More from our conversation with the ladies of Bastian + Skoog….

Doing flowers the ‘green’ way and supporting fair trade are two causes you believe in. What new options are there for brides looking to design a chic, eco-wise wedding?

L: As florists, we are very mindful of what we can do to lessen the impact of our industry, one with a very large environmental footprint. Our studio is one of the founding members of With This Ring, a collective of wedding professionals who have each chosen a nonprofit organization to which they donate a portion of their wedding proceeds. Our organization is Transfair USA, a nonprofit certifier of Fair Trade products, including cut flowers, whose standards guarantee that growers meet social and environmental standards.

H: Consider using pieces you already have, instead of purchasing them—could you round up interesting pottery from everyone you know to use for centerpieces? Most vendors have items available for rental—a great way to be eco-conscious. Rent linens from places that use high-efficiency washing machines. Insist on organic food for your meal. I don’t think ‘eco’ means you have to make everything look like it comes from a piece of bamboo or tree bark. I think eco should simply be a way of doing things right, and maybe all of your guests won’t see it, but you will know.

Where do you find you’re drawing inspiration for upcoming weddings? Which blooms do you especially love right now?

L: One of my biggest inspirations is color combinations, a recent one being the palette at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Somebody soon is going to get an amazing event in cherry and chinese blue—we haven’t found the right “victim” yet but it will be stunning. In general, I’m very fickle about flowers, falling in love again with each new season, but my forever favorites would include peonies, grape hyacinth and garden roses (hmmm…a trend of fragrant blooms!).

H: I would say that, for me, inspiration comes from color combinations. I love the challenge of finding the right flowers for the job and putting the unexpected together. I’m also inspired by great containers, great ribbon, or unusual linens. As far as favorite blooms—grasses, pods, herbs, berries and branches are what I have been gravitating towards lately.

We understand your studio is as fresh as the work you create there. Tell us a little bit about the former toy factory home of Bastian + Skoog.

Originally built as apartments for mill workers, the 310 studios building was for many years home to the Judy Toy Company which manufactured wooden puzzles. Since that time, 310 studios has been a home to artists of all persuasions from potters and painters to sculptors, filmakers, photographers, and jewelers. Our workroom used to be an alley between two buildings which was later spanned. Our space is a bit of a people magnet—decadent Halloween parties, Whiskey Wednesdays on the porch, sauna planning sessions…people often ask, “What do you do here?”

Last but not least: Being trendsetters on the Midwest style scene, what do you most love about living and designing in Minnesota?

L: Minneapolis is ripe with good design and good people. Inspiration is everywhere: seasons are ever changing and invigorating, farmers markets offer an eye-candy assortment of local bounty, restaurants are diverse and fantastic, bike culture, music, film and art communities are progressive and vibrant.

H: This city is choc-a-block full of amazing designers, chefs, photographers, artists and the people that love those things. It is so nice to do flowers for clients that appreciate smart design!

(Photographs by Adrienne Page of Minneapolis.)

Smart design indeed! Thanks for visiting C&B, ladies! We love what you do.

When it comes to flowers, we simply love the work of Minneapolis’ Bastian+Skoog and we jumped at the chance to chat with Heidi and Liz. We’re so thrilled to share their words and audacious style with you!

When it comes to floral design, your backgrounds are a bit different—Liz working in the field of plant pathology previously and Heidi in studio arts. When would you say your love of flowers began?

H: I would have to say that I have always loved flowers, and arranging them was something I just knew I could do if someone would show me how. I was hired at a flowers shop as a delivery girl in my early twenties, and would—daily—beg anyone to teach me to do flowers. No one would, because I was just the delivery girl. Finally, someone took mercy on me and taught me how to make a boutonniere and then told me to go make one myself out of anything in the shop. Happily, over the next couple of months, I got myself phased out of delivery and into the designing bit.

L: While in graduate school I did a lot of gardening at home. I was also working in a plant pathology lab where all of the plants were ground up in test tubes or sliced up on slides. By comparison, I realized that I preferred my plants whole. I was amazed by their beauty and found designing with flowers and foliage incredibly satisfying. Finding Heidi and starting Bastian+Skoog was fate. We simultaneously started jobs in the shoe department at Dayton’s. Being restless, we promptly generated a list of things we’d rather be doing than selling shoes. No one would hire her as a florist because she didn’t have enough experience so I encouraged her to do it herself and I just went along for the ride. As it turned out, we complemented each other perfectly.

How has your passion evolved working together as a team?

H: When we first started doing flowers for weddings, we tried really hard to fit in, to do what everyone else doing. With one particular wedding, we somehow handled the flowers differently, arranged them in such a way that was unusual for us. I can’t quite explain it, but it made the both of us really excited! I think at that point, we found “our style.” For me, continually challenging what we think our style is the most passionate part of our job.

L: Heidi and I have a very similar design sense. If you separated us and gave us each a pile of flowers to arrange, we would make exactly the same thing, every single time. It’s uncanny, really. We don’t so much learn from our differences but evolve side-by-side. It’s usually a raised eyebrow or a “this is cool, right?” and then a nod or a wink in return that confirms that we should forge ahead. Sometimes we consider branching out, heading in a new direction, but, regardless of what we do, we’ll be Bastian+Skoog.

Your designs have been described as modern, surprising, sleek, fun, sassy, and, overall, in excellent taste. What advice would you give our readers for coordinating custom florals for their big day?

H: Think hard about what you really love and bring to your florist whatever inspires you—whether it is a color palette, a hobby, or a great pair of shoes. As designers it really helps us to have something to grab onto or a place to jump off from. Our brides and grooms tend to put a lot of trust in our style sense, and while they definitely have strong opinions and vision, they are also very open to our ideas. We have consistently been told that our designs surpass our clients’ greatest expectations. We think that people get our best work—and the season’s best blooms—when we have some freedom to play and create delicious new things.

L: Find vendors that you trust and let them guide you. I think the coolest way to bring all of your ideas together into one seamless event is through floral, linens and lighting. I love good lighting—it can absolutely transform a space from something ordinary into something quite fantastic.

(Photographs by Red Ribbon Studio of Minneapolis.)

More soon from B+S!