In the ever-evolving world of interior design, where trends constantly come and go, few elements possess the transformative, timeless power of flowers. Their ephemeral beauty, their vibrant hues, their delicate fragrance, their inherent drama—all are qualities that breathe life into our homes. Introduce a striking flowering branch or a dainty posy into any space, and watch it undergo a magical transformation. And for those of us who are drawn to this joyful wildness, few figures are as esteemed as Ariella Chezar.
With an intuitive understanding of nature’s rhythms and a keen eye for design, Chezar, a leader in the farm-to-flower movement, has spent over three decades honing her ability to find unexpected connections between florals and the spaces that surround them. From designing arrangements for the Obama White House, to producing flowers for high-end weddings from Hawai‘i to Healdsburg, her career has been filled with notable moments. Yet while Chezar finds joy in grand events, her true passion lies in adorning intimate, everyday spaces with blooms that reflect the unique essence of their inhabitants—a fact she celebrates with her latest book, Home in Bloom.
Photographed by Andrea Gentl and Martin Hyers, Home in Bloom sees Chezar explore the harmonious relationship between the natural world and interior design, demonstrating how flowers, from a simple bouquet to an elaborate arrangement, elevate the spirit of a room. “Being invited into someone’s home, and witnessing their chosen palette, objects, and textures… I love that,” Chezar says. “It feels personal and special in a much deeper way than when designing for a big event.” The book is also an invitation to appreciate the wonders of nature we often overlook: the delicate blush of a magnolia blossom, the appearance of the first snowdrops, the rustic tones of fall foliage.
These wilder elements are combined with showstopping varieties of cultivated flowers, including ‘Holyhill Orange Ice’ dahlias, ‘Honey Dijon’ roses, ‘Avignon Parrot’ tulips, and ‘Julia Rose’ Itoh peonies. “I want people to bring flowers into their homes every day, year-round, and not just for special occasions,” says Chezar. “Nature is precious, and we need daily reminders of her fragility and beauty.” Interspersed throughout the book are helpful instructions on choosing the proper vessel for arranging, sourcing interesting flowers, foraging responsibly for greenery and foliage, and creating a cohesive color palette.
Organized into chapters that mirror the rhythm of everyday life—Welcome, Nourish, Celebrate, Pause, and Wilding—Home in Bloom invites us to journey through the various rooms of the home, each adorned with Chezar s signature arrangements. From the welcoming embrace of a foyer to the tranquil sanctuary of a bedroom, every space becomes a canvas for her floral alchemy. “The chapter I was most excited about was the Wilding chapter,” says Chezar, who points to Isabella Tree’s Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm as inspiration. In the face of catastrophic issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, Tree makes a case for letting nature return to itself. It’s a concept that might seem at odds with floral arranging, and yet Chezar translates the idea beautifully. “I wanted to explore the idea of nature crawling in and taking over our spaces, like the ridiculous improbability of surrounding a bathtub with wild roses,” she elaborates.
The resulting arrangements in this chapter echo wild meadows in midsummer bloom, with arrangements of Sweet Annie, artemisia, twisted blackberry vines, wild grasses, Lady’s Bedstraw, and Queen Anne’s Lace. It’s this integration of weeds and the wilder bits of nature, after all, that sets Chezar’s work apart in the floral industry. “There’s a way to design that embraces the rough-and-tumble, and it’s better for our struggling planet,” she explains. Those weeds that we so often battle, poison, and pull can play an integral part in restoring the over-cultivated soil and providing breeding grounds for birds and insects.
Despite the abundant beauty of these wild details, showstopping cultivated blooms are still an essential part of the design process. Central to Chezar’s artistry is her commitment to sourcing flowers locally from farmers and growers she admires, prioritizing seasonality and ecological harmony. She points to growers like Diane Barrette of Renaissance Farm in Vermont as a favorite source. Diane grew all of the peonies for the book, and has invested in cultivating unique and unusual varieties, such as the exquisite and rare Pastelegance Itoh peony. “As a designer, it is really exciting to have access to these unique varieties,” says Chezar. “Whatever your creative medium is, you are going to seek out the best tools with which to convey your vision.” From both a design and ecological perspective, it makes perfect sense to focus on seasonality. “Using bare branches in the winter is beautiful because it echoes the natural landscape,” explains Chezar. “Come spring, an armful of narcissus immediately imparts a sense of time and place. Seasonality is key; the life force and vibrancy of a flower are much more pronounced when it is in its time.”
Shakespeare once wrote, perhaps as an ode to nature’s ephemeral beauty, “Every thing that grows / Holds in perfection but a little moment.” Home in Bloom is Chezar’s invitation to savor these fleeting moments.
