Flowerbx’s Whitney Bromberg Hawkings breaks down four alfresco tablescapes
Words by KELSEY McKINNON
For Whitney Bromberg Hawkings, the proprietor of floral delivery e-tailer Flowerbx, summer in California means one thing: “Peonies, peonies and peonies,” she says exuberantly. As Tom Ford’s former senior VP of communications, she learned firsthand that flowers were the secret language of the high-fashion world, and in 2015, she parlayed her passion for chic single-stem arrangements into a worldwide DTC business that today services more than 17 countries.
Now based in London, the Dallas-born exec spends her summers with her husband (who also happens to be the head of Tom Ford menswear) and their two children in Provence, France, trawling vintage markets for beautiful plateware, silver and accessories to adorn their alfresco tablescape. “I love making very light seasonal summer dishes like ratatouille, pizzette with courgettes and scamorza cheese, broad bean and pea salad, never enough asparagus with lemon and olive oil and roasted vegetables in abundance — these, coupled with endless bottles of very cold rosé,” she says. And, naturally, there are vases upon vases of seasonal blooms to tie in with the theme. “A good rule of thumb is to keep things tonal,” she notes. “If you choose a color, try to tie it in to the napkins, crockery, candles and, of course, flowers. Mix vintage and new elements so the table has character and feels warm and inviting.”
“A good rule of thumb is to keep things tonal”
Whitney Bromberg Hawkings
Here, four perfect summer settings from Bromberg Hawkings — whether you happen to be in the South of France or in sunny California.
Bromberg Hawkings incorporated polished brass flatware and accessories to elevate this garden-inspired table. “Matching tonal candles (I love classic Ester and Erik tall, simple tapered candles) is always a good idea,” she adds. Flowerbx’s simple glass Bailey bud vases were filled with Ghost White Sweetpeas. Liberty linens and Flowerbx blooms featured throughout.
“I think a ditsy fabric feels romantic and sweet for a summer table and provides a perfect backdrop for the flowers,” says Bromberg Hawkings of this feminine tablescape. Flowerbx Royal Windsor vases each hold twenty powder pink peonies while smaller vessels feature ballerina sweetpeas and pink sweet avalanche.
Bold cherry crush hydrangea stems are surrounded by raspberry crush and pink thrill scabiosa. “Vintage crockery, napkin rings, salt and pepper mills, ground the table and make it feel familial and warm,” says Bromberg Hawkings.
Single variety arrangements of blue violet lisianthus (middle), frosted lilac sweetpea and amethyst vanda were placed in Flowerbx’s white Mayfair collection containers. Bromberg Hawking says, “I also think it’s so important to introduce vintage elements that feel like heirlooms (whether or not they are).”
June 21, 2021
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