floral arrangements for an event in Villa Allegrini

Every spring the Valpolicella area famous for its amazing wines comes alive for the Vinitaly wine exhibition. I was asked by the prestigious Allegrini Estates to create all the floral arrangements for the event.

During the Vinitaly exhibition Allegrini was presenting their new label for their La Grola red wine. The inspiration for the label was the “Composition VI” of Kandinsky painting. The floral installations were going to be the background for both the stand and the soirees at Villa Allegrini. Looking at the Kandinsky painting I let myself be transported and chose two colour palettes based on red and pink.

I used the effervescent and energetic red pallet to create a positive vibe at the stand. The Gloriosa Rotschild was an absolute showstopper. For the elegant, stylish evenings at the villa the pale, feminine pink “Quicksand” rose added a delicate and timeless touch.

The spring flowers of ranunculus in a variety of shades and multiple varieties of tulips and anemones held the supporting role in this beautiful creation.

To highlight the beauty and style of the flowers in the Villa I used transparent glass vases, candles and mirrors. The transparency of the vases, the sparkling candles and the reflections from the mirrors create a magical and evocative atmosphere.

All the amazing pictures are by Marco Bravi!

3 tips for a centre-piece with flowers from your gardens

Looking at the gardens so full of blooming flowers I thought about making a simple centre-piece with what nature offers us. I decided to create the arrangement working with just one colour and its different shades and consistencies.

The hue that I chose was the glorious red of my geraniums. You’re probably asking why I started with the colour and not the flowers. The reason being it narrows down the variety available. It’s essential to stick to one shade or a colour scheme when choosing the flowers you’re going to use. Keeping in mind this rule allows us the freedom to select the flowers and focus on the variety of shades, shapes and texture. I finally decided to match the geraniums with some oleander flowers and roses all with different hues of red.

Yesterday while I was on my way home, a blooming blackberry bush caught my eye. The graceful and tiny flowers seemed to have being drawn by children and are a pleasant reminder that summer is nearly here. I decided to use these to add lightness and frivolity to the centre-piece.

Fruit is also very useful when decorating a table. Shiny red cherries were the perfect choice that echoed the essence of summer. For movement and texture I added a sprig of rosemary, vine with tiny green grapes and some airy fennel bloom.

I use 3 small vases for this floral arrangement. Why 3? As the Latin saying goes “everything that comes in 3 is perfect”; a floral arrangement composed with 3 looks more natural and less forced than an even-numbered collection. Don’t be afraid to play around with the symmetry and asymmetry. Remember to use a simple vase if your composition is of a bold colour. For this centre-piece I used simple glass vases.

In a nutshell

1. Decide on one colour

2. Create a floral arrangement with 3 vases (glass or white ceramic or terracotta for a more rustic setting)

3. Add fruit to give an extra special touch

4. Enjoy and let yourself be transported by the colours