Blooming Inspired Magazine Supplement

INTERIOR DECORATING AND THE HOTTEST TRENDS OF SPRING SUMMER

BLOOMING INSPIRED

Bloom into the new season right

FROM THE DESIGNER

Diving into the floral trends of 2023 and how to freshen up your dining scene.

My initial intentions for this supplement was to inspire my audience to get involved this summer, not only physically with activities like D.I.Ys and recipes, but also mentally with my trend report encouraging you to challenge traditional methods and approaches to thinking, like floral arrangements. This is something I believe our generation excels at. We want to improve our world for future generations by addressing social, environmental, and global issues. This supplement for the Elle Decoration Summer / Spring issue shows the transition from February to March/April, preparing you for summer.

My previous project : Macmillan Cancer Research site at Derriford hospital

I wanted to highlight local makers because I believe it is important to support small businesses because they provide a one-of-a-kind experience with handcrafted one-of-a-kind products, build a stronger community where people support other people in the area, and help the environment by reducing carbon footprint because products and resources are sourced locally, strengthening the local economy and assisting it to grow. Here you will meet Katrina Riley and her son in law Henry Keate to learn about their craft and how they got to were they are but guidance on where to buy their products.

Florals are a recurring theme throughout this supplement, both to emphasis the summertime outdoorsy concept and to share my personal interest in nature. As a designer i aim to include natural elements in all my designs. It adds a tranquil touch and freshens up any space with little to no effort required.

I hope you enjoy reading this magazine supplement as much as i enjoyed backing it. Make sure to check out all the socials of people mentioned to support them in their creative journeys.

- Alexa Yapp

MAKER

MEET THE MAKER INTERVIEW

Katrinais a Devon-based potter who makes oneof-a-kind porcelain and stoneware pieces. She began as a mental health nurse and did ceramics on the side, but when a coworker decided to quit her job and pursue her passion in ceramics fulltime, Katrina was inspired to leave her job and pursue her passion in ceramics. During our interview, Katrina stated that the “landscape of sandstone cliffs surrounding her local coastline contrasted with the wild ruggedness of Dartmoor” inspires her designs during her dog walks. in her garden studio, which

she shares with her artist husband, she works with three main materials: porcelain, terracotta, and her favorite, white stone. With a variety of techniques, including wheel turning and hand pinched pots, all with food safe glazing. What she enjoys most about her craft is that each piece thrown on the pottery wheel has its own personality. Each piece is an experiment, and she goes with the flow. She told a story about how she intended to make a deep bowl, but as she turned it on the wheel, the sides flattened and became shallow. She followed its natural shape and created a shallow bowl instead. Katrina sells her pieces on her website (www. naturalpottery.co.uk/shop), with items ranging from bowls, serving plates, small spice and jewelery dishes and plant pots / vases. Her pieces have more of a natural look with colours of green, blue, neutrals, with finishes of matte, shiny glazings and some with metallic edging. Katrin’s pieces are a perfect addition to many kitchen / dining spaces, providing a natural yet rustic feel with that handmade loving look, ideal as a gift to someone you care about or as a gift to yourself, with a timeless look that is suitable for any season mixed with the right decorations, as seen in this spread.

KATRINA

Plant Pot

Moon Vase

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

Styled by Alexa Yapp

Photographed by Bethany Conway

3.

This natural collection, combined with soft patterned textiles and rustic country details, captures a cottage core aesthetic, which has become popular since the pandemic for its soft and cosy aesthetic. Add a splash of colour to any kitchen or dining area with blooming summer flowers.

1 - Spice dishes, £6.00

2 - Shallow Sand Dune Serving Bowl, £45.00

Styled by Alexa Yapp Photographed by Bethany Conway

MEET THE MAKER KATRINA

Katrina’s products are so versatile and can be paired with a range of different styled decorations to create your desired aesthetic. Adding more colour in textiles, florals, and taking advantage of the food can be seen here in creating a summer brunch.

Styled by Alexa Yapp

Photographed by Bethany Conway

MEET THE MAKER KATRINA

Styled by Alexa Yapp Photographed by Bethany Conway

MEET THE MAKER HENRY

MAKER

Henry Keate, Son in law of Katrina, is a Devon based, independent wood turner. He started in retail for three years, now starting his own business in creating hand turned, sanded and finished bowls, each with individual and unique shapes and grain patterns, made for a variety of purposes, such as fruit bowls and center piece bowls.

During our interview he said “I bought a second hand wood turner by accident on Facebook Market. Initially I had intended to make wooden rings and needed something capable of this, and after doing a couple minutes of research I thought that a lathe was best. A couple weeks after buying it I realised what it was capable of, and I started to mess around with bowl turning”.

When asked about this creative development, he says, “I inspect the piece of wood before turning it, and depending on if it has splits or cracks this can change the outcome of the shape of the bowl. Normally I have a rough idea of what shape I want to make the bowl”. “A large bowl usually takes about 3 hours from start to finish if the wood is dry. If the wood is wet then I have to let the bowl dry for about a month before putting a finish on it”.

Henry has given careful consideration when it comes to being sustainable, picking his woods of choice from a widely used and respected wood turning community, with woods such as cherry, oak and sweet chestnut, all giving him a different look and feel.

Styled by Alexa Yapp

by Georgia Eason

Photographed

MEET THE MAKER HENRY

1 - Sycamore Bowl , £60 - £90

2 - Large Hornbeam Bow 27cm , £110.00

Styled by Alexa Yapp

Photographed by Georgia Eason

INSTAGRAM FLOWERS

SUMMARY

Florals are a great way to express yourself, but it’s not just about the flowers you choose, or the colour or type. What you choose to display them in also says a lot about you. Instagram florals is a fresh approach to flower arranging. The traditional methods of bouquet in vase are being abandoned. What exactly is a vase? What is its function? Gen Z is all about pushing boundaries, being creative, and being one-of-a-kind while addressing global, social, and environmental issues.

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

CHALLENGING TRADITION

The key word in the creative industry is innovative, which includes new methods, advanced technology, and originality. Moving forward, we must challenge traditional approaches to everything, including flower arranging. Normally, it would be a bouquet in a vase. But what exactly is a vase? Is it just a water container in which to place flowers? Can’t anything be a vase in that case? Coca-Cola can, milk jug, and plastic bag Why not experiment with single flowers, spacing them out in novel ways, and suspending them upside down in the air? Use other containers of water like Suzanne Saroff to experiment with distortion, seeing things in a different way to how you would usually.

Suzanne Saroff

Fleurett

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

SUSTAINABILITY

Y

es, flowers die quickly when not kept in water, so why not experiment with paper flowers? They last a lifetime, are less expensive, and look beautiful all year round, as well as being a fun craft activity. Is it really necessary for it to be functional, or can it be more of an art piece? Using paper instead of water to try displaying flowers like Rosa Rabio, taping a single flower to a piece of cardboard.

As previously stated, Generation Z is taking a stand on any issue, including the environment; consider the relationship between flower and object. Is there any significance to it? For example, do the items, such as Flor Studios photography, have plastic bags over flower heads or dunking them upside down into a glass, restrict growth? Or, as shown in my personal photo shoot, it insinuates the blooming from waste.

In this case, recycling is your best friend. A household’s waste is extensive and constantly changing, so your display can constantly change too. Try, like Fleurett and my photographs, to arrange the recycling in a way that frames the flowers, having pops of colour, and include other fresh elements like fruit.

TAKE AWAYS

1.

Be creative and open to new arrangements, considering different items used and their sustainability, as well as the relationship they have with the flowers.

2.

Play with the meaning, make the viewer consider what you’re attempting to portray. Bring attention to a problem while creating an appealing piece of art.

3.

Have some fun; this doesn’t have to be so serious and allencompassing. C__ollect your own items from around the house and experiment to see what happens.

Flor Studio

Rosa Rabio

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

TRENDS

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

TRENDS

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

TRENDS

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

SHOP THE LOOK

‘LOVE IN BLOOM

www.courthouseinteriors.com

Love in Bloom - Heart Vase Kintsugi

£185.00 , 16.5 x 9 x 25

The iconic Love In Bloom vase, created by Italian designer Marcantonio, is presented in this stunning edition inspired by the Japanese art Kintsugi. Kintsugi (‘golden joinery’), is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. As a philosophy, it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

www.rosenthal.com WEISS MATT , 18cm , £63.75

The original bag vase by the designer Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal is one of the most popular designs of the traditional porcelain company and is part of the “Do not litter” Collection. The collection contains everyday items and disposable objects such as paper bags, cans and milk boxes re-interpreted with high-quality materials.

www.sageandsill.com I IN THE LOOP HYDROPONIC VASE ORANGE , 12x10cm , £58.00

Add an artistic touch to any space. This pretty glass hydroponic vase doubles as a work of art. It lends a playful element to a table scape, side table, window ledge or desktop. Lovely displayed empty, yet elegant showcasing some colourful blooms.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ EveryStoryStudio WHITE , 6x7cm , £23.00

Handmade from flecked clay and finished in a white glaze which allows the natural flecks in the clay to show through. A unique display piece for dried or fresh flowers and grasses.

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. flower arrangements were used to adorn the tokonoma of a traditional Japanese home.

Summer Loving TRENDS

Decorating with pretty pink shades and eco friendly materials.

1. Mono Hex Porcelain Tile Pink, £11.53 per sheet, Hyperion Tiles LTD (hyperiontiles.co.uk) Marble Porcelain Tile in Aspera Blush, £69.29 / m², Boutique Stone, (boutiquestone.co.uk) 3. Custom material Panels, price on quote, Smile Plastics, (smile-plastics.com) 4. Custom material Panels, price on quote, Smile Plastics, (smileplastics.com) 5. Matt Floor in 80x80cm Birch Pattern Wood, £45.00 m², Tile, (tile.co.uk) 6. Wall Tile in 30x90 Timeless Ivory, £25.97 m², Tile, (tile.co.uk) 7. LOVELL Circular Knob in Brass, £6.95 per item, plank hardware, (plankhardware.com) 8. Decor Matte Wall Tile in 30x90 Timeless Ivory, £25.97 m², Tile, (tile.co.uk) 10. Matt Paint in No. 86 Lagoon, £51 for 2.5 Litres, Andrew Martin, (andrewmartin.co.uk) 11. Matt Paint in No. 62 Osaka Blossom, £51 for 2.5 Litres, Andrew Martin, (andrewmartin.co.uk)

BUTTER BOARD SWEET BUT SAVORY

Ingredients :

- 200g Softened Butter

- 2 tsp Flakey salt

- 1/2 Orange for zesting and squeezing

- 2 tbsp edible dried flowers

- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, toasted for 4 minute at 200 degrees

- 1 tbsp Honey

- Black pepper

- Rocket

- Cold meats

- Cheese

- Walnuts

- Crackers

- Sourdough bread

In bold are the baseline ingredients, but feel free to swap and

Equipment :

- 1 wooden board for serving

- 1 butter knife

Instructions :

1) In a bowl mix the butter to soften, this makes it spreadable. Make sure it has the consistency like peanut butter but not melted. Then layer / swirl it on the serving board.

2) Sprinkle the salt, pepper and orange zest over the butter. Then cut the rest of your ingredients, layering each item over the butter evenly spread out. This is where you can get creative.

3) Finally, sprinkle with edible flowers to decorate the butter board. Serve with warm crusty sourdough bread and crackers.

Styled and photographed by Alexa Yapp

TYPES OF EDIBLE FLOWERS

THINGS TO CONCIDER :

It is important to identify the flowers accurately – Don’t eat them if you are unsure.

For intense flavor and colours, pick young flowers on dry mornings before the sun is too strong.

In terms of storing, refrigerate in a plastic bag for a couple days. Dried or frozen flowers are best to infuse or cook with.

In most cases only use the petals and discard the stems, pistils and calyxes of larger flowers. When picking your own flowers, make sure they are not covered in pesticides or soiling from animals.

1. Lavender, flavoured sugar, honey or vinegar can be used in cakes and biscuits while sprigs compliment roast pork, lamb and chicken.

2. Used to make wine and cordials, or placed in a muslin bag to flavour tarts and jellies, removed before serving. Elderflowers can be dipped in batter and deep fried.

3. Blanch whole sunflower buds and serve with garlic butter. Petals can be used in salads or stir fries.

4. Pot Marigolds have intense colour and a peppery taste useful in soups, stews and puddings. Petals can be dried or pickled in vinegar or added to oil or butter.

5. All roses are edible with the more fragrant roses being the best. Petals can be crystallized, used to flavour drinks, sugar and even icing for summer cakes

Anna Banana’s

CLASSIC ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL

Ingredients :

• 30 large Fresh elderflowers heads

• 3 medium / large lemons

• 1 1/2 kg caster sugar

• 1.5 L water

Instructions :

1. Gently shake the flowers over the kitchen sink to clean out of any bugs. Do not was the elderflower heads as this will wash out any pollen from the flowers. Peel the skin off the lemons, then cut two of the lemons into slices, and juice the remaining lemon.

2. Pour 1.5 l of water into a large saucepan and place it over a medium heat. Add sugar and stir. Allow the sugar to melt completely, stirring occasionally. Bring the mixture to boil, then remove it from heat and set aside.

3. Add elderflowers, lemon slices, lemon peel and lemon juice to the mixture. Use a spoon or spatula to stir it all together and gently press the elderflowers, so they are covered and submerged in the water. Cover the mixture with lid, and allow it to infuse for 24 hours.

4. Use a clean tea towel or a muslin cloth to line the kitchen sieve with, then strain the cordial through it, disposing of any bits left in the towel/ cloth. Use a funnel and ladle to pour the cordial into sterilized bottles or jars.

BLOOMING INSPIRED