Flower House Studios offers breathtaking floral designs and additional flower-centred services like strategy and consultation. This Vancouver-based practice involves both the Flower House Studio and the Lab. While the Lab nurtures community projects and drives research, the Studio creates floral designs for events, workshops, or display in local businesses like Touski. We spoke with Flower House founder Sydney Witoski to learn more.
What is your business called and what does it do?
At a high level, Flower House is a community engagement and floral studio exploring how we build spaces and what makes them places. Close up, our practice spans event florals, workshops, community and brand activations, public engagement campaign development, and design research & consulting.
What made you want to do this work?
When Flower House began, it was a personal creative practice; the studio found its start in bed with flowers I received post-surgery. Flowers became vessels for processing, reflecting, creating, and healing. Their presence catalyzed exploration, inspiration, creativity and personal growth.
With my experience in facilitation and mental healthcare, I knew I had the tools to replicate that same healing experience in different contexts. Over time, leaning on my background in healthcare and social research, a desire to create, and an understanding (both personally and professionally) of the impact spaces we inhabit have on our wellbeing, Flower House evolved into much more.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
For lack of better words, we all need to touch grass more often. We seek to create touchpoints and facilitate opportunities for honest connection with oneself and the community — a core human need that we are increasingly lacking.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our work is designed to be enjoyed by all — our chosen medium of florals is something we can all connect on and we see that represented in our clientele. We work with couples and planners, marketing teams and PR representatives, neighbourhood BIAs, hospitality teams, design firms and public institutions. For example, we have facilitated intergenerational floral workshops with ages ranging from 22-65+, we have supported Gastown BIA in their neighbourhood Flower Markets, and we have designed floral arrangements for weddings and brand events.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Our practice involves two overlapping streams — the studio and the lab — the studio focuses primarily on floral-specific work, whereas the lab focuses on community-building projects and research services. The studio brings money in primarily through event and hospitality projects along with floral design workshops; the lab brings in money through engagement strategy development, community building and brand marketing projects, and institutional public engagement facilitation workshops. We also work with a variety of researchers and non-profits, collaborating on grant funding for community-specific projects.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
We currently work from our private studio, but our work can be found at local restaurants like the newly opened Touski, along with our monthly workshop series hosted at La Fabrique St. George Winery.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
Once you’ve reviewed a portfolio, creative-based or otherwise, make sure to ask them the three words they would use to define their style and approach. See if you see that represented in their portfolio and if you align with it. Whatever the project context, our approach and style is reflexive, playful, and intentional.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
It’s difficult to choose the best part of what I do. A few things come to mind:
The peace of knowing that the medium I’ve chosen to work in both brings a smile to people’s faces and facilitates connection.
The pride in knowing that our work is rooted in research and reflexive in practice, no matter the context.
The worst part is probably the lack of ongoing funding available to community creative services. Many of our community-focused initiatives are self-funded or limited to singular programming.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
What’s the four words every designer wants to hear? “I trust your vision”. Working with a designer you trust and allowing them to create freely will always result in the best outcomes.
Where can we follow you?
We are on Instagram and TikTok. Also, visit our website.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Union Market was one of the first places that opened their arms to me as a vendor/supplier. The best sweets around — the pastel de nata and buckwheat chocolate chip cookies will always be favourites of mine.
