When it comes to florists in Singapore, no one’s got the magic touch quite like Karen French. As a talented floral artist and owner of Karen French Floral Designs, she can whip up fabulous arrangements on the fly and has recently turned her hand to coaching floral rookies.
We took a walk around the flower markets with Karen, where she revealed her passion for all things rosy and shared a couple of handy tips of the trade – expert sourcing and selection of blooms and hints to keep them fresh in the unique Singapore climate.
Hi Karen! You LOVE flowers. Have they always played a major part in your life?
Whilst I’ve always loved flowers and used to paint them, it wasn’t always my profession. My younger adult years were spent working in the corporate world of Dubai and Bahrain. I then retrained as an image consultant with Colour Me Beautiful – the first ten years of which I spent in Singapore. It was when taking a break from the image world that my passion for flowers blossomed and I haven’t looked back since.
So how did you get started in the flower business?
After joining a flower club in Singapore and becoming very involved, I sought out one of the best floral design schools I could find. At first, I simply created flower arrangements as a hobby and helped out voluntarily at events, flower schools and the Singapore Garden Festivals. Soon I was hooked and enrolled myself full time to get professionally certified in the art of floral design.
I initially had no intention of owning my own flower business. But my wonderful mentor and life/business coach planted the seed for me to create my own opportunities and so, Karen French Floral Designs was born.
You were born in the UK, lived in Bahrain, Dubai, Holland, Jakarta, and now, Singapore. Phew! How has it been living here for the past 20 years?
I love Singapore and it will always have a special place in our hearts because this is where our second son, Nicholas (now 18 years old) was born. Our family moved here because of my husband’s job. At first, I was labeled as a trailing spouse, expat wife, and even tai tai - all of which I have shunned. For my own sanity, I have always been adamant to carve out my own identity, which is why it’s important for me to keep working and fulfill my own creative goals.
What’s your advice for those interested in making a career change and switching to floristry like you?
Make sure to gain as much knowledge about the industry as you can, pay for professional training and keep upgrading your skills. It’s also important to think about your niche market and stay connected with all areas of floristry. Don’t think that the flower profession is just for sissies: it’s a lot of hard work, long hours and is very competitive.
Coming up with gorgeous and unique floral designs every time can’t be easy. Where do you get the inspiration?
It is important as a designer to keep updated with new trends, new techniques and new products on the market. I frequently travel to meet up with floral designers, attend garden festivals and flower shows around the world and to stay connected to growers and floral magazine editors. I never go anywhere without my camera and I get inspiration from architecture, interiors, magazines and nature itself.
What’s a typical day like for you?
I don’t have a typical day and that is what’s so motivating. One day I may be teaching a group of visual merchandisers how to create floral arrangements in the morning and then in the evening, attending a meeting for one of the committees I sit on like the Board of Ikebana International Chapter 135. Another day, I may be creating floral arrangements for a private client, out and about taking photos or writing an article for a floral magazine. One thing I do make sure to do everyday is to connect with my Facebook fans, which have grown to over 21,000 over the last two years.
Guide to Flowers
Where are the top spots in Singapore to score the best blooms?
While there are so many florists, garden centres and wholesalers to buy fresh cut flowers from, there’s no one size fits all. Sometimes I have to visit two or three places to pick up the flowers for just one arrangement I want to create.
My advice: take care when choosing the flowers and make sure that you aren’t buying old flowers. Anything with discounted prices won’t be the freshest and won’t last long. The most important thing to score the best blooms is choosing well and looking after them once you get them home.
Which flowers tend to do better in Singapore’s climate?
In terms of cut flowers, Orchids, Heliconias, Torch Ginger, Eustoma, Chrysanthemums, Alstroemeria and Anthuriums can last up to two weeks in Singapore’ tropical heat if cared for properly.
And what does ‘caring for them properly’ mean?
Most people, when they receive flowers, will fill up a vase and put them in water and let them stay there till they die. Not much thought is given to the journey of their fresh flowers and the after care.
The next time you receive a bouquet, remove any wrapping and any leaves that sit below the water line. Cut the end of the stalks and change the water every two days at least. Make sure your flowers are away from direct sunlight and placed in a cool part of your home. That way your flowers will certainly have a better chance of survival.
Is there hope for folks like us who are (unfortunately) all thumbs in the field of floristry?
Sure, anyone can create gorgeous arrangements with the help of a guiding hand. Book some classes with me and I’ll have you creating beautiful arrangements for your home in no time.
Thanks Karen, we’ll definitely be taking you up on that offer – lead the way, Master!
And thanks also to our friends at Ji Mei on Joan Road for letting us in to shoot the story.
All images taken by Suasti Lye of Suasti Lye Photography & Design.