EVERYBODY KNOWS HIM! WITHOUT EXAGGERATION! THE FAMOUS NEW YORK FLORIST ANTHONY TODD DECORATED THE WHITE HOUSE AND OSKARA CEREMONIES, DECORATED THEATER AND MOVIES. HE IS PERSONALLY SIGNED AND WITH THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FIGURES OF THE WORLD OLYMPUS, AND ... WITH THEIR INTERIORS.
Anthony Todd is recognized as the undisputed authority in the world of floristry, interior design, organization and design of major status events. Three in one! Now his work can be found in the Middle East - in Tanagra branded stores in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. What we did, going to the nearest Tanagra boutique.
Anthony, were you pleased with Tanagra's offer of collaboration? What attracts you, born in Australia, raised in London and working in New York, people in the Middle East?
I am happy to work with Tanagra. I have been given the opportunity not only to come to the Middle East region for inspiration, but also to share with my inhabitants my vision and style in the art of floristry and the art of living! This is a very popular trend today - people want to live in beautiful interiors, and I help them with this. Part of my business is in Istanbul, as I work there to organize private celebrations and weddings, and I also manufacture furniture and accessories there. So, in addition to my own store in New York near Fifth Avenue, I have one more - on the banks of the Bosphorus.
Have you always wanted to do design and colors? Why does a man have such a passion?
It was customary in our family to always cover the dining table with a tablecloth and decorate it with flowers. Probably, my mother instilled in me a love of order and beauty. It seems to me that in a beautiful interior, each thing should have its own place, and for each room it is necessary to select flowers and bouquets that are suitable in style.
Does this mean that a bouquet of roses is not always suitable?
I am against massive bouquets. Let it be one flower in the right vase, so that a certain part of the room will play as the owner needs it. I personally love complex floral arrangements, often plain, for example, white, but made up of gardenias, jasmine, orchids and so on. That's more interesting. And the soul of the flower reveals in a completely different way.
What style of interiors do you prefer?
I am for eclecticism, or a mixture of different styles. Just a classic - boring, unless it is the Palace of Versailles. Just modernism is not expressive enough. So, in my projects I like to combine various elements that allow me to create a single harmonious image.
Who are your most moody customers?
Oh, it could be anyone. It does not matter if the president is an oligarch, a star of world cinema or sports. The most moody and demanding customers are those who do not know what they want. And here nothing depends either on the amount of money or on their place of residence. It’s simply important for them that the interior is “from Anthony Todd” (laughs).
And what, you refuse such projects?
No, most often, of course, I take it (laughs), but all the time I try to understand if I heard the customer correctly.
Anthony, what are you dreaming of?
That on our planet, and I work in almost all countries, peace, love and harmony reigned. There were no wars and famines. And so that people were only worried about problems such as moving furniture, buying a painting by a famous artist and replacing an old bouquet of flowers with a new one. For flowers to be everywhere! So much nicer to live.
Thank. And come more often, it’s nice to talk with you.
