The new year is a wonderful time to both reflect back on the highlights of the past year and pivot toward what lies ahead. We have so much to share from the recent months including news on our tremendously successful inaugural Design Matters event, images from an adorable holiday photoshoot, and some gorgeous styling shots from some of our favorite projects. We are so grateful for a memorable 2022 and look forward to what is looking like a joyfully busy 2023!

Debra and Anne

Debra is the co-founder of a new design event, Design Matters, and our team joined with a fabulous committee in what can truly be described as a labor of love. Design Matters was created as a series of events celebrating design, art, and architecture by presenting experts who will educate, entertain, and help raise funds for important causes. The inaugural program took place on Monday, October 17th, 2022, at The Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC, featuring a presentation by internationally recognized interior designer, Shelley Johnstone and moderated by Style Director of Frederic Magazine, Tori Mellott. A plated lunch for 150 followed their conversation and guests were able to meet Shelley and have their complimentary copies of her new book, A Loving Table, signed. The afternoon companion event, Set the Table, welcomed nearly 200 additional visitors, who were also able to meet Shelley for a book-signing and view inspirational tabletops, masterfully created by interior and floral designers from across the state and accented by stunning art work that was available for purchase.

Debra was honored to style the stage in partnership with Schumacher and Gracie Studio. The custom Gracie endpapers in Shelley's book became the starting point for the set design, and Gracie recreated that design in large panels that became the backdrop for the breathtaking stage. Debra designed custom slipcovers using Schumacher's Marella in Spice for the speakers’ stage chairs and used the pinks and persimmons from the fabrics as inspiration for the entire ball room’s color scheme. A gorgeous pink Oushak from Eatmans Carpets and Interiors was the pièce de résistance!

Debra also created three tablescapes for the Set the Table event. She designed a pretty pink French table using Schuyler Samperton’s Eden fabric and her personal collection of vintage chinoiserie Tiffany plates. Her second table was a garden party theme with topiaries and rattan-filled flowers as the centerpiece with surrounding plates from the famed Ivy restaurant in Los Angeles. She also designed a stunning tropical table using Herends' Foret dinnerware and Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s Asaram pattern that complemented the gorgeous branch and dahlia centerpiece.

This successful initiative raised over $100,000 for The Fitch Family Comprehensive Pediatric Rehabilitation Program at UNC Children’s Hospital. Photography courtesy of Anna Routh Barzin.

With renewed inspiration from Design Matters, Debra created holiday vignettes and tablescapes for an upcoming project. Using a classic green check for the tablecloth, she mixed Haviland and Parlon Matignon dinner plates with Tory Burch’s hand-painted Oiseau salad plates. She opted for a non-traditional color scheme for the flowers and composed a simple lavender and green arrangement in a verdigris urn. Josie did steal the show, but we cannot blame her for sneaking a cheese straw when no one was looking!

Over the past few months, Debra has worked on some fantastic styling projects. She worked with the photographer to create a through-shot composition to highlight the strong blue against the backdrop of the analogous green Chinoiserie wallpaper.

Styling bookshelves is a passion for Debra as she loves a good bar and thinks that books are always the best decoration!

While she won’t call herself a floral designer, Debra uses her flower school experience to create elegantly simple, fresh-from-the-garden compositions with her favorite dahlias, cosmos, and seasonal flowers. Photography courtesy of Anna Routh Barzin.