Small Beautiful Things: Natalie Bowen Brookshire

Winter flowers, holiday magic and more with one of my favorite floral experts.

If you live in California you've likely come across the work of floral designer Natalie Bowen Brookshire. If not, I'm thrilled that I get to be your introduction. Natalie is a mother, designer and educator who makes arranging flowers a true art form. She's here to tell us how to bring some of this magic into our own homes this holiday season. Lucky us!

Olivia: My favorite part about bringing plants inside during the winter is the smell. What are your favorites scent wise and what's the best way to use them throughout our homes?

Natalie: I LOVE scent. To me it is one of the highest luxuries because it adds an unseen layer to your experience. Even though some of the flowers with scents are not my favorite to look at, I’ll bring them inside and tuck them in a place that is high-traffic where they will be enjoyed the most when we walk by. Narcissus is the floral scent that evokes winter to me the most. I am not afraid to layer scent. During this time of year my home is filled with fresh greenery that creates a grounding of seasonal familiarity, and then I’ll have a big vase of lilies in my bedroom, however this is by far the most polarizing flower scent! In the summer I float gardenias from my garden and have a local tuberose farmer that I treat myself to weekly.

I also like a good scented candle and a French or Japanese incense. I get my incense in a beautiful shop in Japantown in San Francisco or order Astier de de Villatte. For candles I am the biggest fan of Flamingo Estate and Cire Trudon.

Olivia: What's an easy way to give a simple kitchen table some everyday holiday cheer?

Natalie: I have candles on my table most of the year. I’ll light taper candles in the morning which feels comforting and warm. The candles remain even when the floral arrangements shift and change. Currently I have a vase of greens with a few white tulips. It is simple, yet architectural and allows the tree in our dining room to shine. My tip for kitchen tables is to keep the arrangement low and petite since this is an area that has so much going on, and reserve the scent for other rooms in your home. It will compete and get lots in this space.

Olivia: Are there any other holiday specific plant ideas or projects you love? 

Natalie: I have a tradition of forcing narcissus this time of year. I will buy a pack of 10 or more bulbs and place them in small white vases I already own. I invested in tiny black stones a few years ago and use those for this project. It’s fun to watch the bulbs grow and feels like winter with a reminder of the hope of Spring that is around the corner. Tip: A single forced bulb in a small vase is a great hostess gift. 

Olivia: What's your favorite holiday plant project to do with kids?

Natalie: We like to make flower arrangements all year long. I will pre-cut the flowers so they more easily go into the vase, although any parent knows a chance to work with scissors is thrilling for them. 

We also do a lot of collecting. Pinecones have been a favorite this year and while I always think we will paint them, they often just make their way to a bowl in the living room. 

Olivia: Can you walk us through a step-by-step guide for creating a tablescape at home for a special occasion?

Natalie: A tablescape in 7 steps!

1. Start with your arrangement. You don’t need a lot of ingredients, sometimes I just have a couple greens and a bunch of roses I picked up at the grocery store. Use what you have access to.

2. Layer and texture. Both in the arrangement itself and also on the table. One of my favorite arrangements I made this past year was all greenery. And by all greenery I mean ALL the greenery. With a variety of colors and textures I was able to make something with depth and interest.

3. Bring the design out of the vase. I like to place a greenery directly on the table outside of the vase, lay a sprig on the napkin and garnish the serving platters with it. This is a way to create a table-scape not a vase-scape! It extends the eye out and relates back to your centerpiece.

4. Coordinate color. If you have deep red in your napkins, find a flower that matches. If you have blue candles, find grey and cooler toned greens for the arrangement. If you coordinate the colors of the arrangement with the setting it will be placed, it makes a tremendous difference. 

5. Consider multiples. If you have a long table, consider doing multiple arrangements rather than just one. It will feel more balanced and more people at the table will be able to enjoy your creation. 

6. Mix your greens. Mix in ferns, herbs, rosemary, and other unexpected greens with fir and cedar to make it seasonal yet unexpected. 

7. Use your extras. If you have a couple flowers left over or if, god forbid, one of your precious stems breaks, use it anyway. I will float a broken stem in a little cup and place it on the appetizer platter. I never let any of my scraps go to waste. 

Olivia: What's the best strategy for taking care of the plants you described and how long can we expect them to last?

Natalie: All flowers and plants have different life spans. It’s all about optimizing their possibility for longevity but also understanding that they won’t last forever.

When I force narcissus, I will tie the leaves together with a thin flower stake which allows them to look tidy longer and not flop out of the vase. They will bloom 3-6 weeks after being planed and will last about 3-4 weeks in the pot. 

I add plant food to the water I put in my Christmas tree stand as I believe it helps the tree last longer.

Olivia: Talk to us about sourcing. What are your favorite places to source plants, vases and supplies both in person and online?

Natalie: I am fortunate to have access to the San Francisco Flower Mart which really has everything I ever want. My Grandmother was a florist in the 1940’s in SF and I love the idea that she would visit this same market. Now that I live in Northern California three hours from SF I have had to be become more resourceful.

Most narcissus, also knowns as paperwhites are sold out from the dutch bulb sellers this late in the season but you can still get some here.

The Garden Heir is the chicest place to shop for everything for your garden. From watering cans to garden clogs I pretty much want it all!

I go to my farmers market to get flowers weekly and am not afraid to see what Trader Joes has when I go there. Supporting your local farmer is best, but sometimes those Peonies at TJ’s get me!

If you ever make it to the Peninsula in the Bay Area be sure to go to The Gallerie for their carefully curated garden inspired goods. It’s a wonderful place to shop for friends or yourself. 

Natalie Bowen Brookshire is a mother, designer & educator in the art of arranging flowers. You can learn more about her work here and follow her on Instagram here. I also loved this episode she did on the fundamentals of flower arranging!