Seasonal Simplicity and Surprise

Kevin Coble is known for his imaginative, eclectic floral interpretations, as seen in his home this holiday season.

In a paradoxical creative process, Kevin’s world of inspiration and design is never trendy, yet in his unprecedented combinations of aged and modern elements, new trends emerge. He is drawn to the architecture and steadfast charm of historic buildings, and nature is also his reliable muse. Kevin’s work emphasizes simplicity and surprise: “One blossom can make more impact in some cases than a plethora of florals. And connections between styles of the past and present provide inspiration to complete stylings that look and feel modern, interesting and textural.”

Kevin has been involved in the floral industry for 35 years. His shop, Le Fleur, was established in 1993. The first location was a small office space on Poplar, then he relocated to the Laurelwood Shopping Center after a couple of years. Presently, he is in a cottage-like building on Perkins, a peaceful departure from the busy streets nearby. With each move, the addition of square footage has allowed him room to elevate the Le Fleur brand with distinctive gift items and decorative furnishings. And holidays are, of course, a specialty.

An expression of his complementary interest in interior design, one of Kevin’s favorite tasks is building visual displays. The Perkins location pairs Kevin’s aesthetic with a clearly defined sense of place, greenery and natural materials for a seamless blend of earthy elements in both a main building and workshop, where an overabundance of florals stirs anticipation of what composition will emerge next. With support from a Le Fleur team that supports Kevin’s artistry with hard work, dedication and a shared appreciation of floral design, pristine arrangements with florals from around the globe materialize at a fast pace.

Following an impressive, self-taught floral design career originally informed by his love of gardening, Kevin was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 2000. This prestigious organization is comprised of approximately 1200 members worldwide. “An annual AIFD symposium of my peers across the globe rejuvenates me to return home with a fresh perspective,” Kevin adds. This honor, in combination with an impressive portfolio, are confirmation that there is, indeed, an original Kevin Coble aesthetic.

A Storied Home

Undeniably a Southern gentleman, when we called on Kevin at his 100-year-old home in Midtown, he graciously welcomed us inside after the hard work of decorating for the holidays was complete and even served us margaritas alongside a few specialty food items he sells in his shop.

Throughout the home, his engaging interest in eclectic artwork is pronounced alongside sculptural objets d’art. In his words, “I enjoy collecting interesting eclectic art. It makes a home feel alive. This, to me, is an individual connection to another artist in a different medium. I also love to interpret art through floral design.”

Woven throughout his historic home are stately collections of antique silver chalices and vintage garden statuary, and Kevin’s affinity for architectural floral work is readily visible as well. He asserts that his favorite quality of this storied building is its aged, architectural interest, especially the limestone façade with its many details of the past.

“A photo may portray my home to be very formal,” Kevin describes, “but all in all the balance of fine antiques and art create a welcoming sense of warmth and comfort.” The architect of this 1921 home was F. Frazier Smith. It is an example of coursed ashlar masonry with Gothic stone and a gang-sawed finish. Another interesting feature of this storied home is the leaded glass of arched windows anchoring a carved staircase, a source of soft natural light in the foyer.

Holiday Décor

At Christmastime, Kevin feels that holiday décor should enhance a home and not be overdone, which he achieved this season by combining traditional garden flowers with bold and dramatic tropical varieties to create extraordinary expressions of color.

When decorating for the holidays, Kevin advises us to have the floral product on hand, select an area and create, because floral design should not be a rigid, methodical process. Instead, it should evolve. In his home, Kevin identified areas to highlight with an assortment of fresh botanicals and holiday ornamentation. All holiday embellishments used are flawless, seasonal statements, meant to complement not distract from the interior.

A Christmas tree draped in an assortment of various sphere-shaped, hand-blown glass ornaments displays a marriage of simplicity and modernity to launch this holiday setting. “The color palette of the ornaments speak autumn, my favorite season, yet create a warm, inviting space,” Kevin explains. “The subtle, autumn tones blend to create color harmony.” In the living room, he chose to pursue monochromatic color harmony. “I love the combination of the white, green and black accents. The juxtaposition of color harmony allows the room’s art objects to shine.” In the early evening light, all of this home’s holiday adornment is especially luminous.

Exemplified in Kevin’s home for the holidays, 2022, he encourages floral design outside of the comfort zone. Like artists of other mediums, when creating with flowers, seek to generate enthusiasm and curiosity about what the designer was thinking. “And honestly, sometimes the outcome is nothing that was even considered when speculating about the final outcome,” Kevin concludes. “After many years in the industry, I have a sense of just letting things evolve.”