There's nothing quite like a bouquet of fresh flowers to add style to your home or business. Whether picked from your garden, bought at a farmers' market, grocery store, or designed by a florist, flowers bring joy and beauty to any space.
We chatted with Tina D’Agostino, owner of Blooms Flower Studio in Westfield about the many ways in which flowers can be arranged – no matter the season or the reason. She creates arrangements she delivers weekly to residential and business clients; she designs wedding flowers and arrangements for dinner parties, corporate and private events, or for any occasion at all. Blooms also has a wine shop in the studio, so clients can add a bottle or two of wine to their floral delivery.
Another aspect of her business is creating arrangements for branded events, photo shoots, product shots and advertising.
Creating floral installations at restaurants and other businesses is among Tina's favorite ways to express creativity and style with flowers. “When you see pots of flowers outside or inside the door of a business, it says ‘welcome.’"
Tina notes that having flowers in your home or business is easy and affordable at this time of year. “September is prime time for cut flowers,” she adds. Think Amaranthus, dahlias, wildflowers, sunflowers, and mums – all in gorgeous, vibrant colors.
Some of Tina’s other favorites to add to arrangements in late summer into fall are ornamental kale and peppers. “I like using these with ornamental grasses for a lot of flair,” she says.
As summer winds down, Tina recommends transitioning outdoor pots to fall flowers, such as mums and decorative kale, and for the holidays, fill pots with greenery and berries.
For indoor fall arrangements, Tina likes toffee and cappuccino roses, which offer a warm palette. Decorative kale is a favorite element that she likes to add for a luxurious autumn. “It has a high petal count, more like a rose, but different," she explains, adding that she likes to include unique things that make arrangements stand out.
For those who like to create their own arrangements, there are easy ways to add floral style to your home or office. Having a vase of flowers on your office desk can brighten your workspace and offer a bit of stress relief. At home, flowers on the dining room table or kitchen counter add color and style.
Tina usually has flowers on her kitchen countertop, which, she says, allows her to start her day with beauty.
When creating a DIY arrangement, Tina advises less is more, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money. For example, she suggests putting a bunch of sunflowers in a tall vase, or cut the stems and put a few in a smaller vase. Another simple and low-cost option Tina likes is a bunch of eucalyptus in a vase without any flowers. “It’s pretty and it has a lovely fragrance,” she adds.
When styling for a party or event, Tina suggests placing small arrangements throughout the space.
How can you take an everyday grocery store bouquet and make it more elegant? Tina shares this tip: separate the flowers and group them by color for a monochromatic look. And while most people tend to eschew carnations, Tina says when you pull out the center, it looks more like a Lisianthus, which is a much more expensive flower.
It’s OK to break the rules, according to Tina. “If you like a crazy color combination, go for it – whatever makes you happy.”
Blooms Flower Studio
The Mill at Crane Pond, Westfield
bloomsflowertruck.com
413-287-7996
“When you see pots of flowers outside or inside the door of a business, it says ‘welcome.’"