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Extra Features and Video Online FloristsReview.com R E A D O N L I N E 29 work in real life because mirrors are used for putting on makeup, etc. In a show house, however, those rules don't apply. Experts say florists should not assume an interior designer is on the same page as them regarding scale. Discuss ideas, and don't leave anything to assumption—especially when starting new relationships. For many florists, these events are relationship builders, but it is a delicate balance. e most successful partnerships are authentic ones. Campion Platt, an award-winning interior designer and architect, is extremely particular about the florists he uses. Platt has designed rooms for Kips Bay Decorator Show House, Holiday House NYC and Esquire House 360. "For me, it is essential to find someone with a similar aesthetic," he says. "I like more restraint and more architectural and sculptural designs. I don't like massive bouquets." For a recent Holiday House NYC event, Platt used Dutch Petals in Southampton, N.Y., to enhance the gorgeous custom floral wallpaper by de Gournay. One would be surprised how rarely a florist looks at an interior designer's repertoire before reaching out. Platt says that florists just looking to get their names in magazines should focus instead on the "harmony between floral and interior design." For example, while Platt likes a more restrained look, Kit Kemp, co-founder and creative director of Firmdale Hotels and Kit Kemp Design Studio, is known for her love of colorful florals and craft décor. Her go-to florist is New York City's Lewis Miller, of "Flower Flash" fame, who is literally on speed dial for the many events for which her work is coveted. "When I started out decades ago, I saw Lewis's work and hired him," Kemp recalls. "e longevity of our relationship is due to him knowing exactly the tone and colors I want, and, more important, I can trust it will be done beautifully." Miller, who is also a superstar now, says building loyalty and speaking the same design aesthetic is essential for great collaborations—especially because busy people want to speak in code and to know the job will be done. e resident florist for Kemp's Crosby Street Hotel and e Whitby Hotel, Miller says his relationship with Kemp has been "a joy" and continues to blossom with more projects. Miller's advice, like Platt's, is for florists to find decorators whose work would complement their design aesthetic. "It becomes more than a business relationship; it becomes a friendship after many years," he says. at's a collaboration that benefits both parties. Photos by Olive's Bloombox

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