Rebecca Gardner, A SCREAMING BLAST: Exceptional Entertaining

[1:33]Zibby Owens: Hi. This is Zibby Owens, and you're listening to totally booked with Zibby. Formerly, moms don't have time to read books. In my daily show, I interview today's latest best selling, buzziest, or underrated authors and story creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author, and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to. Stay in the know, get insider insights, and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow me on Instagram at zibby owens. Rebecca Gardner is the author of a screaming blast, exceptional entertaining. Rebecca Gardner is the founder and creative director of houses and parties, a full service events, interior design, and retail collective based in Savannah, Georgia, and New York City. She has been named a top event designer by Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Her design work has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, T Magazine, El Dacor, Town and Country, and the Financial Times. Her online shop, Houses and Parties, offers unnecessary for devotees of the elegant and unusual and shoppable collections that feature the same style, wit, and treasure that defines her client work. Welcome, Rebecca. Thank you so much for coming on Totally Booked to talk about a screaming blast, exceptional, entertaining, which is not only fun and beautiful and immersive to read and devour these pictures, but also just as an art object itself, coffee table, wherever, this book, multifaceted.

[3:14]Rebecca Gardner: So there you go. I'm so glad to be here. Thank you. Okay.

[3:19]Zibby Owens: Tell listeners, I already read your bio, but tell listeners a little more about you. I know you included a lot in the book about your Texas upbringing and how you fell into this line of work and all of it. But just give a little backstory as to how you got here and then

[3:33]Rebecca Gardner: why the book? Sure. I am from South Texas, which is a really quirky place to grow up. And part of being from a small town in South Texas is making your own fun. So I have been planning parties with gusto, excitement, and tenacity, I guess, since I was a little girl planning ridiculous birthday parties, you know, for myself. I live between Savannah, Georgia and New York City. And I have a company called Houses and Parties, which is like, it's a three ring circus. We do interior design, event design. And then I have an e commerce shop, which sells things. We call it unnecessary for memorable occasions. So things like happies, you know, and so I'm, I'm thrilled to be on here and to talk about my book. This is the first, anything that I've done for this book. Oh, yay. This is the first sort of star or a piece of glitter falling out of the box that I listened to.

[4:37]Zibby Owens: You have a foreword by Sofia Coppola, and then you tell us how you ended up meeting and how you're walking over and being like, Oh, it's me. You know, got you

[4:47]Rebecca Gardner: the I know. Only in New York City, right? Yeah. I just always, like so many women in particular, I'm such a fan of everything that she creates. She really is sort of an inspiration for beauty and femininity and creativity and also tenacity in her work. And a couple of months, maybe it was December, I got a call from her father's office and he wanted to buy Christmas gifts for his daughter. And that was its own sort of story and experience, which kind of made me grow 12 inches taller. I was excited just to get a phone call from Francis Ford Coppola that made me feel really good about myself. And then a couple of months later, like not at the height of COVID, but it was winter, so maybe it was a year, but everyone was still very much masked and careful. And I went to Via Corona near my apartment in the West Village and she has a house nearby. And it was towards the end of our meal and I had like purple wine teeth and I was buzzing with the excitement of the new season. And I looked over and sort of, know, in New York, you don't really think so much about seeing a celebrity, duh, Sofia Coppola, I mean, my toes were curled with excitement. I could barely walk. And before I said a word to my table, everyone leaned forward and said, don't do it. Don't do it Rebecca, don't do it. You know, and I thought well, the hell with all of you and I was sort of encouraged by all this delicious red wine I've been drinking for probably three hours at this point. And I went up to her table and said, Sophia, it's me, you know, and I had a full COVID era, you know, mask and her handsome, equally talented husband stood up sort of like with chivalry, but also concern. And I kept going like, it's me, Rebecca. And she kind of smiled and said, oh, how was your dinner? You know, something very perfunctory. And I kept going and going and going. And finally I pulled my mask off and said, you know, me, Rebecca. And she still had no idea who I was, of course, why that would make any difference. And anyway, did, we did finally get to the part that I owned houses and parties where she shops. And it wasn't a week later that Tomah called me to do her birthday party. So, you know, that's the Texan in me and it doesn't always translate to New York City, but I did get what I wanted. You know? There you go. So maybe it's translated just fine. I won't ever do it again. I mean, woke up at 3AM just hating myself. You know, what have I done? I've humiliated myself, but she is so gracious. And yeah, I was so honored to do that party for her and even more so that she wrote this forward for my book. Kind of feel like Mary Tyler Moore, you know, in Times Square with her beret, like that was my Mary Tyler Moore moment. Amazing. I love that story. Only in this crazy city. That's right.

[7:49]Zibby Owens: Tell me more about your grandmother,

[7:51]Rebecca Gardner: Nene, and her influence on you. Oh, that's so sweet. Makes me kind of teary. She was very hardworking and very thoughtful and very sweet. She also was a force, you know, and it was not until way after she had passed away that I learned that her mother had been in had started a catering business, like out of sort of traumatic events that had happened in her family. And so I didn't realize that and it's something that I'm very proud of to come from, know, a line of women that can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear and I find it very interesting that no one really ever talked too much about that. But when I was cleaning out you know storage units after really after my father died, I was cleaning out storage units of my grandmother's and I feel in these huge cake pans like you know, for Paul Buttonian, I can't even imagine how big the cake would be. And I thought, what in the hell are all these giant cake pans? And, I really learned the scope of what my great grandmother had accomplished, you know, really at a time where women particularly in South Texas weren't doing things like that or a lot of them weren't. So I'm really proud of that and my grandmother entertained beautifully and she kept a really elegant but mostly comforting house that was always orderly and stocked and ready to open its doors to friends and family and all sorts of black sheep that trickled in over the years. My grandfather was a doctor and there were people coming in and out of South Texas all the time, just because of its bizarre location, sort of at the bottom of the boot. And because her house was always ready, I experienced a childhood where like Sunday suppers could include people from really all over. And that was a really nice lesson. She made a lot of effort and not just for people that she was trying to impress, but really for family. And it made an impression. I'm grateful for it probably more as an adult than I was as a young girl. Well,

[10:00]Zibby Owens: it's so wonderful to have uncovered this treasure trove. So so it was wonderful to read about. When you talk a little bit about how you went from idea to building your business, I realize that could be, like, a five hour long conversation. But just how did you take something that you were good at and turn it into something sustainable and impactful with multiple layers? Because it's one thing to plan a beautiful party, and it's another to know and scale that. Tell me about that. Well, I think with parties

[10:35]Rebecca Gardner: in particular, it is so much a part of my personality and my passion and it's my love language. It's my gift. It's my excitement and people that know me really well would tell you that even on a rainy day or on vacation or in a normal conversation on a Wednesday night, I always have an idea for a party. And to me, it's about, I think that celebrating is really, really important in life. I think that life could be a bowl of oatmeal if it weren't punctuated with celebrations. And I think that the necessary effort, no matter how much you actually do yourself, I mean, have a whole chapter called You Don't Have to Make It to Make It Happen. So they're all different levels. I think that gathering people that you love, or you want to love, or that you know really well, or you want to know, or you want to introduce to someone else is so, so important at any level. And I think anytime you gather, it's a party. And I feel really, really strongly about that, that that effort is really necessary to punctuate life with memorable occasions. And I have done that my entire life. Like even in college, would have parties in my nasty dorm room with solo cups full of cheap champagne. And so it was a no brainer. I worked at this wonderful art school called the Savannah College of Art and Design or SCAD for almost ten years. And I met all these incredible artists and really learned how to collaborate and commission and work with artists, which is a very specific set of negotiation skills, especially young student artists. And it was a natural step for me to do interiors and events when I started my own business. And it was really the events that took off and I had sort of a glamorous, smart and glamorous client that said enough with the interior design, especially if you're going to be working in New York City, there are so many fabulous interior designers, but there are not a lot of great party planners. And I listened to that advice and there's so many talents in New York like there were at this art school where I worked that it's kind of a magic wand, bipity boppity boo experience to to create an environment and an experience in New York City with all these incredible artisans.

[13:03]Zibby Owens: Amazing. And what about the shopping piece of it? Housesandparties.com,

[13:08]Rebecca Gardner: which is the ecom site, was my COVID baby. So when all of the interior projects were put on hold and, no one was planning parties for a really long time. And a lot of the parties that I do are for like luxury brands, you know, who are going to be particularly careful years and years into pandemic, rightfully so. And so it was either like I was going to work at J. Crew or I was going to start this, you know, online shop. We sell beautiful things, everything from Hermes China to Cui Frakat silver, beautiful vintage things. But what brings me the most joy are the silly things that I think can really, make a party fun. I mean, I could go on and on with flowers and decor and candlelight and beautiful champagne, but ultimately if it's not fun, you've failed. So the things that I am proudest ever like the party crackers that have crazy giant paste jewelry inside or long red press on fingernails or silly things. With this book, we launched a Screaming Blast collection, or we will in September, which will have awards ribbons like senior superlatives. So if there's a lull in the party, you can, you know, award someone best dressed or most likely to go home early or, you know, whatever.

[14:38]Zibby Owens: So we sell everything from crazy party hats to beautiful sterling silver. I love that. It's so fun. That was a long answer. I'm sorry. I've I've I've I love the long answers. I'm just Yeah. It's fun. You know? It's I'm curious about how it all happened and hearing your story. I find it really interesting, especially as somebody who loves throwing parties, not I don't design them. I don't I'm not like you. I'm, like, sometimes, like, just a couple of flowers. It's like, great. I'm done. But What is your go to party format? I prefer a lunch. I love lunches. Interesting. Get tired. Why? I am an early person. I get up early. I'm, like, dead by, you know, ten. Like, I like to eat dinner at six So anyway, lunches, I'm not stressed. I'm, like, at my best. And I know they're not gonna go forever because everybody likes to move on with their day. So that's my probably Do you entertain at a restaurant or at your house? No. At home. Usually at home. Okay. Yeah. I love people from, like, author gatherings where it's just, like, little bites to having a group of friends over or whatever. What's your favorite? Today's episode is sponsored by Quince. Summer always makes me rethink what I'm reaching for every day. Lighter fabrics, better materials, pieces that just feel good the moment you put them on and look effortless. That's why I keep coming back to Quince. They focus on high quality essentials. Think breathable linen, soft organic cotton, washable silk, but without the luxury markup. It's that rare balance balance where everything feels elevated, but still easy. Quince has beautiful everyday pieces like 100% European linen pants, dresses, and tops with styles starting at $32. Their denim is soft and easy to wear. I wear my jean jacket all the time. And their organic cotton sweaters are perfect for layering on cool summer nights. Everything at Quince is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. Quince works directly with ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen, so you're paying for quality, not brand markup. And it's not just clothing. Quince has really become a destination for elevated essentials across home, kitchen, bedding, and beyond, making it easy to bring a more premium feel into everyday life. In addition to my jean jacket, I recently got a white tank top dress with a beautiful cotton skirt that is absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait for it to be warm enough so I can wear it every day, but it has been a cool spring. Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to quince.com/zippy for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty five day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's quince.com/zibby for free shipping and three hundred and sixty five day returns. Quince dot com slash

[18:29]Rebecca Gardner: I like a big cocktail. I'm the opposite. In fact, like, have a text chain that is titled the ladies who don't lunch. So I'm your party opposite. I like a cocktail buffet where you can invite tons of people and you don't have to be so strategic as far as seating and strong drinks and easy one fork sort of supper where you can perch and move around and escape if you need to. I like that versatility. It would work for someone like you too, Zippy, if you started early because

[19:00]Zibby Owens: you can dip. Yes. I don't mind a cocktail hour. I don't mind a dinner. I mean, I like all of the things. I like you know, I'll have a dinner party now and again, not often, but I don't know. There's the thing but, yes, I've and, yeah, cocktail parties are also really fun. You're right. Very fun. Well, in the South, we have a cocktail buffet, which is actually dinner Yep. But, you know, served from the dining room. They don't do that so much in New York, but but But they should. It does give you versatility and protection.

[19:27]Rebecca Gardner: Yes. Yes. How did you go about wait. Well, let me talk about your design aesthetic for a second. Because all of these pictures are so rich in color, lighting, layers upon layers. Like, the tables are full. Like, tell me how to even articulate the way you design. Well, when you're talking about a seated dinner and and what people call tablescaping, I do think that that's a special gift to give someone, like, 24 inches with the person chosen across from them to their right and to their left. You know, we were sort of dissing on seated dinners earlier, but it is an incredible gift because it's so much work and thought. It's like an introduction, you know, to new people. And so I like for guests to be totally enchanted when they sit down at their place and for each one to have beautiful candlelight in front of their face and a little surprise, which could be a plastic dinosaur peeking from under a geranium leaf. I like for it to be an immersive environment. So we always think about what's on the floor. Is it piles of sawdust or sod or I mean at Carnegie Hall we had like landscapers say fall leaves for us and we put them all over the entrance so that when guests were crunching over them with their manolos, they really felt like they had been dropped into Cindral Bark. But I am definitely a maximalist and that's sort of the hairsprayed Texan in me, But I don't think that parties are a time to be edited. They should feel generous and unabashed and comfortable. And you know I do tell clients that hire me to design parties for them. The first thing that I say is I am not the monogram on the dance floor, floral arch, party planner, I want guests to walk in and squeeze someone's hand and say, damn, I'm going to have a great time. This is so creative, as opposed to, I wonder what they spend on flowers. To me, that's a huge fail. So I think weird, twisted surprises and unabashed generosity should be reflected in the environment.

[21:47]Zibby Owens: I love that. And you translated that into a book so well with these just fabulous double page spreads and all the different types of events and little backstories on all of them. How did you pick which parties to include? Is there something that you wish had gotten in or something you threw late that, like, oh, if only I could sneak it in now?

[22:08]Rebecca Gardner: Oh, yeah. I mean, my favorite party is always the most recent one that we've done. I worked with this amazing book designer named Celia Fuller, And she was my number one choice. And I was very, very lucky to get to work with her. I think she did a really good job. And I went to the Kravitz, the fabric manufacturer, the Kravitz offices, where they have these insane archives, boxes and boxes of fabric memos from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and dug through those with such excitement. I mean, can't even imagine. So, Celia helped me to pair these prints with the images. And I think that that I mean, again, more is more, you know, that that layered on just sort of another excitement in color punctuation.

[22:58]Zibby Owens: Love that. Will there be a screaming blast too?

[23:03]Rebecca Gardner: Yeah, maybe. Maybe. Awesome. We'll see. But we have all these great shoots because my shop is online. You don't have that yummy experience of walking into a retail shop. So I was really determined when we launched, which again was during COVID that we had visuals that felt special and exciting, and, you were excited to scroll and click on photos. So I'd love to do something with all of those, you know, so it's like a old fashioned retail experience, but all visual. I think it's such a shame there aren't as many wonderful, you know, shops anymore. You must have done pop ups somewhere. Are you doing any upcoming in New York?

[23:46]Zibby Owens: Where can I come shop?

[23:48]Rebecca Gardner: Yeah. We did one last year at Veronica Beard and the year before that we did one at the Carlyle. Well, I'm not doing one this year because I'm just working like a dog on this book tour. I mean, you can't even imagine. I'm gonna put Vaseline, you know, on my teeth like a beauty queen from smiling so much. But probably next year, we will track you down Okay. For your luncheons. Yes, exactly. What

[24:11]Zibby Owens: what is something

[24:12]Rebecca Gardner: totally you that you are doing to launch this book? Well, I'm very excited that I had a party dress made out of the bargello fabric that's on the And we are launching a whole bunch of crazy party hats. We work with this amazing milliner. He's in Tel Aviv. His name is Mayor Zebar. And he makes incredible hats for us that have been sort of a houses and party statement from the beginning. And this year we really went wild and we will launch this whole collection in September. And then I'm excited about the Screaming Blast collection which will have a lot of, we call them Suzzies. So they're just little sweet things. So it might be, like have you ever played, Would You Rather? So it's like a printed would you rather engraved you know place card or another thing that we're selling are these buttons of truth which are ridiculous giant pink buttons that you put sort of at the front of a function where guests can choose their own and they will say things like zaddy or divorced or voracious reader or going home early or whatever so that when you go, especially for a function where people don't really know each other, it immediately gives you a silly thing to say and some of them are outrageous and positive and some of them are provocative. So things like that, I'm really excited to see how people respond.

[25:40]Zibby Owens: I love them. By the way, I've been rethinking my answer. I mean, I still hold by my lunch, but I'll explain why more, which is I don't like to leave my kids at night because I'm divorced and remarried. So when I have them, I stay home. So I think on a night on on the majority of nights when I have my kids, a lunch is my answer. I'm gonna just say it like that. Okay. Good. Okay. Good. Good. Okay. Because now I sound totally unfun. And, I mean, I'm not super fun, but I do be the judge of that, Zibby. Okay. Okay. I'll be the judge of that. Okay. Who is somebody in your line of work that you have thought is, like, a mentor or somebody that you are like, if only I could be like, blah, blah, blah. There's an amazing photographer,

[26:22]Rebecca Gardner: primarily a fashion photographer named Tim Walker. And I follow him like a hawk. I mean, I would love to just be like Honey I Shrunk the Kids and live in his brain. He is a constant source of inspiration for me. Sofia Coppola, I think is a master of environment and emotion. And events are really live theater in a way, especially big ones.

[26:46]Zibby Owens: That's great. Yeah. Awesome.

[26:48]Rebecca Gardner: On a bigger field, I mean, I also work with like the most amazing talents every day that only make me look good. But that list is so long. But it's in the back of my book. One of the things that I I'm really proud of or excited to share, maybe not proud of is this list of resources in the back of my book where I mean, some of them, you know, like Kravut or whatever, but others are the best place to get a caramel cake, the best person that can embroider linens, the best place to have simple invitations made. And that brings me great joy and makes me feel good to, you know, scream their name from the top of the mountain. You're

[27:33]Zibby Owens: a screaming blast blasting your Okay.

[27:36]Rebecca Gardner: I'm getting these emails from people that have gotten books that are like, I'll be screaming, I'll fall, and I'm screaming right now. I thought, oh, God. That will give you a megaphone.

[27:47]Zibby Owens: You will be intimately acquainted with that word. There you go. Rebecca, it was so lovely to meet you. Thank you so much for coming on. Thank you for the joy of even just escaping into the pictures in this book. So and the words, of course. So thank you so much. Thank you, Zibby. I'm really flattered to be included. Oh, it's my pleasure. Alright. Take care. Bye bye. Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly moms don't have time to read books. If you loved the show, tell a friend, leave a review, follow me on Instagram at Zibby Owens, and spread the word. Thanks so much. Oh, and buy the books.