This is Really How to Make Flower Arrangements
In "60 Seconds With," ELLE Decor editor Charles Curkin chats with creatives and industry leaders, getting the scoop on their life and work in one minute or less. In this installment, he chats with Jean-Pascal Lemire, the Los Angeles-based master of floral arrangements. His beautiful work has been commissioned by fashion and jewelry brands including Tiffany, Chanel, and Dior. Lemire's one minute starts...now.
Where does your mind immediately take you before working on a floral commission?
First, I identify the message behind the client’s order. This helps me bring consistency to the overall look. Then, I think mainly about the environment that will surround the composition, where the arrangement will be placed, and what function the arrangement serves. This helps figure out the proportions of the vase and the colors to be used.
What are your favorite flowers to work with?
I love working with Sweet Pea. It’s a small flower that creates a big impact. If I feel that a bouquet starts looking too formal, adding sweet pea will brings instant lightness and luxury to the composition.
What’s the most beautiful flower to buy that won’t leave a person broke? Why?
A carnation is the most understated and beautiful flower that is unfortunately often overlooked. Any flowers in the Dianthus family such as Pinks, Sweet Williams, and Carnations is a wise choice for the purchaser seeking versatility in a flower. It can be arranged in a modern way by cutting the stems at equals lengths and placed in a graphic shaped vase or can be arranged loosely by cutting the stems in different lengths to create a very romantic look. Also, German bearded Iris are quite striking and very cheap. You can find them at your local market in June and July. Ask for the giant variety.
How important is the vase’s role in the arrangement?
The vase choice is crucial. It dictates the choice of flowers that will be showcased. As a floral designer, the vase is often the starting point of the design process.
Who makes the most interesting vases?
Lee Broom's Podium vase collection made of marble and glass is very interesting for a more contemporary aesthetic. The opposing materials and the sculptural quality of balance in his creations are exceptional. I also like the handmade porcelain vase collection of Luft Tanaka studio. Guaxs is a well-known handblown glass vase company that creates vessels of perfect shapes with openings that make flower arranging easy for the novice florist. For the best finds, the most interesting vases are found in secondhand markets and antique collectives.
Are there any more affordable vases that you recommend?
It’s all about proportion and material. I think, when shopping for vases that have an expensive look at a fair price, one must have in mind that a good vase design is practical and is serving a purpose and, in this case, it’s serving the purpose of holding and showcasing your flowers. If there are too many patterns, has a small opening, or an inconsistent shape, it takes away the ability of the designer to create and lowers the value of the vase. There are a lot of glass vases on many website that translate the essence of higher-end brands like Lalique at a low cost. The diamond solid hand-blown art glass table vase on Wayfair is a good example of an expensive look at a low price.
What’s a major no-no when it comes to arranging flowers?
Having too many different colors or no color scheme in mind is the easiest way to make a mess of flowers. Doing a little research in color theory before purchasing your flowers is a good idea. For the novice, I suggest starting with colors that are analogous, meaning they are next to each other’s on the color wheel. A good way to do a great arrangement is by extracting. Look for the main flower you would like to showcase in your design and ask yourself what color is it? A pink rose is never just pink! If you look closely, you will find some darker reds, a touch of salmon, violet, and tangerine.
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