How I find the good stuff
Our garden design sourcing secrets
As the resident infuser of whimsy and journey into a space, my team and I work hard to source items that bring your landscaping and outdoor rooms alive. While sight lines and spacing are integral in this, so is the final touch. The accessories that complete the outfit are often what make it all make sense. Something that I think people often lose sight of is how a space will look when mature and filled in with plants. Overdecorating a space with pots, urns, mirrors, arches, etc., can start to feel really congested once the plants themselves are in and swaying in the breeze.
We have a project in Nashville right now and sourced these gorgeous vintage urns on a pedestal to be placed within some garden beds. It all felt very right until we added some espalier pear trees and more cut flower landscaping - the frills of the plants themselves started to clog the flow of the design, so we pulled back on the urns and sourced a simpler item. Now they anchor the space with a quiet confidence while the plants get to do the dazzling.
The vibe
The vibe I am most often hired to bring to life is the European/Cotswolds interpretation in an American space. This means making the new feel old and marrying the modern with the timeless. Function and form in harmony.
One of my favorite brands that does this very well is Olive Ateliers. Their current collaboration with Pamela Anderson is just beyond a chef’s kiss. They curate collected and found objects, but are starting to make some as well. It’s purely delicious, and like eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant, can come with a price. Worth it, as the mission is to invest in pieces that you love so much you want to leave them behind for future generations. However, we often try to source in a high-low way that doesn’t leave clients fully depleted financially.
