Flower Palettes

Book excerpt: With commissions to decorate locations such as London's Royal Opera House, an impressive U.K. client list that includes the Polo Ralph Lauren Bond Street shop and the Athenaeum, and a growing number of American fans such as Linda Evangelista and Elizabeth Taylor, Stephen Woodhams has arrived as one of today's top floral designers.In Flower Palettes, he reveals the color-based approach to decorating with flowers that has won him such success. After offering a thorough introduction to the basic skills and techniques of arranging flowers, he organizes his book by major color groups. Some of the designs he presents highlight the power of a single color used on its own, while others show the effect of mixing complementary or contrasting colors. There are designs for every season, and the arrangements include freshly cut and dried flowers as well as living plants.With more than 150 inspiring photographs and step-by-step instructions, Flower Palettes is a complete guide for anyone wishing to create truly wondrous floral effects.