Superyacht Interiors: The Art Of Flower Arranging

One of your primary responsibilities as a Superyacht stewardess/steward is to create an exceptional guest experience. One way to impress guests is through beautiful and captivating flower arrangements. A stunning flower arrangement can transform any interior space into a welcoming and luxurious environment. However, creating a visually appealing display requires a bit of skill and knowledge of the art of flower arranging, also known as ‘Ikebana’. In this article we explore some tips and tricks to creating unforgettable displays. We also spoke to Create With Claus to learn about his method and tips for stewardesses who want to flourish in floristry.

The 9 principles of flower arranging

Selecting the right blooms

Before you start flower arranging, it’s essential to choose the right blooms. Selecting the right blooms will make the difference between a beautiful and lackluster arrangement. You should consider the color, texture, and size of the flowers to create a cohesive and visually appealing display. It’s also crucial to choose blooms that are in season and appropriate for the environment. For example, if your yacht is cruising in the tropics, you might consider using bright, tropical blooms like hibiscus or bougainvillea. Alternatively, if you’re sailing in a cooler climate, you might choose flowers that are more subdued in color and texture, like roses or hydrangeas.

Choosing the right vase or container

The next step is to choose the right vase or container. The vase or container should complement the flowers and the interior decor of the yacht. You can choose from a variety of containers, including glass vases, ceramic pots, or metal containers. It’s essential to choose a vase or container that is the appropriate size for the flowers you’ve selected. If the vase or container is too small, the flowers will be crowded, and if it’s too large, the flowers will look sparse and out of place.

Creating a visually appealing display

Once you’ve chosen the blooms and the vase or container, it’s time to start arranging the flowers. There are several techniques that you can use to create a visually appealing display, including:

1. The Rule of Three: This is a simple technique that involves arranging flowers in groups of three. This technique creates a balanced and visually appealing display.
2. The Dome Shape: This technique involves arranging flowers in a dome shape, with the largest blooms in the center and smaller blooms around the edges.
3. The Line Technique: This technique involves arranging flowers in a straight line. This technique works well for long tables or narrow spaces.
4. The Cluster Technique: This technique involves grouping flowers of the same type together in clusters. This technique creates a cohesive and visually appealing display.

It’s also essential to consider the height of the flowers when arranging them. Taller flowers should be placed towards the center of the arrangement, and shorter flowers should be placed towards the edges.

“Creating beautiful and captivating flower arrangements is an essential skill for Superyacht stewardesses”

Claus has spent a number of years onboard Superyachts and has created many a floral display in his time. Claus believes that your passion should drive what you do, and states that teaching others is a fulfilling part of his job:

“A simple guy who was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, I have a passion for the yachting industry, and have spent the past 7 years on 6 high profile superyachts, as well as on a large cruise ship. I graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Food & Beverage Management, along with gaining 7 years experience in 5- star hotels, focusing on fine dining and mixology. I am always happy to share my knowledge among team members, helping junior crew to improve.

I’m a really calm person and have a lot of patience for every challenge, enjoy every moment of working and love learning about different cultures. In conclusion, creating beautiful and captivating flower arrangements is an essential skill for Superyacht stewardesses. By selecting the right blooms, choosing the right vase or container, and using the appropriate arrangement techniques, you can create a visually appealing display that will delight your guests. With a bit of practice and creativity, you can transform any interior space into a luxurious and welcoming environment”

Q&A With Claus

1. Are there any essential flower-arranging tools and materials that you use when creating superyacht centrepieces?

I always take my own tools with me everywhere. The tool kit includes flower scissors, different sizes of pin frogs and hair pins. Some items you must have onboard are chicken wire, cable ties, tape, wires, tubes, sticks and different colours of spray paint.

2. How do you decide on the appropriate flower arrangement for a specific event or occasion on a superyacht?

I always do research on any kind of event element and check the guests preferences. I consider these in order to make a plan and decide how it is going to be presented on the boat. Also, I make a list of any item I need to order or make it in advance. In the
beginning, this process took me a lot of time to check Google and Pinterest, but once I got used to it, it became easier and easier.

3. What are some of the most popular flower types used for centrepieces?

My personal opinion you can never go wrong with seasonal flowers. There are certain flowers I order every time, such as Roses, Hydrangeas, Carnations, and Anthuriums. My favorite flowers in Spring and Summer are Tulips and Alliuns, and for Fall and Winter are Dahlias and Ranunculus.

4. Walk us through the step-by-step process of creating a flower arrangement for a centre table

I would say use your imagination first, think about what you are going to set up for the table, then start to do some research for your ideal design on the table, then we can start to make the centerpiece happen. For example, The Great Gatsby colours are gold, white, black and silver. For myself, I would use gold spray paint on flowers the day before.

5. How do you ensure that the flower arrangements stay fresh and last longer?

I change the water and put in flower food every 3 days to maintain flowers.

6. How do you incorporate the yachts interior design and theme into your flower arrangements and table pieces?

Interior design should always be checked, and then the preference of the guests, before I order the flowers and look around at the colours in the interior areas. Then, I can play around with the flowers. For the theme table, I have my own system for which theme colours should be used. For example, if I think about Capri, what colors come to mind are yellow, blue, and green. Then, I will choose those to put on the table.

7. Can you share some unique and creative flower arrangement ideas and centrepieces that you’ve done on board in the past?

I have made some very creative designs, for instance, one table I made a beautiful flower garden growing from a floating water can, a flower cloud theme table and a floating lemon tree when I was in Capri.

8. What are some tips for other interior crew who want to improve their flower arranging skills and create more impressive centrepieces?

I would say find your favorite Instagram account to follow, see more, and think how it will happen. As I said before, in the beginning, I really spent a lot of time on Google, Instagram and Pinterest the day before, then imitated it to set up on the table. After that, you will have your own style. You also need to look at a lot of designs, then, all the creative ideas will come from your sense of style and imagination.

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