Tea Time | English Breakfast Tea

March 1, 2013

I don't know that there is much to say about English Breakfast Tea. It's a classic. Everyone loves it, right? I didn't become a serious tea-drinker until my first summer studying in London in my late teens. Each morning, I would join my fellow Shakespeare students in the breakfast room and a server would rush over with a hot pot of English Breakfast and a little caddy of toast. It became such a ritual, that to this day (over a decade later), I have trouble getting on with my day if I don't start it off with a cup of black tea. This particular English Breakfast, from Harney and Sons, is inspired by the same tea that the British began drinking regularly in the early 1800's- it's a Chinese black tea that is best enjoyed with a tiny bit of sugar and creamer.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane. Votes for Women teapot and teacup from the Newport Preservation Society.

An Unconventional Valentine's Day Table

February 13, 2013

Every year when Valentine's Day rolls around, I try to come up with something new for my annual "Love Day Dinner at Home" with my husband. The frou-frou decor that gets passed around the internet really isn't my thing. I'm not a fan of pink, and my husband isn't a fan of "girly," so I try to avoid the cliches like red and pink color schemes or bouquets of roses, and instead imagine a darker, more mature, sexier version of Valentine's Day. This year, I decided to use modern graphic prints in the linens and china to set off my romantic, textural florals. I used tons of greenery, some ranunculus and anemones in a deep burgundy, green cymbidium orchids with burgundy throats, and gold-painted succulents and lotus pods for an extra pop of va-va-voom. Additional gold accents in the china, crystal, flatwear and candles added a bit of drama, and the gold chain on the napkin treatments added a subtle "masculine" element. This tablescape was 100% husband approved and appreciated. What do you think? Would you ever dare to go non-traditional for the holiday celebrating love???

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

A Festive Dinner Party

December 20, 2012

I recently collaborated with an incredible team on a festive holiday photo shoot showcasing how much the right linens can enhance a dinner party table. I love the classic elegance we were able to evoke, with just a touch of va-voom with that gorgeous sparkly blush-colored tablecloth. And I have to point out that the choice of emerald green as an accent color was chosen long before Pantone announced the 2013 color of the year! Trend-setters much?

tropicals for the home

November 14, 2012

Lately I've been loving tropical flowers for use in homes. They are a little pricy and they definitely lend themselves to a more modern aesthetic, but they are long-lasting and have a very timeless quality. I see so many old photos of classic Hollywood homes filled with orchids, and while I've always loved orchids of every shape and size, I'm really starting to use them in more of my designs. They are also great for adding flowers to your home at the last minute since they can be artfully "propped" in a vase with little effort!

Floral Design | Styling | Images by Lauryl Lane.

Bouquet by Season | Autumn

November 7, 2012

I love Autumn's cooler temps and changing colors. Reds, oranges, greens, well, they are my favorite colors all year round, but they seem to shine most in Autumn. This bouquet and boutonniere represent the colors and textures I most associate with my favorite season of the year. I love the mix of traditional butterscotch roses, bright red anemones and ranunculas, brown cymbidium orchids, orange poppies and fancy gerbera daisies... such an eclectic mix with so much character. I wish I could have this bouquet sitting on my coffee table all season long.

Floral Design by Lauryl Lane | Images by Sara Hasstedt. Seasonal bouquet series | Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter.