Whether it's spontaneous Carol Burnett or perfectionist Barbra Streisand singing Stephen Sondheim's show tune, "Putting It Together," the message is clear: Life is about finding the right combinations. Boy meets girl. Homeowner finds designer. Flower greets container.

Jamie Huizenga was the proverbial starving artist who went to work for a Texas whole sale importer of flowers from Holland. It was exciting, instructional and fortuitous, for she met her future husband Luit in 1986 at the Texas State Floral Association trade show when he, a competitor, came snooping around her booth. In brief, they married, worked together in wholesale, opened their first retail store, Dr. Delphinium, in 1989, and currently own Cebolla Fine Flowers in Dallas. A European-style flower market, it is characterized by abundance and flowers showcased rather than hidden in a cooler. "Buying direct from growers in Europe and South America assures variety and freshness," say Huizenga of the array of blossoms mixed with antiques and gift items. "I get inspiration from the flowers. Color palettes that look good in the garden go well in arrangements."

A beautiful presentation starts with the container, and Cebolla has an exclusive line of European pottery. They are also happy to fill a customer's vessels, such as the Venetian glass collection of Mary Alice Karol, who publishes the high-end resource book Dallas Fort Worth Design Guide.

"I'm Italian," says Karol, "and collecting this glass evoked my heritage. Many of the older pieces, like the painted goblet and objects with rigaree-decoration that looks like pastry embellishment-I bought in Italy. The rest came from antiques malls in the Midwest." Karol was once a devotee of the modern look until she met interior designer Ann Kellogg Schooler. "She was my mentor," says Karol. "Ann taught me about period furniture and helped me create a softer environment with richer references to my heritage. And, of course, we integrated all my Venetian glass."

"When I saw her collection I was awed," says Huizenga. "It is spectacular. I chose flower inonations based on the subtle colors of the glass. It was fun putting it together." And it certainly hit all the right notes.

Credit:
Floral Design by Jamie Huizenga
Interior Design by Ann Kellogg Schooler
Photography by Bill Bolin
Produced by Mary Jane Ryburn
Text by Tom Woodham