Florals in bloom
Daffodils, tulips, azaleas, forsythia, pansies, peonies, crocuses—those April showers are already encouraging some May flowers in advance of the change in month. The world is beautiful, overflowing with its splendor most especially in these months of color and regrowth. In the last months of winter, when the decorations are packed away, we always christen our home with a vase of new tulips—a spot of freshness and vibrance in anticipation of what is happening now, all around us. I’m lucky to live in a city that has a special fondness for green spaces. Not ten minutes from our house is Sherwood Gardens, home to dozens of tulip varieties, all of them readying to bloom as we speak. The best things in life—just the sight of a few new flowers, blooming in a tended yard or a grassy highway median—really are free, aren’t they?
With flowers on the mind, I thought today would be a perfect time to talk florals! In recent years, of course, solids and subtler textures have dominated most design trends—cleaner, sparser forms and palettes occupy a lot of current space—but florals have never faded. There is something richly living about florals. They can add a variety of tones to your space: a sense of grand elegance, a burst of unexpected fun, or even a calming natural texture.
You can utilize florals, too, in every possible facet of your home. An accent chair in a floral fabric? That’d make for a great focal point in a living room! A feature wall of floral wallpaper? Sure to add a dash of eclectic maximalism to your dining area. A series of vintage-style botanical prints? Perfect to incorporate seamlessly in your kitchen decor. Florals are bold and lush. When you want to balance your space—keep a sense of cleanliness without sacrificing visual interest—the addition of a floral element can fit that niche just right.
On the topic of florals, I’d love to feature one of my favorite new floral collections: La Managerie by Bruncshwig & Fils, from Kravet.
La Managerie is full of inspired, eclectic motifs, many drawn from reimaginings of French archival textiles. Each pattern is a testament to the fun of maximalism, the joy of the spontaneous and the surprising. Bruncshwig & Fils also apply their brilliant artistic touch to six archival designs, which emerge transfigured by fresh new colorations.
The collection is featured in a series of rooms designed by celebrated interior designer Danielle Rollins, and captured in beautiful photographs by Nick Mele—you can see this lovely photo series on Kravet’s site, here. Rollins transforms the rooms of Mele’s Palm Beach home using La Menagerie textiles, drawing out their sense of wildness and freedom with strong color choices and inviting layouts. La Menagerie patterns are featured on wallpapers, fabrics, draperies, and furnishings. A home like this is a garden, ready at every turn to take you by surprise and stir your spirit.
Embracing floral elements like these—each a strong choice, conveying a striking sense of personality—can help a home identify with your authentic self. Curating a space with thought to pattern and colors, including bold ones, allows you to act freely as who you are, who you want to be, and what you want your home to say. Florals are some of the most expressive tools in the design toolbox, so don’t be afraid to use them!
Looking for a hand in planting some floral patterns in your own space? Woodside Home is here to help! Together, we can make your home blossom. Drop us a line and let’s talk.
Lean into the splendor of florals. Let the beauty of the natural world come inside and stay awhile.