Collecting Artful Floral Containers

There is something so sublime about the combination of flowers and exquisite pots or vases.  It is a beautiful marriage of nature and art.  Lately, I've been starting to enlarge my collection of floral pots and vases while I pass on those that no longer suit my style to others.  Because the vase closet is only so large, I've been carefully selecting a few new treasures that will complement different rooms of our home during each season of the year.  You'll soon be seeing them all filled with flowers if you follow along!



Creating a beautiful floral arrangement really does start with choosing the right vase.  The shape, color and texture of the vessel make a huge difference in the overall design.  If you too are planning to develop a collection of containers for floral designs, consider these options for maximum style and versatility.

• Choose at least one pedestal vase.  These are elegant, modern and show off draping vines beautifully.

• Have a series of matching vases or pots on hand for centerpieces that extend down a rectangular table.  

• Choose at least one metal container and find a glass vase that will fit inside to hold fresh flowers.

• Select a series of mismatched bottles, pots, or vases.  These can be used individually or in a grouping.

As a final thought, I'd like to share the work of celebrated ceramicist and gardener Frances Palmer.  Many of her beautiful original pots are on my current wish list!  Her stunning vases and breathtaking garden flowers can be seen on Instagram @francespalmer or on her website at www.francespalmerpottery.com.  These inventive ceramic pots truly set the standard for modern artisan floral vessels and are gorgeous in every way.  If you're not yet familiar with her work, you can read all about it in the summer issue of Garden Design magazine which features an eloquent article about her pots and plants with lovely photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo.

Leave a Comment Tagged: Faux Floral Styling, Fresh Floral Styling

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Sparkling Lights and Natural Whites

December is here and its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This holiday season I'm keeping our decor very natural and rustic.  Cinnamon scented pinecones fill the air and white poinsettias are strewn throughout the house to add a wintery feel to the rooms.  I added snowy greens and sparking lights to our wreath for a bit of Christmas cheer.

The poinsettias are from Duarte Nursery in Hughson, CA where we go to see the grand display of Christmas poinsettias.   You can read all about them in this post.  There are so many stunning varieties that it is hard to choose, but white is my favorite. Some of the other less traditional poinsettias are shown below.  They all have a beauty of their own.  

Hope you're enjoying the excitement of the holidays!

Leave a Comment Tagged: Faux Floral Styling, Holidays, Wreaths

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A Wreath of Roses...

The many varieties of roses that bloom this time of year inspired this simple custom wreath made of faux flowers and vines.  It is a traditional design made for someone who likes classic country florals and values simplicity.  

This project began with a grapevine wreath which I then covered with blush pink and white old-fashioned roses inserted into the wreath base at different angles for a natural look.  The smaller ecru roses were then worked in for variety.  After all the light colored roses were placed throughout the wreath, I filled in the spaces between the flowers with greenery.  To keep the design traditional, faux garden foliage like creeping ivy and variegated vines were used, some with delicate white blossoms.  Finally, after all the neutral flowers were in place, I added the bright coral rosebuds for accent.

The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio and is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

6 comments Tagged: Faux Floral Styling, Wreaths

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Spring Peony Wreath DIY

The blossoming trees and beautiful weather lately remind me that spring is around the corner and soon our garden will be alive with the sound of buzzing bees.  Although most of the flowers are just beginning to bloom in the entryway, over the next month or so the front yard will be filled with soft pink, lavender, white and coral blooms.  

Designed to reflect the delicate spring colors of our entry garden, this faux peony wreath will hang on the front door to welcome visitors.  It features peonies in pink and white, velvety lamb's ear foliage, sprigs of heather and lavender forget-me-nots.

To create a wreath like this one, start with the large white peonies and weave the stems into a grapevine form.  Then add the lamb's ear foliage to the spaces in between the flowers.  Next, attach the pink peonies and fill in the empty spaces with sprigs of heather and forget-me-nots.  Use floral wire when needed.

The pastel color combination and textural foliage in this wreath celebrate the softness of spring...  

The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio and is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

6 comments Tagged: DIY, Faux Floral Styling, Wreaths

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Winter Wreath in Champagne Gold and Silver

The holidays are coming fast and I have been busy with many events and creative projects.  So little time to blog!  However, I want to share this custom wreath with all of you.  I just finished it today and  it will soon be delivered to its owner...

This winter wreath in golds and silvers was requested by a friend who wanted a shimmery, metallic look to hang through early January.  Gold-dusted ivory poinsettias mixed with champagne tone holly and snowy pinecones capture the feeling of winter while providing sparkle for the holidays.

The soft gold poinsettias are shown with neutral silver glittery vines and champagne holly touched with rose for accent.  

Ornaments in matte and glittery golds highlight the soft metallics throughout the wreath and add punctuation to the flowers.

 The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio and is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

4 comments Tagged: DIY, Faux Floral Styling, Holidays, Wreaths

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Faux Rose and Peony Floral Arrangements

Faux floral arrangements can provide the style and visual texture needed to pull a room together without the maintenance required of fresh floral designs.  They are particularly effective in rooms with unreliable light sources or variable temperatures where fresh flowers would show the wear and tear.  

These designs were made to complement the decor in our bathroom during the fall and winter months when little natural light falls in the room.  I chose blooms like peonies and roses so the finished pieces would have a Romantic European look.  Each design is unique but they are coordinated to display in the same room.  Because they will be used in an area with high humidity,  porcelain containers are better than metal or basketry.  

The rich plums, corals and oranges of the flowers in the design above reflect the fall season and give the room a pop of color.   Berries and burnt gold fern leaves add to the autumn look. Mauve peonies soften the arrangement and provide texture...

Variegated color in the silk petals give the flowers dimension and make them appear more realistic.  

This larger arrangement includes the same mauve peonies and feathery ferns but here they are combined with cream and beige hydrangeas, plum ranunculus and olive green peonies. The more muted earthy colors in this piece fuse with those in the other arrangement but do not repeat the look exactly.

Willow branches in the final design below add a finishing touch and a sense of movement.  They also balance the height of the tall pedestal container...

Have you visited my new online studio?  The Gilded Bloom now has a companion website called The Gilded Bloom Studio.  It is a creative space inspired by nature and the beauty of flowers which will feature my art, photography and styling portfolios.  Hope to see you there!

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Sunflowers and Sweet Peas in a Summer Silk Wreath

Yellow and bright pink summer flowers are popping up throughout our garden and these vibrant hues certainly celebrate the sunshine and warmth of July in California.  To complement these new blooms,  I made a summer wreath of faux flowers using the colors and textures we often see in late summer.

The flowers I chose for this project are rustic and preview the upcoming shift from summer into fall.  They include faux versions of many varieties that bloom in our garden now such as white lisianthus and pink hydrangeas.  Although we don't have sweet peas, they are always a summer favorite and add to the country garden style.

The foliage is a fusion of summer greens mixed with burnt rust and olive tones, foreshadowing the changing colors we will find near the end of the summer heat.  Berries and wildflowers are interspersed throughout for texture and color.

The Gilded Bloom is now on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

2 comments Tagged: Faux Floral Styling, Summer, Wreaths

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Romantic Faux Floral Arrangement

The rain and soft sunshine of early spring are upon us here in California, where the first blossoms of a new season are beginning to form.  Now is the perfect time to update our decor with some pretty new floral designs.  Since it is still a little early for many varieties of fresh flowers to become available, I decided to create a faux arrangement instead.  

I love the Romantic style of vintage-inspired decor and have had this pink metal urn for several years now sitting in my studio filled with scotch tape and other unworthy items.  It is a vintage-looking piece, very ornate with a stamped gold border that beckoned to be filled with a profusion of blooms in a soft Victorian palette.  Pinks and purples seemed fitting, as they highlight the delicate, old-fashioned European style of the container.  

To design this arrangement I began by selecting flowers in a range of pinks, lavenders and plums with a few green and white blooms for accents.  To evoke a loose and organic garden style, I chose a variety of different shapes and sizes of flowers then arranged them freely without floral foam which made the piece less fussy and more natural.

It is extremely important to choose only high quality flowers if you want a realistic look.  Below, a few close-up images of the flowers I used show the detail and construction of these materials. Notice the silk floral petals are often more than one color and textured.

I selected lavender peonies and light pink ranunculus combined with antique white lisianthus to form the core of the arrangement then inserted deep plum peonies for dramatic effect.

Next,  I added lavender anemones for texture as the ridged petals and large centers draw the eye and create visual interest.

For gesture and movement I finished the piece with willow branches, burnt pink larkspur and a few sprigs of white chamomile flowers.  These pieces add spontaneity to the design as they appear unplanned and natural.

The overall mood of the piece turned out to be very unstructured and richly textured with a vintage Romantic style.  It reflects the transition between winter and spring...

The Gilded Bloom is now on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.  For more floral inspired ideas and updates,  please connect with me on these networks.  You can also follow The Gilded Bloom on Bloglovin' or via email using the subscription box near the top of this page. Hope to see you there!

8 comments Tagged: Faux Floral Styling

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Spring Floral Arrangement: Designing with Silk Flowers

Designing with silk flowers is a simple and affordable way to add punctuation to a room while creating a unique and lasting work of art. Many high quality silk flowers on the market today are almost indistinguishable from living blooms.  They can be easily combined in vintage containers for a fashionable alternative to fresh floral designs.

The new style of floristry reflects a more natural aesthetic, with loose flowing flowers in non-traditional combinations and often incorporates garden-grown floral varieties.  This arrangement, for example, includes hydrangeas, peonies and ranunculus mixed with two kinds of orchids and calla lilies. 

To create an arrangement like this, first collect the necessary materials.  It is important to choose a container that reflects the overall look you want the piece to have.  I decided to use a patinated metal urn for a traditional French-inspired style.

Next, select a color scheme.  All of the flowers used here are different shades of white or light lavender-pink. Choose different shapes of flowers that fuse with the color scheme.  Large round blooms like hydrangeas give the arrangement structure while unusually shaped flowers like orchids add interest. Also, find some greenery to work throughout the arrangement.

To keep the design looking natural, bend the stems as shown above rather than cutting them when arranging.  This provides some structure within the vase to hold the other flowers in place but still allows for movement.  This way you can also reuse the flowers.

Next, begin arranging the largest blooms first until you find a shape you like.  Add the smaller accent flowers and greenery into the empty spaces as you build the arrangement.  In the design above, the hydrangeas and peonies form the core of the piece and support all the other flowers. 

Trailing vines and draping flowers provide a sense of movement and add to the organic, flowing look of the arrangement. This also emphasizes the way flowers actually grow, making the piece appear less fussy and more natural.

Below is the finished arrangement.  I added small white calla lilies throughout to highlight the design.  Now it is ready for display...

This post has been shared on French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday.

6 comments Tagged: Faux Floral Styling, Spring

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Fall Floral Arrangements: Designing with Silk Flowers

Silk flowers add color and texture to a room without the constant maintenance required with fresh flowers.  This autumn I decided to make a few arrangements for our living room using a loose organic style.

There are so many exotic colors and varieties of flowers made in silk.  I was overwhelmed by the selection at our local floral supply shop! Since I wanted the final arrangement to have the look of the florals portrayed by Dutch Master painters, I selected a profusion of blooms in rich, old world colors and used a somewhat formal design.

This arrangement is assembled using silk garden variety flowers like hydrangeas, stock, peonies, wild roses, and asters.  The colors are mostly muted except for the burgundy and blue accents. The camel glaze of the vase is reflected in the olive green foliage which creates a subtle autumn look in the room.

To create silk arrangements like this, choose colors that occur in nature with perhaps one unusual accent color like that of the blue peony below.  Blue is integrated throughout our living room and this flower ties the arrangement in with the decor.  Use large flowers such as hydrangeas and peonies to form the structure of the arrangement and then add smaller accent flowers. Lastly, insert berries and draping vines for texture and to soften the shape of the arrangement. This will keep it looking natural and more realistic.

A second arrangement, shown below, brings in lighter tones and a less formal shape.  It fits well on a coffee table and features olive and cream hydrangeas, soft apricot ranunculus and the same blue peony featured in the other coordinating arrangement.



The soft apricot color of the ranunculus contrasts with the blue peony creating interest while cream hydrangeas and antique white lisianthus keep the arrangement light and airy. 

This post has been added to French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday collection of links.

2 comments Tagged: Autumn, Faux Floral Styling

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