Designer Spotlight On… Petal Design Studio
This month we’re sitting down with Corrente Schankler of Petal Design Studio to get her tips and tricks for creating unforgettable arrangements and events.
A native of New Jersey, Corrente studied at Brown University before moving to NYC where she founded Petal Design Studio in 2006. Since then she has designed events at The Central Park Zoo, Lincoln Center, and Top of the Rock. Petal Design Studio has been featured in Brides, Style Me Pretty, The Knot, and more.
We asked Corrente for the key to Petal Design Studio’s signature style. “Our look can be defined by our use of fresh and unexpected color combinations. The layering of texture is also an important element whether in the flower arrangements or in the linen, candle, and vessel choices for an event.” Interesting floral ingredients like pods, berries, and foliage frequently make an appearance. “We try to make a Petal Design event always feels like a natural extension of the environment in which it is being held and it is never overstated. I love the simplicity of a bud vase runner down the center of a long banquet table for a DIY wedding.”
How to create your own? “Pick two to three complementary bud vase styles for a textured look and then some bunches of interesting flowers/floral elements from the market like fiddle head ferns, anemones and poppy pods. Put one to two blooms in each bud vase and let the architecture of the flowers do the talking,” she says.
It’s not all about flowers though. Flowerless events have grown in popularity recently, and despite Corrente’s love for doing flowers (and lots of them), she still finds flowerless events exciting and fun to do. “You definitely do not need flowers to make an event come to life. Just pick a fun color scheme and let other elements like candles, pillows, and linens work together to make a statement. The key is having enough of these non-floral touches to make an impact.”
Always come prepared! “The most important tool in my event tool bag is a great lighter (or 10). Candlelight contributes so much to the ambiance of an event and we often have hundreds and sometimes thousands of candles to light as part of a set up. Jamali’s mercury glass cylinders work well as candleholders, and it’s easy to create a rich layered look with them. I love the way the finish of the mercury vessels picks up and reflects candlelight.”
