West London flower shop Scarlet and Violet is brimming with all manner of loveliness; cut glass vases, chintzy ornaments and armfuls of beautiful blooms. Owner Vic Brotherson is renowned for creating romantic, naturalistic arrangements in pale, chalky colours. They have a trad feel to them, but the result is anything but stuffy - think Constance Spry for the 21st Century. Brotherson has just penned her first book Vintage Flowers (Kyle books, £25) which shows you how to recreate her artistic arrangements at home. Even if you don’t get busy with floristry wire it’s well worth adding it your pile of coffee table tomes thanks to the uplifting imagery. I’ll let the ultimate domestic goddess Nigella Lawson have the final word: “Vic Brotherson does beautiful bunches of wild flowers and roses the colour of parchment, tinged with the palest of pinks”. High praise indeed. www.scarletandviolet.com
