From editorial worthy weddings to perfectly styled tabletops, the resurgence of traditional looks in events and interiors is leaving floral pros in need of functional pieces. Enter Accent Decor’s new take on classic chinoiserie. Designed in collaboration with the powerhouse team at Sweet Root Village, the new products are an early hit with customers.

What is chinoiserie?

The term chinoiserie, derives from the French word chinois, or “Chinese.” Originated in the 17^th century, aligned with Europe’s booming trade with China and other East Asian countries, chinoiserie is the European interpretation of Asian culture and decorative arts. Commonly applied to wallpaper, furnishings, works of art and ceramics, the intricate art form has a long-standing history of enduring appeal.

Accent Decor’s Fresh Take

With a watchful eye on trends, our Product Development Team set forth on concepting the Spring Summer 2024 product line. The rising interest in traditional décor elements and the beauty of chinoiserie affirmed the need to develop and include a functional yet design-forward take on the much-loved artform. With a blend of trend forecasting and direct feedback from customers, the line began taking shape and form.

A fateful conversation with long-time partner and customers, Sweet Root Village, helped propel the new chinoiserie collection forward. “We were in active contact with the Product Development Team discussing some of our favorite product features and the trends we were hoping to see in upcoming collections,” explained Rachel Bridgwood, Sweet Root Village Co-Founder. “We shared that a recent client meeting had us spinning with ideas for coral ceramics. We shared the concept and, weeks later, we nearly fainted when we received emails presenting samples, styles and productions. Wow, we were floored to be part of this collaborative design process!”

Further conversations and correspondence helped conceive the new Coral Eleanor Collection, Elodie Collection and Coral Elodie Collection comprised of vases, compotes and bowls. Designed with a modern take on classic chinoiserie, each piece is dutifully hand-painted by artisans in Vietnam who’ve honed their craft for decades. Beyond the beautiful artwork and vintage sensibility, each piece was designed with floral designers in mind, mitigating the challenges typical chinoiserie ceramics present. Larger openings, tapered necks and intentional heights will allow floral designers greater flexibility during their design process. 

To complete the collaboration, Sweet Root Village flew to Accent Decor’s Atlanta headquarters to design the florals for the collection’s photoshoot. Their striking and breathtaking florals within vessels they helped inspire and design proved a full circle moment for both parties.

We sat down with Lauren Anderson and Rachel Bridgwood, Sweet Root Village Co-Founders, to get their POV on chinoiserie and the design collaboration.

Pictured: Lauren Anderson and Rachel Bridgwood, Sweet Root Village Co-Founders

Sweet Root Village has a strong pulse on wedding and special event trends. Where does chinoiserie fit in? Is this something brides are requesting?

Absolutely. There is a timeless quality to chinoiserie that we see reflected year after year. Sometimes it’s a small accent and sometimes it’s a main feature. There will always be a love of “something blue” in weddings. Vessels are the perfect element to integrate this hue. 

The new Elodie & Eleanor Collections were concepted with floral designers in mind. What functional features are most important and why?

Classic chinoiserie has always been a struggle to design within, especially for weddings. Usually, chinoiserie vases have very small openings. Additionally, the typical sizes and proportions are far too large or tall to keep clear eyesight across dining tables at events. Having event decor that feature the classic blue and white style into functional and optimal shaped pieces is a game changer! The new collections feature classic shapes with wider openings, allowing for more floral design flexibility. The lower bowls and compotes are ideal heights for creating romantic and flowy centerpieces. We are over the moon!

The coral version of Elodie & Eleanor is a fresh and eye-catching twist on the classic blue hue. Why coral and what do you love most about this unique color?

While meeting with a potential client we stumbled upon an image of a table styled with a touch of coral chinoiserie. We found ourselves spiraling down a rabbit hole on a hunt for this fabulous color. We didn’t realize the shade would be so complimentary to Peach Fuzz, the 2024 Pantone Color of the Year. Clearly, we were onto something!

What materials or decorative objects pair well with chinoiserie?

We often see bright silvers and clean white ceramics paired with classic blue and white chinoiserie vessels for a traditional and residential feel. Wicker, rattan, seagrass, and wood elements are great to layer in for a seaside look. When all else fails, sleek glass or crystal pair beautifully. We look forward to pairing the new coral collections with colored glass or weathered brass or maybe uniquely shaped ivory ceramics alongside the original classic pairings. There are so many event décor options!

Team AD loves partnering with the Sweet Root Village team on photoshoots – magic always unfolds! Any fond moments from the recent shoot would you like to share?

We’re truly unable to say ENOUGH good things about working with the Accent Decor team on any and all projects. It’s been such a joy to be a part of several shoots for new products and updated looks. From start to finish the entire process feels warm, creative and inspiring. We’ve always felt very taken care of by the whole team. Working side-by-side in the studio designing and seeing things photographed and perfected together is a nice break from our everyday event work! We always leave feeling like our cup is running over. Full of laughs, fun work and wonderful conversation with incredibly kind people.

Shop the new chinoiserie collections along with the full assortment of Accent Decor’s wholesale decor, including all new and flower, plant and home products, at accentdecor.com.

Sweet Root Village is an event floral design and installation studio based in Alexandria, Virginia owned by Lauren Anderson and Rachel Bridgwood. Sweet Root Village is known for large installations, sharing openly about floral business, and creating a family friendly work environment for their team. Connect with Sweet Root Village online or @sweetrootvillage on Instagram.

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