Text: Jani Venter. Photographs: Christoph Hoffmann. Article from the September 2014 Garden and Home Magazine.
Now’s the perfect time to create vibrant displays with striking seasonal flowers. We asked events specialist Stefan Norval of Afresh Events to come up with spring arrangements for three different rooms.
1. For the Living Room
A low arrangement is ideal for a coffee table, but works very well on a server too.
Here Stefan used white king proteas, blushing bride, sweet peas, willow and tulips to create a more formal display.
In an oversized fruit bowl, this arrangement fills the whole room with the flowers’ fragrant scents. “I used simple flowers en masse to show the opulence of spring. I wanted to mimic a meadow where flowers burst into bloom,” explains Stefan.
2. For the Hallway
This beautiful display was created by grouping different vases on a hallway console. “I used white king proteas, arum lilies, celosia, matchstick bromeliads, tulips and hyacinths. It’s easy to do at home as everyone has vases in different shapes and sizes,” Stefan says. “Mix it up – buy a few stunning blooms and pick some from the garden.”
3. Same flowers, different setting
You can always reuse your floral display. Here Stefan took the entrance hall flowers, bottles and all, and rearranged them in a large oversized wooden bowl to make a casual arrangement for a summer drinks table. It’s a bold focal point and works well with a floral-print tablecloth.
Stefan’s tips for creating stunning spring displays
Make sure you buy the freshest flowers available. The stems should be green, not brown, and opt for closed buds to get the most out of your flowers.- Don’t overcomplicate it. Flowers are pretty enough on their own, so don’t add overpowering elements like busy vases. If you want to use an intricate vase, keep the flowers simple.
- Go for unusual flowers. Don’t just stick with what you know. Interesting flowers create a talking point.
- Feel the flowers and what they want to do. Don’t force them into a position that doesn’t look natural. If your tulips want to droop a little, let them.
- Don’t let the style of your home dictate the kind of arrangements you do. If you have a classical home, there’s no reason to avoid contemporary arrangements. Play around and mix modern, classical, rustic and contemporary elements.
4. In the Bedroom
Usually arrangements on pedestals are kept small and casual, but you can make a statement by bringing in large vases filled to the brim with exquisite seasonal blooms like tulips, arum lilies and hyacinths. Add interest by leaving the bulbs on. “I cheated here,” says Stefan. “I cut off the bulbs and stems of flowers that I didn’t use and pushed them between the stems of the flowers in the main arrangement. The visible bulbs make the arrangement look earthy and fresh.”
Source Afresh Events 082 949 8282
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