Home Journal “Vol.32 No.374” – Dec 2011
Once Upon a time, it was considered romantic to send you true love flocks of poultry and a horde of mouths to feed at Christmas. Today, we live in simpler times. We’ve done away with the maids a-milking and we’ve come to realize that nothing sets the tone for the holidays quite like a gorgeous, wintry flower arrangement.
For this holiday-themed issue, we’ve looked to a Christmas carol for inspiration. Our take on The Twelve Days of Christmas features dusky golds and browns against charcoal greys for a rich, elegant palette. So put aside the old snowman-and-reindeer combination this Christmas, and get creative with your accessories.
“Flowers have characters just like human beings, so choose {your arrangement} carefully and they will work together to enhance your home décor,” suggests Dr Solomon Leong, director of SOLOMON BLOEMEN bespoke floral design studio. If you’re channeling your inner ice queen, opt for frosty whites and blues – hyacinths, narcissi and muscari are in season……
…… To portray geese a-laying, we’ve taken a symbolic and less messy approach to the birthing theme. SOLOMON BLOEMEN’s gorgeous arrangement of pinecones and white flowers is the very picture of purity and innocence. “A consistent colour scheme is the key to tasteful decoration,” says Leong. “Stick to it and you can mix and match accessories to create a look that is at once elegant and highly personal.” Here, we’ve paired the arrangement with accessories in neutral, muted hues and simple shapes – the egg ornaments are nod to the carol’s lyrics, while the framed vintage paintings set a thoughtful, almost wistful tone……
…… The partridge in the pear tree had the right idea-nothing evokes memories of cosy winter nights quite like the sight of ripe, golden pears. Use this sweet, richly coloured fruit as accessory as well as a dessert. Here, we’ve strewn eight or nine pears around a leafy arrangement from SOLOMON BLOEMEN, and the deep hues of the fruit pick out the browns of the pinecones. Prop up a few books with beautifully detailed spines and you’ve set the perfect scene for a Christmas story.
If you’re in a rush, cover a white bloom with a bell jar and tie a gold ribbon on top for instant festive cheer. Alternatively, “fill up a clear fish bowl with silver baubles and add in a few deep red roses in water tubes”. suggests Leong. ”The design is quick but the effect is stunning.” So as much as we’re loath to say no to ten lords a-leaping about our homes this Christmas, we’ll take a bouquet of gorgeous flowers instead. Oh, and five golden rings, please.