Scenes from my work

I don't typically share too much about my work here, but this space is just too cute not to show off! At Terrain, we have this wonderful historic mushroom hut that is available as an event space. For larger occasions such as weddings, we might use it as an unexpected spot for a dessert table. But what it's really perfect for is a small, private dinner for maybe 10 people. Wouldn't you love to have a little birthday dinner in here with some close friends and family? It's particularly lovely at night when it's lit by candlelight and the breeze is blowing in. Here are a few shots from a special dinner party I put together recently...

Our potting sink, but cleared out so we could fill the basin with ice and use it as a makeshift wine cooler...

Casual arrangements of sunflowers in white hobnail vases...

Mismatched side tables for holding wine glasses and pitchers of water...

And you can't not have an eye-catching arrangement of bold flowers - when I saw these alliums at the flower market I knew I had to have them...

(All images by Elizabeth Nettles)

Terrain Wedding Event

I know you guys have probably heard all about Terrain, the gorgeous garden and home emporium from our friends at Urban Outfitters. It's a tremendously beautiful and inspiring space located in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and I am lucky enough to be working there as their events specialist! In addition to the spectacular home store and nursery, Terrain also has a fantastic restaurant called Styer's Garden Cafe which is housed in an antique green house. We host weddings, baby showers, engagement parties, birthday dinners - pretty much any special event that begs for a beautiful setting! This Friday, May 14 from 6-9 pm, we are hosting our first ever Wedding and Event Services Open House. In addition to showcasing our new kitchen and super talented chef, we will feature tablescapes and other special events decor from our Design Services team, festive music and cocktails, and one-on-one event consultations run by yours truly! For those of you who live in the Philadelphia/Wilmington, DE area, I encourage you to stop by and see all that Terrain has to offer. I've attached the event information here... please stop in and say hi, I'd love to see you there!

(All images via Terrain website)

Paradise Found

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Horticultural Society of New York's annual Spring Gala with my great friend and colleague Colin Baer of Colin Baer Events. Colin was one of 20 decorators invited to design a dinner table for the event based on the theme "This Side of Paradise." (What a brilliant way to save money in the budget while at the same time enjoying the talents of the best florists and decorators in the city!)

Colin asked me to work with him on his dinner table, which I was flattered and thrilled to do. Colin is so talented and I knew he would create something spectacular and original, so of course I wanted to be a part of it! The concept for our table was a modern urban paradise. We knew most of the designers would interpret "paradise" in the more expected ways, such as a tropical or island feeling, so Colin was smart enough to take it in another direction. We were picturing a super-chic roof deck dinner party with lots of lush green plants, so Colin created a four foot tall vertical garden with lady slipper orchids, flamingo flowers, succulents, ferns and a variety of mosses. And wow, did it turn out gorgeous!

I worked with Colin to select and style the various tabletop items - furniture, linens, china, glassware, and so on. From Party Rentals we chose a gorgeous gray silk dupioni fitted tablecloth, modern glass chargers and plates, sleek mother-of-pearl flatware, black and white striped napkins (to echo a sun umbrella or window awning), and a variety of deep purple accents to pick up the petals of the orchids. I love how it all turned out!

Meanwhile, there were some other fabulous tables on display, like this poppy-inspired one from the The Designers' Co-Op. Talk about eye candy! The huge flowers were all hand-made from gauze that was custom-dyed and molded...

Ooh, and this Asian fantasy from Bardin Palomo... check out those chair covers!

Bloom-filled vases paired with glossy black tablecloth, from David Beahm Design...

and a garden extravaganza from Flowers, Sticks and Stones...

What a fun night it was. Hopefully, I will have more photos to share in the future... it really was something to see. And to Colin, thanks so much for allowing me to be a part of event, and kudos for a job spectacularly well done!

All images via Biz Bash (except #2 and #3, via Colin Baer)

The Big Event

After many, many months of preparation, the gala I planned for The Franklin Institute Awards has finally come and gone. I worked with Colin Baer Events on the event decor, and it all came out beautifully. The design concept was that of a French garden, with topiaries, boxwood hedges, graphic toile, and lots of birds, birdcages, and feathers.

My favorite dining room! Colin created the boxwood hedges by wrapping the preexisting silver metal columns in chickenwire and stuffing them with fresh boxwood branches. Tabletop decor featured black birdcages filled with white anemones. 


This dining room was located in the Planetarium. Because the space is essentially a black box, we went for very light-colored decor - white chairs, high-contrast white and black French toile, and mirrored floral containers to reflect light.

Loads of branches covered with tiny feathered birds were the highlight of this room. Other tables featured glass cloches with delicate branches, flowers, and more birds. (All photos courtesey of Kelly & Massa Photography)

Star Wars Opening Night Event

The glowing bar

Our "cantina" style lounge area

Gorgeous floral design courtesy of Colin Baer Events