'Anything that exudes warmth and coziness'

In September, Chantal Post took gold at the Belgian championships. 'It was quite a tough competition. As Stefan van Berlo's assistant, I had already participated in the European Championships in Poland which is really comparable to the Belgian championships in terms of style: challenging, exciting and full of positive stress.'

'What I like most about a competition like this is the whole creative process - from the genesis of the idea to the full elaboration. I have learned an enormous amount from my own experiments and from the coaching I enjoyed in preparation. Exchanging ideas and experience with internationally renowned florists is incredibly enriching where you get a new and broader vision of the floral world. An opportunity to enrich my own style, develop myself further and delve even deeper into floral design - which now makes me even more passionate about my craft!'

'Christmas means family time. Outside it is cold and dark, and then it is important to bring coziness and warmth into the house. Christmas is also a time of traditions - which have only become more important after Covid. Red and green are more 'in' than ever. As well as gold, copper and natural materials:
anything that radiates warmth and coziness.'

'A little exoticism should not be missing'

Sören Van Laer won the First Mastery Competition of Belgium in September, allowing him to now call himself First Florist of Belgium. 'It is quite an honor to be the first to bear the title of First Florist of Belgium. This title is a real crowning glory of our profession as florists. To be a good florist you not only have to master floral techniques, you also have to be creative, be able to organize and plan well and have business talent
have. Together with my partner Aymeric Chaouche and supported by the team, we have worked hard to achieve this title. I am proud of my team. Together, we will continue to strive to put Belgium on the map in terms of floral art.

In the run-up to Christmas, Atelier Sören Van Laer
invariably organizes a Christmas Open Door. 'Feasting and festive decorating is in our DNA. We love pure natural materials like pine branches, pine cones, pine needles, berries. Classic shapes like wreaths and stars are part of the Christmas tradition, but I also like to experiment with other shapes. Glitter and lights add a festive touch to these creations. A little exoticism should not be missing either. Special
orchids or other exotic flowers and materials.'

'Always keep your eyes open'

Floral designer Hanneke Frankema likes to make her own bases and, if possible, use them multiple times. 'Christmas comes back every year, certain materials give - by using them slightly differently - a nice twist to the
Christmas arrangements. For this Christmas special of DPK, I created a lot of commercial ideas.'

'My motto is: Always keep your eyes open. For example, in a
store a kind of metal tray with a mirror. Removing the mirror left decorative gold rings. With a frame of pokes underneath, an ideal base for bouquets was created. But you can also place this base beautifully on a tray with loose flowers incorporated between them.'

'Every year you come across bags full of pine cones. Often they are used as cheap filler in Christmas arrangements but this time I incorporated them into a wreath shape. This gives a robust look that combines beautifully with other natural materials. It's useful anyway to think about bases that you can make far in advance and to which only a few fresh materials need to be added before they go into the store.'

'Beautiful details, which are relatively inexpensive and quick to create, can also make a difference. Think of incorporating matching baubles or handmade stars from aluminum wire. I also really like simple solutions like Kalanchoe leaves that complete the look. And yes, so always keep your eyes open.'

Luxury in harmony with nature

In the theme Luxury in harmony with nature, connection with nature plays a leading role. The arrangers have chosen mostly traditional techniques and natural materials. The appearance is that of grandeur and exclusivity. Festive yet understated. Serene but also cozy and warm.

Winter Challenge

To move from the colorful fall to winter is a different mindset for many people. Not that the colors completely disappear from the landscape, but it's all a bit more subtle and monochromatic. For florists, especially those who want to work more sustainably, that can be a challenge. Getting into the shell of nature, the bare branches with larch or pine cones, the evergreen greenery, mosses and dried tendrils - it takes some adjusting.

Lilac

A frame made of flat lilac aluminum wire, with a large and a small metal ring wrapped with lilac bouillon wire. The stem is made of 5mm thick aluminum wire again wrapped with lilac bouillon wire. Between the flat aluminum wire is created a kind of opening of a wreath. Here the decorative Talinum 'Long John' is incorporated by putting the side branches on long strands of wire. These have been processed together in the form to form a fairly compact whole and therefore form the base into which all the processed flowers are glued in and on. The flowers used are: Clematis, orchids, Madiba chrysanthemums, Polianthes tuberosa and beautiful green-brown Gloriosa.