"Creating the same arrangements all day is just dull," says floral designer Joe Smith, who is inundated with orders during the holidays at his Nashville shop, Ilex. "By the 26th of December, I've seen enough red roses to last a year," he says. So when we asked for the ultimate traditional arrangement, Smith took a unique approach, using eggplant-colored callas and gloriosa lilies. Ivy, green apples, and fresh lotus pods make the dark flowers pop, while clusters of bicolored lady apples tie the greens and reds together.
"I was inspired by the old masters," says Smith. "I love the Dutch/Flemish palette of the 17th century." But he does have an affinity for Christmas standbys. "There is nothing prettier on the front door than a boxwood wreath with a ribbon in a pretty shade of red."
RESOURCES: Ilex, 212/752-1727, www.hwadsl.plus.com.
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