A Recap of Carolyne Roehm`s Monday Program Presentation

A Recap of Carolyne Roehm’s Monday Program Presentation – March 25, 2013
Submitted by Annette Booker McGhee and Jane Sternheimer
A Passion for Interior Design and Flowers
One must wonder what Carolyne Roehm thought as her plane flew in late Sunday in the
midst of a white-out snow storm. Richmond International Airport closed after the flight landed!
Unable to reach her final destination to visit friends outside of town, Roehm checked into The
Jefferson Hotel. For her, it was an unexpected delight to wander through the hotel lobby and enjoy
dinner at Lemaire. She waxed eloquent about her North Carolina trout with slow braised collard
greens and vinegar, buttermilk-chive cornbread, crispy tobacco onions, and shrimp remoulade. She
especially enjoyed the crispy fried onions which she said had a great flavor. Kudos to Chef Walter
Bundy!
On Monday, March 25, 2013, The Woman’s Club enjoyed an enthusiastic and refreshing
presentation from Roehm. She has just published her most recent work, “Flowers.” The eleventh
book in the series, “Flowers” is also the largest, weighing in at eight pounds and almost 300 pages.
The specimens are from her garden and were photographed entirely by Roehm, revealing yet
another of her many stellar talents.
One of the best dressed women in the world, Roehm wore a long-sleeved, simple black
dress, cut just above the knee, which floated when she walked. Her wrists were complemented with
identical ivory cuff bracelets enhanced with gold Maltese crosses and embellished with emerald
and sapphire cabochons. Her ears were adorned with similarly styled gold earrings from the
distinguished Verdura collection.
Carolyne Roehm defines style and elegance and shared her remarkable life as a designer
extraordinaire to a full house.
The following is a short interview with Carolyne Roehm which we hope you will enjoy.
From left: Jane Sternheimer, Carolyne Roehm, and Annette Booker McGhee
1. What are you currently working on that excites you?
I am currently working on a beautiful Greek Revival home in Charleston, SC, (“Chisholm”) and at
the moment we are tearing up the driveway and existing gardens and installing new gardens. I have
never had palm trees before, and I will be able to have some beautiful gardenia trees (I have only a
few in Connecticut in the greenhouse).
“Chisholm” – Charleston, SC
2. What are some of Carolyn Roehm’s favorites?*
*At the moment, these are some of my favorites. It changes all the time!
(A) Favorite Wallpaper
Brand: Zuber; Wallpaper name: Psyche
Zuber New York Showroom
202 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022
(212) 486-9226
(B) Favorite Fabric
Brand: Braqueniè; Fabric name: Le Grand Genois-Panneau
Pierre Frey New York Showroom - 979 3rd Avenue, Suite 1611 New York, NY 10022
(C) Favorite Paint
Brand: Farrow & Ball
Color: Oval Room Blue
(D) Favorite Flowers and Why?
In Connecticut: Peonies & Roses
In the South: Camellias
I love these flowers for their full body and textured petals.
3. What is a new trend in decorating that you have noticed?
I have noticed re-incorporation of traditional concepts and mixing styles.
4. Is there any trend you dislike?
I dislike barren rooms that are cubes. Basically, lacking in imagination.
I love architectural details and molding. I respond well to color. My living room has over eight
shades of white.
5. We all love daffodils. What is your advice in picking and using them in flower arrangements?
I am aware that when the sap comes out of the stems of daffodils, it is poisonous to the other
flowers. However, I do not necessarily have time to put them under a hot gas or hot water.
Although they are fragile, I love mixing them with other flowers and enjoying them as soon as they
have been picked. They demand to be planted in mass!