Photographs by Rachel Carter Photography
Gearing up for a holiday party or home tour requires next-level planning and design. Fortunately, when Michele and Ross Hunter were asked to open their Twickenham home for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild Silver Tea, the owners knew to call floral artist Charlotte Wessel. Her eye for timeless and classical holiday floral arrangements with just enough of a twist would be perfect for their new, historically-referenced home and modern interiors.
Working with a neutral, crisp interior scheme by designer Dana Wolter, Charlotte chose to highlight the architecture and design with a rosy peach color palette. “Peach, apricot, and salmon are my favorite flower colors. I use them in almost every project I can,” Charlotte says. “They are great bridge colors for pink, they complement blue, and they can be moody.”
Selecting from the owner’s containers, along with a few of her own, Charlotte says it’s important to let a homeowner’s style shine. “Designing in a home is different than a venue design,” she says. “I want it to feel thoughtful and planned—not like someone called and ordered five arrangements in the same vase and they were just dropped off. I love using something they own or a piece that is special to them, but it’s also important to have the right size, shape, and color. Michele was so generous with letting me get creative. I also really like her style.”
The Importance of Color in Holiday Floral Design
Charlotte worked with flowers in varying shades of apricot for the majority of her arrangements, mixing an abundance of ranunculus; cut and growing amaryllis flown in from Holland; and a selection of roses including Champagne, Kahala, Juliet, and Tiffany roses, as well as Saraha spray roses. A bright red bloom here and there adds punchy vibrancy. Dried citrus and velvet ribbons in a range of tones expand the analogous palette.
Incorporating Greenery into Holiday Floral Designs
“I love to enhance a space using just greenery as I did with the arrangements on the demilune tables. They are some of my all-time favorites,” Charlotte says. “I was initially going to add some amaryllis, but once we got the greenery in place, I decided it would be too much.” If you do add flowers, Charlotte advises pulling them out when they fade and just enjoying the greenery. Most fresh greenery will last the season, but some, like the olive wreaths, dry beautifully.
How to Combine Greenery and Flowers for Stunning Holiday Decor
Charlotte’s greenery includes winged elm, magnolia (teddy bear and little gem), short and long needle pine, cedar, and fir—and always nandina leaves and berries. Bare branches provide additional height, interest, and structure. “I have a thing for branches,” she says. “I love their curves. I also like short needle pine branches with the little pinecones attached to the branch.”
Tips for a Vibrant Floral Display
Charlotte orders cut flowers but also forces her to bulbs. “This year, I had seven different colors, and some did better than others.” She acknowledges the difference in bulb quality and cost. “There is a huge difference in pricing of amaryllis bulbs. I do like the ones from the box stores, and they are less expensive. But they are not the same as the ones you will get from a local nursery. Most of the nursery varieties have double blooms and will continue to bloom after the holidays.”
Smart Floral Installation Tips for Stunning Holiday Decor
Be mindful about hanging flowers. “In my house, I’ll put a nail almost anywhere to hold something, but I can’t do that in most clients’ homes,” Charlotte says. Her advice? Opt for suction cups with hooks, as well as oasis cages to hold the flowers. Be sure the oasis cages are fully soaked but no longer dripping water. Ribbon and twine are usually enough to secure arrangements.
Choosing Between Foraged and Faux Greenery for Holiday Floral Arrangements
“I learned from the best at an early age to cut my greenery. My mom always kept clippers in her station wagon,” Charlotte says. “You just have to know where you can forage and what’s off-limits.” Charlotte has generous friends who allow her to cut from their yards, and she’s never afraid to hit off-the-beaten- path spots with overgrown eleagnus or other greenery. For large swaths of garlands, the designer doesn’t eschew faux but takes care to enhance them with fresh cuts.
Resources
Floral design: Charlotte Wessel, Buckets and Blooms Architect: Frank Nola, Nola | VanPeursem Architects, PC Builder: William Lemaster, Lemaster Construction Interior design: Dana Wolter Interiors Art in window: Craig Green, available through Design Supply
