Luxe and large scale is big sister Studio Botanic's niche
You’ve recently moved to a new showroom on Gilbert Street – tell me about this space.
We moved to Gilbert Street in the last week of July. It has a consultation space where I can sit with clients and like-minded creatives to build ideas and concepts or share a glass of bubbles before a bride and groom’s big day.
I want the space not only to be a place of work, but an experience for all my clients, colleagues and industry peers. Almost like they are stepping into a family home, and a creative safe space.
So you specialise in large-scale, but can people still buy a bunch of flowers from you?
We’re not a retail florist as such, although we do make bespoke gifts for clients on occasion. I also run BloomBar, a retail flower shop in Marion Shopping Centre. This has allowed me to keep all my full-time staff employed and my bills paid during COVID. Having the retail business was designed to keep my staff employed through the off-season we have at Studio Botanic.
Your creations really are like art – where do you get your inspiration from?
Amazing floral artists like Mary Lennox in Berlin [and] Makoto Azuma in Japan are definitely people I am constantly watching and so inspired by. I draw inspiration from the boundless talent that comes out of so many Australian floral designers like Cecilia Fox, Seed and Mi Violeta, but really, I get inspiration from everything – life, nature, colour, movement. The floral industry is an ever-growing and everchanging landscape.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The creative freedom I am given by my clients. I really appreciate the trust people have in me to be able to deliver them something custom designed, just for them. I love to make a connection with my clients, so in turn the trust and freedom I am given by them always delivers the best end result.