Elevating Monday

September 9, 2013

I'm not quite sure what happened, but this has turned out to be the busiest summer of my career thus far. No complaints, it's been tremendously rewarding-- but it's left little time for blogging. I've been leaning on Instagram heavily as it's really the fastest, simplest social media tool for me right now, but I do miss sharing larger-format photos in this dear space. Next month my season will finally be "winding down," but for now I have to keep going full-spead ahead. I will try to carve out some time to share some of the beautiful projects I've been working on-- I still have many weddings and events from LAST summer that I've yet to post!

After two weeks of the most intense heat-wave I've ever experienced in Los Angeles, this morning dawned cool and crisp, with the slightest hint of the promise of autumn in the air. I'm excited for some gorgeous autumny events in the weeks to come, but in the meantime I'll leave you with a taste of summer- dahlias and roses galore! My living room always looks best when it's full of fresh flowers! I don't know about you, but for me, fresh flowers on a Monday make the week ahead look SO much better!

I'm also working hard on figuring out the details for my first floral design & styling workshop, if you're interested in getting information on that as it becomes available, email us to be added to the list!

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

Soft and Lovely Ranunculus

June 11, 2013

Ranunculus definitely have to be my favorite flowers ever. I know I've said that about roses and orchids and a lot of other flowers... they are all so dear to me. But ranuncs, as I lovingly refer to them, are especially special. Most especially special.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Surrounded by Spring

May 27, 2013

Spring, spring, spring. Could there possibly be a better time of year for flowers? I think not. I am so enamored by the beautiful blooms all over my city right now and it's impossible not to fill my home with these pretties. Hydrangea, roses, lavender and gardenias are the current blooms in my garden and I love to be surrounded by bouquets of flowers inside and then look out the window and see even more flowers in bloom! Is it spring in your part of the world? What are you growing in your garden?

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Spring Lilac

May 15, 2013

Spring lilac is in bloom and we can't get enough of it! I've been thinking of planting a lilac bush in the garden, but I'm not sure that I know how to care for it- I feel like lilac plants can be a bit persnickety. Do you grow lilacs? Have any lilac-care secrets to share???

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Fresh Floral Bracelet

April 17, 2013

Floral bracelets are such fun accessories for your spring wardrobe! They take some precision and some patience to put together, but they're really quite simple to make. Most fresh cut flowers won't last long out of water, especially not soft flowers like these white ranunculus, but if you use floral glue to adhere them to an existing bracelet or piece of ribbon shortly before you head "out on the town," they'll probably look good until it won't matter any longer (ie., the flowers get crushed as you flop around wildly on the dance floor!).

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

Daffodils in Bloom

March 20, 2013

They have a short lifespan, so their nature is fleeting, but like all flowers, that's part of what makes them luxurious and covet-worthy. Daffodils come from ugly little bulbs, are harvested and sold while the flower is still completely contained in it's strange papery shell, and yet within a matter of a few hours with the right combination of water and light and warmth, the most exquisite blooms emerge. Every spring, I find myself in awe. Aren't they exceptional? And could they possibly be more cheerful? I think daffodils are truly the epitome of spring.

Images | Floral Design | Styling by Lauryl Lane.

The Greenest of Bouquets

March 13, 2013

I can't get enough of green these days. By "these days," I suppose I mean my life, since green has been my favorite color as long as I can remember. I won't deny that I'm obsessed with using foliage "these days," as well. All of my 2013 weddings will be foliage-heavy, and I'm having a blast choosing which types of foliage to use for different events. When I worked in a flower shop in my early floral design days, salal leaf (or "lemon leaf") was our main foliage staple. It wasn't until years later that I learned what a vast array of foliage was available to me. I mean, ferns alone come in over twelve thousand varieties. Wow.

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

Botanical Foraging

March 6, 2013

This is literally one of the best times of year for botanical foraging. If you live in a more suburban or remote area, it's likely that you'll have a lot more variety when you head out to forage for botanical elements-- but seeing as I'm in Los Angeles, the second most densely-populated city in the United States of America, I think these pictures are proof enough that botanical foraging can be highly successful even in the most urban of settings. A few blossoming branches, a handful of fresh lavender from the plants by my front door, some purple-hued foliage from a potted plant, and a few more bits of foliage from neighborhood bushes, and I have everything I need to create some sweet little super-springy arrangements for my home. Perhaps next week I'll venture further afield: I saw jasmine vine growing over a fence in a parking lot the other day, and there's masses of bougainvillea in the alley behind my housing complex. What have you found in your botanical-foraging expeditions???

Images | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

It's the Day of Love

February 14, 2013

Let's face it: having a day to celebrate love is pretty fun. It may be cheesy and over-commercialized, but I won't deny that I enjoy it. I like sending valentines to my friends, writing a sappy card to my husband, decorating our house with flowers and paper ephemera, and making heart shaped cookies. Oh! And since I like Valentine's Day so much, I made this pretty bouquet just for you. While I was taking a picture of it, I found this gorgeous pink bougainvillea blooming in the alley behind my house. That just seemed too serendipitous. Whether you are single or attached, think about the people in your life whom you love, and take some time today to check in with them and remind them how much they mean to you. You can even send them these pictures, if you want! Virtual Valentine's greetings to all!

Image | Styling | Floral Design by Lauryl Lane.

Wedding at The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera

January 24, 2013

Erin and Brad are Chicago natives who decided to wed in the Vail Valley, one of their favorite vacation destinations. They were high school sweethearts and have been together for over ten years, so they had a well-defined personal "couple" style, and it was such fun to translate their style into a wedding that was distinctly them. From the birch archway I constructed and decorated as a backdrop as they said their vows, to the carpet of delicate petals on their aisle way, to the whimsical bouquets and boutonnieres, to the highly textural tablescapes, no two alike, this wedding was infused with mountain-elegance from beginning to end. Working with Erin and Brad and Erin's parents along the way was easy and enjoyable, despite the distance separating us, because truly, these are some of the kindest people I've ever met. Wishing great joy and many more decades of love and togetherness for Erin and Brad!

FEATURED | Style Me Pretty

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?