Photo by Kathleen E. Bednarek
Floral designer Oscar Mora offers tips on creating festive centerpieces
for any occasion.
Use
what you have: Raid your cabinets, but keep in mind that solid-color opaque objects tend to mix better than heavily patterned ones. When using clear containers, keep the look tidy by maintaining equal water levels or lining inside walls with thick tropical leaves, which last well underwater.
Plan ahead: Think about the purpose of the event and who the attendees will be. Will it be formal? Consider dark shades. Cheery? Try bright hues. If celebrating a particular person, try working in his or her favorite color.
Combine with care: A common mistake is to
create chaos by using too many colors and textures. To ensure harmony, limit
your range to three textures and four colors. Also, pick seasonal plants
(they’ll last longer) that don’t have a strong smell—you don't want to overpower
the food that's being served.
Photo by Gemma
Commas, styling by Jen Everett
Veggie Delight
Oscar stacks three cake stands to create this voluptuous still life. He
mixes fruits and flowers, including orchids, calla lilies, mushrooms, eggplant,
and unripe pomegranates. The casual abundance of the arrangement softens the
formal profile of the tiered plates.
Photo by Gemma Commas, styling by Jen Everett
Pyramid Scheme
A tower of martini glasses is held together with dots of poster tack
(available at craft stores). “Since the water in each glass is shallow,” says
Oscar, “I choose flowers that require only a little to stay fresh.” In this
arrangement, roses, mini peppers, coxcombs, and calla lilies offer a multitone
take on the traditional Christmas red.
Photo courtesy of Belle Fleur
Floral designer Meredith Waga Perez, co-owner of Belle Fleur in New York
City, shares her tips on creating a festive fireplace.
Do a dry run: Sketch out your vision on paper, then gather the elements and lay them out on a counter or your kitchen table. Tweak the design, streamlining or amplifying as needed, then assemble your pieces on the mantel.
Fill the void: If you don't plan on
lighting a fire, extend your motif to the fireplace, since anyone sitting down will see the hearth first.
Photo by Gemma Commas, styling by Jen Everett
Silver Solution
Meredith uses winter white hydrangea and amaryllis to tie together an
ecumenical mix: a Tiffany & Co. sterling-silver menorah and mercury-glass
Christmas ornaments. Circa-1860 Italian gilded mirror is from Sentimento
Antiques.
Photo by Gemma Commas, styling by Jen Everett
Evergreen Style
Meredith layered cedar, eucalyptus, and hanging amaranthus for a traditional old-world look on the mantel. "My goal was to create a landscape of textures and hues of green," she says.
Photo by Gemma Commas, styling by Jen Everett
Candy-Cane Crisp
This 1950s-inspired setting uses hundreds of the most durable flower on the market: the carnation, which easily can last a week. The flowers are inserted into florist foam that's been taped to an existing frame; white pillar candles and playful reindeer figurines complete the high-contrast display.
Photo by Gemma Commas, styling by Jen Everett
Rustic Romance
Cast-iron urns can barely contain the abundant Leonidas roses and fiddlehead ferns. Garlands made with Hypericum berries and bay leaves add a holiday feel.
