Everything has its season. Some seasons are about function, others about form, all are useful, and... most are beautiful with the right perspective.
Christy Metz has experienced life’s seasons and it has given her perspective to see the beauty in what others might consider mundane.
Architecture in the Arrangements
The blush, yellow and orange of the ranunculus play off of the changing colors of the smokebrush leaves and set the tone for fall. The echinacea and peony pods are pockets of raw beauty–everything can still be beautiful beyond its time and useful beyond its prime. The kale is an unexpected use of something generally considered useful, challenging its typical role at a table, allowing it to just be beautiful. The hydrangea from her personal garden fills in the space with bunches of tiny flowers, each unique in its own right and all in separate phases of existence. The black bachelor’s buttons add a depth and mimic a void, drawing focus until the delicacy of each petal warms the eye to the purpose of the spray.
Moving from micro to macro, the visual is of highs and lows, lights and darks, detail and texture. There is architecture in this arrangement. The brightly colored bowl peeks out from under the floral grouping and sets on the textured table runner. A fig sets on top of a hand-hewn acacia wood plate, pulling colors from the centerpieces into each personal setting. The iron in the taper candle holders mimics that of the utensils at each setting. The napkins draw upon the runner. The glassware adds a refinement as does the wine at each setting. It is as deep as the black buttons and pairs perfectly with the cheeses chosen and placed as an appetizer to start the tasting experience.
It's a vision of rustic elegance.
A tablescape is a living representation of the setting a host is staging for his or her guests. Whether the guests are familiar with each other or not, the tablescape sets a tone and serves as a medium for the overall experience. It can be a background or it can be a talking point, often times it’s both.
Bringing a Vision to Life
Christy Metz grew up in Colorado Springs and has a deep connection with the mountains. She remembers exploring the woods as a child and foraging for all sorts of treasures. She grew up and studied fine art, drawing and painting. That led to her working in the graphic design field. As the years passed, she got married, had kids, painted furniture and ended up moving to Chicago. As her kids spent more time out of the home, she picked up a job at a local flower shop. It was run by three ladies who had worked in the fashion world developing floral arrangements for fashion shows including Neiman Marcus, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton.
When she moved back to Colorado Springs seven years ago, she worked on building her brand on Instagram. Starting with weddings and a few smaller jobs, she has built relationships and tablescapes for Garden of the Gods Resort and the Fine Arts Center. She still loves the process of meeting with a client, getting a vision and then working what they have into a background and a tone for their event. It adds a uniqueness and personalization to the experience the host is providing for their guests.
As the season for holiday hosting is amplified, Metz reminds hosts to keep it simple.
Usually, a three-color palate is a good foundation and try to bring the outside in; herbs are a great way to do this and tickle the olfactory system in the process. She encourages using what is available as this process lends itself to being quite sustainable. Play with height for architectural reasons, but be mindful that guests will need to converse over the décor.
For those who would rather let Metz come in and create the ambiance on their behalf, she can be reached through Instagram or via email at metzchristy3@gmail.com.
Website: https://www.christymetzdesign.com/
Instagram: @ChristyMetzDesign