Florist Friday: Interview with Katja Bergdorf of Bergdorf’s Flowers of Copenhagen

It’s Florist Friday and today I’m so thrilled to feature an interview with Katja Bergdorf of Bergdorf’s Flowers of Copenhagen, together with breath-taking photographs of her floral designs by Maria de Faci!

Could you tell us what prompted you to become a florist?

I became a florist after I’d been running a catering business with 75 staff for other people and mixing it with my 3 years at business college. I stopped working and followed my dream as I wanted to be a florist and own my own business.  So, I started sweeping the floors at a very famous florist in Copenhagen. This way, I watched and learned the creative craft by watching the people in shop.

When did you start your business and where are you based?

I started my business in London in 2002. I now work from a studio in Richmond upon Thames.

What kind of services do you offer?

I offer creative designs with flowers and all aspects of the visual look of the wedding… whatever the client needs help with. I’ve previously collaborated to style for Vivienne Westwood’s PA Tizer Bailey and Events Manager Kiko Casper creating Christmas parties for Vivienne Westwood, based on ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Save the Arctic’ themes.  So, the spectrum of my services is broad, but creative! I’ve also started styling shoots and have a new styling blog created by myself and Cakes by Robin. It’s called Bergdorf and Green. 

Where do you get inspiration for your floral designs?

I get my inspiration from clients and their personalities. Sometimes something will catch my eye or a lot of the time, I like to tell a story with flowers and props. As my roots are from Denmark, I used to love creating my window with H.C. Andersen’s Fairy Tales.  As I don’t have a shop window anymore, my ‘window’ has become executed through my clients like The Bingham Hotel, where I’ve created a forest on their mantelpiece! Luckily the owner and director of hotel are very broad minded!!!!!

How would you describe your style?

My style is very earthy and Scandinavian, staying true to season and the bloom. I do like the simplicity and the individual look of flowers.  And also the opulence of putting hundreds of stems together in a vase.

What are your plans for 2014/2015?

My plans for 2014/2015 are more styling and creating larger events.  I’ve great plans to create shoots with my team, who capture my flowers, ideas and set-ups in such a magical way! I definitely want to do more art styling as we’re getting more and more into fashion.  But I couldn’t live without my wedding clients as they’re all different in a beautiful way and give me new challenges every time and educate me in different styles!

What is your favourite flower?

My favourite flowers are based on season. I love snowdrops, lilac and ranunculus. But when March/April comes, its magnolia and cherry blossom. Then in May, sweet peas, peonies, etc…

Thank you so much to Katja for all her help in compiling today’s blog post. Aren’t her floral designs absolutely stunning? If you’d like to see more of her work, simply pop over to the Bergdorf’s Flowers of Copenhagen website. And you can also find Katja on Facebook and Twitter.

(Images : Maria de Faci)