Meet the florist: Tegan o’brien

April 2023

Hello, flower lovers!

April is upon us! And with it comes a new featured florist, the wonderful Tegan O’Brien. I’ve known Tegan since 2017, when I had the pleasure of working on the branding for The Lillipillian, her floral studio in Toongabbie, NSW.

Tegan has an easy-going philosophy and specialises in making epic, fun and stunning arrangements, often paired with evocative mood lighting (and maybe even a bit of neon thrown in!), for weddings, corporate events and editorial features. In her words, her work is ‘ a little bit wild, a little bit eclectic’ and her style is ‘moody and badass with plenty of texture’. What more could you want?!

I love Tegan’s eye for detail. She creates unexpected drama with her sculptural, cascading installations that overflow with blooms and foliage. I also love Tegan’s colour palettes – she often uses combinations of soft and rich colours, such as blush, tan, toffee and burgundy, which add depth to her arrangements, especially when combined with layers of texture and her trademark mood lighting. I’m also so happy to tell you that in December 2022, Tegan was selected by Hello May magazine as one of the Top 30 Florists to follow on Instagram.

Our flower for April is Tegan’s favourite: the cymbidium orchid. Here’s what Tegan had to say when I interviewed her for our 2023 Planner.

1. Which flower inspires you the most and why?

The cymbidium orchid. I love how sculptural each stem is … they have so much personality. They are also long lasting and can be used in so many different ways.

2. Can you share any fun facts about cymbidiums?

Cymbidium orchids grow in every colour except blue.

3. Do you have any tips when styling cymbidiums?

They work beautifully en-masse, or as single stems – make sure you spin them around to find their front.

4. Any favourite combo you love to do when styling with cymbidiums?

I love cymbidiums on their own, or particularly with roses. They suit very artistic and sculptural arrangements.

You can find Tegan’s website here and follow her on insta here.

Shannon x

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