To put a fresh spin on getting in the holiday spirit, we tapped Michael and Darroch Putnam, the wildly talented duo behind the floral-design firm Putnam & Putnam. See how you can make your home feel like an extra-special winter woodland by trading tinsel and traditional bold hues for soft tones, organic textures, and lush accents plucked right from nature.
Michael and Darroch Putnam, the married couple behind New York City floral-design firm Putnam & Putnam (putnamflowers.com), are the wunderkind of the flower world. In their lovely Fifth Avenue shop and Brooklyn studio, the duo have made a name for themselves creating unforgettable arrangements and breathtaking installations, often from humble and scavenged botanicals, like branches, mosses, ferns, and dried flowers. “There’s a romance and an unkemptness to what we do,” Michael says of their unique style. And in Darroch’s words, they strive for “elegance made with unexpected elements.” On these pages, they share some of their secrets. “We used materials that are easily available in projects that are attainable,” says Michael. So start playing, and feel free to improvise. We predict that some gorgeous new traditions are about to take root in your home.
Think Beyond The Vase
Delight guests on sight with this enchanting display. To create it, Michael Putnam lined a long tray with floral foam; added amaryllis, hyacinth, and a variety of plants, including fern and evergreen clippings; and filled it in with moss. “Don’t overthink this,” he says. “You could simply use branches and a fern and it would still be impactful.”
THE DETAILS: Habit + Form extra-large rectangle tray, from $14, shopterrain.com. CB2 Infinity brass square wall mirror, 31", $129, cb2.com. Cole & Son Apex wallpaper, cole-and-son.com.
Go Wild, With Intention
This is undoubtedly a next-level arrangement. But there’s a method to Putnam & Putnam’s creative genius that even amateurs can take away. They arranged mountain laurel and evergreen branches in floral foam set on a tray, then punctuated it with fresh-cut flowers, including amaryllis, ranunculus, and roses. Last, they filled in the spots on the mantle with moss and shiny metal ornaments.
Try A Dreamy Palette
Red and green are classic, but a romantic combination of muted rose, sage green, and gold (think Christmas shot through a soft-focus lens) is gorgeous. The skirt under the blue-spruce tree was fashioned from a swath of wool-felt fabric, and the presents echo the gentle color scheme.
THE DETAILS: Preserved billy-button craspedia (on garlands), $9 for 10, and giant thistles, in Burgundy Red Natural, $17 a bunch, save-on-crafts.com. Assorted pillows, from $86 each, ochre.net.
Let There Be Light
Borrow this trick for installing a dramatic display, inside or out. Fill lightweight urns with floral foam and insert large branches from outside (these are mountain laurel). Get out the stepladder and arrange tiny naked-wire LED lights on the branches to evoke icy foliage, then cover the bases with pillows of moss.
THE DETAILS: Classic urns, in Medium, $400 each, pennoyernewman.com. Warm White Naked Wire LED light strings, $9 for a strand of 40, jamaligarden.com.
Elements Of Holiday Style
We promise you don’t need actual fairy dust to transform your home into a modern winter woodland. Stock up on a few basics (floral foam, dried flowers, inexpensive containers), start foraging, and don’t be too formal. Here are even more tips and techniques from the Putnams.
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Pare Down Your Paper
Take a break from the expected seasonal colors and patterns, and use softer solids -- they’ll look pretty year-round.
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Spotlight Winter Wildflowers
Okay, we mean wild-looking. Amaryllis has a bold, graphic silhouette, and it’s a source of vivid color in an otherwise muted space.
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Turn Buds Into Ornaments
Dried flowers won’t disrupt this tree’s delicate ecosystem. Yellow billy buttons make a sweet garland, and giant red thistles make textured ornaments.
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Let Ornaments Loose
Bring those boxes of extra metallic bulbs down from the attic -- they’re pretty even off the tree and sprinkled across a mantle or table.
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Reinvent The Tree Topper
The Putnams stuck sprigs of golden dried yarrow into a small foam ball to form a starburst shape, then attached it to the tree with wire.
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Do More With Less
When grouped together, small vases of single flowers or greens become a rich tableau.
-
Pare Down Your Paper
Take a break from the expected seasonal colors and patterns, and use softer solids -- they’ll look pretty year-round.
-
Let Ornaments Loose
Bring those boxes of extra metallic bulbs down from the attic -- they’re pretty even off the tree and sprinkled across a mantle or table.
-
Spotlight Winter Wildflowers
Okay, we mean wild-looking. Amaryllis has a bold, graphic silhouette, and it’s a source of vivid color in an otherwise muted space.
-
Reinvent The Tree Topper
The Putnams stuck sprigs of golden dried yarrow into a small foam ball to form a starburst shape, then attached it to the tree with wire.
-
Turn Buds Into Ornaments
Dried flowers won’t disrupt this tree’s delicate ecosystem. Yellow billy buttons make a sweet garland, and giant red thistles make textured ornaments.
-
Do More With Less
When grouped together, small vases of single flowers or greens become a rich tableau.
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