So Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Whether you’re single or attached, flowers are always a great gift and pick-me-up for friends and loved ones – especially with the past year being a whirlwind trip.
But if red and pink roses + baby’s breath = basic for you, we’ve rounded up a list of florists and floral designers in town that you need to have in your Rolodex whenever you need to put a stylish and artistic spin to floral arrangements.
Having popped up in December last year, The Flower Den is relatively new to the scene, with only an Instagram account to order from via DM at the moment. Trained in western floral arrangements and traditional Ikebana, founder Gabrielle Lim hopes to offer contemporary and fun floral products. The brand’s transparent neon vases in quirky shapes are what first caught our eye − they’re great as home objects or for storing other items. We’re also digging their thoughtful packaging, such as including a transparent carrier for bringing bouquets around.
Floral studio The Flower Library is your go-to for wild and rustic-looking bouquets. Founder Rachel Xu gets her inspiration from nature, art and travel, and this is reflected in her incorporation of unexpected elements in her arrangements. For example, the use of spices and origami. With a combination of the freshest flowers, branches and foliage, you’re bound to find a bouquet that will please your valentine. The shop also styles for weddings and other special occasions.
If you’re looking for outlandish and OTT floral designs, you certainly won’t find them at Kuukka. Rather, the studio’s philosophy is highlighting the ordinary things we often overlook, and that translates to their artful floral arrangements as well. For example, their latest installation ‘Daily Ordinaries’ featured everyday flowers we often see in Singapore. Kuukka also offers custom-made vessels and a collection of simple yet statement-making floral sets and arrangements.
Merci Matisse seamlessly merges high fashion with floral art. This comes as no surprise, since its creative director is Jessicacindy Hartono. The designer is known for her bespoke gowns made from organza, tulle and embroidery, and her collaborations with influencers like Willabelle Ong. With Hartono’s sensibilities in couture art, floral gifts are undeniably stylish, well-packaged and fashion-shoot ready. Aside from a curated selection of ala-carte bouquets, the brand also offers a subscription service with weekly deliveries.
To simply call the works of this botanical design studio floral arrangements is an injustice considering its creations – from large scale installations to tabletop bouquets – are more akin to works of art. Its out-of-the-box arrangements often employ peculiar plant and floral varieties like miniature watermelons, glass gem corn, red passionfruit flowers and white sunflower. If you’re trying to please that person who has seen it all, be sure to hit up these folks.
This design studio’s speciality is in floral styling and botanical set design. It was founded by Shilbe Lim, whose passion for still lifes and styling is clearly reflected in her work. She’s big about honing her technical skills too, having trained under award-winning floral artists such as Zita Elze and Catherine Muller. We absolutely love her fascinating and out-of-the-box editorials as well. All flowers here are bespoke with designs seldom being repeated, so you can be sure the ones you choose won’t be found anywhere else.
If your date is someone who doesn’t appreciate the short lifespan of fresh flowers, consider Floral Kokoro’s range of preserved flowers. They come wrapped in the prettiest colours and even include mini versions. Or opt for their other-worldly looking cosmic roses, made from holographic hard film and a gold-plated stem. Floral Kokoro also offers a made-to-order ‘Ikebana’ service, where you can pair your bouquet with a vase from their collection.
Arguably one of Singapore’s most well-known floral artists, Charlotte Puxley set up shop here in 2014. Born in the UK, Puxley’s aesthetic reflects her English countryside roots, adapted to Singapore’s tropical environment. Aside from her verdant arrangements, Puxley conducts regular workshops and offers weekly, fortnightly or monthly flower subscriptions. Her range of Italian ceramic vases makes great gifts as well, with their beautiful form and bright colours. Bouquets are customisable too but do make your orders in advance.
Grandiflora originally started off in Sydney, and was set up way back in 1995 by famed Australian florist Saskia Havekes. She’s brought her dramatic aesthetic and impeccable sense of artistry to our shores, with bold floral arrangements as well as an in-house line of perfumes and scented candles (basically, perfect add-ons for your V-Day date). Housed in Como Dempsey, Grandiflora shares a space with epicurean food and wine destination Culina − so you can pick up a bottle of wine or two as well while you’re there.
Whilst Fleurapy’s main focus is venue styling and creative production, its floral bouquets are worth checking out too. Having opened its doors in 2014, the multi-disciplinary team includes ladies with backgrounds in art, graphic design, social work and architecture − each bringing their own unique perspective to floral design. As its name suggests, Fleurapy is all about providing a therapeutic effect with its flowers. With beautiful pairings and colour combinations, the V Day 21 collection certainly does just that. The Everyday collection is a worthy contender too, featuring lovely seasonal-themed bouquets.
Having been in the floral artistry business since 2005, Dan Takeda definitely knows a thing or two about crafting flowers. Prior to opening his namesake Singapore studio, he founded a popular floral boutique in Tokyo and worked with high-end brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton. We’re especially intrigued by his sculptural arrangements, such as his Jelly bouquets and flowers packed in square boxes. Besides an extensive array of floral gifts, Takeda also offers arrangements for weddings and corporate events.