Roberto Caballero - Decorating with Flowers: A Stunning Ideas Book for all Occasions

Acknowledgments

The authors and the photographer would like to express their huge gratitude to a multitude of artistic people who offered us support, cooperation and coordination during the production of this book.

Gracious Friends and Homeowners

Ramon Antonio
Sylvia Araneta-Malik
Ina Ayala
Lisa Tinio Bayot
Jeffrey Co
Lizette B. Cojuangco
Roberta Lopez Feliciano
Margarita Moran Floriendo
Connie Y. Gonzales
Roberto Gopiao
Tanya Lara
Violeta Lim
Gianna Montinola
Moon Gardeners: Peter Geertz, Emily Campos, Ely Bautista
Paulino Que
Carmen Soriano Rojas
Vicente Roman Santos
Bienvenido Tantoco
Marilen Tantoco
Wendell and May Ty
Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo
Portofino, Vista Land
Denise Weldon
Pilar S. Zimonyi

Contributing Stylists

ROBERT BLANCAFLOR,
www.robertblancaflor.com;
Twitter: @RobBlancaflor;
632 6283870/+63 917 9874954

J. ANTONIO MENDOZA Y. GONZALES,
YL Bldg 3/F, #115 Herrera St, Legaspi Village,
Makati City; mendozaarchitects@gmail.com
632 8159025/+63 917 8937236

SABINE KOSCHINGER,
Linens International Inc., RMT Industrial Complex, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila; linens@pldtdsl.net

JONATHAN MATTI,
41 Montepino Bldg, #138 Amorsolo St, Legaspi Village,
Makati City;
jonathanmatti@yahoo.com;
632 8103137/+63 917 5262339

ANTON R. MENDOZA,
2/F Jannov Plaza Bldg, 2295 Pasong Tamo Extension,
Makati City;
arm@antonmendoza.com
632 8672206/632 8136444

ESTIEN QUIJANO,
Private Atelier VXVII
www.estienquijano.com;
estienquijano@ yahoo.com

JUNIE RODRIGUEZ
cesferod@gmail.com; +63 917 5338500

JIM TAN,
41 Lincoln St, Greenhills West,
San Juan City;
lahars@skybroadband.com.ph
632 5841559/5841405 /+63 920 9100855

PONCE C. VERIDIANO,
Tropic Asia Landscape Design,
#3105N Lee Gardens Condo,
Lee St cor. Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong;
632 5845521/+63 917 8810578

Floral Suppliers

FIORI DI M Food and Floralscapes,
Margarita A. Fores, Greenbelt 5,
Ayala Center,
Makati City;
fioridiM@yahoo.com
632 7030370

FLORIADE
Floral Shop, Anton Barretto and Judith Berenguer-Testa; Zeta2 Bldg,
191 Salcedo St, Legaspi Village,
Makati City
632 8938862

FLOWERS BY ROSABELLA,
Rosabella Ongpin, The Bellevue Hotel,
North Bridge-way, Filinvest, Alabang, Muntinlupa City
flowersbyrosabella@yahoo.com
632 7718181 Loc. 8010

MABOLO
Floral Gallery, Antonio Garcia Jannov Plaza, Gd fl,
2295 Pasong Tamo Exten,
Makati City;
info@maboloflowers.com
632 8935689

MILLE FIORI
Floral Design, Nathaniel Aranda,
2241 Chino Roces Ave., San Lorenzo Village,
Makati City;
www.millefiorifloraldesigns.com
floraldesign.millefiori04@gmail.com
632 8466050/+63 917 5686981

THE FLOWER FARM,
Ging de los Reyes, RCI Bldg, 105 Rada St., Legaspi Village,
Makati City;
info@theflowerfarm.com.ph
632 8156665/632 8156668

THE RUSTANS FLOWER SHOP,
Zenaida R. Tantoco, CEO, Rustans Group of Companies
www.rustans.com.ph

Furnishings and Accessories

AVELLANA ART GALLERY,
Albert Avellana, 2680 FB Harrison, Pasay City
avellana_gallery@yahoo.com

CLASSIC PARTY RENTALS,
Sue Legget 1635 Rollins Rd #A, Burlingame, CA 94010
www.sanfrancisco.classicpartyrentals.com (650) 652-0300

FIRMA & AC
632, Chito Vijandre and Ricky Toledo, Greenbelt Malls, Ayala Center,
Makati City;
firma2@vasia.com

RUSTANS GROUP OF COMPANIES,
Zenaida R. Tantoco, CEO
www.rustans.com.ph

TESOROS TREASURE HOUSE OF THINGS PHILIPPINE,
Ma. Isabel Tesoro, Group CEO
www.tesoros.ph; tesoros@tesoros.ph

THE PIETRO COLLECTION,
La Fuerza Cmpd, 2241 Pasong Tamo,
Makati City
thepietrocollection@mail.com
632 3105164

TOWNES FABRICS,
Elit Pacho, Arnaiz Ave,
Makati City
eypacho@townes.com.ph

Editorial Support and Consultants

Ponchit Ponce Enrile
Cristobal Labog
Toni Serrano Parsons
Ging de los Reyes
Loreto Sasi

Creative Support Team Manila

Karen Tanchanco Caballero
Rene Guatlo
Nicanor Lazaro
Beatrice Dy Pimentel
RS Video & Film, Set Crew and Transport
Nelia Silverio
Ricardo Jose Vasque
Cleo Mangulabnan Webb

Fabulous Floral Arrangements
for Every Occasion

Fresh flowers are a delight to the senses . They are also an integral part of the cultural fabric of most countries. In the Philippines, flowers are woven into the daily lives of people and play an important role in festivals and celebrations. They are also a constant reminder of the wealth and diversity of the countrys tropical environment, its abundant sun and rainfall and changing seasons that contribute to a plethora of lush, moisture-loving plants, both native and imported, and spectacular flowering trees.

This book demonstrates how the vast palette of flowers and foliage and organic materials available in the Philippines can be used to create fabulous floral arrangements that elevate flowers beyond simple and mundane displays to sensational and memorable works of art that cannot fail to impress. At the same time, the book shows that these works of art are not impossible to achieve, that they are within the reach of those interested in replicating them. All that is needed is access to a good flower market that supplies blooms and foliage, or to ones own garden, and a variety of interesting containers, not necessarily purpose-made vases, of all shapes and sizes. A fondness for flowers, a little creativity and imagination, and the desire to fashion arrangements that complement a particular look in the home or elsewhere are other necessary ingredients. The determination to be an outstanding and caring homemaker and host also helps.

Most people prefer to entertain at home. To complement the food and the drinks they serve and the background music they choose for the occasion, they are happy to make an effort to create the right ambience. There is no easier way to do this than with flowers. A spectacular floral centerpiece can set the tone for a gathering, capture its spirit and enhance the festive mood. Indeed, beautiful arrangements of flowers and foliage on dinner tables and other surfaces are every bit as important as elegant tables set with gorgeous plateware, flatware and glassware, or luxurious home furnishings.

Simple floral arrangements in very simple containers, however stunning they may be, are best suited to modern, uncluttered interiors. Lavish, upmarket homes, on the other hand, lend themselves to exuberant, inspirational arrangements of the type shown in this book. In these homes, flower arrangements for special occasions are no longer simply table arrangements. They have become grand and creative works of art with big nature themes and visual glamour. Original choices of flowers, foliage and raw materials are combined in unusual shapes and colors with innovative, sometimes unexpected, containers. The flowers themselves become the stars of the show, enlivening an interior, a table, a sideboard, or turning a special container into a living statement.

Not surprisingly, this focus on inventive, cutting-edge floral arrangements has given rise to a new field of expertisethe art of floristryin demand at high-profile events and for very special occasions. It is a global phenomenon that has spawned some outstanding lifestyle designers. Foremost among them are a number of American and Japanese stylists, who have been the main inspiration for Filipino florists based either in America or in their home country. Currently, the best-known names in floral design in the USA are designers such as Preston Bailey, Daniel Ost, Jeff Leatham and Italian-American Alberto Pinto. Preston Bailey is a high-profile events planner and floral artist who creates extravagant theatrical settings for American weddings and big corporate affairs. Daniel Ost is a gifted artist and floral engineer doing plant mechanics that Filipino creatives call simply genius. Jeff Leatham showcases the beauty of flowers by clustering and magnifying blooms in unusual and unexpected ways, while Alberto Pinto, a classic-romantic designer based in New York City, conjures up glamorous table settings with fantasy and period themes. From Asia, the Japanese art of cut flower arrangement or ikebana, particularly the Modern School originated by Sogetsu masters in Tokyo, Japan, has been particularly influential on Filipino floral design. The Sogetsu brand of cut flower arrangement is a very intuitive and nature-sensitive form of floristry. Several Filipino florists featured in this book actively practice Sogetsu, including Connie Gonzalez, Leo Almeria and Pico Soriano.