After living in a red-brick, Georgian Colonial-style home in Scarsdale for 43 years, floral and event décor designer Diana Gould moved last year to a light and spacious 4,000-square-foot contemporary home in Purchase. It should come as no surprise that Gould has filled her new home with flora of all manner—dozens of pots with budding orchids, peonies, and assorted cut flowers adorn her interior spaces. Gould’s love of plants and flowers is also reflected in her warm color palette of reds, burgundies, pinks, roses, blues, and celadon greens, as well as her collection of English and Oriental-style furnishings, decorative pieces, and works of art imbued with floral designs. Gould shares some of her favorites below.
Sitting Pretty
A gift from Gould’s sister, this ceramic Chinese garden seat is painted with a colorful tobacco-leaf design. The pinks, greens, and blues fit in perfectly with her living room’s color palette.
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Mon Amour’s Armoire
Gould, who was married to her late husband Chet for 45 years, cherishes this 100-year-old armoire with Chinoiserie accents that once belonged to his grandmother. According to Gould, “Chet could build or fix anything; he added the legs to make this piece higher.”
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Year of the Dragon
Two of the newest additions to Gould’s home décor are these white and celadon ceramic vases with a dragon and floral design. She found them at Two’s Company in Elmsford.
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A Peony for Your Thoughts
Gould’s son, Robert, saw this peony painting on silk fabric in the window of a Scarsdale gallery more than 25 years ago and bought it for his parents with money from his first paycheck. It now holds a place of honor over Gould’s living room fireplace. |
Ode on an Urn
Gould and her late husband bought this Old English Staffordshire urn, one of a pair, at auction more than 40 years ago. “The rust and deep blue are my favorite colors in the world,” she says.
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All Soaped Up
Gould’s den houses a collection of Chinese soapstone vases that she’s collected over the years at antiques stores and tag sales. What do they all have in common? You guessed it—floral designs!
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Nightcap, Anyone?
The Goulds bought this set of antique silver and glass decanters on their honeymoon in St. Thomas 46 years ago and enjoyed using it to serve after-dinner drinks on many occasions.
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Horse Tale
This jade horse was another gift from Gould’s sister, who brought it back from China 30 years ago. In addition to being charmed by the horse’s “devilish grin,” Gould says, “It’s absolutely gorgeous, and I love the way the color matches my wallpaper.”
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Photography by John O’Donnell