"As we look to the future, permanent botanicals are a natural for every room and may become the most popular home decorative accessory choice," said Judith Sisler Johnston, president of Sisler Johnston Interior Design and ASID Allied Member. "The quality of imported permanent botanicals continues to go up while price points continue to fall."
Industry leaders say permanent botanicals are competing with décor accessories rather than with live counterparts for consumer dollars. They say the biggest industry challenge is convincing consumers that permanent botanicals are as good as live ones.
There are many choices to consider when selecting permanent botanicals for the home. Fresh cut floral bouquets are a favorite choice all year long. Water garden permanent botanicals offer lush single variety or blended floral bouquets. A bundle of silk cream and pink azalea branches lends a romantic fullness to a basic glass vase. Large red and white tulips lend a realistic touch and lots of color to a room.
Floral arrangements offer understated elegance and drama to a room. They often soften a contemporary home or revitalize a traditional home. Sisler Johnston says these classic choices are always fashionable and will never go out of style. Consider tone-on-tone monochromatic or dried arrangements with pink roses, magnolia leaves, and moss. Star tulips combined with Bells of Ireland look lovely in antique lattice planters.
For those who don't like the look of flowers, there are greenery arrangements in a variety of styles from topiaries for formal areas to grass stalks for a less restrained approach. The trend in the evergreen category is using sleek vases or modern containers, although rusted pots add ageless interest to preserved moss.
As with other types of home décor, trends come and go. White remains a popular choice although the trend has shown a shift towards the soft neutral shades of blush, cream, taupe and caramel. For those seeking a contemporary look, simplicity is the key and can be achieved by using one flower variety or a single stem. For an Asian chic, mix bamboo with an orchid and bear grass in a minimal vase. Lattice basket planters highlighting a country cottage look are popular as more and more consumers blend the outside and inside elements of their homes.
Permanent botanicals are showing up in other types of new containers. Shell mosaics have become the latest addition to permanent botanicals for sophisticated designs and seashore locations. Embellished containers provide an elegant feminine touch while classic ceramic or preppy pink and green toile containers bring a designer look to permanent botanicals.
Opulent orchids have become a popular category for permanent botanicals in recent years because tropical plants blend with a variety of popular home furnishings. They are frequently shown in minimal containers for contemporary settings and also work in classic ceramic planters for a more traditional look. Orchids lend an exotic touch to a room setting. Singapore orchids are red and mix well with lush grasses and moss.
"When I attend the International Home Furnishings market, I usually spend at least a day visiting permanent botanical showrooms to observe the latest trends that will complement the model showhomes we design for builders," Sisler Johnston said. "I look for style, realism, and classic elegance."
The Sisler Johnston team of licensed, highly trained, and gifted designers successfully creates living spaces from concept through realization throughout the United States. Judith Sisler Johnston combines experience, knowledge, and professionalism to help clients develop their vision while analyzing their design requirements. The company has been recognized with more than 70 industry awards, including Aurora, Laurel, and Excel awards.
For more information about Sisler Johnston Interior Design, call (904) 288-0908 or visit the Web site at www.sislerjohnston.com.
