Continuing with our designer decorating series, we take a look at acclaimed floral artist Brad Schmidt’s Red, White and Sparkle Christmas tree, a sophisticated creation that combines modern flair with whimsical design.
Brad’s favorite technique for decorating Christmas trees is to start arranging ornaments and embellishments from the top. He then works his way towards the bottom, making sure that the whole look is cohesive and balanced.
Brad began by creating a layered look for his ribbons, by placing the Silver White Dupioni ribbon with Jewels over the Red Velvet Glitter ribbon. The contrast of the shimmering metallic embellishments with the bright red color creates rich visual impact.
Brad also made the ribbons appear more striking by shaping them into 4 tight loops, then tying them with floral wire. Using the floral wire to tie the loops together helps the ribbon retain its shape far much longer. After securing a few of these to the tree, he added swaths of Platinum Mesh ribbon in cascading waves, and more red velvet glitter ribbon.
Starting from the top of the tree, Brad added ornaments from the Red, White and Sparkle set. For a bold statement, he created eye-catching clusters of ornaments with floral wire. This technique ensures that smaller ornaments will not be overlooked.
For added visual interest, Brad used three different types of floral picks: the vibrant Velvet Plum Blossom picks, sparkling Iced Glitter Twig picks, and frosted Snowy Branch picks. They each bring an added element of texture and also serve as great fillers for areas that need more ornamentation. The snowy branch picks in particular are one of Brad’s favorite aspects of the decor, as they elevate the look of the tree and lend a wondrous winter wonderland feel to the display.
Everything came together beautifully – with a modern yet traditional feel, and a touch of whimsy that everyone will enjoy. This is a holiday centerpiece worthy of the spotlight at any gathering.
Visit Balsam Hill for more decorating inspiration, and for a closer look at Brad’s professional tips and techniques, here’s a video of the artist himself in action.
