Q&A with Moxom & Whitney

interviewed by annie brown

You may have noticed the striking floral displays adorning the halls and tables of QT Canberra. Like the artworks on the wall, each bouquet is a masterpiece in its own right.

Flowers are having a moment. On our Instagram feeds, in our magazines, in our homes. We can’t get enough. They are the design element du jour.

So how do we re-create the gorgeous displays we see on social media and in the pages of our favourite mags? Us mere mortals with jobs and kids and chores?

Our wonderful resident florists, Lou Moxom and Belinda Whitney from Moxom and Whitney, have given us the low-down on how to create our own floral masterpieces:

AB: What are the current in-season flowers?
M&W: You can’t go past greenery, whether it’s indoor plants, hanging pots or terrariums – plants make your home feel alive, cosy and loved. The same effect can be achieved by using just fabulous stems of greenery – either shop bought, from the garden, foraged or procured by other means. Greenery always looks great…think three gorgeous magnolia stems or a few eucalypt branches (that once dried you can hang upside above the shower for an amazing wake-up shower). Group your vases of greenery together to create a beautiful vignette and if you are lucky enough to have trailing ivy or jasmine, pop some of those at the front of your display to create a gorgeous feature that should last a week or two.

Just flowers… cos that's how we roll #orsometimes #wejustleanforwardandtuckourheadsdown #thatsaroll #moxomandwhitney #hereallweekend #canberraflorist #cbr

A post shared by Moxom & Whitney (@moxomandwhitney) on Dec 15, 2016 at 1:48pm PST

AB: What floral trends will we see this winter?
M&W: The popularity of old fashioned flowers like roses, dahlias and hydrangeas is ever increasing, however, we are seeing a real shift towards native flowers, pods, berries, fruits and the like – textures, unusual shapes and brilliant and bright colours are regularly asked for.

AB: How can we create the perfect bouquet at home?
M&W: To create the perfect bouquet do not be afraid to keep adding more and more….less is not always best unless you are an Ikebana master!  Start with a tall clean vase of fresh water and place long stems of greenery into it until you are happy with the shape (always clean all greenery from the bottom of the stems so they don’t start to rot in the water and trim the bottom of ALL your stems at a 45-degree angle).  Once your greenery is in place use it as a holding base for all your fabulous florals and go crazy!  Always use an uneven amount of flowers (9 stems instead of 10 for example) so your arrangement will look more natural and less symmetrical.  Most importantly, just have fun – YOU are the only person that needs to love your creation so go crazy, don’t think about the final product…just keep creating and adding to your display until you love it.  If you feel a sense of achievement, like what you’ve made and have a goofy smile on your face – you’ve nailed it…well done, friend.

If you want to check out more of the Moxom & Whitney vibe, check them out HERE.

Congratulations to the gorgeous Naomi and Daniel #moxomandwhitney #nativeweddingbouquets #canberraflorist #weddingflowers #waittillyouseethearbour #theladiesgotgandts #theymusthavelookeddehydrated #again #theyaredehydratedalotwethinks

A post shared by Moxom & Whitney (@moxomandwhitney) on Mar 14, 2017 at 5:17pm PDT