Patti Porter, owner of PattiPorter Designs and co-owner of The Rusted Chandlier, explains the art of a custom floral arrangement.

SLHL: What are characteristics of a contemporary arrangement? What are characteristics of a traditional arrangement?
Patti: I love to do contemporary arrangements and use much less stems than in a traditional arrangement. I also use different containers and show more of the container. For traditional, I tend to fill the whole container up with lush greenery and beautiful hydrangeas and roses along with fabulous greens of magnolia leaves and grasses. 

SLHL: What are your favorite materials to work with?
Patti: It changes all the time because at market because they are always coming out with new and exciting stems. For the holidays, I like the new painted feathers in champagne tones and the very realistic looking greenery. The greenery looks so life-like and lasts for years. Lots of ribbon makes a difference. I would encourage customers to pick their own favorite from the huge variety I have in the shop. I have also gotten in a high-quality magnolia leaf that looks good in most anything.

Check out more from Patti's interivew in the November/December issue of St. Louis Homes & Lifestyles.