We are a brand born of a love for the beauty of home design. All of our pieces are curated with the idea of living a layered beautiful life. Each piece is hand selected with that idea in mind.
We are a brand born of a love for the beauty of home design. All of our pieces are curated with the idea of living a layered beautiful life. Each piece is hand selected with that idea in mind.
I am so excited to share one of my favorite creative friends here on the blog today Molly from Molly Wood Garden Design. Molly and I met years ago and I seem to run into her everywhere, she is one of the kindest and most talented people I know. Please enjoy getting to know her a little better.
My earliest childhood memories are sitting by a creek, building rock pools for my dolls to play in... my Barbie's were very outdoorsy. I have always been interested in creating organic environments, nature is perfect, it is my playground and has been my inspiration from day one.
I became more seriously interested in design after high school while traveling and working in Europe. This was definitely a time of awakening and inspiration... I became fascinated with the beauty and simplicity of symmetry, the sense of place and permanence that structure provides, and the concept of creating spaces that evoke emotion.
Returning to the States in my early twenties, I studied art and design at the Academy of the Arts in San Francisco before moving to Laguna Beach, California. It was here that I got my "practical education", working at a local nursery and venturing out into the field maintaining private gardens... literally digging in the dirt as a one-woman operation. Thus began the evolution of Molly Wood Garden Design.
I am so fortunate to have been able to fuse my creativity with my passion for nature and create a company that has evolved into a lifestyle brand offering design, furniture, pottery, plants, and other unique garden elements... everything from concept to candlesticks.
As Molly Wood Garden Design continues to grow, I pride myself on still personally getting out in the garden to dig in the dirt... I just have a few more hands to help.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A marine biologist. I still find tide pools to be absolutely magical jewel boxes -the colors, textures, and the living creatures. I could sit and watch for hours, hoping to discover a special secret. The ocean and its other worldly color combinations of creatures and plants reinforce my belief that nature is the ultimate artist.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in tide pools- ha! I am inspired by the idea of bringing people closer to nature and it’s profound beauty. My thought is that if I can help people connect with nature and her perfection- amazing. I love the idea of an environment creating an emotion. Comfort, serenity, inspiration, and gratitude are the emotions that I aim to create when designing a space.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
I work from my car, my bed, beach chair, home and shop- when you work for yourself, your office is wherever you are. Most of the time is spent at the studio/shop in Costa Mesa. If I am hung up on a specific design solution, I take a quick “mind clearing” lap through the garden that surrounds the shop and I come back with a clear mind and (hopefully) a new idea or two.
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
I am going to say country- with a fast car that can take me to the city every once in a while. My dream is to find a big piece of land where I can have chickens, a big garden, and a party barn for special events! Stay tuned…
What are you reading right now?
I am embarrassed to say that my husband and I are too wrapped up in House of Cards to read anything… The last book I read was Big Magic written by Elizabeth Gilbert and I loved it.
Since 1995, Molly Wood Garden Design has been creating award-winning outdoor spaces. Based in Costa Mesa, CA, our boutique firm has completed over 500 landscape design projects throughout Orange County, as well as properties in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego counties. Our design work has been showcased in Sunset Magazine, Coastal Living, Luxe, Better Homes and Gardens, as well as being featured on Western Interiors Gold List as one of the west coast’s most influential landscape designers. Molly Wood was also the 2012 recipient of the Stars of Design award by the Pacific Design Center Los Angeles.
Molly's retail showroom opened in 2008 and features new and vintage garden ornaments, exclusive furniture and fountains, interior and exterior plants and pottery, as well as other unique treasures reflective of Molly's personal style.
images via Molly Wood Garden Design/@mariebuckphotography/@storyplace.media/Trina Roberts
