The past couple of weeks have been really rewarding and exciting for me as a floral designer. I’ve had the opportunity to finish a number of very different floral arrangements – from dramatic to laid back summer dinner party – and with each new arrangement comes a new opportunity to learn and grow.
Treasure Hunting
Over the last several weeks I’ve been hunting and gathering for clients, looking for those one-of-a-kind, “Where did you get that?!” sort of items that feel right the minute you see them. While I have carefully curated the shop so that I display only things that I myself would want to buy, there are always a few items that come through that almost don’t make it here because I want them so badly for my home.
Raison de Etre – And I’m not even French!
A big part of the philosophy behind the store is my desire to connect with people on what matters to them and what they find beautiful. A few posts back I shared how much I love my customers, and that is definitely true. As all businesses try to weather these very tough economic times, the kind words of those that visit and who genuinely appreciate what I am trying to do, keep me afloat.
One of a kind treasures
One of the greatest things about Apartment 46 (and of course I am terribly biased!) is the unique nature of every item in the shop. I do carry a few vendor lines, but they have met stringent criteria and are both beautiful and natural.
I am often asked where I get all of the things I have on offer. They come from all over the place – from outdoor markets in Amsterdam to highest bidder estate sales in Hillsborough. I am constantly on the hunt for cool new items to share with my clients.
Small Space? Big Style!
It doesn’t matter how small your living space is, you can still create a cool, comfortable and well-designed place to spend your time. I’m not talking about a home full of IKEA Lack tables and woven floor cushions. I speak from personal experience when I say that even a one room apartment CAN have huge style. It’s how you feather your nest that counts!
Life as Art – The Mystical, Magical Air Plant
I gravitate toward unusual plants and flowers so the stranger they are, the more I love them. That’s why I am mad about air plants (proper name, Tillandsias). A member of the Bromeliad family, they are usually found growing happily in tropical environments but can do quite well indoors with the right amount of love.
Color and Texture – Experimenting With Flowers
I am definitely not a traditional florist. In fact, I don’t consider myself a florist at all. I consider my shop a design lab. Ordering flowers from me might seem like a visit to a circus psychic (I ask a lot of questions about the receiver), but I strive to design unique and amazing arrangements that stand out from the regular fare. Twice a week I visit the San Francisco Flower Mart in the wee hours of the morning (before 7am to be exact) to see what interesting things the vendors might be selling.
Succulent Love!
I confess that I am a new convert to the joy of succulents. Growing up I was never drawn to them but my mother had a hulking mass of one in our yard that seemed to always be freezing to death and coming back to life. Other than that, it wasn’t very spectacular to me.