TATTLE
It seems almost impolite to refer to the exhilarating
creations of Anne Girault as tents. Bearing no
resemblance to the pointy nylon dwellings where
mosquitoes and marshmallow-roasts circle, or the
loopy cacophony of the Big Top, her bespoke
cabanas and outdoor pavilions are honeyed,
ornamental evocations—the elevated renditions
of their most sophisticated selves.
Hosts with good taste and a plucky sensibility
have been calling on Girault and her company,
Boutique Tents, outside Charleston, SC, since
2005, to adorn their parties and special occasions.
Rakish interior designers and clients have also
requested that the splashy, bedecked charm
of her tents be imported to the backyard for
summer’s ultimate al fresco escapade.
While the notion of custom used to be sacred
ground, as of late it has suffered misappropria-
tion—from cocktails to manicures—Girault’s
métier is true to the heritage: original works made
meticulously by hand. “I have always loved to sew
and my personality is very detail-oriented,” she
says. “I consider myself kind of a maker. I need
the visual protein of color and pattern, and I try to
express worlds with my hands.” Her magnificent
decorative valances are all hand cut and pieced
together, the intricate finishing, details and embel-
lishments tended to manually like a couturier.
photo: Emily Minton Redfield
Custom Boutique Tents cabana for a project by
interior designer Ramey Caulkins of Griffin Design Source
38 june july 2012 ⁄
