‘My strength lies mainly in the use of color’

Floral stylist Franka Roenhorst (34) became Dutch Floral Art champion in January 2024. Together with her partner Hans Zijlstra, she runs flower shop Bloemstylist Hans Zijlstra in Groningen. She is currently preparing intensively for the World Cup Floral Art, which will take place in The Hague in August 2024 and in which she will represent the Netherlands. Her participation in the World Cup is a major milestone in Franka's career, a personal dream come true.

Colorful Summer

Colour thinking is one of the most important professional skills aspects for a florist. What colours do you see at a particular occasion or in a particular space? Or what do you combine with a particular type of person. Choosing colours usually happens intuitively. And that's a good thing.

'Follow your feeling, make a translation'

Florist Sjacco Gerritsen is happy about the summer. 'The theme summer is great! When winter is over and spring begins, everything blossoms and colors come to life; that makes you happy, doesn't it?'

‘Summer is a busy, lively time for nature when everything is at its most powerful. Bright, saturated colors, warm and vibrant. The summer theme has a lot to offer; it is the time of outdoor living, conviviality and leisure.’

‘I mainly get my inspiration from nature, there are so many beautiful shapes, colors, and scents. Let nature influence you. Look around you and you will see beautiful fields with extending green grass, among which you can discover more and more flowering flowers. Isn't that happiness?’

‘In my arrangements, I only use seasonal flowers. I don't have a specific preference, but wild flowers, grasses, and sprawling branches make me very happy. Trends? Above all, do what makes you happy, whether it's trendy or not. What I often do is mix everything together in all colors, or just use that one branch or flower. Follow your feelings and make a translation.’ 

'Beauty lies in the moment'

Florist and master binder Ilona Oostenveld runs her studio with heart and soul. ‘After having a shop for years, I recently chose a new path: no more opening hours, but a studio where work is only done on order. I wanted more freedom and creativity in my work. In a store you are often bound by the clock. Now I work by appointment, I can fully focus on the wishes of my customers and I have more time for freelance work.’

‘I get my inspiration from daily life, a walk through the forest or beautiful art that I come across, those are things that stimulate me. Nature gives me endless ideas, especially in the summer. That is the most beautiful season for me: everything blooms, lives, and sparkles. I like to work with seasonal flowers – Delphinium and peony are the real summer flowers for me.’

Ilona's floral work is an ode to color, seasons and the small happiness of every day. 'In a world that is often rushed, I want to show that beauty lies in the moment - if you have an eye for it. I love the colors and the trend of today: organic shapes and natural tones, which brings nature even more inside!'

Summer power

We've already had a taste of it this spring: summer. And what is particularly striking about those first beautiful summer days is the power that this brings about. Not only in nature, which literally explodes, but also in people. Everyone seems more cheerful, lively, and full of energy.

'Mistakes are really a No Go!'

Floral designer Hanneke Frankema always aims for the perfect detail when creating bridal work. ‘Of course, you should always go for the best, but especially for bridal work! The bride carries it all day, and it is, of course, photographed a lot, so mistakes are really a no-go! I always say, you only get one chance to do it right. If parts fail or flowers droop, there is often very little you can do about it. The result is that every photo features a bridal bouquet or floral work that you don't stand behind: so, don't take any risks.’

'Valuable additional points of attention are, for example, the bridesmaids: if they form a cohesive whole with the bride, for example, through a mini copy of the bridal bouquet or a matching diadem, it acts as the icing on the cake. People, and brides, love that.'

‘And there are also many fun and creative solutions to think of for an item such as a ring pillow. By working with symbolism, for example, you also create real added value. You certainly don't always have to opt for a mix of many types of flowers. You can also make beautiful work with one or two types. It's all about the attention to detail, the best quality materials and perfect technique.’