THE FLOWERS OF BIRKENHEAD HOUSE

A glorious retreat in Hermanus at the Cape, Birkenhead House is celebrated by guests for the charm, whimsicality and sheer stylishness of their contemporary flower design. 

After many years in apparel design in South Africa, and later working for Reebok in California, Alyson Kessel returned to South Africa and retired to Hermanus in the Cape where she has directed her design skills into quite another sphere - floral art. 

Known among her circle for her creativity, Alyson has a way with flowers that results in exquisite and fascinating effects in myriad colour combinations. Presently, she is creating the stunning arrangements that flow through the gorgeous rooms of Birkenhead House. 

"Farm fresh roses are sourced right here in the Overberg region near Stanford. My trusty local floral market has a wonderful cold room and will bring in most of our requirements, including marvellous seasonal fynbos and proteas, used together with roses in unconventional ways."

With a nod to Paula Pryke, a British floral designer of note, Alyson created the two lush pompoms of rosebuds perched on top of tall clear glass flutes, containing layers of scrunched cellophane alternating with bright red and orange rose petals, giving a fascinating iced sundae effect. 

Tip: Use half foam balls of oasis for the pompoms this makes it more stable and you will need less blooms, but make sure base is well covered to conceal oasis completely. 

Liz Biden, who together with her husband Phil own Birkenhead House, has chosen the most sensational white décor in many of the main rooms. Fabulous overlooking the brilliant blue of the ocean on view from every angle. White looks simply wonderful with the all white flower arrangements that Liz adores. However there are key colour cues in strategic places sometimes we pick up on these and highlight them. 

Angles and Slants

Inspired by the signature style of Jeff Leatham, a brilliant American floral artist, I placed two slanted columns of tightly packed long stemmed cream blush roses, tied them together high under the flower heads with green raffia or string and floated four full, blowsy rose heads on the water below. Crystal clear water is essential.

Colour key the flowers. For instance the painting of a woman wearing a gorgeous orange turban on the dining room wall sparked off the wonderful red and orange combination used in several different ways. 

Takashimaya in New York does a twisted snaky test tube vase, which I filled with shades of yellow to orange to red gerberas. The whole grouping sits on a red snakeskin buffet table. Matching long stem roses in red and orange float in long glasses on each dinner table. 

Use coils of silvery wire to fill the vase, very effective used with a twist of ivy. i.e. Good for using with simple clean stems like roses.

To further continue the colour theme, you could line glass cubes with woven leaves in basket weave effect and fill with a mix of roses and gerberas.

Sculptural effects in water

Use ornamental foliage to conceal assorted stems. i.e. Large leaves that can be submerged e.g. Strelitzia and Aspidistra. To make lattice lining effects in a glass cube, use long variegated flax leaves stripped in half lengthways and woven in basket weave pattern. Cut to fit each side. 

Tip: Anchor one end of each strip with tiny staples.

Height

We use very tall large glass vases, therefore needing to lift the stems of shorter blooms. Scrunched cellophane at the base of the vase has an icy effect and can magically lift the whole arrangement.

We often use tall glass flutes on the dinner tables with floating candles, which glimmer and add a soft note.

An alternative to the proprietary brand of floral preservative can be made using two aspirin tablets, a drop of bleach and a dash of sugar.

Gerberas in white with spiky fan palms and trachelium. A striking lime green has been used as a strong accent as you walk into the entrance of Birkenhead House. Picking up on the colour I usually echo the lime with yellow tiger lilies, trachelium and foliage folded into graceful loops. Alstromaria and ivy curling down into the base of the vase, together with michelmas and white rose buds are placed at an angle.

Rose petals and lavender are used in whimsical designs on the exquisite embroidered bed linen and echoed on the plates used for fresh fruit. The arrangements change with the seasons and the fresh scented flowers.

Spring Bulbs are coming in then and many are wonderfully fragrant. I use specimen vases with a few exquisite blooms such as freesias or tulips or masses of scented sweet peas in low glass containers as stems are often short.  Lining the glass containers with broad smooth leaves creates a finished look. Another lovely touch is to split two or three tulip leaves and spiral them into loops, which are placed on top of the moss concealing the oasis.

Summer represents abundance...

Autumn brings the lovely sculptural Arum lilies, continuing the stunning white look, with new colours now available. 

Winter brings the softly colourful fynbos, interesting foliage and the early bulbs bring in a new look with St Josephs lilies, casablancas and roses sustaining our signature white arrangements.

 

 

 

BIRKENHEAD HOUSE
7th Avenue, Voelklip, Hermanus, 7200
Tel: (028) 314-8000 Fax: (028) 314-1208
E-mail: info@birkenheadhouse.com
Website: www.birkenheadhouse.com

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Photography by Franz Lauinger