Outdoor Living

Playful

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Vibrant

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Refined

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 A CLASSIC GARDEN DESIGN 

It’s a garden that’s a legend in its own time. Created by design talents Ryan Gainey and Alex Smith, this horticultural masterwork was inspired by the late Rosemary Verey. Gainey, who befriended Verey two decades ago, introduced her to one of his favorite clients—the present-day owner of this spectacular Buckhead garden. “This client knew Rosemary very well; they were very good friends,” notes Smith, a onetime Verey protégé. So naturally, when it came time to create this complex plot, all parties agreed that it should honor Verey’s work and memory. Gainey worked with architect Marc Mosley and landscape designer Peter Coyne to ensure precision in the knot garden planting. “Making a garden is one thing, but maintaining a garden is precious; it requires a tremendous amount of maintenance,” Gainey says. “The genius behind a garden like this is having someone who can perpetuate it.” That’s where Smith came in. After Gainey laid the groundwork, Smith and his team carefully coaxed the knot pattern; precise pruning and frequent shearing over the last four years have resulted in a garden that appears to genuinely weave in and out. It’s highly structured and sophisticated, yet “still dynamic and fun,” notes Smith, which is why it’s so well-suited to the homeowner’s lively personality.

A classic garden design by Alex Smith and Ryan Gainey incorporates two varieties of boxwood—variegated American and Korean wintergreen—chosen for their abilities to stand up to Atlanta’s summer heat and drought. Soft plumes of white-blooming candytuft and espaliered pear trees enhance this artfully manicured plot, while gravel and a granite cobblestone border contribute a geometric quality.

 

Global

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 THE MARIAFLORA MOVEMENT 

The words “Italian” and “high-performance” are no longer reserved for luxe sports cars, as MariaFlora moves to the forefront of refined outdoor textiles. The brand was founded in 2009 by designer Filippo Uecher and named for his grandmothers, Maria and Flora, who continue to inspire the superb quality of the company’s designs for both indoor and outdoor. The storied mill, nestled in the verdant foothills of the Biellese Alps, has produced fine textiles since the 11th century but has never released a signature collection—until now. Made from 100 percent solution-dyed acrylic, the striking designs are, at once, elegant but sturdy enough to hold up to harsh weather, too. Patterns and colors range from spirited candy stripes to nubby solids in natural hues, from sophisticated flocked florals to modern baroque motifs in smoky gray. Kolo Collection is the only showroom in the Southeast to carry the line. $70-$151 per yard. 1189 Howell Mill Rd., Atlanta 30318. (404) 355-1717; kolocollection.com ­ –Katy Wharton