MEET NATALIE OF NATALIE BOWEN DESIGNS

NB:  Three days a week are market days and I wake up at 5am to get to the market by 6am. I find that I shop the market, see what is in season and place orders for two to three hours. It always amazes me how long I am there! I then go check my accounts, which include Foreign Cinema Restaurant and Coco500, get the flowers in water and do any arrangements that need to be done. 

The rest of the day is spent on responding to emails (so many!!), meeting with clients and running errands and a pilates or yoga class. I almost always make my lunch at home and enjoy it with either my husband or my team on working days. We take the time to make a large healthy lunch and then sit down at the table to eat it together. I’m working on not brining my computer to the table with us. 😉

TBC:   What wedding trend would you like to see disappear?

NB:  All wedding trends. By the time it is considered a trend, I’m ready to see it disappear.

NB:  My client either knows exactly what they want or has no idea what they want but is willing to trust me. Since I let what is most beautiful seasonally lead my design I need to have some flexibility in the proposal. 

TBC:   Where do you find inspiration?

NB: The first place I find inspiration is at the market. I love seeing what is most beautiful and I love anything unexpected that I haven’t seen before or yet that season. I also love color and find that color combinations inspire my design. Design is a way of life for me so I’m constantly looking for inspiration. My husband is an architect so discussing design in everything is a big part of our conversation, environment and daily life.

NB:  A forager at the market. They are wacky and amazing.  

TBC:  Describe your design style.

NB:  My design style is a cross between structured and organic. I love the natural beauty and movement in flowers and branches and love the juxtaposition of that against purposefully placed blooms.

NB:  Having name recognition.

NB:  The same advice that was given to me the first day I worked as a florist. “It’s not as glamorous as you think.”

NB:  My favorite floral designers are Torryne Choate of Birch and Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua. Torryne for her ability to make simplicity look bold and edgy and Sarah for being the master of wild and organic floral design.

NB:  I actually don’t have a ritual at all, but I would like one. I am a very habit forming and regimented person. Running a business is so much about the non-creative elements that I like the designing process free-formed as possible. The only ritual we really have is that we talk about food and recipes when we work. Maybe even more than the flowers themselves. 

NB:  Work for another florist. I cannot imagine doing anything else.

NB: My personal style is a blend between classic pieces with a pop of something fun. My uniform is jeans or black pants, flats, a scarf and about 100 layers on top. San Francisco is cold and the flower market is even colder.