At an East-meets-West themed party, floral designer Frank Rea of Forget Me Not in Oakville, Ont., dramatically blends Asian style with an art deco decor. His creative ideas are adaptable to any theme, and are guaranteed to wow your guests.
Bamboo stalks are relatively easy to arrange. "Keep the arrangement asymmetrically balanced, which is more visually interesting than a totally symmetrical one," says Frank Rea. Here, the stalks are "bedded" in polished black river stones. Glass votives are lined up behind the thick-glass-bottom vases, giving the illusion that the lit candles are underwater. Graphic shapes and a strong but simple green-and-white colour scheme create loads of impact in this Eastern-influenced display.
"Green arrangements are very hot right now," says Frank. "In Paris, they're everywhere -- in hotel lobbies, shops." Orchids, spiky lily grass and mammoth Monstera leaves are arranged in tall dark-green bamboo tubes. "We needed elevation because the ceilings were so high and the bamboo worked with the theme," says Frank. He says arrangements on buffet tables should be at or above eye level, so you don't lose them among platters and utensils.
The square motif that was present in the room's furnishings is reinforced by square vases, which Frank grouped for impact. Black river rocks that line the bottom set off white orchid blooms and candles. Square votive candles were melted together so that they'd float in the centre of the vases. Bamboo stalks and votives are displayed on a shallow ledge along the perimeter of the room. On the main table, limes, grapes, bamboo stalks, banana leaves, unripened bananas and braided bamboo trees, which were added for impact and height, create a medley of greens.
