Gratitude Flowers (because you need a change from 2016)

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Toby Roberts

We often take the wonderful gifts of nature for granted. Mother Earth, has provided us with the most beautiful “jewels” that come in various colours and smells. Psychologically, we associate with most flowers for they tend to change the mood we are in; indeed one simple act of presenting a loved one with a flower, can turn their ‘rainy’ day into a ‘sunny’ one. Why do we neglect these glorious beauties?

Some cultures take flowers seriously. They’re more than just some decorations in your room or garden additions. They represent beauty, energy, purity, and symbolize love, affection and happiness.

Considering how much terror, hatred and cruelty this past year has given us, it’s only wise we turn towards things that make us feel happier. We need to act different in order to change our worrisome and negative personalities into pure kind ones. Call it meditation or prayer; it doesn’t matter. One of the things you need to do, is simply pick a flower and give it to somebody you care.

In 1969 in Woodstock, love saw no barriers and the message against wars was evident. It was also obvious that their signs and faces were covered in flowers, literally. But should we remember the purest things on Earth only when we feel the anger and evil around us? TBR urges you in 2017 to make room for more love in your lives and it all starts with gratitude.

This is why, we call January our gratitude month. A month to pick your most favourite flowers and create a bouquet for the person/people you love or even strangers on the street.

Make a change today, will you?

Some Gratitude Flowers and Facts.

Azalea

These are also known as the Garden Royals.

They need specific acidic soil to blossom.

With over 10k different types, all looking similar, it’s hard to tell them apart.

They have their own festival in Japan and Korea.

Campanula (Harebell)

This word means small bell in greek.

They can survive for more than 2 years in the wild.

it was the primary source for blue dye in the past

Hydrangea.

They can grown almost everywhere in the world and there’s about 80 species of them

In Asia, if you give somebody pink hydrangea that means you’re in love with them.

They’re highly toxic

DARK PINK ROSE

This is the most common gratitude flower. We suggest a beautiful bouquet with hydrangeas, and dark pink roses for a sign of gratitude. It might not change the world, but it will change somebody’s day.

We’ve been busy – TBR Xmas Installations

Posted on December 19, 2016 by Toby Roberts

It’s that time of the year again, when our team comes up with the best floral design ideas for each venue with collaborate with.

We’ve been very lucky to have had this amazing clientele over the years, and we are grateful that they allow us to be creative on their behalf.

Our clients mean the world to us, therefore it’s never a hard task to put their Christmas installation together each year.

It’s time for us to reveal what we’ve been up to these last couple of weeks.

Besides getting organised for next year (and the amazing plans we have prepared for you), we’ve been turning some of our clients’ venues, into their own amazing wonderland. Each and every one of them, bespoke. We want each installation to inspire and tell a story, therefore we always create based on location and interior design.

One Great George Street

To dress a place such as “One Great George Street”, you simply ought to match your design with the impeccable interiors of this striking venue. This year, we’ve chosen a 12-ft Christmas tree and dressed it with primarily white and silver ornaments. Along with crystal chandeliers and disco balls, to create a more festive theme. we’ve also attached 14 foot white glitter painted birch trees on each one of the pillars.

We liked the extravagance with the OGG library tree that contained more than 1000 ornaments.

The lobby and restaurant consisted of black, purple and silver decorations, finished with ice-cool lights.

Gielly Green Hair Salon

Dressing one of London best hair salons means to create an amazing first impression when you walk past this beautiful Marylebone establishment.

Green garlands and lots of festive decorations with gold feathers, baubles, cones and glow lights seem to make a difference.

The hourable Society of Lincolns inn

This stunning venue has been dressed with orange, bronze and brown colours. To create a more dramatic effect, we’ve added some gold elements.

Fishmongers group

This venue became brighter when we used purple, gold ornaments with some lime green elements.

Silver Sturgeon

With a amazing theme of northern lights, we really wanted to make this installation stand out, as the experience of seeing the arrangement in person, was breathtaking. We’ve used painted roses, iridescent baubles and snow green foliage.
The vases really captured the vision of this place’s design.

Have you created an outstanding Christmas installation you’d like us to feature on our blog and social platforms? Give us a shout at toby@tbrfloraldesign.co.uk

3 Christmas decorative plants for this season.

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Toby Roberts

Plants have always helped celebrate a natural phenomenon; you’ll see this even today in Africa, South America or New Zealand, where locals use plants to welcome winter, longer days or rain. In tradition. plants help decorate towns, “glorify” Gods and even ward off evil spirits.

Holly, ivy and mistletoe, have been associated with Christmas decoration for more than two millennia and today, their main use is for completing the overall Christmas setting.

These plants (besides the aforementioned ones), can be used to mix & match and create your own touch this festive season. Along with decorative support such as tinsel, baubles, ostrich feathers and unusual (unique) ornaments – you may be just a step away from creating a memorable experience for your guests.

Poinsettia

This plant can last throughout the Christmas season and can be replanted for next year. When choosing your poinsettia make sure you pick the one with the darkest green foliage.

Place them somewhere where it doesn’t get too hot or too cold. The ideal temperature should be 12-15 degrees celcius, because it is a tropical flower.

If you want to reflower this, just cut the flower in March and keep the stems up to 6 inches. Repot and keep outside.

Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera)

This is a very easy plant to care for. It’s called Christmas cactus because it thrives from November to January. They die in direct sunlight but they prefer a slightly colder atmosphere. If cared properly, this plant can become a part of your family, for it can live up to 20 or 30 years!

Just like you, it needs its beauty sleep, but slightly longer (14 hours a day).

Cranberry

Cranberry doesn’t look great as a part of the Christmas installation/setting only, but it also can add more flavour to your Christmas dinner.

You can grow cranberries and enjoy their antioxidant abilities but also create a beautiful atmosphere. In a jar, glue on the bottom some rosemary leaves and spray them on top with glitter (very gently). Let it dry, then fill the jar with water, before you add cranberries and a floating white candle. Place a few of these jars on your fireplace or Christmas table to make a good impression.

Have an amazing Christmas setting? Send us your arrangements at toby@tbrfloraldesign.co.uk for a chance to see your creations featured on our blog and social media.

Close up of red poinsettia flowers

2 Christmas flower arrangements for your loved ones.

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Toby Roberts

Christmas is getting even closer now. Perhaps it’s time to consider the kind of gifts you would like to buy before it’s too late. But don’t sweat much – we believe, a great gift when you’re invited to a Christmas dinner at your parents or grandparents’ house, is a well-put together flower arrangement.

Over the years, we have created many Christmas arrangements. Here is a couple of tips on how to recreate a few of them.

The Christmas Feast

In a vase, place a round foam board and start by pinning pine needles. Then add red roses but make sure the first few petals are removed, because they aren’t the most vibrant in colour. Add pine cones (but don’t over do it) and you may choose a different colour flower for contrast. Take a few cinnamon sticks and wrap them together in red thread before placing them on top of roses.

The Elegant

This is a very simple one but can give the feeling of ambiance. In another silver or white vase add foam board, then cover with cotton before pinning down some branches who you have previously sprayed in glittery silver, grey or white paint. On top, add white roses or/and gardenias and finish with a few similarly coloured baubles.

TBR Christmas Tree Ideas (Because you’ve asked for it)

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Toby Roberts

Thank you so much for entering our contest. We’re delighted to see how many of you have liked our contest photo and have shown a true interest in our kind of design.

We were thrilled that so many of you requested more information about the ornaments we had on our tree. And it seems like most of you fell in love with the Ostrich Feathers. Well, maybe this blog can help you create the perfect TBR Christmas tree.

The Ice Queen

This is a classic and for years has been one of TBR’s most popular creation during Christmas. All you need is a white tree. If you can’t find a white one, simply spray it (with organic spray paint), otherwise, have a look online for an Alaskan tree. You can get it anywhere from £20 to £150.

The white tree doesn’t match any room. If you have a primarily white room or a very dark one, then this option. is for you

What Ornaments to pick?

Silver, White, Fuschia pink, sky blue baubles only. Start by adding most baubles in the bottom and work your (spiral) way up. It doesn’t matter which colour you begin with first, as long as you don’t have two colours next to each other.

Pick any other ornaments you like (of similar colour) but don’t exaggerate on those.

Never choose rainbow lights because it takes away the ambiance of the rest of the colours. Instead opt for white lights.

Add beads or tinsel (either silver grey or sky blue). On the top you can add Ostrich feathers to give it that dramatic look.

Simple & Elegant.

2.The Traditional

This one is the same one you’ve seen in the contest picture.

You’ll need a normal tree to start with (obviously). Baubles of white, grey and a couple yellow for contrast. Ornaments of similar colour. Choose the same lights as above – white!

Start by placing all the baubles and ornaments slightly more packed than you would’ve done with the white one. The traditional tree matchesany interior style and it creates a very inviting atmosphere. Finish with tinsel and the ostrich feathers on top.

Some Ornaments for both styles:

Choose unique ornaments such as silver/white/turquoise flowers (could be plastic).

Extravagant ornaments are a must for a TBR tree. Choose Big Snow flake-style ornaments or Fiber Optic / Sea Urchin spheres.

Where to get them?

Ostrich Feathers from eBay or Feathers UK

Urchin Spheres. Now, these come at a very hefty price. So why not do them yourselves? All you need is a sphere foam ball, some toothpicks, a piece of string and a white/silver/skyblue spray. Make sure you have the string allready attached to the sphere before you start adding the toothpicks. Have a pattern when you add the toothpicks (you can add skewers as well), and once you’re done, spray it with the paint.

Baubles: We suggest, John Lewis for that wow effect, or Next.

Have you created your Christmas Tree yet? Send us a pic on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram and we’ll show it to the rest of our followers 🙂 @tbrfloraldesign

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Toby Roberts

Goodbye October! Hello excitement!

Another month goes by and we are getting busier and busier! But we always find time (twice a week) to share something with you. First of all thank you, to all who entered our competition and worry not, there’s still plenty of time to enter via Facebook,Twitter or Instagram.

On November 16^th we will begin our draw which will announce a lucky winner each week until December 23rd. Stay tuned because Santa is dropping by your gifts this week and we’ll be teasing you with a few pictures!

Now let’s talk flowers shall we?

November marks the official end of summer as days shorten and the weather starts getting colder, preparing us for winter. This is the best time to plant your flowers.

Put your wellies on and start cleaning up your garden. Consider a bonfire party (a glass/pint of champagne/beer never hurt anyone) where you burn all leaves and this way you don’t risk any plant disease outbreak in the summer.

Since you have planted your fuchsias sometime in May/June you should take them inside and make room for new plants. Place them by windows so that they can absorb whatever sunshine is left throughout the day.

Start planting your bulbs now (especially tulips). The soil being cooler can help prevent fungal disease. Tulips thrive in good drainage!

Plant your amaryllis bulbs and place them in a warm courner in your house and watch them bloom in time for Christmas. This is also a great time for crocuses and alliums to be planted – if you haven’t done it already (Alliums are perfect for mixed-up decorations).

Grab a handful of bulbs and throw them up in the air. Plant them where they land, for a more natural look.

“Creep” it real, with these Halloween Arrangements!

Posted on October 25, 2016 by Christakis Spyrou

Three Simple Ideas to create a Halloween themed floral arrangement

Save the candy for the kids and prepare to amaze your friends (especially the ones who are obsessed with this holiday) by giving them a Halloween themed bouquet.

We all love this holiday, mainly because we get to fill our houses (both inside and outside) with pumpkins and scary decorations. But these simple creations can be a fun gift to your friends for a halloween dinner party.

We’ve narrowed it down to these ingredients that you can mix and match. If combined properly, you’ll have a “spook-tacular” Halloween creation.

What do I need?

Orange roses, purple carnations and cushion poms, blue (or purple) asters.

You’ll also need a purple wrapping paper as well as orange, black or red ribbons.

For the base, use black or purple vases and any amount of pumpkins you’d like.

Some Glitter Spray (you can get on ebay or even superdrug).

Purple and orange flowers are ideal for any autumn-themed decoration and these combinations look great in any Halloween arrangement. You can use orange roses and lilies as well as purple cushion poms, then add dark-coloured leaves on top for a more dramatic effect. Best displayed inside a purple or see-through black vase.

The Pumpkin King

Carve a pumpkin and on the top place orange roses, blue asters and purple carnations. Add some athos (pom cushions) to make the rest of the colours stand out.

The Addams Vase

Place inside a black or purple vase the following: blue asters, black roses (you can add a red one somewhere as well), and long thin branches (of similar colour) for a dramatic effect.
We suggest you do at least three of these vases, each one with a different touch. You can add spray glitter paint to one of them and add an orange rose (instead of red) into another. Contrasting the black and blue arrangements with an orange or red rose is definitely an eye catcher!

Black Bouquet Blue..

This is a fun idea for a gift, for someone who loves flowers. Take your roses and Carnations (and maybe add black roses), tie them together with a string. Then place them in the wrapping paper as tightly as you can in the bottom, and a bit wider on the top (similar to a vampire’s costume in fairytales). Then spray the glitter paint gently holding it on top of the arrangement (min 30 cm) so that only the top gets sprayed. We suggest silver, purple and red colours.

And don’t forget you can enter our Christmas Contest by liking and sharing our post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Make your Balconies stand out with these selections

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Christakis Spyrou

Balcony flowers are essential to make your apartment stand out and give it character. Even if you have a small balcony in the city centre, by using the space carefully it can bring good energy into your personal space and brighten up your day. Your balconies – especially in the city – can be the best places to reconnect with nature, when hectic lifestyles make us forget about mother Earth.

Whether you want to make your balcony unique, or just enjoy stepping outside for a cup of coffee before work, your flower arrangement should feel relaxing and motivational. TBR suggests the following flowers that don’t need much maintenance and can be an incredible sight.

Dianthus

This “divine flower” (literally) is recognised by a number of its species, most commonly by carnations (dianthus caryophyllus), and Sweet William (dianthus barbatus). They can be a great addition to your balconies as they can handle the cold weather of Britain. They can thrive for most of the year even if the sun is out for a few hours. Dianthus plants, in order to grow (up to 18”) and keep their vibrant colours, they require little watering, but great air circulation.

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)

This perennial plant is perfect for a summer balcony. If you have a slightly bigger-than-usual balcony that can accommodate you and your friends for an afternoon beverage, then a gaillardia can be a memorable plant to place outside. It has petals like a daisy and resembles a small sunflower as well. You can find this in brown or red predominantly and needs little watering.

Asters

Available in blue, pink, red and white, this is the flower that belongs to an artist’s balcony. It motivates painters to pick up a brush, and even the busy financier to spend his Sunday evening walking in the park. They can handle cold weather and very moist summers and can reach as high as 8 inches tall.

Yarrow

This flower is a magician of tolerance. Throughout the year no matter the weather, it can thrive and keep its vibrant yellow, pink, red or white colours. Our suggestion is to add it near contrasting coloured flowers (such as a blue aster), or have an arrangement of its different variations. They bring the best out of nearby colours, i.e. they make outdoor darkwood furniture stand out, and a mosaic floor even more noticeable. A yarrow is a great choice for your outdoor living.

TIP:

The medi-look

A term we like to use for outdoor living arrangements that are filled with colourful flowers (red, violet, blue and white) in large hanging clay pots. The Mediterranean look had always been desired. You can see that as far as Scottsdale, Arizona when newbuilt houses bare the Mediterranean style.

Mediterranean balconies are simply the most beautiful in Europe, as they make your balconies look like a freshly done painting. Simply, browse for vibrant warm colours, add them in clay pots (or mosaic), hang them on your outdoor walls and enjoy the British Summer with a glass of Pimms and a book.

Our best suggestion for the medi-look?Of course, Jasmines. This white creation will make your neighbours envious of the exotic fragrance and elegant appearance.

Simple (Floral) Feng Shui tips for your home.

Posted on October 3, 2016 by Christakis Spyrou

When it comes to decorating your house with plants, all you need to do is figure out what you like the most and would like to see them around your house?

Decorating your house with plants is not only a way to bring your house to life, but also a way to connect with your personal space. Plants can create a beautiful and peaceful energy for your home and bring calmness into your life.

As you walk inside…

The front door is the perfect place for you to create an amazing first impression. In addition, it can make you feel relaxed as soon as you get out of the car and make your way inside after a day at work. We suggest that you put symmetrical plants on either side of your front door.

The Living Room…

We’ve mentioned once before about the most important places in a room, where if done properly, it creates a wonderful atmosphere for you and your family/friends. In a living room, nothing is more important than a well-presented fireplace. Depending on its colour, it’s always best to add contrasting plants to make it more ‘homey’. A fireplace should be kept simple and not ‘overcrowded’ with stuff. We suggest short bonsai trees or plants inside (dark) glass vases of different shapes.

The Kitchen…

My favourite place in a house is the kitchen. As houses these days tend to have an open plan kitchen and living room, it is more common to spend time with your guests in the kitchen, where wine and snacks are more accessible and it even feels like an extension of your living room. However, a kitchen – regardless if open plan or not – should still have some features that distinguish it from the rest of the living room. If you’re lucky enough to have big windows by your kitchen sink, then don’t think twice and immediately place plants on the windowsill. There’s not right or wrong when it comes to choosing plants for your kitchen, as long as you match the interior colours with your plants. Hydrangeas in small cube glass vases are one of our favourite choices. These can go anywhere from your breakfast/dinner table to your shelves and windowsills. Even if you have dark colour tiles in your kitchen, a white or a combination of white and pink flowers can create a masculine or feminine atmosphere respectively.

The bedroom…

This is the perfect place to put healing flowers. Our plant of choice for bedrooms are lavenders mainly for its incredible healing powers and for making your sleep even better. For more information on Lavender, read back on one of our previous posts.

Walls, walls, walls…

When a piece of art doesn’t really feel right on a specific wall, then you’d be surprised how a hanging plant can compliment your interior without much effort. All you need to do is find the perfect hanging pot (the smaller the better), and create a visually engaging sequence. Tip: try hanging that artwork again and see how much better it looks with plants around it.

Keep updated with TBR on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more updates.

Flowers for him (3 simple tips)

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Christakis Spyrou

Flowers are for everyone. Last week, we’ve shared tips on how to pick the perfect flower arrangement for your favourite girls. Today, it’s all about men.

Whether you’re wishing your father happy birthday, attending your son’s graduation or enjoying your anniversary with your other half, TBR has put together a few tips for creating a subtle-coloured bouquet for him.

For Birthday Occasions:

Any fresh plant can be a great way to wish a man happy birthday. Plants can be added in their personal spaces; be it, office, living room, bedroom. Peace lilies are a great gift as they require little observation (especially if the celebrant has a busy lifestyle). For younger people, strong colours are essential. Masculine flowers such as orchids can bring joy on someone’s special day. Extra Tip: Men have been secretly obsessed with Bonsai Trees ever since they saw Mr. Miyagi cultivating one in Karate Kid. Just saying..

Congratulatory Flowers

Apart from the typical wine basket that comes in almost every congratulatory occasion, why not add a selection of vibrant coloured flowers? Exotic flowers bouquets are great gifts for men. Refrain from choosing pastel-coloured flowers as they tend to be considered more feminine.

Anniversaries
Women are usually the only receivers of anniversary flowers but men will also appreciate a floral gift. Long-term affection can be represented in a wonderful arrangement of white and blue orchids, as well as a set of white roses, germinis and chrysanthemums. To make the set more youthful, add purple freesia and statices, combined with salal and pittosporums.

Tweet us a picture of your arrangement and tell us all about your special day! @TBRfloraldesign

TBR Floral Design Blog

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