Event designer uses visual cues to intrigue

Philip L Johnson LIBBY MCMILLAN/FLORIDA WEEKLY Native Floridian and longtime Sanibel resident Philip L. Johnson is willing and capable of designing just about anything, including store windows, large parties and home interiors. Perhaps best known as owner and founder of Sanibel's former Ile Crocodile décor and gift boutique, Mr. Johnson has, in recent years, thrown himself into party planning. He has conceived and orchestrated successful fund-raising events for the American Cancer Society, Gulfshore Ballet, Florida Rep and the original Pirate Playhouse.

"Having a theme makes hosting a party easier," says Mr. Johnson. "It gives you a starting point. The theme can be childishly fun or sophisticated. You can choose a color scheme because you have a set of china you want to highlight." Black and white is a great example of a theme, he explains. "Your guests can be part of the décor," he says, "dressed in black and white."

Mr. Johnson likes to incorporate floral arrangements when designing for a small fete at home, but also thinks outside the box, saying "I like fantail goldfish in bowls on the table."

Well-designed invitations are an easy way to pique interest in the party, and increase guests' anticipation.

"Today, the easiest thing is an e-mail," says Mr. Johnson, "but that takes the glamour out of opening a piece of mail addressed just to you ... a mysterious envelope, not knowing what it is. The invitation sets the stage," he says. "It creates a desire to attend."

Don't forget your own talents when seeking a center point or reason for a party, advises Mr. Johnson. "If you cook something extremely well," he says, "that can create your theme, showing off your skills. You go from there." Mr. Johnson recommends sketching a simple layout if food is to be offered; have a place in mind for each platter or bowl. Following the plan eliminates risk of forgetting an item or getting flustered at the last minute.

Southwest Floridians absolutely remember the memorable evenings they've spent attending Mr. Johnson's parties. Gulfshore Ballet benefited from an 'Urban Cowboy' theme at its fundraiser (Artistic Director Melinda Roy had choreographed the Broadway show). "It was a Holstein party," laughs Mr. Johnson. "We had hand-painted cow-print tablecloths. We used clear beer mugs as candle holders. There were cow balloons, and hay bales where you took your picture astride a beautiful black stallion in a stall."

Johnson's "Hula-ba-luau" was just as big a hit for American Cancer Society (ACS), with its tribal feast and messagein a-bottle invitation. He's also coordinated a Cracker Ball, a Phantom of the Opera party, and a circus-themed fundraiser. Mr. Johnson's Elvis-themed party for ACS, a "Rock and Roll Reunion," inspired hundreds of guests to don poodle skirts and horn-rimmed glasses; the invitation was an actual 45-rpm record.

"The fun of the parties I have done," he says, "is you start with an enormous space and turn that into an environment. You work on what people will see when they arrive. It's like creating a scenario." Mr. Johnson mentions a czar's birthday theme that he would like to produce someday.

Event planning was an early achievement for Mr. Johnson. "I started in high school," he admits, with a smile. "I turned an old armory's second floor into an ice-skating pond for a junior/ senior Christmas Ball. There were drifts of snow, and we actually cut down trees and lined the dance floor with them. Upstairs, I banked the entire enormous drill floor with snow banks. I used blue lights, we threw Mica all over the floor, and we even constructed a gazebo for the band to sit in."

Mr. Johnson's impressive debut as designer put him on an early career path; his keen eye and proclivity for creativity were put to use in Atlanta's largest department store (Rich's) as well as for Macy's, where he served several stores as vice president of visual merchandising and had a staff of 80. He's done everything from graphic work to producing fashion shows, designing new stores, and sourcing design ideas in Europe. Mr. Johnson says he easily segues from one field to another, as design has so many applications. "Anybody gives me a job that's design-oriented, and I just take off," he says.

By the time Mr. Johnson moved to Sanibel Island, managing one small retail boutique was a pleasant focus for his considerable talents. "My late wife Eddie and I owned Ile Crocodile for 20 years," he says. As word of Mr. Johnson's creative talents became known, various organizations began asking for his expertise, and today his design skills are often called upon along the Gulf Coast. He and art patron Nanelle Wehmann also entertain together regularly.