Tips and Tricks for Refreshing Your Dried Flower Arrangement with the Venetian Pantry

As someone who values the beauty and sustainability of dried flowers, it’s essential to me that we learn how to care for these arrangements. Instead of discarding them, we can often rejuvenate and replenish them, extending their life and charm. 

With this ethos in mind, I recently had the pleasure of collaborating with Martina from The Venetian Pantry. Martina has supported my work from the very beginning,  her iconic kitchen island and pantry has been home to one of my dried flower arrangements. Over the years, this arrangement has become a signature element of her space, almost as if the flowers and the island were made for each other.

However, after three years, we both felt it was time for a refresh. Our goal was to update the arrangement by replacing any damaged or faded flowers while preserving the essence of the original design. Key elements like the fantail willow branches, twisted hazel, strelitzia leaves, and the overall V-shaped structure had to remain, ensuring that the arrangement stayed true to its roots.

Once we agreed on these guidelines, I began the refreshing process.

 

Martina wanted to introduce more subtle pink tones, as some of the original flowers had started to fade. I carefully stripped away any damaged flowers and removed colors that no longer worked, such as the limey yellows, taking the arrangement back to its core structure.

From there, I began rebuilding the arrangement, leaving the willow branches in their original positions to maintain the foundational shape. Step by step, stem by stem, the transformation took shape.

 

I blended new statice with some of the original statice, added soft pink dahlias, sage-toned jute grass, and reintroduced dried mimosa from the original arrangement, which had aged beautifully into a bronze tone from sun exposure. To complete the look, I incorporated more desert-hued amaranths and barleys.

The final result was a stunning, refreshed arrangement that paid homage to its predecessor while feeling like a fresh update. By reimagining the flowers and embracing their natural aging process, we not only recycled many elements but also maintained the vase and design that fit perfectly within Martina's kitchen.

 

Tips for refreshing dried flower arrangements:

1. Choose a new color scheme that complements both the new and old dried flowers.
2. Sort and keep structural elements (like twigs) in place and decide which old flowers you want to reuse.
3. Prepare the workspace by covering surfaces since it can be messy and dusty.
4. Remove flowers gradually and take it slow to avoid disrupting the whole arrangement.
5. Lay out new flowers in the room to see how they look in natural light, and for easy access when arranging.
6. Take your time adding new stems, considering whether you want a new shape for your arrangement.
7. Save any old flowers you still like for future projects or new arrangements.

This approach will help maintain the balance between the old and new elements while keeping the process organized.

You can shop our luxury dried flower arrangement on our website or get in touch for a custom piece. 

All photography taken by Martina from the Venetian Pantry