Texture: It’s More Than Just Textiles
When you see a bridal bouquet or a table center, what do you see first? Do you see the perfect ivory Eskimo roses nestled in gently, or do you see the filamentous asparagus fern? Do you see the delicate ruffles of carnations or the bright pops of billy balls? A good floral designer will give you texture and color together in an arrangement no matter how big or small.
Texture, as a design student will define it, is the visual and physical surface quality of materials and objects used within in an arrangement. I love playing with different textures in an arrangement because it invites someone to interact with your designs. It gives you depth and contrast without detracting from the balance and proportion of the work as a whole.
So, dearest lions and lionesses, let me introduce my favorite textural elements in a design. The fabulous design lioness herself gave me three color swatches to have my fun with.
This combination is one of my FAVORITES! I’m a purple girl at heart, but paired with the light spring green and contrasted with the rich Kelly green it pops out.
This is a bouquet very similar to one I produced in green and orange recently. (Much love to Waterlilly Floral Design for their work!). Look at how the deep purple ruffles of the hyacinth pop against the foxtail fern and poppy pods…your eye can’t stay still in this design! Also, check out the grapevine curling up over the side. Grapevine, kiwi wine, or even kudzu (trust me…used it many times before!) can give you a really nice contrast from the woodsy nature of the vines to the delicate flowers beneath.
This color palette reminds me of an Indian summer; the leaves have started changing a little bit, but there are still some holdouts. Smoky and sexy are two words that come to mind since none of the colors really pop.
This beautiful tablescape is actually a design I helped produce at Studio Flora Diva in Asheville, NC. Martha (our smoky topaz bride) wanted something opulent and rich for her feasting table. Those are a series of low arrangements placed side-by-side using orange Mokara orchids (something fun for a change other than dendrobiums), safari sunset leucodendron, chocolate cymbidium orchid blooms, dark red roses, and green hydrangea. The hydrangea give this amazing ruffled texture that contrasts against the velvety red roses.
Ooh…a challenge! I know a lot of brides are anti-greenery. This particular color palette opens a whole new world to designers: monochromatic. Finding tints, tones, and shades within one singular color can really test a designer’s mettle.
This bounty of beauty was created by the head Diva over at Studio Flora Diva for Martha’s sexy, smoky fall soirée. I use this image talking about texture a lot because this is a monochromatic white design, yet it seems so deep because of all the textures happening. Compare this design to the bridesmaids bouquets to see the whole gold/orange palette used.
Brave brides and gutsy party hostesses everywhere are venturing away from the mono-floral, sedate color palettes of the past few years. Try some different textures and new color palettes on for size; it doesn’t have to be matchy-matchy to be beautiful!
By Amanda Glenn-Bradley, guest lioness- email her at eustoma.grandiflora@gmail.com
thank you amanda for sharing your floral knowledge with us all!
say hi: lindsey@dandylionevents.com