Milola Meets Nicolette van Solingen, Garden designer, coach and owner of Bloom Creations

Terrace with Outdoor Wood Furniture overlooking Lake and mountains

At Milola, we love working with fellow professionals who share our passion for home and garden design. In our next installment of our Milola Meets series, we chat to Nicolette van Solingen, a landscape designer located close to us in Vaud, and someone who we've also had the pleasure of working with personally.


Here we discuss what brought her into this sector, her inspirations and how she loves to add her personality to all her designs...

Passionate about nature and design, I aim to help my customers with all their garden and gardening questions. Working independently, I serve my customer’s wishes and work with them to achieve the garden of their dreams.”



            


Photo of Nicolette van Solingen

“Your outdoor space is to live in, so make the most of its natural resources”

Nicolette van Solingen

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND IN GARDEN DESIGN AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO SET UP YOUR CONSULTANCY

Whilst living in the USA, I changed careers and studied Landscape design at the New York Botanical Garden. As a young girl, I already had my own little garden in the backyard (with a little pond), and although the corporate world was fascinating for many years, I turned back to my original passion of nature and designing.


Bloom Creations was founded in 2009, and since then I have worked with a variety of customers on projects big and small. At first in the USA, and since 2015 in Vaud, Switzerland. 

Modern design of pool area
Spring flowers and plants

YOUR STRAPLINE/ DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IS “YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE IS TO LIVE IN, SO MAKE THE MOST OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES”. TALK US THROUGH WHAT THIS MEANS…

However big or small your outdoor space is, I encourage with my designs to make the optimal use of your garden or balcony. Whether you want to lounge, play or just appreciate flowers and plants, a garden frames your house and should provide a year-round, natural environment.

Natural stone wall and terrace with rattan furniture

WHAT’S YOUR GARDEN DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?

Designing a garden, that fits my customer’s wishes and budget, is like solving a puzzle for me. Our design process is such, that it helps customers to understand what they really aspire to and appreciate the different opportunities to achieve that. Apart from drawing by hand, I nowadays frequently use 3D designs to help my clients understand space and composition. 

Blue flower
3D picture: 3D design of garden with pool

WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR STYLE YOU FAVOUR IN YOUR GARDEN DESIGNS?

A garden design should fit the style of the house and the wishes of its owners. So, I follow with my designs what my customers aim for. Yes, I love plants, so will always discuss the different opportunities there are with the variety of plants that exist, even if all you want is a low maintenance garden. 

Natural design pool area

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?

Of course, the beautiful nature like here in Lavaux, and the various gardens that I enjoy and visit. Furthermore, I get inspired by design lines and patterns in architecture, paintings, graphic and product design. 

Hydrangea arborescens
Prunus

DO YOU HAVE A STAND-OUT PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON?

Pff, difficult to choose… To be honest, I like most projects I work on! What is most fun for me, is when there a genuine cooperation with my clients, where they develop their ideas on what is possible in their garden and how to achieve that with plants and other natural materials, such as stone and wood. 

3 Acer platanoides
Lavender retreat
Redesign of 2 terraces and garden

IF YOU COULD GIVE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO SOMEONE ABOUT TO RETHINK OR RENOVATE THEIR GARDEN OR TERRACE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Start with making a plan and design on what you want to achieve. As a garden can and will develop over time, you can gradually fill in the different parts. Working with plants is working with living material, that can be shaped and groomed as you wish. Make sure to get the right plants in the right place, and they will work with you. 

Circular patio with late spring flowers

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF FURNITURE WE OFFER AT MILOLA AND WHY

Most Sofa Sets, that are modular and give you flexibility in usage and set up. Sets that are of durable and sturdy material, so can be left outside, preferably even in winter. With cushions that do not need to be stored all the time as they dry quickly after some rain. And of course, have unique designs and original detailing like the Pesaro and Moments Sofa Sets!

LIKE NICOLETTE'S HELP TO CREATE YOUR DREAM OUTDOOR SPACE?

NAME:

Nicolette Van Solingen

AGENCY:

Bloom Creations

LOCATION:

Vaud


COVERAGE:
Montreux – Lausanne – Nyon (and beyond)

WEB:
www.bloomcreations.ch

FACEBOOK:
www.facebook.com/bloomcreations.ch

INSTAGRAM:
www.instagram.com/bloomcreations/

LINKEDIN:

www.linkedin.com/in/nicolette-van-solingen-a01b8711

Allium giganteum

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