Floral

Balancing Act

In the world of interior design, indecision can be a good thing. Many consumers today are choosing to not pick sides when it comes to design styles, and the result is wonderful! For instance, “Transitional style” is a style that transitions between traditional and contemporary design. It’s all about creating a balanced environment where classic looks are updated with an enhanced contemporary appearance. The design aesthetic includes both masculine and feminine characteristics and symbolizes comfort and feelings of relaxation through uncomplicated design. In order to maintain the clean style and simple design technique, decorative and highly ornate accessories are minimized. The color tones that help convey the evolution of transitional style are commonly neutral, or even monochromatic.

Gray is the Neutral of Choice for Transitional Style

Gray is the neutral of choice these days. It has been getting a lot of attention by home decorators, who are embracing gray as a modern replacement for traditional tones of beige. Consumers can achieve the sophisticated design elements of the Transitional Style with gray color schemes by pairing them with splashes of color in art pieces or subtle accents of metallic finishes.

If gray is the neutral base for Transitional style, gold is its accent color. Floral vases and centerpieces with gold metallic finishes add traditional flair in a contemporary setting, or is it contemporary flair in a traditional setting? Either way, the result is simple elegance. Achieving this high-end effect doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank, according to resourceful DIYers.  They are decorating glass vessels and bottles with faux gold metallic paint finishes creating an effortless and economic way to stay current with fashion trends and add a personal touch.

The trendsetter. Flowers aren’t just for grandma or young couples any more. The florist business is seeing a shift in purchasing behaviors. Today’s flower seekers are less concerned with the accessibility of the nearest floral shop. They desire convenience, and supermarkets and the internet are happy to deliver. Who is driving this shift? Once again, it’s the “millennial” consumer. This demographic group is made up of 25 to 35-year olds with a strong affinity for organics and a love of learning when it comes to gardening. They are armed with laptops and cell phones, comfortable with online shopping, and make quick purchase decisions when faced with numerous floral and vase options. As you might expect, these floral millennials are highly engaged with social media – Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram. Social media is helping them hone their home decorating skills, and potted plants and flowers are an important part of the spaces they create.

The Budding Chemist

The Chemistry glass vessel, a glass design that has been influencing mixologists and sprucing up the home bartender’s cocktails, is now making its way into the floral industry. Millennials are willing to experiment, and unique glass vessels inspire and showcase their flower arrangements as trendy home décor. If a chemistry beaker can dress up a cocktail, imagine what it can to for a mini bouquet of flowers.  It’s a trend that encourages consumers to celebrate their inner geek and picture an organic world beyond the simple flower…like the cactus. A plant recognized for its survival skills, cacti have long been a popular home decorating accessories. About 1,500 different kinds of cacti are in existence. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are perfect for that geek chic millennial’s decorating experiments. What is more inventive than mini cacti arranged inside a chemistry beaker? It’s the scientific approach to the classic planter.

Libbey’s Chemistry Items