Michael Putnam creates a table centerpiece arrangement. Image courtesy of @putnamflowers Instagram

Dreaming of entertaining again?

In this clip the floral designer and Phaidon author Michael Putnam shows how a display can become an interactive experience for every guest

Many of us are getting used to having friends over once more, as pandemic restrictions are eased in many parts of the world. And while we can all remember how to make, say, beef bourguignon or ricotta gnocchi, our décor skills can get a bit dusty after months in self-isolation.

Fortunately, there is help at hand, courtesy of the couple who have supplied flowers to such stars as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jason Wu, and Beyoncé.

In their new book, Flower Color Theory, America’s leading floral designers Darroch and Michael Putnam show how readers to combine flowers of different hues, to build up displays of complimentary and contrasting pigments, taking floral presentation to a whole new level.

 

Michael Putnam creates a table centerpiece arrangement. Image courtesy of @putnamflowers Instagram
Michael Putnam creates a table centerpiece arrangement. Image courtesy of @putnamflowers Instagram

The beautifully shot, crisp imagery shows how radiant these arrangements can look in a studio setting. However in a new Instagram video post, excerpted from the pair’s own Putnam Flower Channel, Michael shows the practical uses of a great table centerpiece.

In a contemporary dining setting – love those Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs –Michael builds up a display around tree peonies, with lots of verdant fronds and fruit.

 

Michael Putnam creates a table centerpiece arrangement. Image courtesy of @putnamflowers Instagram
Michael Putnam creates a table centerpiece arrangement. Image courtesy of @putnamflowers Instagram

Not only a visual treat, the trailing vegetation is, as Michael puts it in this clip “an immersive experience for every guest.”

Maybe you could treat yours to something like this? To find out more, and for a deeper understanding of their work, order a copy of Flower Color Theory here.

 

Flower Color Theory
Flower Color Theory