Contessa Barefoot Host Ina Garten has spent decades shaping our culinary habits, but she’s recently expanded her influence to our kitchens and dining tables. The result is just as aesthetic as we hoped.
The celebrity chef shared a look inside her Hamptons home, or more specifically, her kitchen table, showcasing pink, orange, and yellow ranunculus. However, while we may have initially chosen to collect our flowers in one large container, Ina encourages us to spread our flowers out over several smaller vases for a beautiful alternative.
“Instead of making one big arrangement, it’s much easier to make small vases of flowers and move them around until they look just right,” says Ina.
When decorating with flowers, it may be natural to choose a large vase and create one statement piece. However, while these arrangements will always have their place, Ina reminds us that sometimes, it’s okay to spread the beauty of our flowers around our table (and our homes).
Ina chose painted ceramic vases from Brooklyn-based artist Melissa Goldstein, who owns Mg Handmade. The artist, according to her website, is inspired by “17th-century German and Japanese botanical illustrations” which “draws on digital calligraphy, botanical drawings, and ornithology.”
These vases would look beautiful on your Thanksgiving table, along with some white pumpkins and some candles of our choice. And Ina is not alone in her teaching. Florist Jill Smith, in discussion with glassware experts at LSA International, stresses the importance of finding the right sized vase (which, in some cases, requires downsizing).
Gail Smith is a London-based florist and founder of her eponymous studio, and has worked on projects in some of the UK’s most beautiful historic buildings. Its portfolio includes the Natural History Museum, the Royal Academy and the National Gallery.
(Image credit: West Elm)
“I recommend choosing vases when arranging a bouquet,” explains Gail. ‘A group of pink tulips may look stunning in one vase and somewhat disappointing in another. Vases whose necks are narrower than the base of the vase are the easiest to arrange.’
After choosing the right shape, Gail recommends cleaning the vase to prevent any bacteria from killing our flowers, and a dirty vase can ruin the look of a beautiful bouquet. We must also always remember to trim the ends to ensure that our flowers last longer.
“Finally, consider choosing a variety of flower shapes to mix together, for example, circles, trumpets, and spires,” the florist says.
As mentioned earlier, Mg Handmade is the place to buy Ina vases, but we’ve also found some similar alternatives below.
Antique blue and white jug
Mate Dollar Vase painted
As we start planning our Thanksgiving decor (and then Christmas, of course), Ina’s floral arranging tips couldn’t come at a better time. We will always love the grandeur of a bountiful flower arrangement, but this tip will encourage us to play outside the box more and let our flowers make an impact in more than one setting.
