HG BOTANICA
194 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
Screen gems
A
painted backdrop of luscious, super-sized hydrangeas,
lupins and foliage trailing over a navy background was
the glorious sight that greeted visitors to the Australian
House & Garden stand at this year’s Melbourne International
Flower & Garden Show. In a case of art imitating life, vases of
the same blooms and leaves were displayed on the counter in
front of the backdrop, creating an immersive, 3D floral installation.
The painted design and jewel-like floral arrangements were
the handiwork of creative duo Bonnie Ashley and Neil Downie,
from Melbourne design studio Bonnie and Neil. The backdrop
was an adaptation of the Painted Hydrangea pattern from thecompany’s new Forest collection; Bonnie opted to add a dark blue
background for heightened drama. A scan of the design was
printed onto plywood boards, which Neil then crafted into the
stand’s back wall and counter display.
In the vases, Bonnie mixed fresh hydrangeas with Phalaenopsis
orchids, striped Calathea zebrina foliage and sprigs from a maple
tree. A former florist, Bonnie nominates hydrangeas as her all-time
favourite blooms. “They’re classic but also very modern,” she says.
“The flowers are abundant and gorgeous, and available in a whole
range of colours. I wanted this display to reflect all that.” #
Bonnie and Neil; bonnieandneil.com.au. Text by Elizabeth Wilson. Photograph by Claire Takacs.