Living with Flowers [Hardcover]

Nico De Swert (Author), Kathleen Hackett (Author), Wendell T. Webber (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

Nico De Swert's fantastic floral arrangements are more likely to resemble the bustle of a haute couture evening gown, an art installation, or an abstract explosion of colours and textures than a mere bouquet. De Swert shuns traditional romance in his designs, striving instead for stunning effect and challenging viewers to step out of their comfortable notions about flowers with his fresh, often radical approach, offering a dazzling selection of new ideas collected here in his first book. He incorporates a wide variety of flowers and plants from the most popular such as roses, to the more traditional and old-fashioned (chrysanthemums, carnations), to the less conventional (ranunculis, helleborus, pussy willows) into his arrangements. While texture, color, and shape are paramount, De Swert has chosen color as the organizing principal in his book. In extended captions, De Swert provides detailed descriptions of each arrangement accompanied by a list of the flowers used in each.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Classy, vibrant and bursting with color, De Swert's floral sculptures, captured beautifully here by Webber, demonstrate that the simple elegance of nature's blooms can not only be enhanced, but elevated to the level of art. "Floral design is much more than filling vases and containers," De Swert writes. "It is the study of a flower's personality through its color, size, stance, and texture." In this volume, the Belgian-born designer, whose works have appeared in such magazines as Martha Stewart Living and O: The Oprah Magazine, presents gorgeous floral sculptures marked by clean lines, defined shapes and vivid hues. The book is broken up by color, the "red" section featuring such striking pieces as red roses arranged in bowls of lemon leaves and the "purple" section showcasing a seemingly oriental-inspired creation consisting of anemones and grape hyacinths in goose eggshells. There's no question that the book's 125 full-color photographs are the main course-De Swert's brief introduction is printed in small, barely readable gray lettering, and the flower arranging tips at the end occupy only one page. Most readers, however, will be more than satisfied by the visual feast contained herein.
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About the Author

After graduating from the Royal Academy of Fine Art in Antwerp, Belgian-born Nico De Swert moved to New York City where he has lived and worked for the past six years as an accomplished floral designer and interior stylist. His floral arrangements and designs have appeared in leading magazines such as Martha Stewart Living; Martha Stewart Weddings; O, the Oprah Magazine; and In Style. He has appeared four times on Martha Stewart's television series Martha Stewart Living demonstrating fresh and innovative arrangements for a variety of events and celebrations. De Swert is frequently commissioned by luminaries of the film and fashion world to design and decorate events. He plans to open a floral boutique, called Nico De Swert, in Spring 2005 in New York City. Martha Stewart, through her award-winning magazine, bestselling books, Emmy-award-winning television show, website, syndicated newspaper column, national radio show, mail-order catalogue, and product lines, shares the creative principles and practical ideas that have made her America's most trusted guide to stylish living.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810958953
• ISBN-13: 978-0810958951
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flowers as Art by Artist Nico De Swert, September 20, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living with Flowers (Hardcover)

For sheer beauty this book of floral designs is one of the finest on the market. Published by Harry N Abrams in that publishing house's usual flair for quality of paper and color reproduction, LIVING WITH FLOWERS is a stunning volume that not only allows the viewer to see creative floral sculptures but also reveals resources not usually accompanying volumes such as this.

Floral designer Nico De Swert shuns the usual minimalist approach or the traditional look of flower arrangement and instead goes for masses of interesting forms and volumes of flowers and greens and plants, color keyed in unusual ways. The book is divided into sections that deal with color: oranges, yellows, blues, whites, reds - all sections are filled with seemingly endless ideas novel to this floral genius' mind.

But an equal part of the success of this book goes to photographer Wendell T. Webber whose skill as a still life photographer and whose sensitivity to lighting and focus make these creations by De Swert sing. This is a book for indulgence of the visual senses, yet it is also a stimulus for gardeners to look at the explosions of colors in the natural state in a new way. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, September 06

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Took my breath away, September 30, 2005

By 

Daniel P. Yang - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Living with Flowers (Hardcover)

This book is absolutely beautiful to look at. The arrangements are wonderfully creative. The only minor complain I have with it is that it does not include some sort of instructions on the "how to".

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars FLORAL PLAGARISM, October 23, 2006

By 

FLORA BELLA "FB" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Living with Flowers (Hardcover)

MMMMM BEFORE ALL YOU VIWERS GET TOO CARRIED AWAY WITH THE BEAUTY OF THE WORK IN THIS BOOK..DO A LITTLE RESEARCH..DE SWERTS IS BEST AS A COPIER..FOLLOWED BY CHEEK AND CHANCE .....GO LOOK AT THE PUBLISHED WORK OF BELGIAN DESIGNERS DANIEL OST, GEERT PATTYN, IVAN POLEMAN AND MONIQUE VANDEN BERGHE..THERE YOU WILL FIND THE ORIGINALS...NAUGHTY NICO TRYING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER AMERICAN VIEWERS EYES.