Interior design should always be checked, and then the preference of the guests, before I order the flowers and look around at the colours in the interior areas. Then, I can play around with the flowers. For the theme table, I have my own system for which theme colours should be used. For example, if I think about Capri, what colors come to mind are yellow, blue, and green. Then, I will choose those to put on the table.
Superyacht Interiors: The Art Of Flower Arranging
One of your primary responsibilities as a Superyacht stewardess/steward is to create an exceptional guest experience. One way to impress guests is through beautiful and captivating flower arrangements. A stunning flower arrangement can transform any interior space into a welcoming and luxurious environment. However, creating a visually appealing display requires a bit of skill and knowledge of the art of flower arranging, also known as ‘Ikebana’. In this article we explore some tips and tricks to creating unforgettable displays. We also spoke to Create With Claus to learn about his method and tips for stewardesses who want to flourish in floristry.
The 9 principles of flower arranging
There are 9 elements of design that you need to consider: light, space, line, form, pattern, texture, and size. The principles of design are balance, dominance, contrast, rhythm, proportion, and scale.
Before you start flower arranging, it’s essential to choose the right blooms. Selecting the right blooms will make the difference between a beautiful and lackluster arrangement. You should consider the color, texture, and size of the flowers to create a cohesive and visually appealing display. It’s also crucial to choose blooms that are in season and appropriate for the environment. For example, if your yacht is cruising in the tropics, you might consider using bright, tropical blooms like hibiscus or bougainvillea. Alternatively, if you’re sailing in a cooler climate, you might choose flowers that are more subdued in color and texture, like roses or hydrangeas.
Choosing the right vase or container
The next step is to choose the right vase or container. The vase or container should complement the flowers and the interior decor of the yacht. You can choose from a variety of containers, including glass vases, ceramic pots, or metal containers. It’s essential to choose a vase or container that is the appropriate size for the flowers you’ve selected. If the vase or container is too small, the flowers will be crowded, and if it’s too large, the flowers will look sparse and out of place.
Once you’ve chosen the blooms and the vase or container, it’s time to start arranging the flowers. There are several techniques that you can use to create a visually appealing display, including:
- The Rule of Three: This is a simple technique that involves arranging flowers in groups of three. This technique creates a balanced and visually appealing display.
- The Dome Shape: This technique involves arranging flowers in a dome shape, with the largest blooms in the center and smaller blooms around the edges.
- The Line Technique: This technique involves arranging flowers in a straight line. This technique works well for long tables or narrow spaces.
- The Cluster Technique: This technique involves grouping flowers of the same type together in clusters. This technique creates a cohesive and visually appealing display.
It’s also essential to consider the height of the flowers when arranging them. Taller flowers should be placed towards the center of the arrangement, and shorter flowers should be placed towards the edges.
A Guide to Ikebana Flower Arranging
Ikebana is the centuries-old Japanese art of arranging flowers. The practice, which roughly translates to “making flowers come alive,” uses carefully selected blossoms, greenery and other flora to convey a specific feeling or emotion to an observer – just as a painting or sculpture might.
“If a petal happens to fall into the water, then so be it. It’s all part of the Japanese notion of wabi-sabi, the Buddhist belief that there’s beauty in imperfection.”
This Japanese flower arranging has a minimalist aesthetic, and choosing each piece is as important as the final composition itself. The process is deliberate and reflective. In fact, many of the principles of the KonMari Method™ apply to ikebana flower arrangement – specifically, honing in on what sparks joy.
Holly Carlisle – a floral artist based in Birmingham, Alabama, and founder of ROSEGOLDEN Design Studio – creates beautiful, ikebana-inspired arrangements, and she offered advice on how to make your own ikebana flower arrangements at home.
“Acknowledging and appreciating seasonal changes is fundamental to ikebana,” explains Holly. “Arrangements should be regarded as a reflection of a specific moment in time – a snapshot or portrait paying reverence to the season.”
To make your own ikebana flower arrangement, Holly suggests starting with a walk around your neighborhood to collect items that speak to you. Ask yourself, “What response is this sparking? Curiosity? Interest? Joy? The feeling of wanting to touch it?” Let those emotions guide your choices. Besides flowers, you might also reach for a pretty leaf, a few blades of grass, a branch or a twig. In Japanese flower arrangements, nothing is off limits.
Once you have a collection of items, it’s time to start putting things together. Most Japanese flower arrangements include only about 5 to 13 stems – the culling process can be challenging. “I find that to be the hardest part,” Holly confesses. “When people see many beautiful things, it can be overwhelming to decide what they want to express.”
To get past that feeling, Holly recommends picking up one stem that speaks loudly to you — one you know you want to include in your ikebana flower arrangement — and “shopping it around” with the others. “Put that item next to other things to see what relationships you find. Do you see some kind of unity? Similar colors? Or another type of harmony? If you’re not seeing anything complementary, go in another direction.”
The KonMari Method™ — and Marie’s philosophy of kurashi — can help at this step. “When you tidy your clothing, you’re letting go of items that don’t serve you – and expressing gratitude. Apply that mentality to flowers, too,” Holly says. “Say you look at a branch that’s very compelling, but you have to cut it to make it work in your piece. Acknowledge it, thank it for its beauty and service, and then chop chop.” Remember that the items you select for your arrangement don’t have to be perfect. Crooked stems and uneven shapes are all welcome!
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Next, it’s time to compose your pieces in a vessel. Unlike traditional western arrangements, which try to hide the “mechanics” of the design, Japanese ikebana floral arrangements highlights it. The vessel is often shallow, and it relies on what’s called a kenzan (or flower frog), with pins pierced through the base of the stems to hold everything in desired position. The water in the kenzan is simply another element in the piece — and if a petal happens to fall into the water, then so be it. It’s all part of the Japanese notion of wabi-sabi, the Buddhist belief that there’s beauty in imperfection.
While different types of vessels carry different meanings – a bronze dish, for example, represents the earth – Holly recommends not getting bogged down by the need to understand every tenet of the craft of Japanese floral arranging. “People should feel free to approach ikebana-inspired floral arrangements in their own way,” she says. “Use a bud vase or a ceramic bowl if that’s what you have.” The same principle applies to the design process. Ikebana’s roots date back to seventh-century Japan – when flowers were given as an offering to the Buddha – and there are now thousands of Japanese ikebana “schools” that train and certify their own ikebana masters. That’s why Holly reinforces that her work is ikebana-inspired; she is not a master – she has her own take on the craft. “I think of ikebana as something to experience and explore. It’s about finding beauty in all of nature and expressing that admiration.”
As you experiment with ikebana at home, remember that the process is just as important as the end-result. “It’s all about slowing down, taking things one at a time,” says Holly. “It’s great practice for life in general!”
Photos by Sophia Moreno-Bunge for KonMari Media, Inc.
