Flower January/February 2023

A thing of beauty is a joy forever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.—JOHN KEATS, “ENDYMION, BOOK 1” WHEN I FIRST GLIMPSED the rendering of our FLOWER Showhouse, wrought by the eminent Atlanta architect Peter Block, I had to pinch myself. It struck me as a dream realized—a vision of elegance with beautiful proportions, tailored and restrained, as only the Regency period could produce. I could hardly imagine a more perfect jewel box to house the treasures of great interior design. Then I learned that the gardens were being conceived by the esteemed Atlanta landscape architect John Howard. Top this off with the project being realized…

Items not listed are from designers’ personal collections.…

Plato was well known for his philosophy that art imitates life, while Aristotle believed that life imitates art. When asked which of these two ancient doctrines she subscribes to, Holly Bryan didn’t have to think twice before replying “both.” The Atlanta-based floral design phenom backed up her answer with a masterpiece of her own making—a bountiful, fresh arrangement inspired by an abstract floral painting by Ashley Cunningham. The piece, Ordinary House Plant 2, is one of three original works by various artists featured in a secret garden-inspired bedroom designed by Tammy Connor Interior Design for the Atlanta Showhouse. “I was captivated by the rich contrasts in the painting,” Holly says. “I love the dramatic juxtapositions of the light and bright hues, along with the heavy brushstrokes coupled with simple botanical…

Flower: We’ve admired your houses in Atlanta and beyond for a long time, and we’re excited that our readers will experience your architecture through the FLOWER Showhouse. How would you characterize your overall design philosophy? Peter Block: Whatever the design of a house may be, make sure it has style. I’ll mix different ideas and elements, but the end goal is for it to feel and look good, period. I liken it to a woman wearing jeans, a white T-shirt, and a Chanel jacket. She has great style, but she’s not wearing a pure outfit. That’s often the perspective I come from architecturally. How do you begin conceptualizing your designs? Everything starts with a conversation about the clients’ needs and what we want to happen. Then I work on a…

Flower: When chatting with design professionals, we always want a little backstory. Did you grow up gardening or in a design-centric home?” John Howard: I grew up in Atlanta in a mid-century house with modest gardens. I loved to work outside, plant things, and build things. I always had an interest in architecture and did drafting for architects and engineers during my high school and college years. I also liked to draw and do graphic design, and I was supported by my family in all my artistic endeavors. What was your first indication that you would design landscapes? I discovered landscape architecture when I was in high school, which combined many of my interests including architecture, horticulture, and being outside. It was an obvious choice to study landscape architecture in college.…

Lights! Camera! Showhouse! The FLOWER magazine team documented the Atlanta Showhouse rooms and furnishings, shooting hours of video footage of the home and designer interviews to bring each space to life. Now we are sharing this extraordinary house with the rest of world. Look for our video introduction to the showhouse with highlights from editor-in-chief Margot Shaw, honorary showhouse chair Charlotte Moss, and design chair Suzanne Kasler. Then be sure to watch our video tour of the house for an in-depth look at each room narrated by its interior designer on the FLOWER magazine YouTube channel and at flowermag.com/showhouse. More Flowers These pages are filled with gorgeous flowers from the floral design teams who created arrangements for the house, but there’s even more online. We’ve captured scores of fantastic florals…