Making Lemonade: The Story Behind My Lenox Hill Gala Tablescape Collaboration with Scot Meacham Wood

Every so often, you come across a piece of art or design that stops you in your tracks—not just because it's beautiful, but because there's something deeper calling to you. That's exactly what happened when I discovered textile designer Scot Meacham Wood's fabric collection while planning my tablescape for the 2022 Lenox Hill "A Garden of Earthly Delights!" Spring Gala.

What started as a search for the perfect foundation piece for my "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" theme turned into one of the most meaningful collaborative experiences I've had as a designer. The fabric I chose, called Stavely Park Trellis, didn't just anchor the visual design—it brought with it a story so beautiful that it fundamentally changed how I think about the textiles we choose for our spaces.

Textile Designer Scot Meacham Wood

A Son's Love Letter in Fabric Form

When I first reached out to Scot to learn more about the fabric that had captivated me, I had no idea I was about to hear one of the most touching design stories I've ever encountered. The intricate pattern that caught my eye, with its vibrant colors and detailed motifs, wasn't just another pretty textile. It was a love letter from a son to his mother.

"The print is called Stavely Park Trellis," Scot told me, "and there's a story behind it that you will love." 

He went on to explain how his mother, throughout most of his childhood, collected Rose Canton dinnerware—these gorgeous antique Chinese export pieces that she would hunt for in antique shops no matter where their military family was stationed.

"We moved about every two years," Scot shared. "I think when I started sixth grade, I'd been in seven different school buildings. We lived in South Korea, Japan, and then back to South Korea, and eventually settled in the American South. But no matter where we were—whether we were in San Francisco visiting family or back in the South—we would take a day and go antique shopping, and she was always looking for pieces of this particular set of china."

After his mother passed, Scot did something extraordinary: "I sent one of the plates to an artist who recreated the basic motif of the plates as a textile pattern. So it's actually based on antique Chinese export tableware that my mom collected throughout her life.

The fabric that became the centerpiece of my Lenox Hill tablescape was born from decades of a mother's passion and a son's desire to honor her memory. How's that for meaningful design?

The Magic of Military Family Resilience

What struck me most about Scot's story was how his childhood shaped his approach to design. Growing up in a military family that moved constantly, he witnessed firsthand how his mother created beautiful, welcoming homes from scratch every two years.

"It was kind of her job to create this home for our family," he explained. "My father was an officer, so we often entertained at home as well. She was always creating these really beautiful homes for us, and it was like we would change houses and everything just moved—what used to be in my bedroom would be my brother's bedroom because it fit in that room better. Everything just went into the churn and came out the other end of the new house completely re-imagined."

This experience gave Scot what he calls "a great sense of flexibility" and an intuitive understanding of how spaces can be transformed.

His mother's approach to decorating was clearly just as flexible, as well as fearless and intuitive. "She wasn't trained in design, but she understood design just inherently. She was bold, a little off—it was never expected. She was never “on trend." Even with limited resources and constant moves, she created homes that were memorable and deeply personal.”

From Ralph Lauren to Personal Expression

Scot's professional journey took him from those childhood lessons in adaptability to thirteen years at Ralph Lauren, where he honed his understanding of how textiles can create entire worlds. "Ralph's work was always so cinematic and immersive," he explained. "It always had the mood of a specific environment, and he would create all the parts of that environment around it."

This cinematic approach is evident in everything Scot creates today. His fabric collections don't just provide pretty patterns; they tell complete stories and evoke specific places and feelings. When he designs, he's thinking about the entire experience of a space, from the initial visual impact to the intimate details you discover upon closer inspection.

"A room must look amazing from the doorway," Scot shared with me, "but as you come in and sit down, more should be revealed." This philosophy was perfect for the Lenox Hill Gala, where each tablescape needed to create drama from across the room while rewarding guests with thoughtful details throughout their dining experience.

2022 Lemon Tree Tablescape by Lori Miller

The Collaborative Process: Letting Art Take Flight

One of the things I most appreciate about working with Scot is his generous approach to collaboration. 

"It's always so fascinating," he said, "and I've compared this to almost like sending your kids to college or sending your kids out into the world. I love seeing my own fabrics out in the world and another designer's project when they've done something that I would have never thought to do with it."

When I told him about my vision for the Lenox Hill tablescape—using his fabric as the foundation for a "when life gives you lemons" theme—he was immediately supportive. The fact that his fabric, born from his mother's china collection, would return to a table setting felt like beautiful synchronicity.

"I design fabrics with intentional uses in mind," Scot explained, "but then you hand them to somebody else and they take on this whole new life that you could have never imagined for them. I love these collaborative projects because they give my fabrics a different stage to play on than the one I created for them."

Creating Something Greater Together

The final tablescape became a perfect example of how collaboration can elevate everyone's work. Scot's fabric provided the emotional foundation and visual anchor, while our partners brought their own expertise: Curtain Avenue handled the expert fabrication, Replacements.com provided the perfect complementary dishware, and Monica Stoller created the lush floral arrangements that brought the "garden of earthly delights" theme to life.

The result was something none of us could have created alone—a tablescape that had both immediate visual impact and layers of meaning that revealed themselves throughout the evening. The vibrant colors and bold pattern drew in guests, but as they settled in for dinner, they discovered the deeper story of heritage, family, and artistic collaboration.

Lessons in Meaningful Design

Scot's philosophy is beautifully simple: "Instead of saying 'Where did you buy this?' the question should be 'Where did you find this? What's the story behind this?' Your house should tell a story—not just be a list of receipts, but a travel log of experiences and memories."

This approach extends to his business—he's not just selling fabric, he's sharing stories and helping designers create spaces with deeper meaning.

The Future of Thoughtful Collaboration

As Scot continues to develop new collections (he's currently working on Somerset House, which evolved from Jane Austen inspirations to seaside sailing aesthetics), he remains committed to this collaborative approach. His work represents the best kind of design partnership—one where individual expertise combines to create something more meaningful than any single vision could achieve.

"What brings me joy," he reflected, "is seeing the story continue. My mother's collection of plates became a textile pattern, which became part of your vision for a charitable event that brings people together. There's something beautiful about how design can carry forward memories and create new ones."

The 2022 Lenox Hill Gala tablescape became more than just a beautiful table setting—it became a testament to the power of collaboration, the importance of honoring heritage, and the magic that happens when we choose design elements that carry stories worth telling.

The Sommerset House Collection. Spring ‘25