A lush, two-story vertical garden brimming with textured emerald leaves is the pièce de résistance at Capitol, Laura Vinroot Poole's Charlotte, North Carolina, temple to high fashion.
“It's this perfect utopian space - never too hot or cold,” says Poole of the Patrick Blanc-designed court-yard at the heart of the boutique. “Being surrounded by so many shades and textures makes you feel as though you're enveloped by the garden.”
The tablecloth was fashioned from House of Harris's Woodwind Bird fabric; crimson-and-white woven clutches by Figue were placed on each chair as party favors.
Under the soft light at dusk, it's an enchanting setting for an elegant dinner Poole hosted in honor of Leslie Tcheyan and Octavia Giovannini-Torelli, the mother- daughter duo who design the Of Rare Origin jewelry line. Their whimsical birdcage earrings were the inspiration for the evening's playful theme and cotton-candy hues.
Mini gold birdcages from Hobnob function as place card holders, and charming birds adorn the custom napkins.
For the decor, Poole tapped interior designer Charlotte Lucas, who swathed long tables in a spirited bird-festooned oral fabric, while 25 birdcages of all shapes and sizes were painted in a symphony of hues to match. Some floated high above the tables, with others placed among heaping vases of ranunculus, garden roses, and sweet peas; each held groups of votive candles.
“The ambience was magical,” says Lucas of the scene. “It took my breath away.”
A table set for the stylish fete; sterling flatware, Gorham and Kirk Stieff; plates, Mottahedeh and Crate & Barrel.
A seasonal menu of lamb loin with a shaved-vegetable salad was served on putty-colored plates. The subdued shade drew eyes to the custom napkins, emblazoned with a single bird and trimmed with glimmering tassels.
Charlotte Lucas, left, with her sister Liz Carroll in the courtyard of Capitol.
“People who shop with us know that you can't be afraid to be beautiful and over-the-top,” says Poole. “The same goes for a table - I never hold back.”
This article originally appeared in the September-October 2017 issue of VERANDA.
