The Art of books and florals
Without a single doubt, spring is our most fleeting season. And it’s truer than ever this year, because after taking what seemed like FOREVER to arrive, just like that—bam—summer is pretty much here.
The good news is there’s still time for a refresh with color. Our favorite way to make it happen is also one of the easiest—through books and floral. Both bring color and personality into a space, and books in particular can instantly convey what our clients are all about. What are their favorite artists and design styles? Travel destinations? Types of cuisine?
The best books marry a personal interest with an interesting cover. And by interesting, I often mean covers with COLOR. What a beautiful difference colorful covers make on a coffee table or bookshelf. And while some bibliophiles may hesitate, surprisingly the most colorful covers are often the ones UNDER the dust jacket (which you can always keep, if you wish).
In the last two weeks, I’ll bet we have ordered 150 books. Most of the time, we’ll bring piles and piles of books to a client and they’ll pick the ones they like. While we do order books online, I also love supporting local bookstores. Two of my favorites are Magers & Quinn (which has a large inventory of art and design books) and Isles Studio (their design selection is outstanding).
Flowers, like this time of year, are a little more fleeting. In spring, I think of snips of cherry blossoms or lilac branches. As we head into summer, I love a good peony and, of course, hydrangeas.
What we most love about flowers is, again, COLOR. These luscious colors and patterns find their ways into so much of what we do—furniture pieces, wall coverings, plus other feasts for the senses. (See what I mean below, candle and cocktail aficionados!)
And if you can’t make a big change like buying an unbelievable chair, small touches can make a pretty big difference—a bright floral-patterned pillow or some new books on your coffee table. And if nothing else, fresh flowers, even a small bunch from your local florist, the grocery store on the way home, or your own backyard.
Design moment: We are a bit wild for wallpapered ceilings—whether they’re floral patterns with fresh colors or patterns that are a bit more neutral and monochromatic, like in this client project.
Local art: My team and I are always adding color with art, and more often than not, it’s from local talents like Wendy Westlake, who’s represented by Veronique Wantz Gallery in Minneapolis. We recently purchased a piece of hers for a project, and the clients are over the moon. Wendy picks her palettes very overtly and has a real mastery of color—in the case of “The Power of Flattery” shown, it’s really bright, but in other cases, it’s more neutral. Either way, they’re works that are beautiful and comfortable to live with.
Springtime scents. I love Maison Marie Louis candles! The scents are subtle but beautiful, and the detail on the packaging and the candle itself is sophisticated and simple. No.05 Kandilli, which is tropical tuberose, white lily, and ylang jasmine, is one of my favorites right now. Find them at Requisite in the North Loop.
Statement pieces. Who doesn’t fancy a little pink? Especially when you put it into a big, puffy chair (the Hortensia Armchair by Andrés Reisinger, for Moooi), made of more than 30,000 laser-cut petals. Yes, please!
Seasonal cocktail. We love the Lavender Bee’s Knees this time of year. The lavender bitters add a yummy floral twist to the timeless gin cocktail. You’ll need 2 teaspoons honey, 1 tablespoon room-temperature water, 1½ ounces gin, 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 3 dashes lavender bitters, and lemon peel (and perhaps dried lavender flowers) as garnish. Stir honey and water in a cocktail shaker until the honey is dissolved. Then add gin, lemon juice, and lavender bitters, plus ice to fill about three-fourths of the shaker. Cover and shake for about 20 seconds, or until it’s chilled. Then strain into a glass and garnish, if you wish, with the lemon peel and dried lavender flowers.