***Giveaway winner has been selected! Thank you for entering! :) ***
This post was brought to you in partnership with simplehuman. They gave us one of their new sensor open trash cans for the studio and another one to give away (details below!!)! Thank you for supporting the sponsors that help keep LGN going. :)
Do you have a list of back up jobs? Like, jobs you have in mind just in case your current job ever feels old or stale? I have two back ups, just in case this designer/shop owner thing doesn’t pan out. The first is a Labor and Delivery Nurse (because BABIES!!!) and the second would be a Florist. But given how much I really love interior design, and that I have four kids and that I also do my best to squeeze in as much florist moonlighting as possible around here, it might just be that I have the best of all worlds right now! :)
We make between five and ten arrangements a week for styling our projects. So every Monday morning I go to the flower market and stock up. While our studio kitchen is under construction we set up a makeshift floral station using our beautiful new voice and motion sensor trash can from simplehuman and this standing desk we got in the IKEA as-is section. I didn’t notice until we got it back to the studio that part of the laminate had been torn off (eye roll). But I’ve always wanted to try the marble contact paper and this seemed like the perfect experiment. It was super easy to do and I love this little floral station now! We can just come over and grab whatever we need during the week for print shop shoots or client spaces. And our beautiful new trash can helps us keep the area clean and tidy! It comes in a ton of color and finish options, but I love our sleek white one!
Most of my arrangements end up being loose and more organic with lots of greenery. I thought you might like a little tutorial on my general approach to flower arranging here!
I almost always start with a floral frog or oasis to help keep the stems upright and in place, especially with bigger vessels.
I always start with greenery as my foundation. I like to mix it up sometimes, but I pretty much always just want to use silver dollar eucalyptus. The bluey green color is my absolute favorite and the smell is amazing!! I use shears to cut the stems to size, so they hang a little long and loose. I’m also sure to remove the leaves that would be under water to help the arrangement last longer.
One of my best tips is to keep a tidy work station and clean up as you go. You guys, our new simplehuman trash can opens when you say “OPEN CAN” (!!!!). I mean, we basically live like the Jetsons now!
ANNE STREET print // HYACINTH print // rug
It also opens when you wave your hand near the lid and it will stay open if it senses you are still using it! Crazy right? This trash can has been so handy here at the floral station and I’ve become so obsessed that I got one for my kitchen at home. It’s awesome when the can is just open and ready for you to dump right in those drippy messes (like chicken! :/) that are just a regular part of meal prep. The germaphobe in me absolutely loves the touch-free element. And can we just talk about how gorgeous and sleek the can is? What a beauty!
You can plug in the can or use batteries and there is a built-in liner storage compartment inside the can that I think is just the coolest thing!
The next step for the flower arrangement after the greenery is to place a couple of your biggest flowers. I used blush dahlias as my base flowers here as well as couple of bright pink garden roses.
A good trick for measuring what length you should cut your flowers to is to hold them upright and trim to the height of your vase. Remember that it’s always better to cut a little long and have to maybe come back to trim a little more stem off than to be stuck with a too-short stem and a flower that keeps sinking into your arrangement! (I like to snip the ends right into our new trash can! Here’s a little pro-tip for you though: no need to say “close can.” I was saying that for a while until I realized it closes automatically! Hahahhaha.)
After you establish a general shape with the big foundation flowers, I like to add color and texture and further define the shape of the arrangement with a couple of smaller flowers.
I always like to add a touch of either black or really dark oxblood red to almost every arrangement for a little bit of contrast. These anemones do just the trick here!
Tada!! All done! I would use something large like this for a big coffee table or an entry console. If we change the water every day, arrangements like this one can last for two weeks!
Tell me, what are you favorite floral arrangement tips? I’d love to compare notes! And if you’re not arranging flowers with an touch-free trash can near by, you’re not living!! :)
PS We decided to give one of these gorgeous automatic-open cans to you! YAY! To enter to win, just leave a comment on this post with your dream household invention or your favorite simplehuman product.
Thanks again to simplehuman for sponsoring this post!
I love the superhuman touch free soap dispenser! This automated can looks SUPER convenient! Thanks!
Simplehuman–not super. But I guess it is super too! Haha!
One of my best friends has this trashcan and I’m always so jealous! I don’t do floral arranging (but it looks fun!) but I do have my share of indoor plants. My favorite is a succulent that started out teeny tiny and grew a TON when I repotted it into a larger container. I’m also just proud that I’ve managed to keep an orchid alive after getting it as a party favor.
Our trusty Simple Human stainless can has been ok duty for going on 11 years now. We would love to upgrade to the automated version!
Just leaving a comment to say I think you look so pretty in this post (though really you always do and your eyebrow game is on fleek!) and I wish someone would invent a machine to unload the dishwasher because my husband is broken in this regard and no longer under warranty. ;)
Ok so that’s pretty darn great. How about the same technology for frigerator doors for when your arms are full! Leftovers, groceries, etc!
I would love this trashcan, so convenient! When is somebody going to invite a clothes dryer that folds the clothes too?!
Invent I mean!
I love Simple Human! Our new apartment is tiny and we don’t have room for a compost, recycling, AND trash bin. I’m saving up for a new bin that has at least two inserts in it! :)
I’m a big Simplehuman fan! We’ve had one of their stainless, step-open trashcans for over 10 years now, and would love to upgrade to this sensor can. Love your flower arrangement with eucalyptus leaves, looking forward to trying those in my next arrangement. Thanks for this give away!
I love the simple human auto soap dispenser. So great for kids to use too! Love the flower arranging tips!
Thank yo for the flower arranging tips. I sooo need them. And what an amazing trash can! I’m dreaming of an automatic laundry folder.
I love simplehuman! Can they invent a fridge that has a direct chute to the trashcan so once something gets pushed to the way way back, it just goes in the trash?
I love the auto soap dispenser. So handy :)
I’d love a machine that puts clothes away. I’m really, really good at washing, drying and folding… and then it just sits there. For days.
I’d love a automatic fur detector machine combined with a robot vaccuum! My golden retriever’s hair is everyyywheree!!
Love your shirt. Where’s it from?
I need something that dusts for me. Seriously, if it can lift everything up, put it all back down where it was and leave no dust behind I would be a happy woman!
As a graphic designer, I’m a total sucker for the design of the simplehuman products, even though I haven’t been able to convince my boyfriend to splurge on one of their big trash cans yet, haha. The smaller ones are great too though – I love this little round one for bathrooms because it reminds me of EVE from Wally!
We love simplehuman in our house! Everything from trashcan, to papertowl holder. Now can we get something to fold laundry?? Or maybe just fitted sheets.. :)
oh man this comes pretty close to the perfect household invention…maybe also an auto-lint roller though (for cats, dogs, and those of us with long hair ;-) )
love the floral tips!
I wish SimpleHuman would make a hands-free kitty litter box (shudder)…it a good thing cats are so cute. I cook a lot and wish I could have a trashcan this helpful! For floral arrangements, I love adding in branches, herbs, fruit to reflect the season.
All products where you don’t have to use your hands are my favorite (obviously where hands are usually required)
Invention: something to wash and dry clothes without having to move the clothes between 2 appliances.
I’d love too get one of these! I really would love someone to invent a robot to fold and put away all my laundry.
I would love a machine that mops floors for you!
I’d love a dinner planning and prepping not. I would use the heck out of that!
that simple human trashcan is actually my favorite product! We got a “cheaper” version of it and it just isn’t the same. We still paid about $100 for the knock-off and after a few months, the lid just won’t open all the way. We replaced the batteries and it didn’t make a difference. I guess it’s a motor problem. anyway, I LOVE this trashcan and recommend to people not to buy the knockoff like we did–waste of money.
for some reason i love household chores, so i don’t think i would wish anything away! i love my simplehuman bathroom trashcan because i don’t have to touch it with my hands (yay foot pedal!) and it stays closed so my cat won’t get in and eat all the q-tips!
any trashcan you don’t have to touch is great in my book! now if there was one that actually hauled itself outside on trash day, that would be something. thanks.
b
Would seriously love a dishwasher that unloads itself. Now that would be magic!
Can they invent a trash can that takes the bags outside by itself when they’re full? Would lovvve to upgrade our kitchen trash to this smartypants one!
HAHAHA!!!! Same!
My first grader says he’s going to invent a house cleaning robot. I’d take one of those for sure! But for now I’d love a new trash can. Thanks!
I would love an automatic trash taker-outer. Or dinner maker. Ha! This trash can has turned me in to that hear eye emoji! I love my hands free soap dispenser and would love this trash can to be its friend!
I love the automatic trash can! It looks so convenient when you are cooking with meat or eggs.
I love the simplehuman automatic soap dispenser.
I just took a floral arrangement class at our RS activity last night and am now feeling all the feels for this newfound passion. Thanks for your additional tips! As for a household item- I would looooooove someone to invent a toilet that cleans itself
I’ve had the same simple human trash can going on 14/15 years now and it still looks and works like new but I’d LOVE to be all fancy pants and have a dreamy white Jetson’s version!
My dream household invention would be a robot that just picks up all the toys. So.Many.Toys.
Definitely a self-cleaning toilet that also wipes the seat and surrounding floor area because, well, you know… The fancy trashcan is awesome!
I would love one of these in white!! My parents have the foam soap pump and I have been thinking about getting one but I need a new trashcan first :)
I bought a gorgeous red Simple Human trash can for my daughter years ago. It is still going strong in her very busy kitchen. Now I would love one for my own kitchen!
I wish there was a floor that swept itself!!!
Dream household invention? A de-duster that just sucks all that crap that currently settles on my fans, baseboards, furniture, blinds…
We have a regular simple human trashcan, and I love how the bags don’t ever fall off the sides because of the extra cover- I hate when trash falls in the can instead of in the bag! Would love an automated one for my parents’ new kitchen!
is it weird if my dream home item is this trash can? haha. it’s just so pretty.
I have always wanted a simple human trash can! Please pick me!
I would looooooove a laundry folding machine. Then my clothes wouldn’t be laid out on the couch for a week!
Have always wanted a simple human trash can but could only afford a knock off that is now rusty and dented and gross. We could reallyyyyyy use this amazing beautiful thing!!
I would love a machine that makes my bed, it looks so lovely once done but I’m not a morning person and usually am rushing for the door. Also I love the look of this trash can, most definitely sleek.
This is amazing. My relative has a trash can that opens when you wave your hand over it…but this voice command thing is next level! I have (and love) their bag dispener. It looks tidy and sleek! This trash can is also so well-designed. Would love it in my house!
I would love this! A couple of months ago, I was ay Lowe’s and saw a display for a self cleaning toilet! Talk about a dream come true!