Whimsical Floral Design Workshop by Hannah Murrey
Styling with flowers comes naturally to Hannah Murrey, a Charleston florist who has spent years designing floral arrangements from Tennessee to South Carolina. Growing up in Memphis, Hannah was a florist in high school and college. Once she graduated, her corporate job didn’t bring the same enthusiasm she felt creating floral artistry. When her best friend approached her to design bouquets for their wedding three years ago, Hannah felt the call to start doing what she truly loved. Today, Flora by Hannah has serviced weddings, events and workshops.
On April 1st, Hannah brought her passion to The Jasper, guiding residents through a hands-on flower arrangement workshop in the Residential Lobby. She introduced her Guide to Floral Design to influence compelling creations and teach visitors the same methods she uses in her designs. During the class, Hannah explained how to achieve a traditional, classic style blended with whimsical accents to produce a timeless look. By the end of the session, the room was filled with lush blossoms proudly boasting springtime colors and seasonal flora. Residents had fun laughing and sharing ideas as they followed Hannah’s helpful guidance and one-on-one teaching. She encouraged them to use her techniques as they decorate their living spaces with seasonal blooms at The Jasper. You can create floral arrangements at home, here are Hannah’s three elements from the Guide to Floral Design:
1. Style
Depending on your personal aesthetic, you can choose to design with a modern, garden design, elevated or classic style. Modern designs are similar to the monochromatic color palette, focusing on one or only a couple of flowers that are similar shapes to each other. For example, you may use roses in a tight, ball-like structure, or use hydrangeas and roses in the same shape. Garden designs resemble a variety of flowers to master the foliage. The elevated style incorporates movement and space to arrange flowers for spaces like an entryway. Classic style arrangements use a mixture of flowers that present a similar appearance from every angle.
2. Color
There are a few color palettes you can choose from to inspire your arrangement such as seasonal, sweet and sour, monochromatic, elegant and garden style.
“Spring is a time for new life and rejuvenation, so you will find colors like lavender and pink rather than red and brown,” Hannah said. She explained that every season offers different hues and tones fitting to the time of year.
She said blending colors can create dimension, such as with hues that come from Hannah’s favorite color match: the sweet and sour.
“A sweet and sour color palette creates dimension,” she said. “For example, you might have a dusty pink tone alongside a sour peachy color to add depth. Or you can use a blue-green, like dusty miller, alongside a yellow-green to create that same dimension.”
Monochromatic arrangements might fit your theme if you enjoy the modern look. Elegant colors usually exhibit softer hues, a brilliant look without the use of green foliage. The garden palate is the most subjective type of palette because it is meant to mimic what you think a garden would look like. You may use bright colors, different shades of a color or even vibrant white and greens.
3. Shape
When designing the shape of your arrangement, Hannah advises selecting from three different techniques. The pave style mimics a bouquet, resembling a more compact shape. You can add fun accents to playfully breathe movement into the design. Asymmetrical shapes are higher on one side than the other with a deep center containing lush flowers. Lastly, the layering shape resembles the natural growth of the stems in the arrangement. Coined by designer Sarah Winward, this style favors a forest canopy with tall “branches” that reach up to the sky and taper off into delicate growth. Below the top blooms are the younger stems, which are typically the flowy, dainty blooms. The bottom layer is the dense shrubbery or the full and thick blooms, resulting in a beautiful natural aesthetic.
Hannah’s tips and techniques are a wonderful guide to personalize your living space with thoughtful floral creations. When choosing the elements that go into your vases, keep in mind her three elements of design: style, color and shape.
“At the end of the day, floral design is an art,” Hannah said. “This is your work, have some fun with it! Flowers are so intricate and beautiful. take time to appreciate them for their beauty!”
For more information about Flora Designs by Hannah Murrey at https://www.florabyhannah.com/. Follow on Instagram at @FloraByHannah.
