French Drawing Room Ceiling
Springvale Floral
Kory Garvis
2022 installation
2nd Floor - French Drawing Room
The Inspiration
Artist/Creator: Herbert Browne and Arthur Little, architects
Date of Creation: 1905
The smallest of three reception rooms on the second floor, was a display space and passageway for guests. The design and furnishings reflect both an adherence to a traditional French style and an appreciation for Asian art. The lavish three-dimensional gilded plaster and papier-mache ceiling includes bas relief human faces, swooping birds, and foliate decoration, as well as the interwoven initials of Larz and Isabel found in so many rooms of the house. The ceiling is more than sixteen feet above the floor.
The Flowers
Florist’s inspiration: Transformation through Reflection: We were inspired by the intricacy of the design and the impact the Gilt Ceiling has upon the room and those that entered.
The more we started the more we connect with the story of Narcissus. The beauty drawing us in. Transfixed and lost entirely. Small faces staring back. With this in mind, we decided to create our floral design based on the theme of Greek myth, transformation. We built our floral design in a “pool” above two mirrors. Leading the viewer to seek the transformation of the design from gilded to vibrant blooms through the reflection below. True transformation can only take place after deep reflection.
We chose the piece because of the challenge posed by trying to represent it through flowers. It led us to a place we hadn’t imagined. Flowers always have the last laugh.
THE DESIGNER
Kory Garvis
Springvale Floral
Kory, the owner of Springvale Floral, is an award-winning floral designer and hosts a team of head-over-heels romantics and sustainability advocates. Her floral artistry is known for being one of a kind, organic, and ethereal, invoking a natural sense of wonder. Purpose, connection, and intention are the driving force behind everything she creates. She is a fervent believer in the impact that flowers and art have on a person’s life and their ability to change one's perspective.
Springvale challenges perceived limits to build imaginative floral installations balancing a classically beautiful elegance with the intrigue of the natural world. They create organic and unstructured designs that are playful and full of movement. Floral installations are Kory's favorite pieces to create because they are so impactful and require more intensive engineering. Springvale was recently featured on the cover of Florist Review and Virginia Living and in Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, Carats & Cake, The Knot, Virginia Weddings, etc. Voted “Best Of” by Washingtonian Magazine in 2021 and 2022. Awarded the “Most Innovative Floral Designer 2022” by Global Wedding Awards 2022.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY
Tori Del Photography
Tori Del is a fine art wedding film photographer who caters to the Washington D.C./Montgomery County/Arlington County area as well as destination locations. She cultivates the art of your love story through a fine art perspective and provides an experience not just for your wedding day but throughout your wedding journey. Tori was also a participating photographer in Beyond the Blackout, an industry event celebrating the contributions of Black artists, co-produced by Anderson House.
