Flowers always play a crucial role in the fine tuning of interior design. They bring a certain amount of brightness, excitement, and luxury into any home or space. Flowers, for good reason, always serve as a major focal point for both the hosts and visitors – whether you display a solitary, cheerful little lily, or a glamorous, classic bouquet of roses. In my earlier Flowers for the Home article, I mentioned that flowers and houseplants bring us a sense of life, proximity to nature, and allow our homes to really be the places where we want to spend time. Whenever we see a flower that we truly enjoy, our eyes get a bit wider, and our hearts beat a little faster, in exactly the same way as when we see our loved ones. Indeed, plants and flowers have many positive psychological and biological effects. They soothe us, give us a sense of calm and relaxation, and reduce stress levels. More great things about porcelain clay flowers is that you derive all of the same benefits as you would when surrounded by natural flowers, and achieve all of the aesthetics that you’re looking for, without any of the hassle or necessary maintenance, wilting and dying plants, or even the need of waiting for their seasonal presence.
Whenever considering interior spaces, we never forget to think about the color of the walls, the furniture positioning and design, and how everything should be placed to create the desired ambiance in the room. Let’s use painting as a metaphor for interior design – with the walls being the canvas, the choice of paint color as the background, and the furniture as the features in our masterpiece. With each additional level of design, we work on more intricate features in our painting. As with the tiny brushstrokes that we add to our canvas, these are the flowers that we place in our home. Flowers serve as those important little details that draw the eye into a space, just like the gleam in someone’s eye in a portrait. We are drawn to these complexities like a moth to a flame. This is the need for good and useful interior design.
For each new flower that I create, every interior designer has a different approach to it. Whenever working with interior designers, or just regular home owners looking to brighten up their home décor, it’s always important for me to know what color scheme we’re working with, what exactly they want their new flowers to represent, in what room the flowers will be placed, and even where exactly in that room. A small arrangement of flowers will have little impact on a large space – like a meeting hall or big dining room – but also, a large flower arrangement may be too much for a small space, such as a bedroom. Maybe we could even fix this problem with a simple mirror or two. So all of this is to say that room selection, flower choice, and size all definitely matter when it comes to flower arrangements! Furthermore, an individual cold-porcelain flower, or a bouquet, also needs to fit in with the overall design of the space in terms of shape, color, and lighting.
Interior designers also have to consider the usage of the room, as this contributes to each room’s intended mood or vibe. So I, similarly, like to understand what ambiance my clients are trying to create, so I can put my best pedal forward. I have even been known to get color samples, or pictures, of the spaces where my flowers will be displayed, so I can perfectly match my flowers to their design. This even includes understanding what types of materials are incorporated into the space. My goal is for each space to look its best, and have its own special feel. And my genuine hope is that my flowers will draw attention where it needs to be, and enhances the ambiance.
Some designers even prefer to start with a flower arrangement and then do all of their work around it, and if this is the case, knowing the intended mood of the room is especially crucial. Every flower has a unique meaning and specific colors. Even within the same piece you will have many different colors – within the flower itself, its leaves and stem, the natural environment where the flower is typically found, and even the specific season in which the flower is found. All of these details can help a designer work the natural colors into an interior space. I believe that it is really important to provide designers with several ideas and options, based on the material and information they give me, before beginning on a piece for their specific design. I also make sure that I have an accessible portfolio of recent work that I have done, complete with different ways to display and accentuate my cold porcelain flowers.
Before approaching me, interior designers may already have very specific ideas in mind about exactly what kind of flower they want to put in a room. So I also believe that it is very important to give designers the final say throughout the process, asking pertinent questions, and respecting their concepts. That being said, it is still very important to discuss the fine details. We might discuss things such as the fullness of a bouquet, the number of flowers, the specific styles desired, the length and exposure of the stems, or what will be paired with the flowers. All of these details will allow the flowers to have the greatest appeal in their new space. Some designers have even requested providing the cold porcelain flowers with a natural scent, giving the room a warm aroma. This has been another interesting component to bring to my designs.
Finally, when working with an interior designer, I think that it is also important to keep in mind that they are also working with their own client, and will have to present their material and ideas to them. They will probably do this much in the same way as I present my art to them. All of these projects take time, but designers might also have strict timelines. It is important to have patience and to be understanding of the client’s and the designer’s needs. Finding mutually beneficial and lasting connections with interior designers has led me to many wonderful opportunities, and has provided me with a steady flow of interesting projects.