Award-Winning Florist Paula Rooney Shares Her Top Flower Arrangement Tips
Renowned British luxury florist Paula Rooney talks to us about her interior style and shares her top flower arrangements tips for you to try at home…
What are the best blooms for the home in summer?
For me I love to start the season off with some gorgeous scented peonies. Then as summer moves on I love using bright pops of hydrangea and having vases of scented stocks around the home.
What are your three top tips for creating a flower arrangement?
1) Choose a container that balances with the flowers, so it is only a 1/3 of the height.
2) Personally when it comes to color I prefer to mix and match shades and tones from the same color so you create an almost omber effect with the flowers in the arrangement.
3) Try not to put too many different varieties of flowers within the arrangement for simple elegance (unless you are really going for a wild English countryside vibe).
How would you describe your home style and what is your favorite room in your home and why?
I like my home to be very neutral and calm with lots of earthy tones. It helps to clear my mind. If I feel playful or my mood changes then I bring in pops of color or seasonal nods with accessories and flowers. My favorite room is the lounge because it's a great family space that leads out onto the garden/decking area which is such a gorgeous space to relax in when the sun is shining.
What’s your favorite type of event / space to style with florals and why? And do you have a career highlight that you can share with us?
I love blank canvases, so a white or glass marquee is perfect. You don't have to worry about hiding 'ugly' design features such as doorways or radiators. I love creating a really impactful and beautiful statement design in these spaces which wows guests and really helps bring the space alive. I have lots of career highlights but the one that stands out most to me is when I did the flowers for the wedding of a Japanese supermodel and she was blown away by the floral installations we created for her wedding at Cliveden.
What do you enjoy most about running your business and what has been your career highlight so far?
My favorite part of running my business is when I get to see the couples I work with faces as they enter the wedding reception/breakfast area. Up to this point they have both been focused on the ceremony but the reception is a time when they can relax and take everything in.
Seeing their faces as they enter the room and see their vision is always my highlight of the day. I often hear how what they are seeing is so much better than what they expected and exceeds all their expectations. Getting that feedback makes all the late nights, early mornings and buildup to the event worth it.
How do you update your interior for the summer?
I love adding more plants to my home, vases of bright coral peonies or bright pink hydrangea and then of course lots of gorgeously scented summer candles that help complement the scents of the flowers.I also love having bowls of fruit out - very natural, bright and fresh!
What are the key floral trends for the rest of the year?
I think as lockdown eases more and more we will see people wanting to have more fun and play. This world crisis has made us all take a deeper look at our lives and I think more and more people are valuing their time and having more joy in their lives. I think florals will follow and we will see more seasonal, organic, playful and relaxed styles of arrangements. But I think people will still want to have the big, impactful designs that will wow and really lift their wedding space to a new level.
How would you spend your perfect day off?
My perfect day would start with a long walk on Mudeford Beach and then taking the ferry over to Hembry Island where we would sit and have lunch and drinks. I would stay until sunset and just enjoy being near the sea and outside in nature.
Watch this space for an exclusive collaboration with Paula, coming soon to AMARA.