Staying on Trend with Accent Decor

I believe we have all learned from the events of 2020: the importance of flexibility, adaptability, perseverance, and empathy. We are thankful to have the support of companies that understand the nature of the floral business and continue to accommodate the changing needs of the industry.

I am excited, once again, to highlight just a small offering from the beautiful collections of Accent Decor. Each season Accent Decor’s Creative Team analyzes trends across the globe and continues to be the go-to-source for what’s new, current and trending for the coming year. This year, with so many changes from large scale events to microweddings, Accent Decor’s versatile selections provided ease in adapting to any event.

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Show Stopper

Create a memorable WOW moment for any size event with the new addition of the Moon Gate and Lunar Grid Hanger. I am loving the Moon Gate! Made of metal, this sturdy piece will withstand the weight of full floral covering yet beautifully designed to accommodate partial exposure. Perfectly sized to be the focal point or used in multiples, the uniqueness of the Lunar Grid Hanger adds a starry element of magic and celestial ambience. Explore more options for suspendible pieces, hanging saucers, vases, pots, and more at Accent Decor.com

Moon Gate

Lunar Grid Hanger

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Geometric Metals

Geometrical structures have always fascinated me. A piece of art by design alone, geometric patterns bring an element of dimension and character to design. I chose these pieces for their modern yet classic appeal not only in shape but material. To me, metal will always be in style. It’s look can be very simplistic and can stand alone, or incorporated into innovative and futuristic design. Available in an assortment of finishes from burnished finishes to timeless golds, Accent Decor has a fabulous collection of metal vessels, stands, columns and more. 

Global Wire Sphere

Brass Wreath

Rotating Tree

Geo Wire Wreath

Make a Statement

More than ever, we are longing to gather and connect with family and friends. Events and weddings have always provided the perfect backdrop for such gatherings. Although the grandeur of an entrance, the splendor of the venue, the thoughtfully, curated welcome gifts are wonderful components of an event, I believe the most intimate element for guests may be the reception, dinner, etc. Each season, Accent Decor introduces standout pieces fashioned to compliment any design or aesthetic. Search your favorites of vessels, stands, urns, compotes, and more.

Chimney Tube

Infinity Stand

Regalia Stand

Scallop Compote

Aspen Vase

Foliate Stand

Ambience

Last but certainly not least, llighting. An essential element to create the perfect ambience, lighting transforms a beautiful space and sets the mood for an event.  Whether you are creating a romantic starry sky, illuminating garden paths, or setting a romantic tablescape, the choice of lighting cannot be neglected. Explore Accent Decor’s vast selection of lanterns, candelabra, chandeliers, candles, votives, and more to add a warm welcome and romantic element to your event.

Posh Votive

Poetic Candlestick

Gallery Lantern

Halo Glass

Prism Lantern

E+E Branch Chandelier

Although my focus for this blog post is events and weddings, Accent Decor has collections for so much more. Accent Decor brings you a vast selection of ceramics, glass, and natural vessels along with accessories for the home as well as the great outdoors. Visit their newly user-enhanced website, create an account, and begin your floral inspiration experience.

Catalogs and Trendbooks of Accent Decor

Accent Decor Fall/Winter Event Trendbook

2020 Catalog

Accent Decor Holiday Catalog

Laura Dowling: Floral Diplomacy

Laura Dowling shares her journey with flowers which lead her to become the Chief Floral Designer at the White House from 2009-2015. Laura and Scott chat about the many events and parties she created while the Obama's were in the White House.

Laura Dowling served as Chief Floral Designer at the White House for 6 years from 2009 until 2015. In this position, she planned and implemented decorations for major events at the White House, including the White House Christmas, state dinners, the presidential family quarters, the public tour route displays, and Camp David, an imposing portfolio of literally thousands of large and small events, floral arrangements, table settings and innovative volunteer projects.

Flowers: A Tool for Innovation and Change

Laura Dowling’s Ted Talk. Ted x Mid Atlantic

Inspired by President Obama’s message of hope and change, Laura created floral designs to reflect these sentiments and chats about using flowers as a strategic approach. Focus may be environmental, cultural traditions, symbolism, and much more.

Photo by Stichting Kunstboek

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Promise You a Rose Garden: Ex-White House Florist Tells All

New York Times

The former White House florist Laura Dowling, in New York City’s flower district.

Credit Tawni Bannister for The New York Times

By Katherine Rosman

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Laura Dowling’s garden style bouquets are exquisite gatherings of lush and vibrant seasonal blooms, poetic arrangements that evoke sentimental memories and inspire ethereal dreams. Highly original in concept and design, Laura’s bouquets weave layers of blooms, fruits and entwining vines with fabricated materials such as paper, ribbons and wool, blurring the lines of traditional floristry to fuse flowers with nature and handcrafts in new and unexpected presentations. At once fanciful and whimsical, refined and elegant, her colorful bouquets exude a friendly and approachable aesthetic that have inspired a First Lady, high-level dignitaries and legions of fans from around the world with their great charm and liveliness. She believes that flowers – the ephemeral but enduring mementos of special occasions and everyday life – convey a vast range of emotions and meanings that words alone cannot express, unlocking a powerful tool for uplifting spirits, telling stories and enriching our lives. In her new book “Bouquets,” due out later this year, Laura shares her secrets and insights for creating 75 innovative designs that focus on l’art du bouquet – the most personal and evocative form of floral artistry – including detailed step-by-step tips and techniques for crafting her unique, signature-style bouquets for all settings, seasons and occasions.

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“ I think we need more opportunities for thoughtful, collaborative problem-solving and creative expression vs. devolving into cliques and group think – a challenge in the social media era. The bottom line is that the appeal of flowers is timeless and enduring – and will continue to play an important role in our increasingly hectic and busy lives – creating new opportunities for everyone involved in the floral world.” Laura Dowling

New 2019 Holiday Wreath Stamp Collection will soon be available. Laura shared this wonderful news about her latest project years in the making. Antonio Alcalá served as the art director Laura Dowling designed the festive wreaths for the holiday stamps. Photographed by Kevin Allen.

Compote Masterpieces by Christin Geall

Every week we are entrusted with an amazing collection of images from each of our guests. When we spoke to Christin Geall, we wanted to put together a collection of her compote designs and invite you to experience the magic that she creates with her flowers. All these designs and images were created and photographed by Christin Geall.

Before you look at these images we’ve put together with Christin’s help, I hope you stop and take a breath, close your eyes, and imagine you’re in a museum. When you open your eyes, my hope is that you drink in each image and notice her particular use of color and space. On her podcast with us, she mentioned the careful arranging of light and shadows in addition to the use and selection of each flower. I would encourage you to take a moment and open this blog post on a computer or at least a large screen to experience the detail in each piece.

One of the magical qualities that Christin demonstrates time and time again is the manner in which the natural color and curve of a branch, vine, or grass can draw your eye directly into the center of the design. Then, when you step back you can see how every element works together to create a design with both continuity and form. One of the aspects of this design that I find so amazing are the clean colors: the purity of the whites, the vibrant yellows, and the hint of green that comes with spring.

During various times of the year, a floral designer has the opportunity to work with an assortment of wild elements like grasses and vines. I love how Christin uses more wildflower like blooms to fill the space and create interest. You could look at this amazing floral design for a long period of time and continue to find hidden gems. The different types of greenery and their diverse shades and textures play with the colors of each flower.

Color,Color, Color!! How many times do you wish you had the chance to work with vibrant colors of any kind in your designs. Once again, Christin takes the time to select a wide variety of material often harvested from her own garden to experiment with both color and light. These vibrant maple leaves draw your eye into the center of this piece to expose all of the hidden treasures. Whether it’s the crabapples stripped of their foliage and clustered together or the euonymus and their amazing contrast of hot pinks and orange dancing all around, nature continues to show us how to use color and light and welcomes us into autumn .

In floral design, light is as important as color. Mixing this incredible collection of pastel colored flowers is only enhanced by the light in this photograph. The softness of the light allows the gentle colors to sing in a harmonious symphony. Like a chorus, each flower and their colors play their part in a soft romantic way. The Dahlias which usually are the stars of a piece are instrumental in bridging all the colors together and allowing the little dancing flowers to have their moment.

Using a variety of containers can be inspiring. This container is made out of beeswax. It’s fascinating how this natural element can be both gold and neutral at the same time providing a stage for these rich vibrant colors to truly shine. From the dark purple sweet peas and burgundy colored nine bark to the bright oranges and hot pinks, it is truly an amazing floral piece. In our episode with Christin, we talk about experimenting with various color combinations and to study how colors play off each other and work together.

Sometimes late summer can be a challenging time for wedding and event work. This time of year generously provides us with amazing colored flowers. I hear all the time how Zinnias and Cosmos are too casual for a prime time special occasion, but I think the bold colors can work to elevate floral designs by providing a depth of color and richness. Learning to blend colors within a design is an important part of the creative process which comes with practice. Bridging pinks, peaches, yellows, purples, and oranges, is not an easy task but seasonality is really our friend and helps us to accomplish this. Summer flowers are truly our companions to exciting summer works.

Carrying the eye through a design from beginning to end is testament of true talent and artful skill. Christin has pulled dried fern from the lowest point and extended them through the piece. Meanwhile poppies, ranunculus, and French tulips hold their heads up on every level. Designs like this really hold your attention and can open your eyes to the beautiful stages of a flower’s or plant’s life.

Christin Geall is a Canadian floral designer, writer, gardener, photographer, and author. Her new book, Cultivated: Elements of Floral Style(Princeton Architectural Press, 2020) is scheduled to be release sometime next spring. Trained in horticulture at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, she completed a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology and a MFA in writing before becoming a gardening columnist for Gardenista and the Black Press Group, an Adjunct professor, and designer.

Her writing and floral work focuses on the intersections of nature, culture, and horticulture. I hope you enjoyed this small collection of Christin’s work. No matter what the color palette or material, she creates stunning combinations. Taking the time to study her work, the lighting, and her passion for flowers, I hope will Cultivate your inspiration and your desire to put beauty out into the world.

Scott Shepherd

Bio, Designs, and Photographs by Christin Geall

Our guest this week is Christin Geall, owner of Cultivated by Christin. Her love of flowers and plants transcends everything she does. Christin truly cultivates inspiration. She's a Canadian floral designer, writer, gardener, photographer, and author. Scott and Christin discuss all of these areas and her new book to be released Spring of 2020.