Early spring styling with Georg Jensen’s ‘Bloom Botanica’ collection

[Advertisement – this is a paid collaboration with Georg Jensen, but as always words and opinions are my own]

I love living somewhere with distinct seasons, and I always relish watching the natural world change around me. Each time of year brings its own treats, and I try to savour them all – the golden evenings of summer, the colourful leaves of autumn, the sparkling frosts of winter…. And now, in February, I’m enjoying the first little hints of spring. The weather might be cold and blustery, but the days are getting longer, the snowdrops are sprouting in the garden and there’s already blossom on some of the trees.

I also like to reflect the shifting seasons inside my home, and over the last few days I’ve been having fun dressing the living room for early spring using the new ‘Bloom Botanica’ collection from iconic Danish silverware and hollowware brand Georg Jensen. Created to mark the 20th anniversary of designer Helle Damkjær’s ‘Bloom’ series of bowls, it consists of stainless-steel vases, candlesticks and tealight holders and it’s just gone on sale alongside the originals.

Damkjær finds inspiration in the power of nature and she took her cue for the first ‘Bloom’ collection from the famous cherry blossom of Japan. For the latest additions, she looked to the moment when a flower bud opens for the first time, capturing the emergence of new spring life after the long, dark winter. As with all her projects, she began the design process by sculpting shapes from pure white clay, helping her to create the curves and lending a tactile, handmade expression to a hard material such as steel.

The resulting pieces fit together perfectly but also work well on their own. I love the unfurling petal-like silhouettes, and the way the organic forms contrast with the cold mirror-polished finish. They look fantastic alongside the pale grey and white scheme in my home, but I think they’d stand out brilliantly against warm wood and darker colours, too.

The vases come in three different sizes, and their sculptural air means they look just as striking empty as they do when filled with flowers or foliage. The largest is ideal for full bouquets and tall stems, and I’ve styled it with a few budding branches snipped from a tree in our garden (sadly the magnolia isn’t quite ready yet, as I think that would have looked even better). It’s the perfect size to stand on a hearth, as I’ve done here, as well as on sideboards, low coffee tables or even the floor.

The vases’ necks also provide plenty of support for drooping flowers, which spill out over the sides. The medium and small sizes fit nicely into our alcove shelving and I’ve filled them with trailing hellebore and delicate, frothy ranunculus. They’re some of my favourite flowers and featured in my bouquet when Chris and I got married, so it seemed apt to display them alongside the wedding photo that always sits in this corner!

Of course early spring is still pretty chilly, so I also like to maintain a cosy atmosphere with lots of candlelight. The ‘Bloom Botanica’ candlesticks sit beautifully on the fireplace, reflecting the flickering flame and casting a soft glow around the room. I normally have matte black candleholders here, so it’s nice to vary things up with a paler, more metallic material – it creates a brighter, breezier feel that definitely suits the season.

All in all, ‘Bloom Botanica’ is an elegant and incredibly versatile collection, bringing something new to the ‘Bloom’ series while also echoing the character of the originals. It’s certainly an exciting addition to Georg Jensen’s range.

Shop the full ‘Bloom Botanica’ and ‘Bloom’ collections here and in Georg Jensen stores worldwide. Prices range from £60 / €69 / US$75 for a pair of tealight holders to £160 / €179 / US$195 for the largest vase. 

All photography by Abi Dare