Fabulous Florists :: Ovando, NYC

Your name:
Sandra de Ovando

Your Business name:
Ovando

Your Location:
New York, NY

How did you start your business?
I opened Ovando’s West Village boutique shortly after moving to NY in 2003. It was such a tremendous success that we began receiving client requests to design events, offices and residences. The impetus from the boutique enabled us to thereafter launch a full-scale event & wedding design department, as well as a weekly accounts department that caters to New York’s most elite hospitality groups, corporate offices, cultural institutions and so forth. We’ve been very fortunate!

What is your design aesthetic?
Ovando’s design philosophy is “Simple, not Simplistic”. Our compositions use bold colors and chic designs, but yet they appear effortlessly elegant, weightless and minimalistic; ultimately, “simple”. We also like to play with unexpected flower combinations in order to create a sense of dynamic tension

What inspires you?
I’m incredibly inspired by the natural sophistication of the flowers and plants themselves. There are so many stunning colors and provocative shapes and species—a peony or calla lily can truly and simply be the ultimate muse. I’m also really inspired by fashion as well as minimalist & urban chic design. We live in a city that houses so much eclectic architecture, fashion and culture. Recreating or embodying these designs by using floral arrangements can often be really fun and fulfilling! One of my favorite events, for instance, was designing for the launch party of the Tim Burton expo at the MOMA. We used flowers to recreate and construct the quirky, mystical, whimsical and sometimes dark feel of Tim Burton’s work and we aimed to personify flowers the way that Tim might personified his sculptures in “Beetlejuice”!

What are the trends, flowers & colors that are unique to your region?
I think New York is a true melting pot in every sense so it’s difficult to define one design or trend that’s really unique to the region. Perhaps eclecticism is the trend in and of itself! Ovando is really partial to minimalism and urban chic design. Eco-friendly and seasonal design has also really exploded in New York in the past few years. This is definitely a trend that we plan to get more involved in.

Are you a retail shop, studio/warehouse or home based?
Ovando is both a retail shop as well as a design & production studio. Our boutique is nestled right in the heart of the West Village in NY and our studio is located nowhere else but the beloved flower district. All of our event, wedding and installation work comes out of our studio.

Do you offer any services in addition to floral designs?
Ovando also offers full-scale event & wedding design including anything from lighting and linens to tableware and designer guest favors. We also specialize in floral installations and in weekly floral arrangements for offices & residences. Lastly, we recently re-launched our monthly and private floral arrangement classes.

What does your toolbox look like?
Clippers, ribbon scissors, knife, wire, ribbon, zip ties. It may not fit in you’re my kit but it’s helpful to have a watering can as well!

What tool in your toolbox can’t you live without?
I always carry about clippers and wire.

What’s your favorite flower?
Peonies and tulips. They’re both such incredibly elegant breeds.

Anything else you’d like to share with Flirty Fleurs followers?
There’s been a ton of growth at Ovando in the past few years and we feel so lucky to be a part of this incredible industry. In fact, we recently launched a blog being that this is a really great way to share ideas with other artists, in all spectrums of the word. Come check us out and share your ideas with us!