Laura Dowling – författare

Laura Dowling is an expert floral designer artist who combines French-inspired designs with the wildness of nature to create romantic floral arrangements. In her book, she shares her process for creating a beautiful Christmas at home, drawing inspiration from Paris, her experience as White House floral designer, and nature. She provides practical tips on how to incorporate holiday decor in phases using 10 favourite elements and showcasing 10 different design schemes, including a vintage Parisian theme and an Italian-style motif. Whether you want to add subtle touches or go all out for the holidays, Laura's book offers inspiration tips and tricks, and step-by-step instructions for making your home festive and beautiful.

Laura Dowling served as Chief Floral Designer at the White House form 2009 until 2015. In this unique position, she managed décor and flowers for thousands of White House events while using flowers as a strategic tool for communicating diplomatic, symbolic and policy messages. She is renowned for creating a new romantic style of flower arranging featuring free-flowing lines of vines and flowers emanating from a classical bouquet. This style is most evocative of nature and the garden, and balances a strong artistic vision with the wildness of nature. Under her leadership, Laura implemented floral artistry at the White House, designing bouquets of seasonal garden flowers in a style that is both modern and refined, yet casually elegant. She often presents her innovative arrangements in hand-made organic containers composed of leaves, branches and berries that are woven into patterns and motifs, creating integrated, cohesive displays that conjure both nature and the garden. Here, she describes her inspiration, provides tips and techniques on flower arranging and entertaining, and offers readers a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into both official and private White House life.

Christmas at the White House is the most beautiful and grand celebration of the year. As Chief of Floral Design during the Obama administration, Laura Dowling was responsible for the dazzling floral pieces that made the season so memorable. Here, she invites readers behind the scenes of this complex year-long planning process, where some of the most innovative and ambitious hand-made craft displays were created. From architectural details including intricate hydrangea-covered archways, illusionary cube-patterned column covers, and gilded maple leaf rosette panels, to sugar paste floral vases and robotic versions of the First Family's dogs, the décor inspired and delighted visitors and guests from across the country and around the world.  In addition to her White House experiences, Laura shares advice and ideas, tips and techniques for planning holiday-themed displays at home, including step-by-step instructions for re-creating some of the most popular and original White House holiday designs.

Laura Dowling creates beauty and poetry with her signature wreaths, weaving an enticing floral fairy tale of colour and inspiration, timeless style and fanciful details that are evocative of secret, wild gardens, meadows and forests brimming with enchantment and delight. With layer upon layer of lush blooms and fruits, entwining vines, and surprising combinations of colours, textures and both every day and extraordinary materials, her wreaths make unique design statements that inspire the imagination with a forward-looking, trend-setting approach. Here in this lavishly illustrated book, Laura shares her inspiration, creative process, and step-by-step tips and techniques for creating 75 beautiful and innovative seasonal wreaths for all occasions. From simple and elegant evergreen wreaths to intricate and elaborate fruit and vegetable designs, Laura provides expert insights and detailed guidelines for replicating her fabulously festive wreaths at home.