Gotham Gardens

I know the holidays are here; and my opportunity to post dark and unusual things should have fallen in my October post. But me simply being; well me Gina. I must bring to your attention this dark yet chic arrangement by Gotham Gardens in NYC. I'm always in love with gray brazila and the white ranunculas; it's a play on morbid and organic chic. I hope you enjoy. And trust me more true holiday colors are on the way. I just love all things dark!

Calling All Event Planners

Finally an acrylic chiavari chair. Calling on all event planners. Please use this in 2010. I'm over the wood chiavari chairs. This is a fab alternative. Put down a ultra suede chair cover and you are good to go! For details see www.classicpartyrentals.com

April Reed

When I was planning my wedding back in 2006. I came across April Reed and completely fell in love with her simplistic, yet stylish designs. But she was located in NY and I was in SF. My dream would be to put in touch a wonderful bride; with this amazing cake designer. I hope you enjoy her sinful images. I cant help but to think that she would be an amazing handbag or shoe designer as well. There's something about her cakes that also read like an accessory.

Noir Couture

Ahh, noir, my favorite! Some people are just too afraid to use it in their weddings and events. Or they use it wrong. I say if you're going to use black than go big or go home. Please enjoy some delightful images. Florals are artfool aka Matthew Robbins and Marth Stewart Weddings. Cake design is April Reed. Dresses are by Marchesa, Dolce Gabbana

Le Fleur Couture Inc.

Dear Friends and Family: It was finally time. My I introduce to you... Le Fleur Couture Inc. Yes I'm an s-corp and I've finally gone out on my own; as a freelance event & interior stylist. I just want to thank all of you for your positive feedback over the years. Finally all that experience has finally paid off. I look forward to 2010 and all that it brings.

Tre Chic of the Week: Chocolate & Marigold Pallet

I'm closing out the week with a color that use to make me cringe, marigold. But these two amazing creations by Amorology is making me rethink this color. Not sure if I'm just tired, but I'm loving these even more styled against the leather brown chair. I feel like I need to pour myself a glass of great scotch like Lagavulin and walk down the aisle with these fab fleurs. Doesnt scotch and these bouquets pair well together!

Those Brits Know It All

These vases from LSA International are making me want to max my credit cards. I'm loving the opague vases right now; and yes dont kill me because; I love black the most. But seriously these vases have a clean simple shape and the right perportions; which is always key in great flower arranging. But get ready to pay ero pricing because these bad asses are in the U.K

Le Fleuriste: Sandra De Ovando

Today I'm adding Mexican designer Sandra De Ovando to my list of Le Fleuriste. She has a love of bold colors. Her arrangements are elegant and artsy.When you count Armani, Gucci, Hermes, and the Gansevoort and W hotels as clients, you know you’re in a special class of haute-floral design. Working with flowers since her childhood in Mexico, Sandra De Ovando has grown her NYC West Village floral boutique, Ovando, into a work of art that has attracted a clientele that reads as a who's who of the fashion industry. Her arrangements start at $150. I'm truly lusting over the arrangement second to the bottom. A lush arrangemet of Gloriousa Lilys, and Red Peonies. Just a little side note about peonies, they are one of my favorite fleur due to their every-changing form.

Design on a Dime

I'm loving this economy conscious table arrangement. Using the ever so inexpensive Carnation. ($2.00 a stem retail) While Carnations clustered together by the same color has been a trend for a while. The fade of a color group is something that you will start to see a lot more of in 2010. I will for sure post more color fades soon!!

I Dream of Style

So I was walking the streets of North Beach, SF; minding my own business when I stumbled upon this window display of amazing handbags. No these are not the latest Fall handbags from Hermes, Gucci or Balenciaga. These are actually cakes. Yes ladies those are cakes; from fab cake designer Shinmin Li owner of I dream of cake
While this blog is about fab fleurs; it is called Le Fleur Couture; and couture is what these cakes are all about. I mean how could I resist! Seriously check out her website she does some amazing things!!!

Grand Chocolat

Well I've waited, and waited, and waited; for the time I could put something dark and yummy on my blog. Well wait no further; it's chocolate cosmo season and I'm in love. The dark gorgious cosmo melts my heart. But when I go down deep and smell the scent of the cosmo; it takes my lust for flowers into a different universe. If you ladies think that your floral arranging can get by through fall without these sinfull items; than think again. I really am on the brink of wanting to open a floral studio that is full of dark morbid flowers. And you know what? I think there is a market for it. Enjoy the above; but more dark fleurs are on their way!

Fruit and Herbs

When I see a bouquet like this, it truly confirms that quitting my job and going into the floral world was a great decision. This bouquet of fiddle fern, rosemary, immature blackberry, jasmine, white anemones with navy blue centers. (Yes that's right navy blue; which is rare in the floral wold.) Is truly fab. What I love is the texture, the dramatic darkness of the centers of the anemones; pared with the blackberries. This is floral arranging at it's best. Play around with herbs and flowers. You will be greatly surprised how better your arranging gets. Herb arrangements are great for lunch or dinner party's. They are low cost and look great when even simple grouped together.

I'm Lusting After Japanese Anemone

Well I've awaken from the dead. Or a bad case of food poison; take your pick. It was like death warmed over. The only thing that's made me happy today is to think about tomorrow when I will return to work and be able to stare at the bountiful rows of Japanese Anemones that are growing in my bosses back yard.

To say that the Japanese Anemone is one of the best fall flowers would be an understatement-it is the best. Here is a plant and flower with real charm, refinement, and sophistication.

While I would love to show you some fab floral arrangements of this flower, no floral designer dares to put them in their arrangements; because they wont last. Unless your a daredevil like my boss and grow them yourself, cut them and put them directly into an arrangement.

I will try to get some pics of the Japanese Anemones that we are doing at the French Laundry; but for now pare this with hot, and cool pinks along with some dusty miller if your dark like me. Or alone for the most impact.

FYI: My favorit part of the Japanese Anemone isnt the flower, but the little buds before they pop; so modern and fresh.

Granola Chic

Sorry about the delay in posting. I just worked 3 weeks straight on weddings. Great images to come soon. But with all the roses and hydrangea that I've been arranging with; I though it would be great and take a step back to look at the simple things in the floral world. I call it granola chic. Yes it's everywhere these days; simple earthy arrangements. Using a lot of succulents or orchids is normal the way to play it. However, never be afraid to stop on the side of the road to find something amazing like the bouqet above. But you also must find the right salvaged or natural container. I would say www.roostco.com is the best source for these containers; also www.barreveld.com is another great source. But keep in mind these are wholesalers, so get that resale # ready.

My Lust for Cockcomb

Cockscomb flowers are also known as Wool Flowers or Brain Celosia, suggestive of a highly colored brain. The flowers belong to the amaranth family. Cockscomb Flower blooms from late summer through late fall. But we've been getting our hands on them now in pale green; which I love mixed with any type of pod. This truly is one of my fav's for the intense colors and the pure saturation of color within the brain/bud.

Haute Couture Show Wrap Up

Well my eye's welled up and I almost shed a tear. Yesterday was the last of the Fall-Winter 2010 Paris Haute Couture Shows. Above are more of my fav's. It's the usual suspects above, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy. I'm truly at a loss for words on how I respond to these images. Well almost a loss for words. These shows and the creativity that pours out of each one is so unbelievable. This truly is an art that is becoming lost. With the generations of hand made ateliers being at it's all time low. The craft that these people have; isn't being passed down and technics are being lost. Enjoy while you can; because true Haute Couture will disappear soon.

Petal To The Metal

I'm usually not a big fan of silver vases, but when done in a different patina; to look more like a rustic metal; I start to become intrigued. While the above table arrangement is better suited for early spring; I just fell in love with it and had to post it. Flowers, from front: yellow cattelay orchids: lemon phales; mini cattelay orchids; calla lillies; with parrot tulips, lady slipper orchids; and ranunculus. The designer has already hit it big with Oprah; so he's not worth mentioning.

Très Chic of the Week

This wedding was so much fun to work on. (Yes I work for Kathy Hoffman Flowers) We had a great time working with our clients antique milk glass collection. We wanted soft garden feel yet modern; especially considering the backdrop for this event was the simple yet posh Carneros Inn, Napa Ca. I don't normal give props to wedding coordinators on this blog (this blog is dedicated to the promotion of great floral designers) but since I work with Ms. Rebecca Feeney founder/owner of Custom Event Group and she rocks it out always; I will give her some post space.