March is that in between month that’s as transitional as a teen. Just because you’re ready for spring doesn’t mean winter is about to relinquish her season. This is why Margot Shaw’s new book, Living Floral, Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers, is the ideal salve for those who crave the nuances of nurturing weather. Create your own uplifting environment with flowers. And what better way than to cull ideas from tables and settings of such tastemakers as Charlotte Moss, Cornelia Guest, Susanne Rheinstein and event designer Tara Guérard among others. The range in seasonal styles is sure to inspire. In fact, no setting is complete without flowers, an edict to live by.
Lily Pulitzer table cloth with floral runner. Photograph by Julia Lynn.
From Charlotte Moss’ personalized foreward to tastemakers who share their floral schemes, the underlying message is personalization. Such an approach will allow guests to know your true self. Says Cornelia Guest, “Don’t redecorate a room or put your pets elsewhere–your guests are coming to your house, and it’s where you live. Sharing a glimpse into your life is a part of entertaining and is as important as all the other aspects of your party.”
Pink table runner embellished with flowers en plein air. Photograh by Becky Luigart – Stayner
And what is the result when noted entertainers reveal their most personal settings? A lot of color and whimsy that is a guarantee to make people feel welcomed. You can easily imagine that at such events, guests won’t be bemoaning the state of affairs but rather engage in playful discussions with a lot of laughter. Shaw, who edits the magazine Flower, is highly skilled in curating a selection of people and parties where readers feel as if they are a part of these exclusive affairs.
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- A sitting area inside Frances Shultz’s Bee Cottage. Photograph by Tria Giovan
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- A personalized mix of colors and texture, where the arrangement connects the theme. Photograph by Erik Kvalsvik
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- Pink peonies is always a good idea. Photograph by Michael Mundy
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- Pink bedroom is a story in layers with floral bedcover and chair. Photograph by Pieter Estersohn
5 Tips to Living with Flowers with Margot Shaw Style
- Good manners goes hand in hand with proper entertaining.
- No matter how grand the event is, fine china is meant to be used.
- Flowers should always add their magic to the table and home, whether cut from the garden or created by your favorite florist.
- An inspired guest list is a key ingredient to a successful event.
- Gardens don’t have to be cultivated in the ground but potted plants can add their own splendor to the environment.
Resources
L I V I N G F L O R A L: Entertaining and Decorating with Flowers by Margot Shaw with Karen M. Carroll and Lydia Somerville. Foreword by Charlotte Moss. Hardcover with jacket / 8.5” x 11” / 224 pages / 250 color photographs $45.00 U.S. / $60.00 Canadian / £32.50 U.K.ISBN: 978-0-8478-6362-4 / Rizzoli NewYork / Release date: March 2019: Rizzoli Bookstore
