Photography by Michael Paulus, courtesy of Måurice.
Earlier this fall, when we featured Måurice, a tiny Norwegian- and French-inspired “modern pastry luncheonette” in downtown Portland, Oregon, we admired an artful garland of dried flowers and leaves strung across the ceiling, and wanted to know more.
As it turns out, the garlands are a collaboration between pastry chef and Måurice owner Kristen D. Murray and local floral designer Hilary Horvath.
This autumn’s garland, ready to be hung.
How to:
Read on for Murray and Horvath’s tips:
The garland, with flower heads, berries, and leaves.
“I always try to source locally grown elements,” says Horvath.
Source Local
An autumn palette of blooms with bright and rich tones.
Horvath wraps the garland around exposed pipes in the restaurant.
“I usually have an idea of what I’d like, and then we bounce ideas and realities of what would dry best,” says Murray.
Choose Cuttings for the Season
Horvath threads the string through the centers of the leaves and stems.
For Thanksgiving, Murray recommends choosing “leaves, persimmons, tiny apples”; and for Christmas, “magnolia, orange slices, holly berries.”
Or, Take Inspiration from the Holidays
Murray adjusts the garland.
Consider Shape
Horvath advises: “The best things to use are those that will keep their shape and color when they dry. The stem cannot be too hard or thick to thread a needle.” Look for cuttings with softer stems, leaves you can thread through, or seed pods with thin shells.
Get the Right Supplies
The neatness and simplicity of the garland comes from the fact that the string is threaded through, not tied around, the flower stems and leaves.
Vary the sizes of the cuttings for an imperfect look.
Let It Be Impromptu
Murray and Horvath don’t follow a pattern for the garlands.
Found seed pods interspersed with berries and dried cotton.
Make It Endure
The garland lasts because the cuttings dry out once hung.
At the restaurant, Murray and Horvath change the garland three times per year, according to the season (“we really only have three seasons in Oregon,” Murray says).
The garland, hung in rows.
Hang It Up
Where to hang your new garland?
Murray suggests a space with a high ceiling, or a “favorite window, naked wall, over your bed, kitchen table, bathroom. Really anywhere your heart desires.”