Tuscan Floral Window

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nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Hello friends! As some of you may know, I was fortunate enough to spend a semester of my senior year of college in Siena, Italy. By the time I graduated, I was so madly in love that I decided to go back. So, while studying for my M.A. at Johns Hopkins SAIS, I spent a year in Bologna (the city of students, dogs, and absolutely amazing food) – a life experience that I cherish with every bone in my body and wish upon my children some day.

When I was thinking of styling this shoot, I was inspired by my experiences in Italy and what I had seen while living there. I remember beautiful shop windows filled with magical little things as well as the beautiful presentation of flowers – how perfect they always seemed whether they were in a floral shop or some little alimentari (grocery store). I imagined what my shop would look like if I had one in Florence, and I came up with this shoot. I hope you enjoy this as much as Angie Cao, Valerie Teele, and I had fun putting it together!

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Flowers:

ranunculus, peonies, freesia, hydrangea, horse chestnut

Credits:

Styling and design by Kiana Underwood
Window design by Valerie Teele
Photography by Angie Cao

Dreamy Bridal Bouquet Inspiration

4 Replies

Wedding season is just about to kick into high gear, and with gorgeous spring flowers readily available (most of the below are available in summer as well), I wanted to put together some really bold and dreamy bridal bouquets to start the season and inspire any brides who have not yet chosen their blooms.

peonies / lilacs / carnations
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

garden roses / clematis / carnations / geranium
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

peonies / kumquats / vanilla spice blooms (summersweet clethra) / caladium
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

garden roses / tulips / honeysuckle / brunia / nerine lilies
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

peonies / tulips / smoke / bottlebrush buckeye blooms
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Credits:

Styling and design by Kiana Underwood
Photography by N. Underwood for Naked Bouquet

Everyday Simple Statements

4 Replies

Happy Monday! After all of the activity of Mother’s Day, I thought that it would be nice to do some very simple statement pieces. To me, ‘simple statement’ arrangements are those that are both simple in ingredients and creation, but also arrangements that can be placed anywhere within the home. These two arrangements are just as at home on a piano as they would be on a bedroom nightstand or fireplace mantle.

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

What you’ll need: ranunculus, lamb’s ear, grape hyacinth, black mystic
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Begin with the black mystic and lamb’s ear
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Continue with the ranunculus, with larger flowers closer to the neck of the vase
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Add the grape hyacinth
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Finish with additional ranunculus buds to add height and texture
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

In this simple piece, a single ingredient is used – boronia. It is quite fragrant, and the lovely pink of the boronia against the matte white of the tall urn adds a lovely splash of color wherever you place it.

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Credits:

Photography by N. Underwood for Naked Bouquet

Jewelry Box Succulent Garden

6 Replies

For the last post before Mother’s Day, I wanted highlight something that you can give your mom that lasts a long time. I made this succulent jewelry box over a month ago, and it is still going strong. Cut succulents are easily replanted in soil and will continue to grow and thrive. If you want to give your mom something this Mother’s Day that will last, this is the DIY for you.

I found this wonderful glass jewelry box (large) at Pottery Barn and thought that it would be a wonderful vessel for an indoor succulent garden.

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

As originally intended. Image courtesy potterybarn.com
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

What you’ll need: succulents*, succulent soil (or other porous soil – important), plastic wrap, glass box

* You may have noticed that there is an African violet in the center of the box. I wanted to add something with a bit of contrasting color in the center of the garden. Other great choices would be begonia or kalanchoe (also a type of succulent)

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

  1. Line the bottom of the box with plastic wrap, and add the soil. This will help keep it from leaking when you mist (not pour) water on it
  2. Add the succulents and flowering plant. Cut succulents will do fine when replanted, but if taking them from existing pots, it is easy to pull them out of the soil and replant without cutting them

nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Continue adding until you are satisfied with the look of your garden
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Succulents do not need much water. Mist with water once a week and it will last a very long time
nakedbouquet.com / Kiana Underwood

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing and hard-working moms out there!

Credits:

Antique Silver Jewelry Boxes available at Pottery Barn
Styling and design by Kiana Underwood
Photography by Angie Cao