Floral Inspiration :: Boho Terracotta Hues meet French Country Garden

Listen,

truly listen to what plays in the quiet.

the birdsong grows and grows with each and every passing day,

within different pockets of nature, in trees as they begin their bloom once again,

singing different tones and melodies,

and though still in harmony — these are Spring’s sweet hints it nears once more …..

You may have picked up on a certain trend more recently mostly in part to our love affair with Bridgerton, as well as Emma, Dickinson, Victoria, Little Women and all other similar series/movies — you see it in our rise in creating vintage country cottagecore feel anything. It leans very much on the organic vintage European style of fine art design, like flowers and weddings. In the industry we have seen this beautiful design within some markets, especially with increased interest in stationery and film photography in this style, for several years now. And these days it seems many more are falling in love with this look and want to recreate it for their own celebration. One other style we always love mixing with vintage French anything is, Boho, of course!

One of the easiest ways to achieve any Boho look is to mismatch, varying containers, vases, glasses, linens — all within a cohesive color palette or similar style — but the look of an non-uniform tablescape is key in achieving that boho effortless free spirit style.

On the other hand, the easiest way to achieve a French Country look is to use vintage details as much as possible, especially any vessel that is shaped like an urn or pedestal compotes. Aged bronzes, withered stones and detailed glasses and ceramics are textures key in achieving that iconic European country or garden feel. By combining these elements together with more organic lush textured greens and blooms, you create a beautiful Boho French Country look for your wedding, celebration, dinner party or even the design in your home space. 

Sometimes we overlook the beautiful vessels and vases we may already have at home that would just do lovely with a coat a paint and we most certainly lack the appreciation for vintage, antique or thrift found treasures. Other than the dark bronze urn vase that always reminds me of Games of Thrones drinking goblets, the other pieces I found in one of my favorite antique shops in Great Barrington and the tray from a lovely online thrift shop.

Styled with a vintage inspired dressing stool along scuffed up matte walls, it all lends itself beautifully to the vintage bohemian recency-core look …..These stunning toffee roses were leftover from a winter wedding that kicked off the first month of 2021 with a warm cozy earth tone terra-cotta hued wedding in the middle of winter. And it worked so perfectly against the stone and rustic induratsital cabin like feel of the Stone House. Exactly what my beautiful couple wanted for their wedding! 

 

There is structure to these fine art style of arrangements but there is also an organic natural approach to them that doesn’t make these type of floral designs seem stiff. Like a lush perfectly overgrown but picturesque English garden, with aged handmade ceramic and stone vessels and filled with lovely spring flowers…and inside tea is being served on ornate passed down silver trays with details glasses and silverware … that is also the magic of fine art design. It’s simple and yet in its simplicity evokes that emotion that is belong is another place in time, a bit more like a romantic story. 

Flowers & Items Needed

Tools

• Pedestal Vase or Bowl w. Stand
• Floral/Chicken Wire
• Floral Cutters + Wire Cutters
• Floral Clear Tape

Florals

• Greens :: Silver Dollar + Willow + Seeded Eucalytpus — about 3 stems each
• White Albatross Mums :: 3 stems
• Toffee Roses :: 5 stems
• Quicksand Roses :: 3 stems
• White Majolica Spray Rose :: 5 stems
• Peach Ranunculus :: 9 – 11 stems
• Queen Anne’s Lace :: 3 stems
• White Veronica Flower :: 3 stems
• White Scabiosa :: 7 stems

A simple way to create this arrangement …..

1. Form a loose ball with the chicken wire and place it at the bottom of your vase/planter/container. Fill with water until about 1/2″ to 1″ inch from the top. 
   1. Tip :: Before creating you floral arrangement, remember all your blooms should be conditioned and prepped before. You can follow these easy steps. 
2. Starting with your Greens, begin creating the shape you desire — I suggest doing a high low technique, where one side is taller, as dramatic as you’d like, while the other side naturally drapes lower. Save a few greenery to add in at the end. 
   1. Don’t worry about covering wire and the center of your container completely, as you continue to add in flowers that will be covered, and more greens will be added before your creation is complete.
3. Choose the side what will be your main focal point, but remember all sides should look full. Select your 3 prettiest and full bloomed flowers :: Mums and Roses.
   1. Starting with the largest in the center {this is your main focal point — where you want all eyes to go to first}
   2. Then place a medium bloom a bit higher and a smaller full bloomed rose below, off to the low draping side — Repeat these steps on the opposite side of your container. 
   3. For the sides, work in odd numbers, for large blooms like these roses it’s best to work with 1 single stem. Fill in larger pockets that need to filled. Make sure you are adding height and dimension by using taller stems along with roses that a bit more nestled within the arrangement. 
4. Move onto your next main flower; the Spray Roses and the Ranunculus, these will give you great shape! Working with odd numbers again, pick the best and biggest blooms and nestle those around your roses, always keeping your eye on that main focal point. Remember to add in some stems that are longer and others that are shorter to build dimension and texture. 
5. Next add in your fillers; Queen Anne’s Lace, White Veronica and Scabiosa. These are not only to simply “fill in” and cover open areas in your arrangement but they are crucial to creating the final shape and flow of your arrangement. Like the steps above, work with the main stems at your focal point first, then working your way around filling in the spots that need height and texture. 
6. Add in any remaining greens to fill in any open spaces and finalize the desired shape/ style you wanted for the arrangement.

I always bitten smitten with this style and I do feel in an element when creating in this style, like for a brief moment in the day I’m pretending I’m arranging in another romantic period in history ….. 

Will you allow me to go back to this breathtaking Toffee Roses! My goodness, the camera simply does not do the detail in the color the justice and love it deserves! It is one of my ultimate favorite flowers. 

One might think its warm golden hue is best for late summer of autumn, but I happen to think it the most perfect shade of mellow brightness to light up quiet white winter days or effortless sunny summer days.