WHO I AM
Every day I am inspired by the raw beauty of nature, and constantly think about ways of how to bring it into my home — and yours. I believe that nature is handsome more than pretty, and am always searching for an unexpected definition of beautiful.
I love working with plants so much that I’ve spent more than 15 years surrounding myself with them. I attended the UC Berkeley program for garden design, gardened on an ec0-friendly estate in the Bay Area, founded Lila B., a San Francisco green-certified plant and flower design business, collaborated with a major hotel chain on their plant style guide, authored five design books — and built a parking lot garden in the middle of a big city.
Bringing a bit of nature to everyone is essential to what I do, so you can often find me promoting the benefits of botanical design from the urban industrial San Francisco neighborhood where my own garden and studio reside. For me, it all comes back to the idea that even if you have a really small space, you can bring a little bit of green inside. Whether it is an elaborate living centerpiece or tiny single succulent, through plant design you can make any space feel at home.
FIND MY WORK
Pick up any of my books THE PLANT RECIPE BOOK, DECORATING WITH PLANTS, HOME SWEET HOUSEPLANT, PROJECT SUCCULENT, AND TABLETOP GARDENS for some plant style know-how and inspiration.
Pop into a major international hotel chain and it could be the corporation with whom I collaborated in 2014 to create their first worldwide botanical strategy. They knew then the importance of indoor plants and how, when displayed effectively, provide a sense of comfort. Together we developed a plant style manual that is incorporated by their almost 700 hotels worldwide.
My work has also appeared in USA Today, Good Housekeeping, and Better Homes and Gardens as well as in Restoration Hardware stores. I have been a guest a on PBS’ “Growing a Greener World” and a DIY expert on HGTV.com, Sunset.com and Houzz.
I love to travel learning from people how they beautify their homes and enhance their lives with plants.
photo by Aubrie Pick
PrAISE
“It's all very fitting, seeing as how she has a knack for making found pieces and offbeat plants work in small spaces, including her Mission District digs.”
At home with floral designer Baylor Chapman
“At the Stable Cafe…the courtyard is suddenly in bloom year round…and partially thanks to Chapman, who has planted a perimeter of container gardens and climbing vines to turn a gritty downtown location bucolic.”
Shopper’s Diary
“We felt confident we could whip up [her recipe] “mammillaria on its own,” …Seeing the spare, elegant results, it nearly made our mouth water”
NEW YORK TIMES
“Yes, Baylor is a masterful designer—that’s evident from the beauty she conjures in everything she touches. …Baylor’s other magic power: teaching…”
Johanna Silver, author of The Bold Dry Garden
