Autumn is such a marvelous season. For a designer, it is the season of colorful leaves, sculptural branching, clusters of berries and earthy palettes. Whether you are incorporating tropicals or using cut succulents, pumpkins or gourds, this seasons arrangements capture autumn’s unique and playful character.
While it’s true that we have had a busy, busy year full of exciting projects and installs, none of it would ever be possible without our wonderful clients. The joy that we experience while working together to design, specify, install and maintain accounts is beyond measure. New Year’s is the perfect time to acknowledge and thank our clients, vendor partners and all the Blondie’s staff that make it come together as one unstoppable team that makes the magic happen. We have so much to look forward to…here’s looking ahead to 2015 !
The instantly recognizable poinsettia plays a central role in scores of our seasonal holiday displays. We work with growers year round to ensure we have the highest quality and best possible assortment of poinsettias, kalanchoe and other colorful flowering plants popular during the holiday season. Today, poinsettias are available in a huge assortment of colors and styles. Speckled and rosette varieties with names like ‘Ice Punch’ and ‘Winter Rose’ have joined the familiar red, white and pink standards. Non-traditional embellishments such as glitter add a twist and unique top-dressing and containers help transform a simple holiday display into something exciting and unusual.
Rosemary topiaries or miniature Norfolk Pine arrive dressed up for the holidays and are perfect as gifts for friends, coworkers, clients and employees. White Phalaenopsis Orchids are elegant statement plants perfectly suited for the holidays. Details such as ice branches, seasonal top dressing and ribbon create a bespoke, professional holiday presentation that will be remembered long after.
Succulent plants and glass terrariums are funky, unusual options that turn heads and are sure to earn you ‘unique gift’ points. Succulents in the right container can provide a modern and gender neutral gift while terrariums are a distinct curiosity unto themselves and provide something memorable and exciting.
Fresh seasonal floral arrangements can provide drama and flair for the Holidays unlike any other option. Overflowing with blooms and scented greens, floral designers have the unique ability to capture the Holiday spirit using the freshness the season has to offer. Whether a bouquet of bold red amaryllis, or a traditional urn full of pine and seasonal berries, floral arrangements can be customized to reflect the likes and aesthetics of the gift-giver and recipient.
Another option not to be missed is silk arrangements. Make sure you’re only using top quality silk and replica plant material. Use a company who stands behind their product with a replacement guarantee, and ask lots of questions about what is being recommended to you. Using replica products, designers are able create in ways not possible with live material. This results in outstanding festive design. When treated well and stored properly these arrangements can last years as a consistent reminder of the gifts original intention.
There are many ways to spread the holiday cheer by creating décor that captures the spirit of the season. A live or replica wreath could be a non-denominational seasonal creation or jazzed up by using a Christmas theme. A container with seasonal branching can be adorned with pine and décor at its base and delivered as a unique and high end gift.
Every year, Blondie’s Treehouse creates gorgeous, unique seasonal displays. We love to brainstorm, bounce ideas off one another, and customize for our clients. The holidays are right around the corner. What can we create for you?
Touring the globe, Blondie’s Holiday designers always have their fingers on the pulse. Here is what we’ve found to be the most exciting trends of the 2014 holiday season:
Burlap Glam
Burlap and heavy woven linens have been around for a couple of years in a big way. Whether used as a ribbon, fabricated into ornaments or as décor accents, we’ve seen everything from burlap owls to tree skirts to wreaths. This year a fine twist is added, a touch of bling. Metallic trim, a hint of gold in the weave, a way to kick it up a notch and say this burlap is luxurious. Look for it mixed with soft golds, cream tones and champagne. When paired with earth tones and natural elements, this year’s style transforms the rustic woodland cabin into a grand lodge, Aspen Colorado. This theme also pairs very nicely with another trend that we have been seeing, the use of home décor items within the tree. Objects such as clocks and lanterns are perched amongst the branches and add an additional layer of visual interest and design appeal.
Cool Frost
Winter White has been growing in popularity in recent years and with this season’s element of frost added to the look a simple elegance is revealed. Find it in lacey trim, incorporating baubles and clear glass, this theme combines silver and crystal with icy colors and matte finishes. Paired with this trend is the use of pale blue, soft turquoise as well as pistachio and celadon green. This frosted look combines delicate grey tones with the refreshing and invigorating feel of a frosted winter scene.
Fresh Tradition
Transformed by a fresh color palette of apple red and lime green, this traditional favorite receives a bright makeover. Captivating and fresh, combine with a bold white, in the place of more traditional metallic, for an added pop. To tone it down a bit the green turns into an opulent emerald that combines elegantly with deeper juicier reds. In this rendition you may find it accented with warm gold tones and rich textures. Year after year this color palette undergoes a rebirth and this year’s palettes promise both freshness and deeper traditions.
Holiday Nightshade
Imagine rich browns, and muted bronze. Now mix in a touch of deep aubergine. Atop of this luscious foundation place a splash of spicy orange, a tangy yellow and maybe, maybe a thin vein of brilliant turquoise. What could best tie this all together? The intentional use of black. The presence of black has become a trendy way to create sharp contrast and pop. Find it also paired with Radiant Orchid, color of the year, mixed with an ombre of purple tones including amethyst, lavender and plum. With this jewel tone palette antique gold and mercury glass create a vintage and stylish look. With the precise placement of black, Holiday décor begins to look like something you’d find in a jewelry box. Ornate and artistic this palette is the décor nouveau of the season.
Inspiration and Resources:
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Wedding flowers are steeped in history and symbolism. The tradition of a bride carrying or wearing flowers stretches back into ancient history. To our knowledge the earliest herbs and flowers to be incorporated into the wedding ceremony was dill, garlic, marigolds, thyme and sage, among other rather strong-smelling herbs and spices that were thought to ward off evil spirits, ill health and bad luck.
Another explanation for the tradition of the bouquet, according to http://www.herlifemagazine.com/ explains “In ancient times, a bride was considered especially lucky on her wedding day. So, guests were compelled to tear off parts of her dress to obtain a good luck talisman for themselves! Not all brides cared for this activity, as it seemed unpleasant to have their clothing ripped bit by bit, compliments of the guests. So it evolved, that the bride outsmart her guests by giving an offering of herself; enabling a guest to obtain a lucky talisman and allowing herself to keep her clothing intact: she starting throwing her garter and bouquet in lieu of pieces of her dress.”
In later times flowers evolved into symbols of love, fragility and fertility. They became the precious way to adorn the bride on the day of the ceremony and have become one of the most important aspects of her attire.
Many people assign their own personal meanings for flowers and the selection of wedding flora reflects these sentiments. Currently, with an overabundance of options to choose from the key deciding factors have become seasonality, sentiment and the overall color theme for the wedding party and décor.
For those interested in the historic connotation of flowers, this could be an exciting way to compose your bridal bouquet. This symbolism looks something like; Freesia, innocence; Blossoms, promise; Hyacinth, sincerity; Hydrangea, perseverance; Iris, inspiration; ivy, fidelity; lilac, first love; Calla Lily, regality; Peony, healing; Ranunculus, radiance; Roses, everlasting love; Stephanotis, good luck; and Zinnia, friendship.
One could also consider the overall color palette to evoke the desired tone. Cool colors are both comforting and nurturing. Blues, greens and neutral whites, greys and silver reflect these properties. Warm colors convey optimism and excitement. The warmth of red, fiery orange, hot pink and yellow as well as the neutral quality of black, gold and bronze carry warm attributes. There is also direct meaning associated with the colors of the spectrum such as; Blue – strength, intelligence; Green – growth, harmony; Gold – richness, extravagance; Orange – energy, vibrancy; Pink – sweet, romance delicate; Red – passion, love; Yellow- happiness, joy; White-purity.
The most important consideration in selecting your bouquet is seasonality and character. Your floral palette enables you to express yourself through the flowers themselves. When meeting with your floral coordinator to discuss your options this will be one of the first conversations that you have. You will begin to develop your palette based on preference, character, theme, season and venue. Together, with a designer, you will be walking down the aisle with a bouquet that perfectly encapsulates the energy and style of your day.
Blondie's Treehouse is a dynamic horticulture company in the New York area, offering exceptional design, installation and maintenance service for Interior and Exterior Plantscapes. Our Flower Studio specializes in unique designs and event planning and our Holiday House brings you festive holiday decor.
(646) 649-9268
showroom
242 west 30th street nyc 10001
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