Foam-Free Design: Part II | 5 min read

In this long overdue follow-up to Part I, I am excited to share some of the essential foam-free mechanics that underpin my approach to crafting distinctive floral art designs and installations My initial decision to commit to foam-free design was met with a genuine sense of apprehension; fear of venturing into the unknown is real and universal. The process, especially at first, felt daunting, with a host of difficult questions demanding answers. I wondered: How would I bring these ideas to life? Would creating these designs require much more time? How could I guarantee the security of the florals? If working with fresh flowers, how would I keep them alive and vibrant? And, crucially, could I manage this alone, or would I need help? Today, these questions continue to surface with each new project, but I am more so inspired by the idea of ‘making it happen’ and driven to discover what is possible. Through experience, I have learned that preparation is essential. Every mechanic and structure I use is field tested to ensure both structural integrity and the intended design outcome are met. With that in mind, let’s delve into the first mechanic in my toolkit!

Chicken Wire Nest

Chicken wire has quickly become integral to my design process. In its simplest form, I craft multi-layered nests of chicken wire by folding lengths of wire upon itself and moulding them into shapes. The form of the nest is dictated by the overall floral design plan: for elongated, trailing designs, I shape the chicken wire into sausage-like configurations, while designs with a central focal point—where stems radiate outward—call for round or oval nests. Chicken wire nests are highly adaptable; they can be fixed to flat surfaces, bound onto an arbor, or suspended, as in the image below. Given that chicken wire has wider apertures (larger holes), it’s effective for supporting designs that utilise thick stems and water tubes.

   

Chicken Wire Nest with Backing

When creating floral art designs such as wall hangings, it is essential to ensure that the finished piece can be easily hung by the client. To address this, I developed a foam-free structure consisting of a chicken wire nest attached to a sturdy wooden backing. Hanging wire is incorporated to facilitate simple installation by the client. In practice, the wire nest is secured to a wooden board using cable ties, which are then firmly anchored to the backing with a staple gun. Over time, I have refined this approach further; by using a drill to affix the wire nests directly to the wooden backing, I can eliminate the need for cable ties altogether.

   

Filled Chicken Wire Nest

For installations featuring flowers with delicate, thin stems, chicken wire alone presents certain challenges. The larger apertures in the wire can make it difficult to secure fine stems, as they often slip through the gaps and move from their intended position. To address this, pre-filling the chicken wire nest with natural materials like raffia or coconut fibre creates more scaffolding, allowing stems to knit together securely with minimal effort. Beyond structural benefits, raffia and coconut fibre are also effective at concealing the underlying mechanics. This means that the design can maintain its visual impact without sacrificing any florals purely for the purpose of hiding the structure. The filled chicken wire nest is especially suited to delicate, whimsical floral designs and can be adapted to suit various installation needs, whether affixed to a surface or suspended within a space.

   

Vessel Composition

Vessel compositions play a pivotal, yet often understated, role in creating large-scale floral installations. Whether constructing a ground-based arrangement or designing an asymmetrical botanical feature, incorporating vessels of different sizes and heights allows for the formation of organic shapes and visually striking compositions. For example, in a wedding setting, ceramic vases filled with concealed chicken wire can be clustered atop plinths to produce a cascading floral effect. Alternatively, arranging these vessels side by side can evoke the appearance of a lush floral meadow, as in the image below. Depending on the desired aesthetic, the vessels—each containing chicken wire for structure—may either be showcased as integral elements of the overall design or discreetly hidden to create the illusion that the blooms are growing naturally within the space.

   

These techniques have influenced both my designs and outlook as a floral artist. The chicken wire base methods described above work for fresh and dried florals in various settings, from corporate spaces to weddings and events. For fresh florals, we also rely upon foam-free water source alternatives, including water vials and Sideau biodegradable foam. Working without traditional floral foam offers creative freedom and challenges that push me to think like an artist, engineer, and inventor, bringing each design vision to life with my unique style and ethos. It’s a genuine thrill that I hope to never take for granted.

Tess xx