SHOP TALK – February 2015
By Veronique McAree | Photography by Sarah Beard Buckley

An artful arrangement

These days, Maine seems to be a filled with young creatives, from artists and chefs to writers, designers, and entrepreneurs. Case in point: Josh and Melissa Fleurant of Kennebunk’s Fleurant.

Their flower-studio-meets-lovely-retail-store recently relocated to a new spot (built by Melissa’s brother, a Brunswick contractor) on Port Road. Their custom flower arrangements range from show- stopping centerpieces for a long list of hotels and restaurant clients to centerpieces for some of the loveliest homes in town (including that of our 41st POTUS, George H.W. Bush) to bouquets, even delicate flower crowns spotted at a wedding this past summer.

Since they graduated from art school, the Fleurants have been choosing flowers as their medium to create colorful, textured masterpieces that often resemble still-life paintings or wild, organic sculptures.

While Josh pursued graduate studies, Melissa got her feet wet apprenticing at a flower shop in Breckenridge, Colorado. Smitten with the artistic possibilities that came from working with blooms, the artists decided to try their hand at designing a floral business. Upon returning to Maine, where Melissa grew up, the couple decided to give flowers a go.

Relying on seasonal blooms culled from flower markets in Boston as well as local sources, Melissa, more artist than florist, uses color, texture, and composition to achieve dramatic visual impact.

“As with sculpture, I love to explore texture, layers, and color,” says Melissa. “I am also constantly fascinated with the element of surprise and the sense that anything can happen when working with flowers. Of course, our clients fuel our creativity too, and we treat each occasion as a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Fleurant also carries distinctive houseplants, which the owners believe add depth and beauty to a home and command attention as much as any other good decor.

These days, the couple is very proud of an entirely different kind of arrangement. “We wanted to create an extension of our floral design studio, so we’ve curated a great retail mix of gifts, home decor, beauty products, and accessories.”

Fleurant delights visitors with its stylish, unusual finds, such as John Derian’s magically illustrated decoupage and elegantly unobstrusive upholstered furniture and Jonathan Adler’s vases and objects, as well as lovely glassware, playful English bocce sets, baskets, and lighting. There are also unusual leather bags, jewelry from around the globe, and scarves that even the savviest of fashionistas will covet.

Looking for lotions, soaps, or fragrances? Fleurant carries intoxicating beauty products from Cote Bastide and Lollia that make great (smelling) gifts. Go on, take a tour. You’ll leave with flowers, advice, and unusual finds to boot.

A LITTLE MORE SHOP TALK

Why flowers?
“I feel that flowers and plants are like living sculpture. They add color and texture to a space and are often the element that pulls a design together and breathes life into an interior. Sometimes a single stem in a perfect vase has as much impact as a large, composed arrangement.” 

Melissa’s 10-minute arrangement:
Find a container that inspires you—this could be a modern vase, a beautiful old soup tureen, shot glasses, a pitcher, you name it. Select varied, textured greens like hosta, geranium, lady’s mantle, ferns, even herbs like rosemary, dill, or parsley. Rhododendron, andromeda, and laurel also make wonderful greens to build with. Find a twig or branch to lend structure. Now add flowers. I like to think that each flower should exist in its own space within an arrangement. Done!