Driving Murals
District Floral
Michelle Faber
2022 installation
1st Floor - Winter Garden
The Inspiration
The Andersons were enthusiastic motorists and commissioned these two murals—completed in 1909 by H. Siddons Mowbray—mapping their favorite driving routes (marked in red) in and around Washington.
The Flowers
Florist’s inspiration: I was inspired by the Driving Maps for several reasons. This trio of murals are custom painted on the walls, and are so clearly deeply personal to the Andersons. I love all the detail and different elements, from the boats in the water, soft clouds and classic homes, to the framing & perspective.
I found the inclusion of the Anderson’s in their little red car especially endearing. The natural light from the sunroom beams in on the couple’s journey with such grace, another nod to the personal and thoughtful design. I can’t help but connect with the maps of a place I have called home all my life.
In this floral design, I have tried to capture the movement of Virginia’s landscape & the graceful engineering of the natural environment. Virginia is full of lush, picturesque blooms, rolling hills and rivers, and now bustling cities. I used specific foliage, blooms, texture and color to correspond with the maps most prominent features, some of which are native to the region. This room looks out to the lovely garden and reflection pool, so I wanted to create a romantic garden style design.
My goal is to create a floral experience that reflects the Anderson’s classic Virginia style and the love embodied by their beautifully preserved home.
THE DESIGNER
Michelle Faber
District Floral
I grew up in South Arlington, Virginia, and later graduated from Marymount University. I'm a "local" who rekindled her love for flowers in 2011 by taking a floral design workshop! That same year I was fortunate to begin my floral design career as an apprentice to one of Alexandria's elite florists. It was there, I was encouraged to embrace all elements of design, floral education, and to think outside of the box creatively... as my love for flowers grew, so did my family!
District Floral was launched in 2018 to provide more flexibility and balance for family life, and since then I have been designing for all manner of occasions. My focus is on sustainable, thoughtful, and creative floral design. I no longer use foam products, encourage transparency & ethical design practice, and look for ways to support local growers, and my community!
When I'm teaching workshops, it's obvious how flowers bring connection in every sense- they merge people, culture and nature, thus creating a harmony like none other. "Being present, disconnecting from distractions, and tapping into our senses is almost like playtime or therapy, AND you get to bring home flowers!"
PHOTOGRAPHED BY
Costola Photography
Andie Ingagliato started her career as a fine art portrait photographer in 2008. Her passion for gorgeous imagery began with studies in classical music and theater which led to her receiving a BFA in photography and film from one of the top art programs in the nation: Virginia Commonwealth University. Her wedding and portraiture work has been featured in Style Me Pretty, Washingtonian Weddings, The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings and acknowledged by fashion designers, including Draper James. Her characteristic style combines romance and editorial perspective with authenticity. She is uniquely gifted with bringing a sense of finesse into everything she touches while making it seem completely effortless. After fifteen years capturing weddings and families during the most precious times of their lives, she can truly say that this is exactly where she is meant to be. When she isn't photographing weddings, Andie enjoys the outdoors alongside her husband, Tony and daughter, Ava.
