We all know it: April showers in May. The last few weeks hadn't really felt like what we usually imagine spring to be – thick cloud instead of blue skies, fluctuating temperatures instead of T-shirt weather. And then came 21 May, the day of our outdoor event with Ferm Living: glorious sunshine, an exciting location and wonderful guests – including influencers from Cologne in Germany and the surrounding area, such as interior designer and influencer Eva, Anni from @altbau_bude and Sylwia aka @hej_sylwi, who had travelled from Düsseldorf in Germany – plus some creative floral arrangements. See for yourself!
A summer's day in May
Together with Ferm Living, we had invited guests to the Design Post in Cologne – more precisely, to the outdoor area of the showroom centre next to the city's trade fair grounds. Inside, the exhibition space lets you immerse yourself in the warm interior world of the Danish brand.
Behind the Design Post, the outdoor area invited guests to try out Ferm Living's outdoor collection. The tables from the Dapple series were laid and just waiting to be claimed. Dotted in between was the occasional Plant Box, one of your favourite products from the Ferm Living range. A brilliant idea: filled halfway with ice, the Plant Boxes doubled as wine coolers.
By 5 pm, most of the guests had arrived. In the sunshine, with cold drinks in hand, everyone chatted, raised a glass and took a peek at what was on the grill.
The workshop: choosing a vase and arranging a bouquet
Before dinner was served, our guests (who were, in fact, all women) got creative at a flower workshop by Marna Floral Art.
Guided by the local florist, each guest filled a Dedali, Nium or Fountain vase with a colourful mix of peonies, eucalyptus, carnations, cranesbill, foxgloves and anthuriums – to take home, of course. The results were some truly beautiful arrangements. The Dedali vase with its "folds" proved to be a particularly good base for ikebana-style bouquets.
We took home not only flowers from the workshop but also a few practical tips.
How to make your own bouquet – what we learned at the workshop with Ferm Living:
1. Start with the vase. It's crucial to the effect of a flower arrangement and can emphasise different styles.
2. A harmonious bouquet depends on combining different colours, shapes and textures. Always think in three dimensions.
3. Creativity and experimentation are the most important ingredients for unique floral designs.
4. The quality of the flowers is key – fresh, high-quality flowers don't just look more beautiful, they also make your bouquet last longer.
Towards evening, the sweet scent of the cut flowers mingled with the smell of the barbecue into a tempting mix that made our mouths water.
The team from Kunz-Mahl had put together a buffet of all kinds of delicacies, from stuffed sweet pointed peppers and grilled chicken breast to strawberry stracciatella tiramisu. Simply sensational.
Dapple collection: perforated pattern with a purpose
Over dinner, everyone was able to experience the quality of the Dapple collection first-hand.
On the day, Dapple showed us just how elegant and comfortable this outdoor dining set really is. The galvanised steel furniture is sturdy and robust, yet looks refined. Its perforated surface isn't just a design feature – it serves a useful purpose, letting rainwater drain away. We couldn't test that ourselves on the day, thanks to the sunshine!
What we could see for ourselves, though, was how dynamic Dapple's colour palette is.
Beige is an easy-going colour that fits into practically any setting. Dark Chocolate, a rich brown, is a real eye-catcher that creates an interesting contrast outdoors. And then there's Tea Green, a colour that acts as a surprising bridge between the other two. In fact, this trio of colours works really well together.
A fantastic start to the outdoor season
That evening, we found another trio that worked really well: fabulous women, beautiful blooms and a brilliant barbecue.
For this, we'd like to thank the Ferm Living team. Our thanks also go to the Design Post for its hospitality, to Marna Floral Art for the wonderful workshop and to Kunz-Mahl for the fantastic barbecue. And of course to everyone who came – it was a pleasure to welcome the summer with you.
