Leading Interior Designer Charlotte Moss Discusses Her “Garden Inspirations”
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.jpg "Interior inspiration -- bringing the garden inside.")
Charlotte Moss, one of the world’s leading interior designers, is well known for her warm, comfortable, and incredibly luxurious interiors that expertly blend American, European, and Classical influences. Moss draws inspiration from a variety of resources, including her Southern heritage and the work of such design visionaries as Elsie de Wolfe and Pauline de Rothschild. But it is the garden that has proved to be Moss' greatest muse -- a subject that she explores in-depth in her new book, Garden Inspirations.
In the sumptuously illustrated volume published by Rizzoli, Moss takes readers on a guided tour of her own gardens, offers insights on how to bring the outdoors into the home, shares her top gardening tips, and explains how the garden serves as an invaluable resource for interiors, entertaining, and all-around good living. We talked with Charlotte about her first experiences with gardening, how it has influenced her magnificent interiors, and much more.
- Leaves in a basket from "Garden Inspirations." Courtesy of Charlotte Moss.
InCollect: What sparked your interest in gardening?
Charlotte Moss: My first taste of the garden came through my maternal grandmother. I remember her irises, hydrangea, the crape myrtle, enormous cedar trees and black walnut trees. I also remember her sun porch with lots of potted plants and succulents.
IC: What effect did this have on your work as an interior designer?
CM: Being connected to the outside has always been a priority for me. Having outdoor space to relax and entertain in, what can be seen of the outside from windows in the house, the approach to the front door is as important as the foyer. What you see, the fragrance, all contribute to establishing a pleasant atmosphere, the goal of interior and exterior decoration.
IC: How are the gardening and designing processes connected?
CM: First, you must make a plan. What is financially reasonable? What do you know, and who can you get to collaborate on the rest? How much time can you dedicate yourself, what are your expectations for completion? Be patient and enjoy the process.
IC: What are your top tips for bringing the outdoors in?
CM: Trees and houseplants of all varieties are available, low maintenance and low sun to more demanding ones. Having flowers is a necessary luxury. My mantra is this: don't make it complicated, you don't have to make an 'arrangement' or rob the bank, one fabulously fragrant casa blanc lily, a few branches of seasonal leaves in a tall vase, tulips from the corner grocer, and don't forget potted herbs in a windowsill - how lovely to pinch fresh marjoram for a Greek salad, rosemary for lamb, and verbena for an infusion.
- Topiaries on a window sill from "Garden Inspirations." Courtesy of Charlotte Moss.
IC: Which gardens have served as an ongoing source of inspiration for you? What do you find inspiring about them?
CM: I have visited MANY gardens here and abroad especially, all have contributed something besides the pleasure of being in them. The stone and pebblework at Dumbarton Oaks, the green architecture of Notre Dame D'Orsan, the rooms at Hidcote, the roses at Mottisfont, the water features at Tivoli, the espalier in the potager at Versailles, and the kitchen garden planned and planted by Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.
IC: What are the most important lessons that gardening has taught you?
CM: Patience, number one, and experimenting! Every once in awhile you get advice contrary to your certain 'itch' to try something. As long as you are willing to accept any consequence then give it a go and never look back. I have always enjoyed the research required for any project, so doing homework has never been an issue for me, it is a must. My curiosity keeps me moving and fuels my exploration of other people’s gardens. So much can be learned this way, reading gardening magazines and books just requires carving out some time.
IC: What do you hope readers will take away from Garden Inspirations?
CM: Garden Inspirations was written to define gardening a number of ways, to make it accessible to more people. I think that has always been my goal in design, to make it accessible to more people. Garden Inspirations is, obviously for those who garden, who aspire to garden, who do not garden but want to learn how to put flowers together at home simply, who enjoy dining outdoors, who travel and likes to visit other gardens, who want to read about famous women who gardened, writers, philanthropists, and intrepid travellers. My goal was to share my own experience of collaborating with someone to create my own garden and the things I have learned along the way over the past 25 years.
- The view from the front door into the house from "Garden Inspirations." Courtesy of Charlotte Moss.
Charlotte Moss opened her distinguished firm in New York in 1985 and was named a “Decorator to Watch” by House and Garden the following year. Moss’ designs, which range from private spaces to collections of furniture, fabrics, trims, carpet, decorative accessories, and jewelry, all exude an effortless elegance that is incredibly alluring. Moss has been the recipient of numerous awards, including The Timeless Design Award, given by the Royal Oak Foundation, Elle Décor’s Vision Award, and Traditional Home magazine’s list of the world’s top twenty interior designers. She is the author of nine books and contributes to House Beautiful magazine as special projects editor. Moss is also a dedicated philanthropist and serves on the Boards of The Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, The Bone Marrow Foundation, The Elsie de Wolfe Foundation, and the Advisory Board of The New York School of Interior Design. She is a member of the Executive Cabinet of The Leaders of Design Council, and sits on the Acquisitions Committee at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
