Meet McKenzie of McKenzie Powell Floral & Event Design

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Friday, April, 6, 2012 | Floral & Event Designers

Happy Friday Everyone....and we're opening the cafe with one of my favorite features..."Meet the Designer"...our special guest today is the oh-so-beautiful and insanely talented, McKenzie Powell of McKenzie Powell Floral and Event Design....McKenzie's flowers are beautiful works of arts...so elegant and so very romantic...yes, we do a lot of swooning over them and rightly so....you must check out her gorgeous site and blog......and be prepared to stay for awhile...serious "floral heaven"....McKenzie shares a little of her world with us today...let's see what she has to say....Enjoy!!

TBC: What’s a typical day for you?

MP: I don’t think there is a typical day, which is partly why I love my job so much. But to offer somewhat of an answer, I’m usually up with a latte and at my computer within twenty minutes of waking… responding to emails, sending off quotes, designing inspiration boards, or putting together flower orders. (It still takes me so long to decide what and how much of each to order. If you have tips, I’m all ears.) A quick breakfast and a jog typically fit in there somewhere, but by noon I might be out the door running errands, meeting clients, grocery shopping –I feel no guilt; I often work late into the night.

If I’m at the studio, you could find me scrubbing buckets, washing vases, chipping wax off candleholders (my least favorite job), spray-painting (anything), potting up succulents, reorganizing storage (it never ends)… and then there’s the fun stuff… pulling out props, vessels, fabric, ribbon to try out a few combinations for upcoming events. I love handling the supplies. It finally starts to come to life— from “I think that will work together” to “Mmm… take that out, add that in, ahh yes, there we go, now I’m satisfied.”

During the busy event days, I’m up at the crack of dawn (or before), to the flower market, loading, unloading, unwrapping, re-cutting, prepping, organizing, arranging, fussing… all with ibuprofen, coffee, and snacks to keep me going. Then on event days it’s the triple C’s – Cool, Calm, and Collected. (Or at least that’s the goal.)

TBC: Describe your client?

MP: My client usually becomes my friend. They are often passionate about design too, and no doubt down the road, we’ll collaborate on some project… They’re stylish and fun and kind and trusting. They like my work, believe that I price fairly, and want to work with me. If I can tell I’m just one of ten quotes they’ve requested, I don’t exactly get thrilled about working with them. But thankfully, that’s not usually an issue, and instead their thank you notes make me tear-up. I’m such a softie.

TBC: Where do you find inspiration?

The garden, interiors, travel, food… a piece of ribbon, a swatch of fabric, a votive, a lamp, a painting, a beautiful store like ABC Carpet & Home… You don’t like to admit it, but you can’t help it; they have such lovely displays.

TBC: Name one of your favorite “vendor” sources that you just can’t do without.

MP: I don’t have one. I’m always asking around for other people’s favorites because I can’t seem to find one that can satisfy my every need. (Actually, I’m quite sure it doesn’t exist.) But I guess my go-to’s would be West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Accent Decor, Creative Co-op, and Two’s Company.

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

MP: I know a lot of people are already saying this, but I agree, so I’ll be the broken record… Sometimes less is more. We saw the vintage look go a little crazy with all things rustic and antique, but I think it’s time to scale back. I’m big on a careful mix of old and new. If you love vintage, incorporate a few details into your wedding—ornate candlesticks and a beautiful settee, but try pairing them with something fresh to create a
more unexpected look. Some of your grandmother’s silver pieces would look great on table runners with a modern print! Or… just do it! Go totally modern! (But pretty please keep your flowers romantic…)

TBC: Describe your design style.

MP: Oh gosh. I’m an event designer who gets excited about a wide variety of styles. From old-world classic to clean, minimalistic and modern, I enjoy it all. When it comes to flowers, I think of my designs as luscious, fresh, and romantic—easily able to find their place in any trend or style.

TBC: To date, what has been the highlight of your career?

MP: Getting a bit of press is always exciting, but I’ve loved connecting with other designers around the globe. They’re a talented group and so nice! (I really like nice people.) When I get an email from someone I truly admire, telling me that they enjoy my work, I’m giddy. You work like a dog in this industry, and I’ll be honest, it still feels good to get those little pats on the back. I try to remember this when I see something that inspires me. The artist, designer, creator should know. A short little email can do wonders.

TBC: What advice would you give to upcoming floral designers?

MP: Be inspired by those around you but do what you love, try what you think would be interesting. And look for inspiration off the web… the outdoors, fashion, art, whatever excites you.

TBC: Who are some of your favorite designers?

MP: Easy, Ariella Chezar. Isn't she everyone's? Joy Thigpen, Kate Holt of Flowerwild, Amy Merrick, Ceceilia Fox, the ladies at The Little Flower School, Elizabeth of The Nouveau Romantics, Sarah Winward, Poppies and Posies - they're all brillant! Oh dear...I could list at least ten more...

TBC: When I’m designing, I love to light my candles and play “old school” music. Do you have a ritual that you like to do when designing?

MP: I’m a taskmaster. I watch the clock and try to stay on schedule. Not very inspiring, I know. But I can so easily get sidetracked, and when I’m in the thick of it, time is of the essence. Those flowers have to be fresh!

TBC: If you had to make a career change, what would you do?

MP: An actress. I’m serious. Not the stunning lead, but the ever-important supporting role…like Renée Zellweger’s character in ‘Cold Mountain’. I don’t know that I’d be any good, but I’d love to try.

TBC: Describe your personal style…what are your favorite stores to shop at?

MP: Perhaps easiest to answer by describing my home… Lots of gold frames and mirrors, dusty blue walls (the color not the dust factor although that may be true too), a grey velvet sofa, true Moroccan leather poufs purchased from a sweet family off Craigslist, a Victorian marble coffee table, a Persian rug, a few paintings from estate sales, four tiny Pinocchio drawings from a street artist in Florence, my grandmother’s antique dining table that I painted a high-gloss white, a set of ghost chairs, a cabinet I rescued from the sidewalk and refinished, and always at least a little something green and living.

All that to say… my style is quite eclectic. (Although my fashion sense, not overly so. You’d be correct to peg me as a combination of J.Crew and Anthropologie.)

McKenzie, thanks so much for stopping by the cafe today...it was such a joy to interview you and to share your beautiful flowers with the wonderful cafe readers.....xoxo

Photo credits:

Floral Image #1 courtesy of Michele M. Waite

Image #6 and McKenzie's beautiful image courtesy of Belathée