The Surprising First Step I Take With Every Project – And How It Helps Me Choose Decor With Confidence

At the start of every project, I return to the same ritual: a floral arrangement. Each bouquet is more than decoration; it becomes the emotional anchor of the home to come. Living and expressive, it captures the spirit of the space before a single decision is made, quietly setting the direction for the colour palette, mood, and aesthetic that will guide every choice that follows.

Floral decorating compositions are my compass – my true north. They remind me that great design, like nature, is alive and ever-changing. Every home I create aims to feel singular yet cohesive, balanced yet bold, grounded yet expansive. These first arrangements become a touchstone for clients, a tangible reminder of where the project began and the original spark that shaped it. The flowers may be the first element to appear, but their influence lingers long after they fade.

This ritual forms the foundation of my Floral Framework philosophy: the belief that design should evolve as naturally as the landscape itself. Our homes are not meant to exist in isolation from the world outside, but in conversation with it. They should breathe with the seasons – light linens in summer, rich wools in winter, fresh florals in spring, and the warmth of harvest in autumn. Styling is never static; it shifts, grows, and renews itself, just as nature does.

In spring, our interiors awaken. The air grows softer, the light lingers a little longer, and our homes instinctively turn towards renewal. When searching for spring decor ideas, I find myself drawn to fresh whites and gentle greens, to glassware and ceramics, and to scents layered with herbal and floral notes. Textiles become lighter, surfaces are cleared, and a quiet sense of possibility moves through every room – like a visual deep breath.

Summer decorating arrives with a feeling of abundance and ease. This is the season of looseness and light: sheer curtains stirring in an open window, cool oak floors underfoot, bowls of sun-ripened tomatoes brought in from the garden. Linen bedding, woven textures, and natural fibres encourage a way of living that feels relaxed and uncontrived. The house settles into an effortless rhythm – barefoot, lived-in, and honest.

These seasonal shifts are never purely decorative. They are a gentle conversation between the home and the landscape beyond its walls, a reminder that the most beautiful interiors are those that move in step with the world outside.

As the light turns honeyed and the days begin to shorten, autumn arrives with a quiet, reassuring grace. I lean into the season’s richness – mohair and velvet, softly sculptural Scandinavian lighting, vases filled with gathered branches or late-season blooms. The palette deepens, textures grow heavier, and there’s a subtle sense of the home drawing inward, becoming more intimate and considered.

Then comes winter decorating: a pause, a hush. The house transforms into a cocoon, a place of refuge from the cold beyond its walls. Layers are added, wool rugs soften each step, candlelight flickers, and fires are lit. In winter, design moves beyond appearance and into feeling. It becomes about comfort, warmth, and restoration – a season of rest before the promise of renewal.

Floral Framework – both philosophy and practice – is an invitation: to slow down, to live in rhythm, and to allow nature to lead. When our interiors breathe with the seasons, we anchor ourselves in something far more enduring than trend or taste – the quiet, timeless beauty of change itself.

When I began designing my own Oregon country house, I returned instinctively to this ritual. I chose an arrangement by one of my favourite florists, Louis-Géraud Castor: dried sunflowers paired with a sculptural, whimsical counterpoint. It became my blueprint – a dialogue between nature and artistry, balance and soul. Every finish, fabric, and tonal choice flowed from that first arrangement, as though the bouquet itself were quietly writing the story of the home.

Through seasonality, our homes become more than spaces; they become living reflections of the natural world. The beauty lies not in perfection, but in participation – in welcoming change and finding harmony within it. I invite you to bring this sense of ritual into your own home, to embrace beauty that evolves and endures. Let these floral frameworks guide you, weaving nature’s elegance seamlessly into the spaces you live in every day.

Spring Florals and Foliage

Ranunculus – layered and romantic, the painter’s flower.

Anemones – bold centers that anchor softer blooms.

Lilac – fleeting, fragrant, nostalgic.

Sweet pea – delicate and ethereal, perfect for loose, organic arrangements.

Tulips – especially Parrot or French varieties for sculptural form.

Narcissus & daffodil – cheerful early blooms that add structure.

Apple blossom, spirea, or cherry branches – bring height and gesture.

Summer Florals and Foliage

Garden roses – fragrant, loose, nostalgic.

Hydrangea – voluptuous and architectural.

Dahlias – a centerpiece bloom with painterly structure.

Zinnias – cheerful and bold, in unexpected color mixes.

Cosmos – airy and romantic; perfect for movement.

Queen Anne’s lace – wild, lacy texture.

Mint, basil, or scented geranium foliage – add freshness and scent.

Autumn Florals and Foliage

Chrysanthemums – in smoky pinks, ochres, and rust.

Marigolds – unexpected and joyful.

Japanese anemones – delicate yet grounded.

Amaranthus – cascading texture.

Sunflowers – mature, moody, or dried for structure.

Berry branches (hypericum, viburnum, rosehip) – bring warmth and density.

Maple, oak, or fig branches – sculptural foliage that marks the turn of the season.

Winter Florals and Foliage

Paperwhites or amaryllis – elegant indoor blooms for contrast.

Hellebores – quiet, moody, and enduring.

Evergreen branches (cedar, pine, spruce) – architectural and aromatic.

Eucalyptus – for tone and texture.

Dried hydrangea or lunaria – ghostly and poetic.

Seed pods, pinecones, moss – humble materials elevated by form.