A little “trimagination,” a lot of hands-on artistry, and a cover story unlike any other. Samuel & Sons Vice President of Creative Milton De Paul collaborated with Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens to bring their latest issue to life, set within a petite retreat made entirely of trim. Discover the craftsmanship behind every detail, from boldly striped cabanas and fringe-covered palm trees to even smaller bamboo tote bags, and fan edged pillows, in an exclusive interview with De Paul.

What was your initial inspiration for the Fall 2026 cover, and how did you approach bringing that creative vision to life?

Samuel & Sons advertising campaigns are known for being creative and whimsical, and last year we launched our “Fringe Is the New Pink” campaign, featuring flamingos made from pink fringes. When Harriet saw the campaign, she loved it so much that she approached us about collaborating on a story for Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens. We discussed a few ideas during that first conversation, but I don't think either of us imagined it would turn into such a fun and imaginative project!

Samuel & Sons is celebrated for its decorative trims and craftsmanship. Can you walk us through the materials, textures, and design details selected for the cover and accompanying inside spread?

One of my favorite parts of this collaboration was the exploration of materials. Finding the right textures and proportions to recreate objects in miniature can be challenging and exciting at the same time. For the palm trees, we used brush fringes and jute trims for the trunks, and bullion fringe for the fronds. For the beach chairs, we used striped borders to give them a summery feel, while the parasols were created using rosettes made of raffia. The cabana combines borders, cords, and fringes in different scales, all intentionally paired to make it look as realistic as possible. And to put things into perspective, the pillow inside the cabana is just over one inch long.

What was the creative process like collaborating with Harriet and the Palm Beach Cottages & Gardens team? Were there any memorable moments or unexpected discoveries along the way?

Harriet and I had so much fun brainstorming together for each of these photographs. Her original idea was to create palm trees, which had me thinking about how to construct them pretty much every minute for the next few weeks. From there, we started developing other scenes that would complement the first photograph. We came up with the beach chairs and parasols, followed by the cabana, which ended up being perfect for the cover. Harriet and I had amazing creative chemistry throughout the process. We spent a lot of time discussing colors, proportions, and the smallest details, many of which ultimately made a big impact on the final images.

The collaboration incorporates the hashtag #trimagination. What does this concept mean to you, and how does it reflect the creative direction of the cover?

#trimagination is the perfect hashtag for this collaboration. I had never thought about making palm trees out of trim before, but with a little imagination and a lot of trim, it was entirely possible! Over the years, we've created so many unexpected things for our advertising campaigns, from burgers and jellyfish to croissants and flamingos. I always say that if I can make croissants and flamingos out of trim, imagine all the amazing things designers can create in their own projects using passementerie. The possibilities are endless!

Looking at the finished cover and inside spread, is there a particular detail or element you're especially proud of, or something you hope readers will notice and appreciate?

It's incredible what pairing the right trims can do! I don't think people always realize the actual scale of the props we create. Some of them look almost life-size in the photographs, and I love that moment of surprise when people discover just how tiny they really are. I'm also particularly proud that almost every element in these scenes is made almost entirely from trim. I hope readers take a moment to look closely, discover the different materials we've used, and maybe even pick a favorite!

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