As I prepared to host Easter brunch at home this past weekend, it occurred to me that I own too many vases. Not only do they take up valuable storage space in my kitchen, but I rarely use more than a select few.
I began collecting vases, rather unintentionally, years ago when flowers became the de facto gift for Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. I’m not complaining, but this so-called collection of clear, unassuming glassware in a range of shapes and sizes has outgrown its welcome at my home. Looking back, I suppose I held onto them thinking that I could reuse them, or because I didn’t know exactly how to properly dispose of them. It turns out I keep only a handful on rotation around the house.
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Over the years, my collection has expanded in both style and quantity. About 10 years ago, on weekend trips to thrift and vintage shops, I discovered milk glass in the Westmoreland Paneled Grape pattern and bought it whenever I could. I’m still drawn to its delicate nature–I especially like the look in the spring and summer months–but I can’t remember the last time I reached for the chalky-white containers. During the pandemic, I entered a “pitcher-as-vase” phase, likely influenced by their presence in far-away country houses I was reading about at the time. (The thought of this still makes me chuckle.) While that fondness for flowers arranged in ceramic pitchers didn’t last long, the vessels themselves live atop a shelf in my kitchen, a reminder of a short-lived infatuation with the style.
So what have I learned from all this “collecting”? There are only three types of vases that I really use, both for their practical qualities and aesthetic stature.
No. 1
The ceiling heights in my house dictate the need for at least one or two tall vases. And because I like to keep fresh flowers in the entry hall, I’m always reaching for either a glass vase with minimal to no decoration, or a ceramic vase with texture and flourish.
No. 2
Small bud vases provide a pretty accent atop a bar, nightstand, book stack, or windowsill. Keep two or three on hand, like the one pictured above. Its tint of color gives me flexibility and room to play.
No. 3
If I’m hosting a dinner party, I’m setting out flowers in the middle of the table. My preference is to choose one and let it make a statement. That means an Italian glass vase with movement and texture.
Here’s what local interior designers have to say about the topic of vases:
For designer Lauren Petersen, an avid hostess and gardener, a small collection of vases doesn’t cut it. “I have 25 to 30, currently,” she says. “Most of the vases I have on hand are glass. I prefer the simplicity of a clear vase with simple details, such as a footed base, so that the arrangement doesn’t feel too formal.” A well-stocked hosting cupboard, she adds, needs 6 to 8 glass vases in medium to large sizes, which allow Petersen to create airier arrangements with impact. Small arrangements call for a silver julep cup or even a drinking glass. When possible, purchase in pairs, she advises, and shop the kitchen, bar, or built-ins for usable vessels, such as a white tureen or silver ice bucket. As for cut crystal or decorated vases? You won’t find any in her house. “They’re too formal for me,” she says.
Having a few well-chosen pitchers looks good atop a dining table or kitchen island, says Carrie Keane, an interior designer at Ellie Redders Interiors in Ballwin. “A classic white pitcher is a staple that goes with anything and is easy to fill,” she says. Keane is also partial to keeping a couple of small, yet unique vases on hand to enhance the vanity in a powder room. “I recommend considering options in silver, gold, or antique finishes,” she says. “For a more striking presentation, I like to incorporate standout pieces, such as a large, monogrammed wine bucket or a cherished antique punch bowl, like the one passed down from my grandmother, for the dining table. Don’t be afraid to be creative, virtually any vessel can be used for floral arrangements.”
“I love collecting pieces that are not only beautiful but can also serve as a vase,” says Emily Hall. “I love using unique vessels, ginger jars, and urns that I find at local shops. Antique silver julep cups are one of my favorites because they’re a great size for a powder room, side table, the kitchen sink, or styled on a tray.” Like Peterson and Keane, Hall is a fan of using champagne and ice buckets as vases. She’s also known to use sugar and creamer bowls, and vintage porcelain vessels. “I love the story they add to a floral arrangement,” she says. Glass vases of various shapes and sizes are a necessity for homeowners who love to live with flowers, she adds. She’s especially partial to vases with a wide bottom and a fluted top. “The right opening helps flowers fall effortlessly into place.”
