The Atlanta Showhouse Rooftop Garden

A pair of rooftop gardens offers a fresh perspective at the FLOWER Magazine Atlanta Showhouse.

Anyone familiar with landscape architect John Howard’s award-winning work would expect to find the grounds of the Flower Showhouse as beautifully detailed as the house itself. But what might surprise some is just how far the landscaping extends—up to the rooftops of the home’s one-story wings. Viewed from most of the second-floor rooms in the central part of the house, the two flat roofs caught the attention of one of the home’s developers, Doug Beasley, who suggested that John work his magic on these empty spaces. “He recognized that there was a lot of flat roof that could be seen, so he wanted to do something that would make the tops of the roofs more attractive,” says John, who quickly got to work on creating two rooftop gardens.

Lush green hedges cover the grounds outside a white regency style home.

The showhouse’s formal plantings aren’t limited to the grounds. The wings on either side of the house feature flat rooftops with sedum “parterres."

Foyer with wood floors are painted to mimic marquetry. Round table holds vase of delphiniums and eremurus.

To make a grand entrance in the foyer, wood floors are painted to mimic marquetry. The antique burl-wood center hall table, topped with delphiniums and eremurus, infuses the space with formality that is toned down by the crusty zinc pendant.

The antique broken pediment mirror and bird etchings hung the “old-fashioned” way using cables and clips tacked to the picture molding to maintain the pristine condition of Gracie wallpaper panels.

The antique broken pediment mirror and bird etchings are hung the “old-fashioned” way using cables and clips tacked to the picture molding to maintain the pristine condition of the Gracie panels.

In addition to these lush layers, Elle’s abode displays a culmination of all the things—and people—that she cherishes most. Heirloom antiques passed down from her grandmother hold memories, as well as places of prominence, in rooms otherwise adorned with art, furniture, and décor that she and husband Greyson have collected over the years. But the greatest influence on her home’s casually chic aesthetic is her close friendship with interior designer Stephanie Woodmansee.

Living room with large photograph of an elephant by Karen Knorr, custom settee with Pierre Frey floral fabric, and built-in cabinet of rose-colored majolica.

The image of an elephant in the living room is by photographer Karen Knorr. Built-in corner cabinets are backed in blue to contrast a collection of majolica. The Pierre Frey floral fabric on the custom settee corrals all of the colors in the room.

Elle and Stephanie met fresh out of design school while working in the New York office of Ashley Whittaker Design. They bonded instantly over a shared passion for classic styles, bright colors, and bold prints—namely florals. In 2013, the duo branched out and established their own firm, Henry & Co. Design, headquartered in Elle’s 900-square-foot starter apartment in Chelsea. “You get to know someone really well when you work that closely together,” says Stephanie. “We became like that ‘old married couple’ who could finish the other’s sentences. We made a great team not only because we complimented one another, but also because we pushed each other creatively. To this day, we still do!”

Library with wall of windows and a 121-foot-wide batik-inspired valance.

Lacquered paneled walls rival those of a traditional library, but their soft, smoky hue reads more casual. The batik inspired print on the 12-foot-wide valance perfectly aligns with the shade below it.

Elle has since stepped back from design and the firm, but she and Stephanie continue to enjoy an incredibly strong synergy. So when the Clymers returned to their roots in Kansas City and purchased a 1916 Georgian-style home in the older enclave of Sunset Hills, they knew just who to call—literally. For eight months, Elle and Stephanie collaborated via phone, text, and FaceTime, taking the concept of “working remotely” to a whole new level. They stayed up many late nights swapping links to one-of-a-kind finds on sites like Chairish, Etsy, and eBay and, whenever they could, they would meet up to shop the New York City galleries and the antiques fairs in Round Top and Brimfield.

Stairwell gallery with combined pieces from local artists and flea markets with fine art gems.

“Elle and I have had so much fun collecting artwork over the years,” says Stephanie. For the stairwell gallery, they combined pieces from local artists and flea markets with fine art gems.

Given her background, Elle didn’t necessarily need an interior designer, but she knew that she didn’t want to be her own client. “After years in the field, I had adopted a ‘been-there-done-that’ attitude,” she says. “Nothing felt original, and it was hard for me to get wowed, so I told Stephanie to just go for it! No one knows what I like—and dislike—better than she does. She has a way of turning my somewhat crazy ideas into something brilliant, and she is the ultimate mix master.” Together, the talented duo incorporated all the random pieces that spoke to Elle and her family in a way that made sense. Elle sums up their work best: “We share the sentiment that life is too short to limit yourself when it comes to living among the things you love.”

Primary bedroom with fresh floral prints in crisp whites and shades of navy, cobalt, and cornflower on a canopy bed. Louis Phillippe-style mirror, and marble mantel.

In the primary bedroom, fresh floral prints in crisp whites and shades of navy, cobalt, and cornflower play nicely with the patina of the canopy bed, Louis Phillippe-style mirror, and marble mantel.