrics.com; chairs, vintage; chair fabric, Meg Braff Designs Vienna Woods; shade fabric, Peter Fasano, peterfasano.com.

FAUX REAL PAGES 64–69: Paper flowers, Suzonne Stirling, suzonnestirling.com; lanterns (with portrait) from Bevolo Gas & Electric Lamps, bevolo.com.

What’s coming up ATLANTA, GEORGIA

ADAC in Bloom (virtual) July 21 adacatlanta.com/events LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

LA Art Show July 29–August 1 laartshow.com NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

Nantucket Summer Antiques Show August 6–9 nantucketsummerantiquesshow.com MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN

The Grand Garden Show August 30–September 1 grandgardenshow.com Indicates Flower is attending or sponsoring the event.

For more events, visit flowermag.com.

What we’re reading now THE FLOWER-INFUSED COCKTAIL: Flowers, with a Twist

by Alyson Brown (Folk, 2021), $30, theflowerinfusedcocktail.com

VOLUME 15, 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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New to Flower?

NOW YOU CAN CATCH UP ON ALL THE ISSUES YOU MISSED WITH OUR SUBSCRIPTION STARTER KIT!*

$89 KIT INCLUDES: • One year subscription • All available back • Signed copy of to Flower magazine issues from 2015-2021 Not So Prim Rose (29 issues)

flowermagshop.com MAIL-IN ORDERS: Send name, address, and payment to

ATTN: Flower Back Issue Department 3020 Pump House Rd, Birmingham, AL 35243

PRICE INCLUDES FIRST-CLASS SHIPPING AND HANDLING. PLEASE ALLOW 10-15 DAYS FOR DELIVERY. *OFFER VALID ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES.

At the Table

TABLE TALK

Mottahedeh’s Mandarin Bouquet pattern (top left) features the Fitzhugh border, a Chinese export design also used by President George Washington.

Summertime Sparkle DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE FOURTH OF JULY, WE PULLED OUT CLASSIC PIECES OF RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, GROUNDING IT ALL WITH A LOVELY PRINT DESIGNED BY CHARLOTTE MOSS Produced and styled by Amanda Smith Fowler • Photography by David Hillegas

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Mandarin Bouquet teacup and saucer ($135) by Mottahedeh, mottahedeh.com • Imari Rouge dessert plate ($114) by Haviland through Scully & Scully, scullyandscully.com • Apollo Clear wine hock ($170) in Sky Blue by SaintLouis through Replacements, replacements.com • Ceremonial Indian Elephant dinner plate ($90) by Halcyon Days, halcyondaysusa.com • Lacque de Chine covered sugar bowl ($488) and dinner plate ($136) in Gold & Brick by Haviland through Scully & Scully, scullyandscully.com • In Bloom by Zemer Peled dinner plate ($59) by Bernardaud, bernardaud .com • Aladdin Brilliant flatware ($80/5-piece place setting) in Blue by Vietri, vietri.com • Matisse dinner napkins ($130/ set of 2) in Shades of Blue and Sicily Scallop place mat in Royal Blue ($125/ set of 2) by Elizabeth Lake, elizabethlake.com • Vita coupe in Rose ($295)

by William Yeoward Crystal, williamyeoward crystal.com • William Gold salad plate ($125)

by Robert Haviland & C. Parlon Limoges France through Mottahedeh, mottahedeh.com • Vignes Bleu presentation plate ($195) by Deshoulieres, shop.charlesmayer.com • Zarafa cotton print (to the trade), designed

by Charlotte Moss for Brunschwig & Fils, brunschwig.com • Salt & pepper—stylist’s own