Brian Coovert: Traditional, With a Twist
Brian Coovert photo by Emma Parker
By Bob Vitale
Let’s get the controversial stuff out of the way first.
Short North floral designer Brian Coovert is not going to bah-humbug the idea of ever using artificial greenery during the holidays.
There, he said it.
“I have a client who decorates eight weeks before the holidays. You can’t do fresh eight weeks out,” said the concierge florist whose work has appeared in Architectural Digest, Martha Stewart Weddings, Southern Living and Modern Bride.
But here come the buts.
It has to be high-quality if you’re going to use anything artificial, Coovert says, so don’t be eyeing that clearance bin at the dollar store. And you still should add some fresh flowers and greenery to the décor as the holidays draw near.
It’s obvious fresh is Coovert’s preference. The guy got excited over a recent shipment of birch logs.
He says you don’t have to stick with the traditional poinsettias and evergreens, though, at this time of year. Try peonies or paperwhites, tulips or amaryllis, roses or hydrangeas, too. Other elements – oranges, pomegranates and cloves, for instance – add natural fragrance to a room.
“Hit every sense,” Coovert said. “I love the scents of Christmas.”
A quick tip: Buy your tree from a lot that displays them in water, and ask the salesperson to give it a fresh cut before you take it home. If you cut the tree yourself at a farm, give it a fresh cut once you get home.
When decorating, let your spirit show, he adds.
“The most important thing, at the holidays or anytime, is you need to reflect your personality. Over the top? This is when people expect it from you. If you’re a minimalist and you like a simple fir branch in a glass or crystal vase, go for it.”
Coovert is a firm believer that one can go overboard even at the holidays, but it’s an axiom he doesn’t apply to lights. He once put 2,500 lights (stick with white, he advises) on an 8-foot tree.
So stick to your style but shake things up a little, too, Coovert says. The tree doesn’t always need to go there, and the wreaths don’t always need go there, there and there. Move things around from year to year. Find a new way to display keepsake ornaments.
“Décor is just like fashion,” he said. “It’s ever-changing.”
Learn more about Brian Coovert and his work at www.briancoovertfloraldesign.com. He can be reached at 614.607.0523 or at brian@briancoovertfloraldesign.com.
Look for the December issue of Outlook now at your favorite bars, restaurants, shops and other locations throughout Central Ohio.
