A Garden Grows, a Chair is Chosen, a Letter Arrives
Workday 17/04/2025
Thursday arrived with a whirlwind of design responsibilities that spanned the entire creative spectrum exterior landscaping, interior furnishing and exhibition planning, all packed into one intense but fulfilling day. My morning began with a walk through the garden to review the replanting work carried out by the gardeners. It was reassuring to see that everything was aligned with the vision and both Pip Clews and I were genuinely pleased. Moments like these remind me of the value of pausing, smiling and appreciating the steady progress toward a larger goal in this case, the evolving transformation of the Lover’s Garden.
There’s something special about recognising the human effort and collaboration that makes design come to life, and how words of encouragement can uplift a team and accelerate momentum.
Shortly after, my attention shifted to preparing the rest of the flower beds for planting over the next few days. It was a physically demanding task, made even more so by the rainy weather, but in a way, the effort felt grounding. There’s a certain kind of resilience and quiet strength that comes from working with the earth, from pushing through fatigue to complete a task you know will bloom into something beautiful. As I arranged and planned the layouts, I caught whiffs of the fresh flowers waiting to be planted, an unexpected little joy that reminded me why this work is so worth it.
Later in the day, despite the time difference between France and the U.S., I had a video call with the president of the Château. It was a key moment to present the progress we’ve made in the garden and discuss the next steps, including where to lay mulch and how to refine certain spatial compositions. I felt grateful for how technology allows us to share visual information with such ease what once would have required days of travel now happens in real-time, with garden measurements and material orientations being discussed across continents. These moments show how design today is not just about physical space but about connection, clarity and digital collaboration.
After wrapping up the outdoor projects, I transitioned to my interior design responsibility selecting and sourcing chairs for the kitchen and villa. It was a complex task that involved choosing the right materials, colours and fabrics, while keeping comfort, durability and aesthetics in mind. I’m proud of the resilience and negotiation skills I brought to this challenge, landing on a stylish yet functional chair option at a fair price. Can’t wait to receive the samples for each of the materials !!!
As I finally closed my laptop, feeling both fulfilled and fatigued, I was met with a beautiful surprise: a red envelope sent all the way from Switzerland by Alexandra, a gifted painter from my very first residency group. Her heartfelt letter was the perfect ending to a demanding day, a reminder that the connections we make through design extend far beyond the projects themselves.