Colour combinations for a desired “wow” look.

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Toby Roberts

Colour is one of the most powerful elements a flower possesses. Using the appropriate combinations, you can create an attractive effect with flowers and foliage.

Simple tips to remember

Choose purple, blue and red flowers for a colourful composition.

Lilac combined with blue and pink creates a light, gentle composition, while the darker shades of the same colours create an intense effect.

Red and green flowers or pink and green in a bouquet, can create a lively and clear result.

Blue and orange flowers enhance each other when mixed together. Yellow and orange are a good combination, as is purple with red and pink.

White flowers should be used with caution because they can highlight certain colours but also outshine others. Foliage, with different textures and subtle variations of greens, also helps different colours to be combined in a beautiful way.

A single variety of flowers in a single colour can also create an excellent result if they are properly positioned.

Choosing the right flowers for different occasions

Roses are the traditional flowers of love for occasions such as anniversaries, dates, marriage proposals and for Valentine’s Day. Other popular flowers for romantic occasions are lilies, carnations and tulips.

For Mother’s Day celebrations, choose roses and Lily of the Valley. The choice of flowers as a birthday gift can be based on the gender of the recipient or the month of his / her birth. Roses remain an excellent choice for women, while for men, rather than roses, choose carnations and other flowers in bright colours.

There is no better way to congratulate new parents on the arrival of a newborn than with the gift of flowers. Choose bright colours such as red, white or yellow. Bright, cheerful flowers in red, white, pink and yellow (roses, daisies and tulips) send wishes of fast recoveries to your loved ones.

A delicious reason for a Ramsay-D’Acampo Christmas banquet.

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Toby Roberts

At the mesmerising Merchant Taylor’s Hall, Gordon Ramsay, Gino D’ Acampo and Fred Sirieix are putting on a very entertaining show.

On one hand, we have Gordon Ramsay and his Michelin star quick wit versus Gino D’ Acampo’s proud Italian culinary excellence. All the while we have Fred attempting to run this show whilst keeping these two apart. But on the other hand, behind the razzmatazz, we have a delicious reason as to why this is occurring.

Gordon and Gino are giving us a fiery show, complete with delicious Christmas recipes, all to say thank you to the members of the public who almost lost their lives during the recent terror attacks as well as the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Our part? Well, as always, we had to make the setting beautiful.

This banquet style dinner consisted of a feasting table decorated in red and gold pines, cinnamon sticks, lights, roses and berries. To accentuate the image we added a few floating candles in clear vases.

We then dressed fourteen tables with round oasis displays. A mixture or amaryllis berries, cinnamon, roses and golden tealight adorned foliage surrounded the frosted white glass light spheres in the centre of the table.

Check the ITV website where you can see the entirety of the setting.

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

Narcissus: The December Beauty

Posted on December 15, 2016 by Toby Roberts

This symbol of anything tranquil and sweet, consists of yellow and white flowers, also known as daffodils.

They are extremely popular in the Mediterranean, because they grow almost everywhere and carry with them a rather interesting mythological history. God Narcissus, obsessed with how attractive he was, was led to a pool by Nemesis where he couldn’t take his eyes off his own reflection and drowned. That is why daffodils are symbols of beauty and loving yourself – although not (anymore) in a conceited way.

These beautiful flowers, once they have finished flowering, will start growing (better in the shade of deciduous trees). Once these trees leaf out, their foliage will have significantly grown. Daffodils will not long survive under evergreen trees and shrubs.

Their flowering season lasts anywhere from six weeks to six months, depending on where you live and the cultivars you grow. After blooming, let the daffodil plant rebuild its bulb for the next year. The leaves stay green while this is happening. When the leaves begin to yellow, then you can cut the leaves off but not before.

Narcissi are mainly cultivated in Holland and UK and they originate from Western Europe.

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.

Town & Country Photoshoot

Posted on November 21, 2016 by Toby Roberts

Our aim is to reach out to as many people as possible; People who share the same passion for elegance, love for exquisite floral design and innovation.Therefore, we are often given the opportunity to collaborate with so many professionals out there, who allow us to share a little bit of our creativity, so that YOU, the audience, can relate with our “brand”, and keep TBR Floral Design as ‘high’ as you’ve kept it for so many years.

We thank you.

This week in Town & Country, we are featured along with dancers from the Royal Ballet.

At a beautiful Oxford mansion, we have collaborated with the magazine to help tell the “Nutcracker” story through setting, floral design and of course talent.

Special thanks to Anna Rosova (on set producer), Lucy Kebbell (stylist assistant) and Jacki Castelli (set design at Lalaland Artists).

See our Christmas Tree Installments from page 122.

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

TBR Christmas; Interior & Dining

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Christakis Spyrou

Tick Tock boys and girls! Christmas is officially 6 weeks away.

Don’t be a late planner; the perfect Christmas dinner needs serious planning. TBR Floral Design is all about creating the best visuals, which doesn’t happen easily but is always do-able. There are so many things you need to consider when you’re planning your Christmas dinner. Interior Aesthetics being the number one rule; from room decor to the kind of fork you’ll be using, everything needs to be perfectly selected and displayed. If you’re a person who likes to create a wow-factor and want to keep the title of the best host among your group of friends, then we might have the perfect tips for you.

The Room.

What kind of interior do you like? Have you a got a rustic taste or maybe a late Victorian? Ultra-luxurious or neoclassic? It doesn’t matter. The only thing you need to worry about, is the colours that dominate each room.

If you have a primarily white themed house, then create a Christmas display with white, silver-grey and sky-blue decorations. We love short white and crystal-clear vases (preferably square-shaped), in which you can place small white baubles topped with hydrangeas and hyacinths. Somewhere in the vase place one or two sky blue baubles for contrast. Place them perfectly aligned on a fireplace mantel with tinsel or other smaller ornaments. Let your creativity flow and really think about the countless decorations you can make with just a few vases, tinsel, baubles, white flowers and some spray. For a more dramatic effect, place a few branches inside very tall vases (that you’ll be placing next to a fireplace or on top of the dinner table) and spray them with glittery-silver paint. White and black branches make a great combination.

If your rooms are colourful, then opt for Christmas ornaments that match the room’s dominating colours. Always contrast them with black, white, green and cerulean – we find that these colours never fail to inspire.

The Dinner Table

You might be the kind of person who hates the traditional white/red/green christmas table decorations, so we’re gonna give you a few different options.

The traditional:

Buy a red table cloth (preferably plain – no Santa or reindeers on it – Tucky is not a TBR attribute). Place green and white placemats for each guest and leave room in the middle line of the table for the flower decoration and the turkey. It’s always best to keep the food on a buffet instead of putting everything on top of the table. The table displays should never feel crammed.

Break the contrast with some black plates (or just red) and make sure your tea-towels are of similar colour.

The flower arrangement (if you’re going for the traditional), it’s what creates the jaw-dropping effect. Combine mistletoe with white roses and of course white and red candles.

The luxurious TBR design

White white white.

White table cloth with silver place-mats (we love these ones from Maisons du Monde and Amara). On top of your silver plates place your tea-towels wrapped in silver holders or a name tag). Your middle flower arrangement should consist of tall vases with long white flowers, baubles, silver-sprayed plants and lots of white candles. Frosted Glass for candles give the display a warmer feeling.

FEELING INSPIRED? Take a look at some of our previous installations.

Stay tuned because we’re announcing our first winner on Wednesday!!! Have you entered yet? You still have 3 days. Simply click on THIS picture and then Like it.

Thank you,

TBR Team.

“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.

TBR Floral Design Blog

Category Archives: Seasonal