Stephen Kuo, AIFD, had no intention of becoming a florist until he discovered an interest in flowers working a part-time summer job in Taiwan. Before moving to Canada in 1994, Stephen studied Ikebana and European design in Taiwan. With a degree in horticulture in his hand and a passion for floral design, he ventured to Vancouver where he opened his current shop, Interior Flori. He was inducted as a member of AIFD in 2003. Most recently, Stephen was chosen to design the centrepieces for an event hosted by Queen Elizabeth’s youngest son, Prince Edward. His unique blend of east and west coast design was recognized in the 2009 Juno Blooms Floral Competition, where he earned first place.
Maple Roots
For this arrangement, I exposed the roots of the tree to allow the tree to be viewed holistically. The Japanese maple leaves resting on the roots represent the changing season while the entangled coconut leaves add an element of movement.
Autumn Shore
I designed this piece from the perspective of fall by the ocean. I thought of the bare branches that accumulate with the shore vegetation.
Rosy Range
Living in the West Coast, we are surrounded by beautiful mountains. I had this landscape in mind while designing this arrangement. Although the branches are naked, we still see vegetation and vibrant colours in the mountains.
Tangled Breeze
The autumn breeze was the inspiration behind this piece. When creating this design, I thought about how the wind picks up leaves and embeds them within the branches.
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