Bari J. Ackerman - Bloom Wild: a free-spirited guide to decorating with floral patterns

FOR MY MOTHER , Betty Palles, who informed my style with her eclectic dcor, demonstrated creativity in everything she did, and inspired my love for flowers. And for my grown children, Anna and Emily, so they can see that absolutely anything is possible. I love you!

SECTION ONE
blooming inspiration

SECTION TWO
using textiles to make your space bloom wild

SECTION THREE
the garden house

You love florals and you want to decorate with them, but maybe youre not sure how. Im here to tell you that you can rock the florals in a minimal or a maximalist way depending on your desires, and its not hardso forget your worries about what goes with what, looking too granny, or looking too wild, and get ready to dive in.

In this book I will show you all Ive learned from decorating and living with florals my whole life. You can go head-over-heels crazy for them, or just pop a sweet floral in a surprising place to add panache. Its really up to you.

My love affair with florals started in childhood. My mom loved all floral patterns. Wed see them everywhere at home: She had Desert Rose everyday china and Rose Chintz china for special occasions. She had a botanical carpet going up the stairs and a floral tole chandelier in the kitchen, and my own room was wallpapered in a tiny rose print. I spent months when I was about six years old watching my mom create a giant needlepoint bouquet that still hangs above my parents bed. And my mom, like I do now, painted florals. Floral dcor is part of who I am.

Flowers themselves bring on a certain nostalgia for me as well. Maybe they do for you, too. Do you have memories of gardening as a child? Did a grandparent have a special garden that you reminisce about? The front of our house had rows of tulips each spring and the side was lined with peony trees. In one house, there was a row of lilac bushes I miss desperately here in Arizona. I used to bring my teachers lilacs cut from those bushes wrapped in a wet paper towel and tinfoil. I can still remember their sweet scent.

Growing up in this environment made floral dcor a part of my psyche. Its not even something I think about. Its just what I love.

Maybe you are just jumping into decorating with florals or youve always wanted to but didnt know how. I hope that my passion for flowers sparks the same in you. I encourage you to be bold and brave in your decorating choices. Do what speaks to you... youll learn to refine and edit as you go along. It makes me so happy to be part of your floral journey!

A home should truly reflect who you are. It holds your memories and all the things you love. Its a place you should enjoy to the fullest. Whether you love florals but just need a little help making them work together or want to incorporate even more florals in your design, the starting point is to find some beautiful and diverse inspiration and then start layering the pieces you love to create a look all your own.

how to discover your own style

Begin by exploring the immediate world around you. Study your current surroundings and really take them in. Ill be the first to admit I havent done nearly enough traveling. But you can give any day a sense of adventure travel if you view your surroundings in a new light.

LILACS

Lilacs, with their almost melodious scent, are said to be associated with youthful femininity. They also mark the beginning of summerand of love, according to experts on the meanings of flowers. Lilacs have a special meaning to me because they offer a sense of both nostalgia and renewal.

When travel isnt an option, there are lots of places to look for floral inspiration right at home. The place you live likely has a local botanical garden or even a plant-filled park or conservatory. I grew up in suburban Chicago, Illinois, and love the botanical garden there. It is such a rich resource. Here in Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden is filled with inspiration. We recently visited the botanical garden in San Francisco. I could walk around these Zen spots for hours on end. When you go, always take lots of photosthis is useful for creating an idea board. Plus, you can easily have your photos enlarged and printed to create large-scale wall art or even a series of photos for a gallery wall. A photo of a place youve enjoyed will make you happy every time you pass it. (More on that in !)

The same goes for walks around your neighbor-hood. Take a really good look around you. Take in the quiet and observe. Walk more slowly than usual. You are sure to be surprised at what you see when you stop and literally smell the roses. Even a snapshot can turn out beautifully and become art for your home. Youll also start to recognize flowers that you see regularly, and images of those will become more meaningful pieces to put in your home.

Next stop: museums. My very favorite way to visit a museum is by myself. With no one else to answer to, I can roam and daydream without distractions. Take a look and discover who your favorite artists are. Look at historic textiles, ceramics, sculptures, photographs. Youll start to really hone in on what you love. I once spent an entire day by myself in the textile room at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London while my husband was in the city on business. It was a day Ill always remember. I kept notes on what I saw and took photos where allowed. I also stopped in the museum shop and picked up a book with more information on the exhibits. To me, this is a heavenly and inspiring way to spend a day. I always visit the gift shop as well. Ill often find museum postcards with images of things I couldnt take photos of, which I like to take home for inspiration.

As a substitute, Ive also been known to search museum archives online. For instance, the Smithsonian Institutes website (si.edu) is searchable. I simply typed the word floral in the search box and thousands of images popped up. By searching Monet on the Art Institute of Chicagos website (artic.edu), I easily found all the Monet art in the museums collections. Check your favorite museums website to see if they have a search feature. We are so blessed to live in a time when everything is at our fingertips. Of course, a trip to see the art in person is even better, but when you cant do that, why not take a peek at these wonderful resources?