Floral Ideas by Laura Dowling
I am beyond thrilled that Laura Dowling, of Interieurs et Fleurs, is joining us today to share with us the trends and ideas that she learned from her recent floral study trip in Paris. I am going to hand the baton right over to Laura, as I don’t want to waste a second of time…
Fleur Couture – New Designs and Trends from Paris.
Bonjour! And Bonne Annee! Having recently returned from a floral study trip to Paris, I wanted to share with you some inspiring new bouquet ideas as well as fabulous new design trends for Parisian-inspired floral décor in 2008. I love how the top Parisian fleuristes follow trends in fashion and interior design, and how their creations evoke such excitement and emotion. I am grateful to my friends at L’Ecole des Fleurs for sharing their special secrets with me for creating “l’art du bouquet.” Here are some au courant Parisian trends to look for in party and event décor this year:
Mirrors. Mirrored cubes and pedestals are all the rage in Paris right now and provide the perfect foil for flowers and candles. I spotted chic mirrored cubes, used as vases for flowers, everywhere: from the swank Georges V Hotel to the luxe shops on the Avenue Montaigne. Set a flickering votive candle in front of a mirrored floral arrangement of garden roses and trailing ivy – magique!
Vignettes de table. A major Parisian floral trend is the use of multiple glass cubes of different sizes and heights, combined with candles and natural elements to create distinctive garden-style landscapes. For this concept, simply place four tall, rectangular bud vases at each corner of a 12 inch glass cube vase, and add a shallow base of water. Place a single flower stem in each bud vase and float petals on top of the water. Voila!
Bouquets classique. In his ultra-chic boutique in St. Germain du Pres, Remi Guenin, artistic director of L’Ecole des Fleurs, demonstrated how to make a classic wedding bouquet “a la francaise.” He used a combination of large pink garden roses, pale pink ranunculas, and green viburnum, interspersed with spiky sage foliage. After tying these flowers together with raffia, he took large, soft platycerium leaves and wrapped them artfully around the stems, creating a beautiful, natural covering that offset the flowers exquisitely. The use of plant material to decorate the stems is a hallmark of French design, and adds a poetic element to the entire composition. Click here, then do a search for “Les Fleurs de Paris” to see examples of the classic Parisian wedding bouquet. Here are some images…
Stay tuned for MORE great ideas, and a ton of stunning images of Laura’s work!
I have adored the bouquet on the top left since it first came it. I think it might be my all time favorite bridal bouquet!
These concepts are so imaginative and the pieces are gorgeous! I especially love the idea of using glass cubes of different sizes and heights with candles- it doesn’t seem difficult to do, but you could create a variety of unique and beautiful floral centerpieces!
I love the idea of using mirrored cubes with votive candles. I might have to incorporate that into my wedding centerpieces.
Thank you so much for sharing all the wonderful information and pictures!! Its always fun to hear and see the latest trends from Paris.
Wow! it's so great to get the inside scoop on all the hot Parisian trends--those flowers look so amazing!
I love the mirrored cube/vase idea but I can't seem to find them anywhere online. Has anyone else had any luck?
These beautiful pieces inspire me to host an event or plan a wedding!
They are a nice play on the mirrored centerpieces: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250208181507&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:PIC&ih=015 " rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250208181507&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:PIC&ih=015
But I can't seem to find them anywhere, can anyone else?
I just sent an email to Laura to see if she had any sources for the mirrored cubes that she would share with us:) I'll keep you guys posted!
From Laura...
I have a source for the mirrored cube vases! I was delighted to find them in a cute new shop in Alexandria, Virginia called "Red Barn Mercantile." The cubes come in all different sizes and have a slightly antiqued, smoky finish which adds to the ambiance. The owner is a friend of mine -- and I know that she would be happy to help your readers with inquiries, purchasing, shipping, etc. I'll let her know that she should stock up!
http://www.redbarnmercantile.com/ " rel="nofollow">http://www.redbarnmercantile.com/
I don't see them on the website, so I'm emailing her to see if she could upload a pic of the vases for us:)
Good news on the mirrored vases, I will have to check them out. We are using them for a few weddings this year combined with mercury glass candlesticks and pearly accents. Love seeing bouquets with natural wraps! It finishes the flowers with an entirely organic feel.
Here is a picture of the mirrored cubes that the Red Barn Mercantile stocks, as well as ordering information. Thanks, Laura!!
http://www.stylemepretty.com/mirrored-cubes.html " rel="nofollow">http://www.stylemepretty.com/mirrored-cubes.html />
Thanks so much for the tip on the Red Barn Merchantile website! I've contacted them and can't wait to find out about all the pieces they have.
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