We took a moment to speak to Annie Ifeonye – luxury flower arranger and founder of The Orchid Muse – to talk about exquisite arrangements, getting inspiration during lockdown and what the future holds in store…
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I’m a creative soul. As far back as I can remember I have always been interested in making things, crafting and using my hands to create something from scratch.
From making paper flowers when I was nine to making clay vases in my early teens. More recently, I’ve been enjoying doing DIY for some larger projects around the house, like a coffee table and a floor-to-ceiling window mirror.
I’m inspired by being creative and it brings me so much joy. And of course, I love flowers, orchids in particular. It made so much sense to unite my love for crafting and orchids and, voilà, The Orchid Muse was born.
How did you discover your talent for flower arranging?
It was really a natural transition borne through my love for home décor. I enjoy creating things and in the summer of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic which has changed life as we know it, I had the idea to create my own orchid centrepiece for a decorative focal point for my dining table.
Not only was it so much fun to create, but it turned out so beautiful and garnered so much interest from friends and family that I was inspired to try my hand at recreating it to market. Mixing business with something I enjoy doing is a dream come true, and doing something so creative is a complete 180 from my analytical job in Financial Services.
What is it about the orchid as a flower that’s so compelling to you?
Fresh orchids are absolutely magnificent. Even with my centrepieces comprising artificial stems, they still look so lifelike.
Their beauty isn’t lost in their faux form. The shape of the stems also makes them versatile. This lends itself to being easily manipulated into the various beautiful and unique arrangements for my centrepieces.
Do you have a signature style?
When it comes to my flagship pieces, more is definitely more!
Constructing my centrepieces with an abundance of orchid stems and a fusion of foliage and succulents makes for a very opulent arrangement. I have just launched a new Exquisite Collection which will be made to order. These centrepieces are bold and luxurious with a hint of whimsy for that unique touch.
What’s the most elaborate arrangement that you’ve made?
My creativity is ever leading me to new designs.
But I find when I arrange the stems in a way that is deliberately unusual to how they might grow in the wild makes for a most elaborate and striking centrepiece. Embellishing the vase lavishly with fern leaves, a string of pearls or moss rocks adds to that luxury aesthetic.
What’s lockdown been like for you?
I think like most people it initially took a while to adapt to lockdown life. I found myself with a lot of spare time and not necessarily being as productive as I could be to begin with.
But I soon embraced the new norm of being at home all the time. From there I pushed myself and decided to use that time to work on little creative projects to lift my spirits.
Essentially, the lockdown lent itself to developing my creativity and pushing the boundaries of what I could do with vast amounts of free time when I put my mind to it. In addition to starting The Orchid Muse, I have been enjoying doing some mini creative DIY projects in the house. I honestly feel so blessed that I am in a position to make the most of the standstill brought about by the lockdown.
What’s a ‘faux’ orchid made from?
I source only high quality, real touch stems which aesthetically speaking are made to mirror fresh orchids.
Without getting too technical, the flowers are made from a woven silk fabric which are wonderfully smooth. The innermost part of the petals – usually mottled in colour – are also made from fabric.
The inside of the stems are reinforced with wire to ensure they stand upright, yet are malleable enough to twist and turn into the perfect arrangement. This all makes for a robust flower that ensure the longevity of my centrepieces. Unlike live orchids, the worry of the petals eventually falling off are not a concern!
Have you always been inspired by home decor?
Absolutely. Growing up I was always so excited to watch home makeover shows and interior design is still a huge passion of mine.
Watching a home renovated into a truly beautiful yet functional space really fed my budding passion for home decor. More importantly, I remember the impact the transformation had on the guests on the show.
How they felt walking into that new space, drawing positive energy from the beautiful surroundings was so strongly conveyed across the screen and it really spoke to me.
With that in mind, I create my pieces with the intention that they become a focal point in a room, drawing your eyes in and enticing you in, thereby making your space more inviting. My aim is for my centrepieces to curate happiness in the homes they live in.
Whose home would you love to furnish with an arrangement?
It would undoubtedly be Kamala Harris. Knowing one of my pieces is furnishing the home – or even office – of the first female vice president of the United States and the first woman of colour to hold that position would be an incredible honour!
I couldn’t think of anyone who better represents such a powerful symbol of hope and change to a lot of people today. Sadly, I know given her status she is not allowed to accept gifts so that will have to remain an unattainable dream!
What are your plans for the brand moving forwards?
I would love to collaborate with a luxury homewares retailer to launch a limited collection. I’m not in a volume business and my centrepieces are not mass-produced. Each centrepiece is hand created to perfection, no matter how long it takes.
I want my centrepieces to feel special to its owner so having a limited collection reinforces that, whilst partnering with an established retailer to make the orchids more accessible can help my long term goals for growth.
But for now, I’m happy with the exposure I’m receiving through social media since launching my Instagram and more recently my website. At the end of the day, I’m ready to put in the work to grow The Orchid Muse and I’m excited for the journey ahead, whatever it entails.
Check out more about the Orchid Muse at her website, check out the latest arrangements on Instagram!
