Todich Floral Design Blog

It’s always interesting how plants find their way into ever more interesting ideas. This one, though, beats them all - it’s the Growing Business Card.

A very interesting solution for making sure your business card stays in someone’s focus for a while. Jamie Wieck’s Growing Business Card lives and grows over time. By adding a little water, your business card becomes alive, as it’s enriched with alfalfa or cress, which grows quickly and gives your prospective client a reason to keep on their desk rather than in their pocket.

Every once in a while the Japanese make a discovery that rocks the world. Well, if not the whole world than the world of horticulture at least. The latest advancement is Pafcal (fake soil), that has been developed by a Japanese company called Suntory. Pafcal is basically a urethane based product that resembles soil in almost every way, but weighs only half the weight of natural soil. This came up as a solution for a problem that the Japanese are having in big cities (mostly Tokyo), where soil is used on roofs to provide heat insulation. Since natural soil can prove to be heavy for this job, especially since Tokyo is built upon “shaky” grounds prone to earthquakes, pafcal was the perfect way to by-pass the weight problem. Plant growth on roofs with this new soil can reduce roof temperatures by about 10 degrees C (18 F), and bring a little life to an otherwise lifeless atmosphere of concrete and steel.

Luckily, it’s not that warm in the UK , but roof gardens are definitely interesting, and fake soil will certainly make it a lot easier to put some green on the old roof. We’re definitely looking into this further. If it proves economic and ecological, you may see pafcal in your office plant pots in the future.

[Via: Zmescience.com]

Ever heard of Botanicalls? These guys were the ones who introduced a way to make phone calls to plants in order to find out how they are doing, whether they need more or less water. No, seriously, they did it. There are even samples of various responses from different types of plants for requests like “need water”, or “notification of unnecessary watering”.

Well, they’ve gone a bit further this time, and introduced a way to use the popular micro-blogging service Twitter. Yes, plants can now actually twitter their “feelings” in real time. Again, the idea is the same - know when your plant needs water, or has too much of it and take action accordingly.

We at Todich Floral Design have been doing covert SMS mesaging with our plants at various offices around London. Our plants notify us via SMS when our clients talk about us. It took years to train them, from generation to generation, until they got it right. For some reason, they always started SMS-ing each other and everything went crazy…

Okay, joking aside, electronic communication with living plants is not that new. In fact, it’s something that has been researched over decades, and there are indications that plants indeed are able to communicate, as the example above shows. Taking proper care of plants we can all enjoy their presence every day is what we do as professionals, but technological advancements that would make this easier are always welcome.

How about you? Would you twitt with your plants?

One would think the decoration process is finished once the hotel lobby, or restaurant dining room or bar have been built according to the designer’s vision. In fact, many designers take into consideration plants and flowers and anticipate space for them while designing a venue. This is by no means a coincidence. Flowers and plants really do add that final touch to every space, and it’s only natural that they are considered an integral part of every day life. Just take a look at the space that surrounds you. Are there flowers and plants there? If yes, try to imagine how dull that space would look like without them, and if no, try to imagine how alive that space would look like with them.

Hotel lobby and rooms

It’s always a pleasure to see richly decorated hotel lobbies upon arrival. It really helps bring about an atmosphere of serenity and sophistication, not to mention, some very pleasant fragrances. Carefully placed plants and flowers will emphasize the overall look of the interior, and bring life to forgotten corners, that would otherwise look dull and simple. Plants (potted plants, plant walls) placed in strategic spots will help separate certain specific parts of the hotel lobby space from the others, creating an illusion of privacy.

Hotel rooms are a more delicate matter. Properly placed fresh flowers or plants will help create a welcome atmosphere, and add a touch of “home” decor to a room. Many guests request certain kinds of flowers to be placed in their room or suite. If your guests happen to be picky, you can rely on us to fulfill their wishes. We deal with special requests all the time, and it’s always a pleasure and a welcome challenge for us.

Restaurant flowers

Much like hotels, restaurants benefit a lot by introducing flowers and plants as part of their decoration efforts. When done properly and with style, your guests will notice. Whether it’s a business lunch or romantic dinner, the experience will only be half as strong without flowers and plants to give that special touch to the occasion. Depending on the occasion and season, and the overall theme at the restaurant, we can provide you with a custom tailored solution that your guests will appreciate.

A place for socialising over friendly conversation and a refreshing drink, bars are simply crying for flowers and plants. The relaxed, informal atmosphere of bars demands a special approach to floral decoration. Depending on the theme, flowers and plants can be tailored to add that last layer that will communicate a welcome atmosphere to your guests.

Note: all images above are pictures of actual designs made and installed by Todich Floral Design

Valentine’s Day is just ahead, and if you’re working in an office environment, we thought these tips may be helpful. Even though the modern office is a less formal place nowadays, there are certain “rules” that are best observed to prevent unwanted effects.

Let’s start with a couple of rules for office romance

Once, an office romance could have resulted in the “culprits” getting fired. Today, office romance rules are easing a bit, although a particular company may choose to sanction office romance a bit differently than the next. The rule is - there is no clear rule. Singles now make up the majority of the work force, so less rigid rules for office romance are welcome and help boost morale. If you’re already involved or are about to get involved in an intimate relationship with someone at the office, take it easy, get all the info first, and act accordingly. A moderate approach to office romance is probably best. And, oh yeah, forget the copy room :), unless you are both driven by the danger of getting caught.

Beware of the side-effects

An office romance attracts attention from your colleagues. Sure, the ones you’re friends with will understand and won’t make a lot of it, but don’t be surprised if you and your partner become the topic of coffee break talk. It’s probably best if you don’t emphasize your romance in front of colleagues too much. Avoid smooching at work, it may make others uncomfortable. It’s enough that they know and don’t object to your romance.

The next portion might interest you if you’re a woman at the office. With Valentine’s Day coming, signs of romantic thoughts will condense in form of flowers and gifts.

Don’t obsess over getting something

It’s Valentine’s Day, sure, and it would be nice to be on someone’s mind, but if you don’t get a bouquet, don’t make a lot of it, you’ll get one later. If you’re single, stay glamourous, do you job well, but be inspiring and free. Your colleagues will be envious of your freedom, and will enjoy your presence.

Make someone’s day

Not only will you experience the joy of giving, but you will probably make someone happy. Remember them on Valentine’s Day, send them flowers or a small gift, and take five minutes to chat with them.

Plan a fun day for yourself

The best part of the day is after work. Plan to do something self-indulgent. You’ll have something to look forward to, and your mood will reflect that. Go have Valentine’s drinks or something, have fun. Maybe you’ll meet someone who is interesting and inspiring, worthy of your time and attention.

Every woman at the office should get a flower

This may be proper for all the men at the office. Order single roses for every lady that works at the office. It would be a great surprise and will bring the Valentine’s Day atmosphere to the office. Every woman deserves a flower,  so c’mon guys, get a move on. Contact us and arrange for a surprise flower delivery on Valentine’s Day. You’ll be looking at smiling women all day!

If you want to order an individual delivery for your loved one on Valentine’s Day, visit our retail site and check out Valentine’s Day flowers and gifts made especially for this year’s celebration of love and romance.

Flowers mean so much in every day life of everyone from the busy people at a corporate office, to young students studying at the college library. Their presence inspires, refreshes, cheers up, brings back memories, helps you rest when you’re tired and removes stress. It’s no wonder flowers have been an inspiration to artists and poets for centuries, like for example…

the Sunflowers (Vincent Van Gogh)

or these…

LEGO flowers (BrickArtist.com)

We at Todich Floral Design look upon flower arranging as an art. We strive to make our creations worthy of the natural beauty of each flower we use. Let us show you how beautiful flowers can be. Contact us and we’ll help you introduce floral art, in all its glory, to your office, venue or home.

Private events are great occasions for strengthening bonds between friends, family, business partners, employees. This very broad category of events allows many different approaches in organising. Whichever way you choose to organise your private event, it’s good to have at least some idea as to what things you need to consider before you delve into the deal. Here are a few things we think are common for any kind of private event.

Pick a topic for the event

What’s the occasion? Are you celebrating someone or something or simply getting together for a good time? It’s good practice to give a private event specific meaning. For example, if you are organising a private event celebrating your parents 50th anniversary, than that should be the main topic, and the center of the event, at least for the first part of it (introductions, toasts, best wishes). After this, the event will take its own course, and transform into a more informal shape.

Make an invitation list

This may seem like an obvious thing to do, but it’s surprising how many times people neglect this very important part of organising a private event. Depending on the intended size of the event and the occasion, you may want to make a selection of guests you will invite to this particular event. If the private event has a more formal character, or it has a business dimension, than picking the right people to invite will help keep the focus on the goal of getting together in the first place.

Event location

What would be the best choice of location for the event? If you are considering your own space, make sure it can indeed accomodate the number of people you plan on inviting. Otherwise, a hired venue may be a better choice (many offer their clients exclusivity - for the right price of course). Make the location easy to get to (with proper instructions), and take into account whether you’d prefer low level exposure towards the public or no exposure at all.

Decorations

Even though you are organising a private event, there is no reason not to make it a bit festive by incorporating appropriate decorations. Floral decorations are always good, as they bring a little life to the space where the event is taking place. As these are details everyone will notice, we advise you hire a professional to do the job. Our services for private event decoration are always at your disposal.

Catering

Food and refreshments are going to be the “background support” for your private event. Make sure you serve food that’s appropriate and that the service is good. These may seem like less important things, but no one forgets a bad taste in their mouth. Probably the best thing is to hire a good catering service, so ask your friends and colleagues for advice.

Entertainment

Are you planning entertainment? Background music can be played from an appropriate sound system, but nothing beats live performance, so if you aim to have some relaxed fun, consider hiring a couple of musicians.

When you’ve covered everything in the planning process, then and only then send out invitations. The last thing you need is to invite everyone, and then run into problems that may not be surpassable at the time.

If you need advice or would like to find out how we can help you make your private event memorable, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time.

Event organisation is pretty tricky if you don’t take into consideration some key things. Neglecting to plan in advance is a sure way to create problems. Here are a couple of tips for organising an event that may help you at least a little bit.

Which type of corporate event are you organising?

There are basically two major types of corporate events - internal (for new employees, retirement parties, recognition for employees’ achievements, seminars, etc.) and external (events for clients and the general public). Depending on the type of event, you may want to consider different approaches in planning them, in order to keep expenses and time investment at an optimal level (ex. external events will most probably require a greater commitment of resources that internal events).

Choosing the venue

The intended size and audience are most likely to influence the choice of venue for the event. Company space may be enough, although choosing an outside venue at an attractive location will probably bring a bit of glamour and excitement to everyone attending. A venue large enough to host a bit more than the intended number of people is always better than to end up in a cramped up space.

Food and beverage

Food and beverage are always important when organising an event. After all, all social networking, chatting, discussions, toasts, introductions, usually revolve around a nice glass of champagne (or other drinks), and good choice of food will always contribute to the overall success of a corporate event. Make sure all the major beverage categories are available, with options if possible. If alcohol is going to be served, try to cover everyone’s transportation needs by having designated drivers available, or simply rent professional transport services (limos, vans, taxis, buses). Food should probably be a bit on the extravagant side, to give the occasion a special touch, although moderately (not everyone enjoys every kind of food).

Music and entertainment

Probably the best kind of entertainment is a band of professional musicians whose opus will include classical music and jazz (always a great choice). Naturally, if the event is of a more informal type, a more engaging music choice will work as well. It shouldn’t prevent people from mingling and communicating, but should be loud enough to spread some good vibes around the venue.

Publicity and marketing

Is your corporate event something that should be available to the media? Publicity is always good, and corporate events are great opportunities to deliver a message to the public through the media. Marketing a corporate event is something that’s necessary in order to attract media attention and general public interest, and should be tended to accordingly. Usually, if a corporate event revolved around an official announcement or figure, designating or hiring a speaker would be a great idea. Good event speakers will help capture everyone’s attention and invoke a positive attitude from everyone attending the event.

Evaluate your corporate event

This is a necessary step - make some markers upon which to evaluate a corporate event. How can you tell an event was successful? Well, by defining what you, as the organiser, wanted to achieve. By evaluating your corporate event, you not only get a picture of how close you came to accomplishing your goal, but also get a clearer picture about mistakes that need to be corrected for the next corporate event.

Event decoration

Probably the most important part of organisation is event decoration. Believe it or not, this is one of the things that attendees will remember the most long after the event has passed. Having appropriate decorations can really help the overall success of a corporate event by bringing an aesthetic dimension to be the background of everything else that will be going on. Flower and plant decorations are usually the best choice as they bring life to the event, and create an atmosphere of serenity. Depending on the topic of the event, the choice of flowers and colours will have a big impact. Even though you will probably have a pretty good idea of what you think your event’s decorations ought to look like, sometimes it’s not a bad idea to consult a professional, at least to get an idea of all the possible options that might work.

We hope these tips will help at least a little bit to organise your next successful corporate event. Oh, and by the way, if you need corporate event decorations, please get in touch with us. We’ve got lots of experience and are always looking forward to a new challenge. Join our list of satisfied clients!

Another study that examines and confirms the positive effect of having plants indoors, whether it’s at the office or at home. Scientists at NASA have finalised a study that has been going on for two years in which they have studied the effect of several common indoor plants and their effect on reducing indoor air pollution. It has been found that living plants are so efficient at absorbing contaminants in the air that some of these plants will actually be launched into space to be part of biological life support systems aboard orbiting space stations in the future. Dr. Bill Wolverton, a scientist working on the project, said he hopes future results will show even more reasons to use plants for cleaning indoor air in homes and offices, creating a much healthier living and working environment.

Several plants were tested in a variety of conditions. For example, gerbera daisies and chrysanthemums were very good at eliminating benzene vapors from the environment, while other plants, like Dracaena Massangeana and Spathiphyllum, did just as well. Read into more detail about this study and the results here.

Needless to say, but I will say anyway :), Todich Floral Design has long ago understood the significance of having plants at the office. We have, over the years, successfully introduced this great way of creating a clean, relaxed and stimulative working environment to many businesses. In fact, we are happy to say that more businesses contact us every day with a clear idea about using plants to create a better working place. We offer a wide variety of services especially created to suite every working environment there is. Over the years, we have developed a special approach to handling even the most demanding tasks of enriching office space with plants. If you need to bring a little green into the office machine, get in touch with us, and let us show you how we can help you create a cleaner office atmosphere.

Winter is a very romantic season - just think of snow covered streets, the fireplace, a little champagne, and your loved one cuddled up next to you. Winter is also a great season for having a wedding. We have been getting a lot of inquiries about decorating weddings this winter, so here are just a few ideas of how you can make your winter wedding unforgettable.

Colours

White colour imposes itself upon the event not only as the colour of winter, but also as a symbol of elegance. It reminds of freshness and futurism, but also of esteem and purity.

Secondary colours you may want to consider this season are purple and violet, in various tones. They are strong and represent a great contrast with the overall white presence of winter, and also give of a feeling of freshness and vitality.

Decorations

Decorative elements for a winter wedding are sparkling, glamourous, crystalline, glossy. If roses are used, they should be more open, and seem foamy or sugar sprayed and have the visual effect of natural ice gloss.

Buttonholes made from (fake) fur in pastels are very trendy, and really go well with the winter season.

Bags and muffs are simple, without too much detail, but can be with small bouquets for those who like the natural look.

Tables are decorated with glass like bowls with high stems or with square shaped or cylindrical jars, which are very decorative, filled with gel and coloured pebbles.

Use candles to give the whole event a touch of glamour. Not too many, just enough to bring a little extravagance to the festivity.

Flowers

Bridal bouquets are made from a single flower – a rose, calla lily or amaryllis. If the bridal bouquet is made as a hanging floral arrangement, then it is very long, maybe even a few yards, touching the floor, with attached dendrobium or stephanotis flowers.

Decorative flowers at the venue should closely follow the colour theme you chose for the bridal bouquet. In this case, purple and violet, maybe a bit lighter tones, just enough to help emphasize the bridal bouquet and the bride and groom as the centre of this festive occasion.

The whole decorative design and service must be well executed to convey an image of perfect balance and harmony on your wedding day this winter. We understand this all to well, and always go the extra mile to ensure nothing is left to chance.

This is just an example of what your winter wedding could be, and we hope we have at least helped you a little bit. Depending on your inspiration, you may come up with a very different vision. Whatever you choose to do, we at Todich Floral Design always work with you to provide the design and service that is coherent with your vision of a perfect wedding.

Getting married this winter? Get in touch with us and find out how we can make your dream wedding come true.