There’s a difference between decoration and design. One clutters. The other speaks. At Monogram Proper Designs, we’ve always been more interested in the kind of pieces that say something quietly, without begging for attention.
That instinct didn’t come from a textbook or a trend report. It came from Lynda Trout’s childhood in Vicksburg, Mississippi. A place where hospitality wasn’t performative, and elegance didn’t mean expensive. It meant real silver on a weeknight. Napkins that were pressed and embroidered. A home where being a guest felt like something rare, even if it happened often.
We grew up with that. And we still build with it. That’s why our collections, from linens to Preserved Boxwood topiaries, lean traditional, not trendy.
Simplicity That Holds
Preserved greenery has been used for centuries to add symmetry and life to a space. It isn’t new. But in the right shape and context, it becomes a strong design decision. That’s exactly why our Preserved Boxwood topiaries have become staples in so many of our customers' homes.
We’ve seen them flanking mantels, lined up on sideboards, tucked into bookshelves, and, our personal favorite, centering a table that’s been properly set, even if only for two. The preserved foliage is real, not synthetic, so it keeps its natural texture and shape. But it doesn’t dry out or shed like fresh greenery. It lasts. That’s part of the appeal: the permanence of something that looks freshly cut.
We don’t sell accessories for the sake of filling a space. We offer things with weight and intention. A well-placed boxwood ball can ground a room better than an entire gallery wall of things you bought just to “finish it.”
Why Monograms Still Matter
We’ve been monogramming long before it felt like a “personalized gift” trend. In the South, monograms are less a style choice and more a way of living. They're shorthand for thoughtfulness.
There’s an etiquette to it, too, a right way and a wrong way. That’s where the Monogram name order comes in. It’s not just about picking initials. It’s about getting them in the correct sequence, respecting tradition, and knowing when to bend the rules (hint: you can for children, never for couples).
We’ve walked thousands of people through how to place a proper Monogram name order, and honestly, it matters. If you’re giving a wedding gift and get the order wrong, it won’t go unnoticed. That tiny detail? It separates good from great. And we care a lot about great.
Tradition, Without the Dust
People sometimes associate traditional design with being stuck or overly formal. We see it differently.
To us, tradition means knowing what works and why. It means investing in fewer things, but better ones. It means learning from the way our mothers and grandmothers made a home feel intentional.
We think about Carolyn, Lynda’s mother, often, how she had an eye for arrangement, for balance, for quiet luxury. She used what she had, and what she had was beautiful. That memory lives in our product choices: from the stitched corners of our cocktail napkins to the clean geometry of our Preserved Boxwood topiaries.
The Small Details Make the Strongest Impression
We’re not building a brand on novelty. We’re building it on permanence on things that last, physically, yes, but emotionally too.
When someone places an order, we want it to feel personal and thoughtful. Every detail matters, whether it’s a topiary, napkin, or gift wrap. Opening that box should be more than just seeing something pretty. It should feel like receiving something that will be used, remembered, and even passed along.
So yes, we still care about the rules. We still press linens. We still arrange the table with care, even when it’s just Tuesday. And we still believe that taste isn’t about cost or trend, it’s about knowing when to stop.