Designs By K

The Many Uses Of Succulents

By Josh Pickering, Lead Design Assistant

Using Succulents in Floral Arrangements

Whenever it comes to greenery, few plants are as versatile, offering multiple stylistic opportunities, as succulents.  In nature, succulents can provide sustenance in extreme conditions.  So, if they can bring life to a desert environment, why shouldn't they do the same in your home?  The thickness and vibrant colors of the foliage can help to offer vivacity to an otherwise stagnant space.

In rustic designs, Succulents can be paired with yucca and cacti, as well as other greenery to create a more literal interpretation of the regions where these plants thrive.  An especially important detail to point out in regards to rustic design, is the fact that the idea of moisture and life can be evident in a style that can easily tend towards dry and colorless when done wrong.  In this regard, succulents can be used to create a lush oasis to soften and enliven a room.

Succulents have often been used in contemporary design for their exotic shapes and colors.  Their simplicity and vibrant nature can bring calm to a minimalist space or energy to a colorful, trendy room.  Set in colorful groupings, exacting rows, or peaceful flourishes, a simple floral of these amazing plants can be the finishing touch when creating a fresh new look.

When designing a traditional room, few people think to use succulents in their floral arrangements.  Some tend towards using ivies or whatever greenery typically accompanies whichever flowers they select.  In doing so, floral décor can become overstuffed and dated dust collectors.  The simple thickness of the foliage itself offers richness in succulents that could hardly be achieved in "usual" greenery, not to mention their interesting shapes and varying colors.

Today, most people have a personal style that is some mixture between various styles and trends.  This tendency towards an eclectic blend can easily be supported by spots of succulents.  There are few plants that bring such versatility that will work to unify a space while mixing well with other plants.  Succulents can play a star role just as easily as they can take a second seat to another focal plant.  If you haven't thought to use succulents in the past, allow the Designs by K to help you make a new step to something different.

One of our favorite challenges is to create an elegant and comfortable home while keeping it rustic… Welcome, Rustic Chic! In many homes that we’ve completed over the past few years, Rustic Chic is a leading force in style. From a travel home in Florida, to a ranch in Oklahoma, to a mansion in Southlake, elements of the country have made it in to our designs at client request. Rustic in the design world can mean many things: country cabin, mountain lodge, western ranch… and it’s OK to mix them together as long as it fits in your decorator’s overall design plan.

For decorator Kay Crinkelmeyer, the key to keeping Western elegant means incorporating rich materials with the raw, natural ones. “Hammered copper pairs nicely with elegant tooled leather. Natural reclaimed wood furniture coupled with real turquoise accents can really make the look rich and rustic at the same time.”

When creating a Rustic Chic space, it’s important to rely on the natural elements like rock, wood, and stone. By adding a custom area rug or piece of artwork from a local artist, the room starts to come together.

“Lighting also plays an important role in creating richness in a room. Rustic Chic rooms look best with lots of natural light accented with rustic metal chandeliers and perfectly placed lamps,” decorator Lisa Stewart added.

In bedrooms, fabrics that mimic authentic Native American designs can be used as focal points or as accent fabrics mixed with solids. Earth tones and neutrals when coordinated well with leather trims, metal accents, and ceramic pieces artistically bringing the look of the outdoors into a home. Kristi Hunt, interior decorator, notes, “Rich plaids and buffalo checks as bedding on a real log bed add character to a lodge bedroom.”

For all the Rustic Chic homes created by the crew at Designs by K, the creative details are what make the overall look extraordinary. Adding family photos or heirlooms, custom faux painting, or one-of-a-kind accessories can make all the difference in the world.