In the most unexpected location, a lush coastal garden champions a global approach
At the end of a winding lane bordered by a tangle of honeysuckle and wild roses lies a magical garden far removed from a traditional East Hampton manicured showpiece.
To the sounds of waves crashing on the beach, this one unfolds like the petals of a flower in surprising and delightful ways, a pleasure still fresh to its owners, Katharine and William Rayner. If Kathy had asked anyone whether it might be possible to create an intricately elaborate garden on the leeward side of a sand dune between the roaring Atlantic and Georgica Pond, she would have been told no. But Kathy didn’t ask – she went ahead and did just that.
After renting Woody House for eight years, Kathy bought it in the late eighties not long before her marriage to Billy, and fixed it up just in time for the arrival of Hurricane Bob. In the decades since, the sloping terrain’s cutting garden and few flower beds have evolved into a magnificent confection of spaces, paths, vistas, bowers, and follies that invoke the garden cultures of England, Italy, Persia and India. Not lacking in a garden pedigree – her mother, Anne Cox Chambers, created, with Peter Coats, Rosemary Verey, and Ryan Gainey, the celebrated sixteen-hectare grounds of her Provençal home, Le Petit Fontanille – Kathy nurtured her interest in horticulture by visiting storied estates and reading voraciously on the subject. She admits to feeling most affected by the memoirs of Babur, founder of the Mogul empire, and the writings of Vita Sackville-West – representing a span of five centuries.
This story is from the December 2018 - January 2019 edition of Condé Nast House & Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2018 - January 2019 edition of Condé Nast House & Garden.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Family First
Surrounded by mountainous terrain and a coniferous forest, Studio PLOW ensured this family home embraces its habitat, while offering a cosy and inviting family refuge
Close to home
While the sparrows flock to Europe in search of warmth in the winter, locals know that hiding in plain sight are hideaways ranging from safari stays to country cabins - that highlight the best parts of the cooler, quieter months of the year.
Simply STYLISH
A stylish update on decorating your home or redesigning your architectural space this winter
Night at the MUSEUM
In a collaboration between Investec Cape Town Art Fair and the Mount Nelson Hotel, Anelisa Mangeu has curated her second exhibition titled An Endless Night' celebrating the synergy between these landmark spaces
NATURAL HABITAT
Surefire tips to wow and whimsy with Dulux Colour of the Year 2023 Wild Wonder™
Earth BOUND
Adam Court, director and designer at OKHA reveals the innermost workings of his creative mind and design process
DOUBLE TAKE
Part getaway, part meeting space, this Chelsea apartment by Hubert Zanberg Interiors hits every note for an out-of-town client
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Situated at the top of the iconic One&Only Cape Town resort, this penthouse boasts some of the best views of the Mother City
CALL TO NATURE
The gardens and ephemeral planting palettes at Sterrekopje healing farm in Franschhoek are as much a reawakening of the senses as they are a connection to nature
the SOFT LIFE
From lush gardens to sumptuous interiors, this beautiful home designed by Simone Katherine Interiors is all about comfort and a big focus on family