What a great picture of a flower garden. The reason we love this picture is because nature is a part of us, observing its beauty is more beneficial than we expect. Studies have shown that being in contact with nature is beneficial to people in many ways. Looking at nature is a form of relaxation, at work people feel more productive and enthusiastic when they are surrounded by nature, albeit flowers, plants and indoor trees. A study conducted at Rutgers University of New Jersey found that when people were given flowers they felt instantly happier and were able to establish better relationships with those around them. More interesting facts can be found in this friendly site aboutflowers.com
Floral arrangement has been a part of décor throughout history. Today we draw from our past knowledge employing the prominent elements used by ancient cultures. As far as Egyptian times we find that flowers were used based on their meanings in coordination with the religious events. In Greek times foliage was presented to athletes and at military triumphs. During the renaissance the traditional arrangements were further developed using varieties for their color contrast, usually in stunning vases with cone-shape arrangements. The Asian cultures have certainly had an influence in today’s florist, ikebana arrangements originated in Buddhist times as a practice of spiritual meaning, careful to maintain life they aimed at appreciating nature from the stems to the blooms in a minimalistic way meeting certain geometric margins.
Sculptural, contemporary expressions of art are evident in the styles of today’s recognized floral artists. Above are arrangements of Jeff Leatham, known for his hotel works in Europe, his signature leaning flowers are gravity-defying, impressive and structurally innovative. Rebecca Thus, recognized for her great designs and her work as style director for Martha Stewart, has pushed her abilities into many areas of art and décor, her table settings are exquisite. The ikebana arrangement by an unknown artist is naturally stimulating.
The experts say constantly have flowers in your home to naturally mange your moods, and for receptions as a symbol of generosity and welcoming host. They recommend using a variety of pots and vases; any container you can find around the house is great for holding everyday flowers. We love these vintage pots which you can dig up at your local antique store.
A tip for or do-it-your-selfers, when setting a spontaneous diner table be mindful of proportion, number of guests and theme. A floral arrangement may add contrast to your room or they can coordinate with your party décor, don’t allow them to fade out, they are there to grab the attention. If on a side table use a vase/pot and an arrangement with volume (tallness/thickness) in proportion to the size of the table and the space it is in.
In the table setting above with small single floral arrangements and staggered with candles, the designer makes them a focal point by making everything else a neutral tone. The green monochromatic party uses medium size bouquets with lots of volume and pink accents to stand out from the décor. Below is a lighter arrangement that uses white vases with white flowers on a white table cloth perfectly contrasted with scrawny cherry blossom stems that create organic movement and whimsicality.
We encourage you to use creativity when decorating; anything can be an accent whether is dry, live, fruits, vegetables, anything goes. Experiment and “TRUST YOURSELF”.
Although most of our pictures are from Google Images and our own, the following is a list of resources related to this blog;