Mark D. Sikes on Decorating with Greens

Gardens are a passion of mine—I love the endless colors, textures, and tones of plants and flowers. Two of my favorite gardens are those of Bunny Mellon (a self-taught botanist and horticulturist) and my dear friend Bunny Williams; I’m drawn to the way Oak Spring Farm, Mellon’s famed Virginia estate, and Williams’s beautiful home in Falls Village, Connecticut, incorporate natural elements into their décor. Garden stools, straw baskets, iron furnishings, stone benches, and treillage playfully mingle in their houses, creating a seamless passage between indoors and out.

My own garden is a lush, leafy escape whose natural elements and design also inspire the décor in my home. When the glass doors from my kitchen and living room are open—as they often are—the garden becomes another room and its peaceful energy, beautiful color palette, and the soothing sounds of the stone fountain flow into the rest of the house. Thick ficus “walls” make the space feel cozy and protected, while climbing fig ivy creates a lattice-like pattern that echoes the effect of a scenic wallcovering. Both contrast beautifully with the brick stairs, blue-and-white ceramic accessories, and the robin’s-egg blue cushions of the garden furniture. The pairing of deep green with a lighter blue mirrors the naturally occurring contrast  between plants and sky—a look I love to re-create indoors.

Excerpt © Beautiful: All-American Decorating And Timeless Style by Mark D. Sikes (Rizzoli New York, 2016). All Photographs © Amy Neunsinger.