![Monica_Delgado_portrait_20535_081 Portrait of floral designer Monica Delgado, with bobbed dark hair, wearing a yellow floral sundress and a long beaded necklace, stands with her ikebana arrangement](https://flowermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Monica_Delgado_portrait_20535_081.jpg)
Monica Delgado of Simple Florals
INSPIRATION
I wanted to create a simple arrangement that was minimal in style but at the same time modern and fresh. My inspiration came from the traditional Japanese ikebana style. I did two things that were unexpected. First, I manually opened the tulip petals, completely changing the traditional look of closed tulips. I think most people will get a kick out of that once they realize that these are actually tulips. Second, I used tulips that were dyed brown, which creates these very interesting veins throughout.
For styling tips for the arrangements above, see Monica Delgado’s floral tutorial at the end of this post.
FLOWER SHOW
![Monica_Delgado_Floral_Design_20535_112 Two floral arrangements (one in a small white modern vase and the other in a larger, dark modern vase) sit to the right side on top of a mirror-topped wooden dresser. The mirror’s reflection shows a blurred image of Monica Delgado walking by holding her young child](https://flowermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Monica_Delgado_Floral_Design_20535_112.jpg)
For a pair of arrangements on her dresser, Monica used preserved sun palms, Queen Anne’s lace, foraged palm leaf, ‘Blushing Bride’ protea, Grevillea chamomile, and vases from Kuu Pottery.
![Monica Delgado floral chandelier20535_107 In a sunlight-filled, elegant white room, a suspended floral arrangement by Monica Delgado hangs above a simple wooden chair](https://flowermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Monica-Delgado-floral-chandelier20535_107.jpg)
Cymbidium orchid, carnation, burgundy cotinus, ‘Cappuccino’ rose, and plumosa fern appear to float in this cloud-like design.
![Monica Delgado ikebana style arrangement 20535_094 An ikebana arrangement and a pair of simple brass candlesticks with white tapers sit on a modern, white, circular occasional table with brass legs. A panel of floral fabric hangs in the background](https://flowermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Monica-Delgado-ikebana-style-arrangement-20535_094.jpg)
“I like to have elements that are unexpected and even whimsical. My favorite thing is when floral art inspires a moment of delight.” — Monica Delgado
Now, time to try it at home.
MONICA’S FLORAL TUTORIAL
Produced by Alice Welsh Doyle | Photography by Monica Buck | Floral design by Monica Delgado of Simple Florals, simpleflorals.com