Tulip Tribute from Holly of Things That Inspire

Posted on 20 May 2010

Tulips are beautiful in and of themselves, but what makes them even more appealing is how fleeting they are. They seem to disappear almost as soon as they pop up out of the ground. Holly over at Things That Inspire, whose bridesmaids carried simple bouquets of tulips in the early 1990s, knows this better than anyone. Here, she’s created a tribute to them. Be sure to check out her blog for daily round-ups of beautiful images. Tons and tons of ideas await!

Thanks for being our guest, Holly!

After a particularly long and cold winter, with much more snow than is typical, I was so ready for spring this year! Spring is my favorite season; although it is torture for seasonal allergy sufferers, there is nothing like the tender green of the new leaves on the trees, the flowers that bloom all around, and especially the tulips that grace us with their presence for a few weeks.

I had the opportunity to go to a party at the White House in 2008, and tulips were used as the main floral element in the cross hall. Isn’t this a beautiful arrangement–the red of the tulips looks great with the red of President Reagan’s tie!

It seems as if many designers and stylists share my love of tulips. There is something so sculptural about the shape of a tulip: a long slender stem with an elegantly shaped leaf, all is crowned with a beautiful solid mass of color. Another wonderful thing about tulips is that they come in so many colors; it is easy to use them to accent the decor.  This beautiful room was the cover of Veranda, April 2010. Interior design by Eleanor Cummings, photo credit Tria Giovan.

White tulips are my favorite, but orange tulips come in a close second. This vignette, from designer Suzanne Kasler’s book Inspired Interiors, is so charming; Suzanne is truly a master at nuanced layering, and the orange tulips are the perfect touch.

I saved this picture into my inspiration file, as I thought that this was such a striking and easily achievable table setting–vibrantly orange tulips, and pyramids of oranges on plates. The contrast of the blue of the party favor on the plates sets the orange off perfectly. This was from Ina Garten’s kitchen that was created for The Today Show.

Note how the tulips on the cover of Vicente Wolf’s book were used to create a beautiful foreground to the picture; the slender curve of the stems lead the eye into the picture.

This is a stunning powder room, crafted in muted tones. It is perfectly set off with a jolt of red tulips, elegantly draped over the edge of a simple jar. Interior design by Eleanor Cummings and Babs Watkins, via House Beautiful. Photo credit Kerri McCaffety.

I love this image, although I don’t particularly like the furniture in this room. What makes this picture beautiful to me is the natural light pouring into the room, and those gorgeous red tulips.

I love the tulips in this picture–parrot tulips, with their vibrant red and yellow color scheme. Four simple tulips at the peak of their bloom, and it makes the perfect elegantly simple centerpiece. Interior design by Jim Hawes of Caldwell-Beebe.

I appreciate the composition of this picture (I am a fan of vertical pictures), and the tulips are the perfect addition to this beautiful scene. Interior design by Jo Rabaut, photo credit Chris Little.

One of my all time favorite pictures, because it contains so many of my favorite design elements: a sisal rug for texture, beautiful contemporary art (the painting above the fireplace is by New Orleans artist Amanda Talley), and of course–elegantly drooping white tulips. Via Southern Accents; interior design by Gerrie Bremermann, photo credit Tria Giovan.

The April 2010 issue At Home in Arkansas featured a gorgeous cottage; the owners had lived in the home for over a decade, and hired designer Kevin Walsh of Bear-Hill Interiors to give it a fresh new look. The results are spectacular, but I must admit to having a fondness for the picture of the kitchen because of the sweet burst of color that the pink tulips give to the space.  Click here to see the rest of the house. Photo credit: Nancy Nolan.

Clearly the photographer liked the tulips too, as they got their own close-up! This is a great shape vase for tulips, as the vase shape mimics the shape of the tulip. Photo credit: Nancy Nolan.

I recently purchased a large bunch of tulips for my own home. Of course, I was looking for white or orange tulips, but for some reason the store only had yellow and purple tulips. I prefer to stick to one color when grouping flowers, so I went with the yellow! I originally put them in a different vase, and cut the stems to match that vase, but switched them into this vase to get some height. The good thing about tulips is that the stem continues to grow, so these stems will probably be the right length for the vase within a few days. Another trick for tulips: if you want to keep the stem firm and make the flower more long lasting, drop a penny in the water at the bottom of the vase. It works like a charm, as does placing tulips in a metal vase or a julep cup. I must admit, though, that there is something so beautiful about a bunch of tulips that are elegantly drooping, so I rarely use the penny trick!

I hope you enjoyed this ode to the tulip.  Are you a fan of tulips? What is your favorite spring flower?