Natural Summer

A tall frame in natural tones forms the basis of this design. The custom-designed wooden frame incorporates long, dried reed stalks, which give it an airy and natural look. The flowers are arranged in small glass tubes that can be easily attached to the frame in various places. This creates a playful and flexible floral arrangement.

Materials used include: Allium and Digitalis, combined with lilacs, ranunculus, Vanda orchids, Clematis, various grasses, and delicate greenery.

Green cylinder

This structure is made up of long wooden elements that come together to form a cylindrical shape. The soft green hue with subtle red accents is a perfect match for the
unique Nepenthes.

Openings are built into the bottom of the frame, allowing the water tubes to be easily secured. At the top, extra small tubes have been placed for adding additional flowers. The floral arrangement consists of peonies, anthuriums, and ranunculus, complemented by orchids, clematis, allium, and Ammi majus, creating a rich and refined
composition.

Bridal blue

The base of this bridal bouquet is made of wood and finished in a deep blue hue. Living materials used include Nepenthes, Tillandsia, Talinum ‘Long John’, Agapanthus, orchids, and Gymnocalycium ‘Spineless’. Various types of foliage provide calm and balance to the overall composition. The use of unexpected plant parts, such as roots, stems, and
leaves, adds extra character.

‘I enjoy working with seasonal flowers.’

Erika Oldenhof is a certified master florist and owns a flower shop. "I also enjoy working as a freelancer. It allows me to showcase work that is different from what I do every day in the shop. And, very importantly, you don't have to calculate every single stem. 

I draw my inspiration mainly from everyday life and home and fashion magazines. I also always look around me carefully, especially in nature!

For me, spring means: the trees are sprouting leaves again, flower bulbs are blooming, the days are getting longer, and there is more room for the sun. We're going outside again!

I enjoy working with seasonal flowers, such as (French) tulips, anemones, viburnum, and blossom branches. My customers are also increasingly opting for seasonal flowers, partly because of their soft colors.

‘Line play and movement are essential to me’

The work of floral designer Max van de Sluis often arises from the moment. ‘A single flower, a special texture, or a striking shape can be enough to spark an idea. From there, one or two elements are deliberately emphasized or developed further. You can see this in my compositions: sometimes I work with a very limited palette of species, sometimes with an abundance. This is always a conscious design choice.

The natural properties of the material form the starting point. The length and line of the stems are retained; removing the leaves creates focus and brings out the shape of the flower more strongly. The interplay of lines and movement are essential and give the work tension and direction.

I am constantly searching for new ways of arranging flowers, preferably with them standing directly in water: by developing a construction, preferably with a botanical character, or by making clever use of natural materials. This gives me energy. Experimenting, researching, and continuing to challenge myself are an important part of my process. Here, too, simplicity prevails: one technique or action per design. This creates tranquility and a powerful end result. Everything revolves around balance—too many different "flavors" detract from the essence. The result counts, but it is the journey that gives the work meaning.

Finally... Spring

After weeks of dark days, cold, and snow, clear blue skies and sunshine are returning. You can feel that spring is about to reveal itself. Tree buds are about to burst, and here and there the first spring flowers, such as Hamamelis and Galanthus, are already appearing.