Style Spotlight: House-Hunting for the Iconic Spring Tulip

A vase is a vase is a vase, though any interior designer worth their salt will tell you there are marked differences, and vessels better suited than others to various botanicals. This week we’ll spotlight a universal favorite flower – the tulip – and zero in on some fab venues to showcase this classic bloom.
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Let’s make a beeline to the Pacific Northwest, heading to Mount Vernon in the Skagit Valley, about 60 miles north of Seattle. Soggy, cold springs are a mainstay there, but for whatever reason, it’s a gold mine for the stellar tulip. With more than 300 raw acres of fields, this locale boasts the largest raw acreage of tulips in North America and hosts the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, which draws more than a million visitors very year.

Peruse the seemingly endless rows of tulips in a litany of colors, and buy bunches at the gift shops run by growers. And … then what? Well, pick a vase to show them off once you get home.
It’s not rocket science, but it seems like a décor guru’s dream to pair their fave flower with a receptacle that brings it to life. We’ve found a few that whet our whistle, and work for budgets from meager to extravagant. 

three we love:

​With cost posing no obstacle, this gallery-inspired delicacy creates a heavenly home for a big bouquet of tulips. Mostly because it’s shaped like a tulip bloom, but also because it’s absolutely exquisite, no holds barred. The Daum Large Crystal Tulip Vase delivers Euro-style crystal construction with a translucent quality and availability in several colors to personalize a custom palette. Doubtful you’d ever consider dropping more than six grand on a vase, but if you’re so inclined, this one’s a winner.

​​Returning to the real world, we’ve located an affordable hot property with an excess of contemporary verve. The Limelight Tulip Vase by KostaBoda. It won’t break the bank (or break itself, fingers crossed), and its cunning silhouette exemplifies a modern flavor ideal for minimalist settings. This particular vase reflects decadent smoked gray art glass, and it’s worth every penny of the $90 price tag. Place a big bouquet of colorful (or white?) tulips in this baby and watch the eye-catching powers take hold. Or select a different color to suit your choosy nature.

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​Is your search for a vase extraordinaire making you feel backed into a wall? Stay there, and snag this nouveau design that skips the tables. The Tulip in Bloom Wall Vase skirts the edge of chic design, blending hand-fabricated copper with rustic wood. The copper tube comes pre-stocked with a fake flower, but there’s room in a two-tone wooden base for your special bloom. An artful, hand-made creation by c. lizzy’s, it interjects cool artistry into a space open to farmhouse-rustic style, all for a mere $175.

Be mindful of the sadly short seasonal life span of tulips. The premiere Skagit Valley variety stick around just a few weeks before growers harvest bulbs for future blooms. And maybe that’s a good thing. We appreciate them more when they make a timed appearance.

Photo Credit: Pam Headridge

​Images belong to their respective owners, each linked above.