Summer calls for florals, it's inevitable! Ditsy prints, blown up boldly, mixed with fruit or greens alone, they are inescapable in all of their forms. But I do not tire of them easily. It's amazing how they possess the power to alter a mood, to instil sense of awe, to connect us to nature, and to add beauty wherever they may be found. I have grown up living by the following adage and firmly believe it is one that we should all adopt:
"If you love a flower, do not pick it up. The flower will die, and it will cease to be what you love. If you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession, love is appreciation."
So what better way to show some appreciation by leaving the flowers in their garden homes but replicating their charm in our own? Summer weather may be hit and miss in Britain, but florals will always bring the sunshine to your soul.
First of all, if you can't resist a fresh pick then I want to bring your attention to a flower delivery service called Petalon. They are a London-based company but deliver across the UK and are a company championing methods of sustainability throughout their whole supply system. Delivery around its home city is done by bicycle, with overnight delivery to elsewhere in Britain via a carbon-neutral courier service. The flowers are seasonal and wrapped in natural hessian and their water is carried in a biodegradable sheath. Only two bouquet designs are available each week to lessen the amount of waste. Sales wise, they donate 5 percent of its profits to the Bee Collective AND plant a tree for every 100 bouquets it delivers by post. Head to https://www.petalon.co.uk/ to see their picks this week.
Now for decorating! First up, three for the walls. I adore roses and white or yellow ones are my favourite - so classy and precious. This wallpaper is by Sanderson Christabel at John Lewis and would look stunning decorating the walls in a large bedroom full of natural light. To prevent the wallpaper from looking dated, choose to accessorise with punchy greens and metallic touches in silver and droplet gems.
The second is by Designers Guild at John Lewis and I chose this because of the colours. Lilacs and pastel colours are so soothing so really will set a tone for the room it is used in. It also has matching bed linen (below) so you can really go to town in your bedroom or use it as a common scheme from one room to the next. Third is this gorgeous pink magnolia print by Samantha Santana. She uses eco-friendly inks and fabrics, and are removable and reusable too. They are printed on woven fabric and they can be used in bathrooms or in kitchens so your house really is a blank canvas for these. Take a look at her collections on https://samanthasantana.com/.
Fabrics & Floors. Below are a selection of fabrics for those who are savvy with a sewing kit and those who, like me, will stick to marvelling and commissioning others to do our bidding! The rugs by Mary Katrantzo are a beautiful dedicated to our floral friends and her use of bright colours, and the Daisy Rug (bottom centre) is an absolute steal and great little lookalike of the Peony Rug by Hellen Amy Murray (top centre) from The Rug Company.
From Left to Right: Mitsi Valeria Tana Lawn Cotton, £25, Liberty London. Peony Rug, Hellen Amy Murray, from £3237, The Rug Company. Lodden Tana Lawn Cotton, £25, Liberty London. Large Florals Silk Crepe Satin, £125, Liberty London. Garden of Eden Rug, £4688, Mary Katrantzou, Everlasting Crepe de Chine Fabric, now £38, Liberty London. Carline Rose Organic Tana Lawn Cotton, £29.95, Liberty London. Daisy Rug, £80-260, NEXT. Bluebell Daydream Rug, £4688, Mary Katrantzou.
From Kitchen to Table. Our food isn't always instagrammable, but that doesn't mean our serverwear shouldn't be. I bought the Zara Floral Plates (bottom right) in pink and in black and can vouch for how much more appetising any of my food looks when plated. Mackenzie Childs is a brand that is new to me, but a number of their items has gone straight to the top of my kitchen wish list. As I always say: eat beautiful to live beautiful!
Pink dogwood Collection, £85-290, Michael Aram (Above)
(Below) L-R: Selection of serving plates, £85-215 Roberto Cavalli. Vintage Hand-Painted Floral Tole Tray, $39, Chairish. Royal Pip Oval Platter, £60, Pip Studio. Bali Salad Serves, £11, Les Jardins de la Comtesse.
Flower Market Breakfast Bowl, £50, Mackenzie Childs. Flower Market Enamel Tea Kettle, £168, Mackenzie Childs. Flower Market Colander, £66, Mackenzie Childs. Leaf Shaped Napkins, Pack of 20, £4.99, ZARA Home. Flower Shaped Napkins, Pack of 20, £4.99. Floral Earthenware Dinner Plate, £7.99, ZARA Home.
Shirley Floral Half Apron, £22, Anthropologie.
For self-care, add florals to your bathroom and bed-time rituals. Not only do they smell divine but did you know they have a mass of health benefits and mood-changing abilities too? Calming, cleansing, energising, stimulating... The list goes on and I will do an in-depth post on these in the future if you want. But for now, I leave you to basque in the luxury of floral scents and the stunning artistry that is the bottle that they come in.
L-R: Monique L'Huillier Petite Air Essence, £69.95, AGRARIA. Bitter Orange Petite Air Essence, £59, AGRARIA. Orange Blossom Bath Oil, 200ml £36, Ortigia. Bath Sea Salt with Flowers, £5, HEMA. Sakura Bath Mat, £275, Abyss & Habidecor. Emilie Emerald Bed Linen, from £21, Designers Guild.
Sweet Jasmine Parfum d'Interieur, £29.50, Rituals.
Finishing Touches. A few little extras that have caught my eye.
L-R: Gilded Tole and Porcelain Floral Chandelier, $2250, Chairish. Imogen knob, £8, Anthropologie. Zoe Jewellery Portfolio, Indigo, £145, WOLF. Faded Peony Etruscan Pitcher, £160, Ralph Lauren. Vintage Italian Venetian Floral Mirror, $1,395, Chairish. Embellished Floral Embroidery Headband, £35, Anthropologie.
Let me know what tempts you and feel free to contact me with any questions you may have!
AE. x
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