Floral Design & Flower Arrangements >> Easy Flower Design » Industry Designing

Staging Client’s Home

Joe Guggia — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:45:20 +0000

One day a few weeks ago, a client came into our new retail addition, Trio Home Lifestyles. She and her husband are from local prominent families, but had moved to Northern California for about 8 years. The husband recieved a promotion which brought them back to our area where they purchased a home about a year ago. Most of the 40 year old house had been updated, and is in a beautiful area. But with two small children and an active social life, the interior needed new touches of furntishings and accessories. With the new purchase of Trio Home Lifestyles, I suggested bringing the furniture and other items I believed would work for their style and home. So we set a date, loaded couches, tables, ottomans, candles, plants and permanent designs, and went to work. With a large downstairs, the separate living room became a functional dining area making the existing dining room a “poker room” to enjoy with other couples. A hanging candled chandeliere was added above the rectangular dining table, with a red couch for sitting on one side, and a Malaysian bench on the other. Live succulent plantings are on the dining table, as well as in the chandelier (easy to care for and a great look for today’s styles). New coordinating love seats in the family room area gave them comfortable seating and lounging, while creating a space that is inviting as well as practicle. A smaller round table in the corner of the family area enables them to eat together, but also a place where they children can draw and do crafts. The entry became more complete with a small Chinese chest, a mirror hidden under a bed, candleholders, and two cement urns from the patio area of Trio adorned with permanent bromiliads for easy care. All in all, it was a “win-win” situation, profitable, and extremely exciting to be able to create. What I want you all to get from this is that because of designing flowers in our flower shop, our abilites have grown to encompass a much wider range of versatility creating a whole new area to make our financial goals a success. But I was willing to set all the items up with no financial commitement from the client, banking on the fact that our skills would prove to be profitable in the end.

Asian Design Influence

Joe Guggia — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:00:34 +0000

The greatest part of today’s design world is the access to the many interpretaions of the field. A definate marker is the integration of Asian Design. Although our flower designs may not be exclusively Ikebana, the reference is quite noticable, making the “art” expand to what it is today. Our shop uses these priciples in everyday work to give the designs a contemporary feel while still maintaining a remebrance of Europe and that association. This “eclectic” mix gives our designs a creative flair that give the client a comfortable vision in their surroundings. And this makes our job a lot more interesting and keeps us on our toes!

Focal Points in Design

Joe Guggia — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 14:23:57 +0000

In this world there are a myriad of things to view: foliage, humans, animals, architecuture, mountains,magazines, commercials, rooms and (of course) floral idesigns. What do these all have in comon? A Focal point, that which is the center from which all the growth permeates from. In this case, it’s totally a visual point. In humans, it is our heads with growth going down and out. Plants show an area of beginning growth, with the visual point being where the branches begin that growth. With a tree it’s shown where the trunk is ending and all those branches start their beautiful and graceful spread. Buildings have a visual area where the architucture is centered, possibly the door or entrance area, or a point at which the unit continues from. We all notice these areas, but may not be able to define what it is that we notice. In floral arrangements, it is the point at which the flowers and foliage “appear” to come from, whether they literally are from that spot. It’s totally visual, and is what begins to give the design the proper balance. And it is the key to wonderful designs that are created properly, no matter what materials are used or how large or small the design is. Once this is learned, their is no stopping the incredibly wonderful world of your design, and an abundance of beautiful creations.

Using current decor publications

Joe Guggia — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:17:46 +0000

In today’s design world there are an incredible amount of sources to view for inspiration and creative knowledge. Publications such as Veranda, Architectural Digest, Garden Design, and Western Interiors are monthly feasts for those hungry eyes. Garden Design especially gives me inspiration, with many contemporary and mid-century garden styles that lend themselves to our floral design world. It teaches me not only landscape styles but also the lasting quality of foliages and much information regarding current style trends. Always be open to all forms of visual stimulus and let them aid in your continual floral journey.