Jennifer McGarigle: Creativity in BloomFloral and furniture designer Jennifer McGarigle opens up about appreciating the simple beauties of nature – and gives a few floral design tips along the way.  Jennifer McGarigle is a floral and home décor designer and the owner of Floral Art, a stunning gallery of floral arrangements, installations and eclectic gifts, located in Venice, Calif. Inspired by architecture, fashion and interior design, Jennifer has developed a distinctive style – fresh, fashion forward and immediately recognizable.  Working with flowers has helped me to appreciate the simple beauties of life while expressing my creativity. It's a medium that has allowed me to interpret interior design, fashion, art and form in my own aesthetic. I look at environments as the canvas for flowers and how they relate to the space. Some are just arrangements, others are made to compliment an event, and most exciting are installations. The flowers become the central focus and are sculpted in unusual shapes and in ways one might not expect to see. It becomes an experience of the senses both for me and for others. 

1. "Vases are just as important as the blooms. If you select vases with smaller openings, you don’t have to use a lot of flowers, and there is beauty in simplicity.”

2. "Whether it’s a single orchid or Dahlia, I often pair a Zen bowl vase with Lily grass to create a modern budvase alternative."

3. "When entertaining, I like to dress up my tabletop with a blossom at each place setting. It not only extends the color from the centerpiece all around the table, but it’s a thoughtful detail that people appreciate."

4. “Floral inspired pieces, like the Floret Chair, are a wonderful way to surround yourself with the beauty of nature. It just makes us feel good!”

5. “This tray incorporates fresh vitality to any environment with or without flowers.”

6. “The pop of a monochromatic floral arrangement in any room is dramatic and fresh. It creates simplicity with attention, whether or not the environment has a lot of color and pattern or little to none.”

7. “I love that the designs naturally and continually evolve out of my day to day experience of being surrounded with fresh flowers.”

8. “I love having a chair with Venetian lace upholstery because it’s like sitting in your favorite dress!”

9. "While my Floral Art work aesthetic tends to be polished and clean lined, my house is a little more eclectic. It’s a blend of old and new pieces that combine texture with sleek lines. Living in this kind of environment has inspired me to make transitional accessories and furniture, in that they can belong in a modern or traditional space. "