Barefoot Contessa host Ina Garten has spent decades shaping our culinary habits, but recently, she extended her influence to our kitchen and dining tables. The result is just as aesthetic as we might have hoped.
The celebrated cook shared a look inside her Hamptons home, or more specifically, her kitchen tablescape, where she exhibits her pink, orange, and yellow ranunculus. However, while we may have initially opted to gather our flowers in one large container, Ina encourages us to spread our blooms across multiple smaller vases for a beautiful alternative.
'Instead of making one big arrangement, it's so much easier to make small vases of flowers and just move them around until they look right,' Ina says.
When decorating with flowers, it can be natural to opt for 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 blooms around our table (and our homes).
Ina chose painted ceramic vases from Brooklyn-based artist Melissa Goldstein, who owns Mg by hand. The artist, according to her website, is inspired by '17th-century German and Japanese botanical illustrations' that 'draw on numerical calligraphy, botanical drawings, and ornithology.'
These vases will look beautiful on our Thanksgiving table, paired with some white pumpkins and some candles of our choice. And Ina isn't alone in her teaching. Florist Gail Smith, in discussion with glassware experts at LSA International, emphasizes the importance of finding the right-sized vase (which, in some cases, involves going smaller).
Gail Smith is a London-based florist and founder of her eponymous studio, who has worked on projects in some of the UK's most beautiful historical buildings. Her portfolio includes the Natural History Museum, the Royal Academy, and the National Gallery.
'I'd recommend having a choice of vases when arranging a floral bouquet,' Gail explains. 'A bunch of pink tulips could look amazing in one vase and rather disappointing in another. Vases whose neck is narrower than the base of the vase are the easiest to arrange in.'
After choosing the correct shape, Gail recommends we clean the vase to stop any bacteria from killing our flowers, and a dirty vase can ruin the look of a beautiful bouquet. We should also always remember to cut the ends to ensure our flowers last longer.
'Lastly, consider selecting a variety of flower shapes to mix together, for example, circles, trumpet, and spire shapes,' the florist says.
As mentioned, Mg by hand is the place to go for Ina's vases, but we've also found some similar alternatives below.
As we start to plan our Thanksgiving decor (and then, of course, Christmas), Ina's floral arrangement tips couldn't come at a better time. We will always love the grandeur of an abundant flower arrangement, but this tip will encourage us to play more outside the box and allow our flowers to make an impact in even more places than one.
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