Collecting beautiful items is far from new, especially when social media places design trends front and center. Some objects do well in a stand alone situation, but others seem to emit a literal empty feeling when not used for their intended purposes. I gathered together four of the top trending decor items of the season, along with a floral designer, to put them to use when they are not, well, being used.
Design “fails” tend to pop up just as much as successful ones do, and I’ve noticed this a lot with these four trendiest items, all antique: oversized glass water jugs, julep cups (specifically Wedgewood), champagne buckets, and flower frogs. What’s one to do with these items once Derby season has passed? At the end of the day, a vessel is a vessel. For me, if it can hold water, it can hold flowers.
Photo by Emily Cotton
Keep things simple when repurposing flower frogs.
Not wanting to banish these trending items to a cupboard, I endured two ill-fated trips to my grocer’s floral department before finally reaching out to my favorite florist, Marija Babic of La Fête, to ask, “What will actually work with these things?” Enthusiastically gathering these items together, I rushed to Babic for assistance — as always, she amazed.
For an oversized water jug, she selects bright yellow Blooming Forsythia, which brings a splash of vibrant color to any space. “This setup perfectly captures the essence of spring's lively renewal,” Babic says. “The contrast between the delicate, golden flowers and the simple elegance of the glass jug creates a stunning centerpiece that's both fresh and timelessly beautiful.”
Flower frogs, while beautiful, can be problematic. The size constraints make choosing flowers more of a chore than a joy. No one wants to play roulette with stem sizes — but what is always guaranteed to fit the job?
“I picked pink Scabiosa and white Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist) to arrange in a simple crystal vase that holds just eight stems. These charming flowers, symbolizing love and delicate beauty, perfectly complement the vase, adding a touch of whimsy without stealing the spotlight from its artistic elegance,” Babic notes.
An all-too-often-made mistake is to always go with bloomed flowers. Greenery, seed pods and more delicate flowers are oftentimes overlooked, but clearly make a statement nonetheless.
“I chose to arrange Orange Buddleia Globosa, Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist), and Solomio Dianthus in a vintage silver champagne bucket to capture a whimsical French country vibe. These flowers bring a burst of vibrant color, delicate beauty, and timeless charm,” she says.
“While creating this arrangement, I imagined myself prepping for an intimate French countryside dinner, ready to host my dearest family and friends. It's like taking a joyful stroll through a blooming meadow, gathering flowers to create a centerpiece that's both casual and sophisticated that lets your creative imagination run wild.”
Being in Houston and not Kentucky, locals have little call for the use of a delicate julep cup. The beauty of these small treasures is that they can be very universal: nightstands, powder baths, anywhere a delicate arrangement will be appreciated, yet unintrusive.
“I chose pink Chrysanthemums, symbolizing joy and cheerfulness, and white Solomio Dianthus, representing pure love and grace, to place in a small Wedgwood cup,” the florist says. “These flowers add a lovely burst of color and elegance, making it easy to beautify any space.”
Like many Houstonians, Babic is an oil and gas professional by trade. Two years deep into her — wildly successful — concierge floral design business, I had to ask: “What’s this all about?”
“I've always had a burning passion to create something extraordinary and turn dreams into reality with flowers and that's when I started La Fête HTX which means ‘to celebrate’ in French. It's not just about the flowers or the arrangements; it's about crafting delicate masterpieces that capture the heart of your most cherished moments.
“My journey into floral design began by following in the footsteps of my mom, a seasoned floral designer for over a decade. It quickly became my sanctuary, a creative escape where I could break free from the daily grind and preserve the beauty of fleeting memories.
“What started as my ‘escape’ quickly transformed into a relationship-building powerhouse in under two years. I firmly believe that cultivating meaningful relationships in business ensures ongoing success. Today, I am proud to say that all of my clients have become friends with whom I stay in touch and get to be part of their special milestones.”
As a client and friend, I can’t argue with that.
