As Valentine’s Day comes around again, I find myself thinking about expressions of love - not only romantic love, but love for friends, for family, and for ourselves.

For me, love has always been less about grand gestures and more about feeling. I’ve often said that the secret to life is the feeling. Being conscious of what you feel - in a space, in your clothing, with a person - is everything. That belief has guided my work for decades, and it’s at the heart of how I approach flowers.

Flowers are not an accessory. They are emotional. They soften a room, lift the spirit, and quietly remind us of beauty, impermanence, and hope.

Why flowers matter

The escape of beauty has always been an important element in my life. Whether I’m in the English countryside where I grew up, or in Los Angeles, nature has a way of grounding me. Flowers, especially, have a spiritual pull. They enrich my soul and inspire my sense of beauty.

There is also something deeply moving about fragrance. Scent is fleeting and ephemeral, yet it has the power to awaken memory and feeling - a rose, gardenia, or lavender can instantly transport us to a moment in time. Even as it fades, it leaves something behind.

My garden in Santa Monica is what I can only describe as heaven on earth - masses of blooms: English garden roses, lavender, hydrangeas, gardenias. It’s not the most practical choice in a city full of drought-resistant landscapes, but it feels like sanctuary. And I believe we all benefit from bringing that same softness, femininity, and romance into our homes, even in the smallest ways.

Start with the vase

There’s no “right” way to pair flowers with a vase, but for me, the vase is always the starting point. Whether it’s a jam jar, a chipped teapot, or an ornate vintage piece, there’s no judgment - it just has to be lovely.

I’m always hunting at flea markets, thrift stores, and online for vessels with character. A teapot without a lid, a crystal decanter, a Victorian soup tureen, or even a simple canning jar can all work beautifully. An old vase with a crack is perfectly fine too — you can always add a glass liner. These imperfect pieces often make the flowers feel more human. The key is confidence and a willingness to think beyond what’s expected.

I’m not a florist. I’m what I call a flower plopper.

When flowers come into my life — whether it’s a $10 supermarket bouquet or branches gathered from an alleyway in Los Angeles — I literally plop them into the vase. Plopping allows me to stay spontaneous and intuitive, rather than overthinking the result.

Before I begin, I usually remove most of the greenery, especially with roses. I’m all about the heads of the roses. I like the blooms and buds to take center stage, with air and space around them. I cut leaves right down so the flowers can breathe.

If the arrangement feels too tight or formal, I loosen it. I trim more stems. I create more space. Sometimes I end up with two or three arrangements from one bouquet — and I love that sense of abundance.

Flowers don’t need to be saved for special occasions or formal rooms. I love clusters of small arrangements on a dining table — six little vases rather than one tall centerpiece. It feels generous and intimate, and at the end of the evening, everyone can take one home.

I also like placing flowers where they’re unexpected: stairwells, hallways, a windowsill above the kitchen sink, by my desk, or next to my makeup mirror. These are the places where we move through our days, and where a small moment of beauty can quietly change how we feel. Flowers have personalities. A beautiful arrangement can fit anywhere.

What flowers teach us

There’s something flowers give us that goes beyond decoration. Especially in times when the world feels heavy, bringing nature inside is a reminder that nothing stays the same forever.

Nature teaches us to embrace beauty when it blooms, to accept when it fades, and to be patient when things are dormant. Above all, nature is hopeful. And perhaps that’s why flowers and romance are so closely linked for me.

Shabby Chic® has always been a romantic brand. I’ve balanced heart, brain, and courage to build it over the years. And personally, love, romance, and hearts have always played a huge role in my life - sometimes stronger than my brain.

Valentine’s Day can sometimes come with expectations about what love should look like, when in reality it often takes many different forms.

I find myself returning again and again to simple, human gestures - moments that slow us down and bring us back to feeling.

It took time to understand the importance of self-love - not as indulgence, but as gratitude and respect for ourselves, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

So whether you’re sharing flowers with a partner, a friend, or placing them on your own table just for you, know this: buying yourself flowers is not vanity. It’s an act of care. A reminder of beauty. A romance that belongs to everyone.