MY STORY

Chapter 1: Roots of Imagination

I was born in the capital of the former Soviet Union in the 1980s, in a world where creativity and culture offered refuge and a sense of freedom. From the age of three, my tiny hands were always busy making something. The moment I could hold a piece of plasticine, I began shaping little figures, crafting objects from paper and clay, drawing, painting, and transforming our living room into imaginative fairytale scenes. My mother encouraged my younger sister and me to create freely, turning our home into a playground without limits. Making beautiful things with my hands was my greatest joy.

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Outside, the garden below our apartment, the parks, and the green natural spaces became another universe of wonder. I spent countless hours exploring plants, stones, trees, and tiny creatures, forming a deep and instinctive connection with nature. My beloved grandmother nurtured this early sensitivity even further with her quiet, calming presence. She often took me to peaceful parks where we would spend entire afternoons under magnificent trees, with her knitting and me playing with whatever treasures I found on the forest floor. Those moments filled me with peace and presence, sharpened my fine motor skills, and rooted me in nature’s quiet magic. My early years, filled with imagination, handmade creations, poetry, and the gentle companionship of nature, laid the foundation for the artistic sensibility that defines my work today.

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Chapter 2: Education & Early Career

Although I was naturally artistic, the closest school to our home specialised in mathematics and physics. Despite loving literature, geography, history, and the arts, I found myself immersed in a rigorous technical curriculum. It was demanding and sometimes overwhelming, yet I graduated with honours — a milestone that taught me discipline, resilience, and the value of dedication.

 

Drawn irresistibly toward creativity, I left technical studies behind and entered the world of fashion, photography, and magazines. Throughout the early 2000s, as international editorial culture flourished, I built a career in advertising, PR, fashion styling, and photo production. Over more than a decade, I produced and styled over a thousand editorial and commercial shoots, collaborating with celebrities and creatives across fashion, art, and the editorial world. It was a wonderfully vibrant time, full of energy, friendships, inspiration, and the joy of being surrounded by creative people. I loved it and felt incredibly grateful to be part of that buzzing, glamorous scene.

 

Chapter 3: A New Life & a Turning Point

Through my work, I met my husband, Chris, a talented Dutch still-life photographer. His kindness, artistic sensitivity, and unwavering belief in me opened a whole new world. I fell deeply in love with him and remain grateful every day for his support, patience, and the inspiration he brings into my life. In the early 2010s, love for Chris brought me to Amsterdam, a city of canals, rich history, tulips, and bicycles. We made our home in a 17th-century canal house with a roof terrace overflowing with almost a hundred plants and trees in terracotta pots, a small natural paradise that reminded me of the wild gardens of my childhood.

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I moved to Amsterdam in 2012. This magical city continues to inspire me to this day, and I feel blessed with my beautiful life in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. I speak Dutch fluently, which helps me feel closer to Dutch culture and appreciate its people and traditions. Adjusting to a new country, language, and culture while running my international creative agency, and representing dozens of prominent artists across the world, was intense. The pressure, combined with years of high-energy work, eventually led to burnout. I had to pause, breathe, and reinvent myself.

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Just before that turning point, I spent a formative year in Florence, Italy, a country my husband and I continue to feel deeply connected to, and where we are now looking for our second home. I love Italian culture, fashion, cuisine, and the ideals of the Renaissance, as well as its architecture and landscape. During that time, I had the opportunity to study cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Florence, an experience that further refined my understanding of craft, discipline, and sensory beauty. I also worked in Michelin-starred restaurant kitchens, including at the St. Regis Florence. Immersing myself in the world of haute cuisine deepened my appreciation for precision, hospitality, and the emotional power of creating experiences, lessons that continue to influence my work today.

 

Chapter 4: Discovering Floristry

In that vulnerable, transformative period, something shifted within me. I returned to the part of myself I had lost: the little girl who loved to create with her hands, to shape beauty, and to let her imagination bloom freely. During that time, I found refuge in a small flower shop near my home. Flowers grounded me. Their beauty, fragrance, and presence felt honest and healing. When I learned that the heart of the global flower industry lay just a 20-minute drive outside Amsterdam, in Aalsmeer, I began my formal floral training there.

 

My pursuit of mastery led me to Paris, where I trained privately with Japanese floral artist Atsushi Taniguchi, whose philosophy deeply shaped my artistic voice. I later found mentorship with the brilliant Australian event designer Nadia Duran, whose guidance profoundly transformed the way I approach leadership, client relationships, and the business side of my work. Her wisdom, generosity, and exceptional communication skills shaped not only how I serve my clients, but also how I connect, collaborate, and grow. Her warmth and encouragement left a deep and lasting imprint on me, and I feel a sincere sense of gratitude and connection to her. Alongside this mentorship, I continue to study internationally, always refining my craft and knowledge.

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Chapter 5: Garden Roses & Creative Studio

It was in the Netherlands that I fell in love with garden roses, introduced to me by Dutch devoted rose lover and expert Wouter de Vries, the owner of Belle Epoque. Their scent, texture, expressive yet delicate forms, and romantic beauty are utterly irresistible. I cherish their poetic nature and the passion of the breeders and growers who create them, driven purely by a desire to bring more beauty into the world. Garden flowers, and garden roses in particular, soon became the foundation of my signature style: refined, nature-inspired, romantic, poetic, and abundant.

 

Alongside my creative home studio on the canals of Amsterdam, where many of my designs are first envisioned, I now work in the spacious and beautiful Belle Epoque studio in Aalsmeer. Stepping into the space Wouter created always feels like a blessing, a moment of quiet magic. Each time I enter, it feels like stepping into paradise: peaceful, heartfelt, inspiring, and filled with love for flowers and for people. I am deeply grateful for the warmth, kindness, and support my team and I have received there.

 

Chapter 6: Finding My Artistic Voice

Over the past seven years, I have cultivated a personal style that feels like an extension of my soul: opulent yet delicate, poetic yet structured, always guided by nature. Every design is seasonal, intuitive, and truly one-of-a-kind. I often work with dozens of flower varieties in each design, exploring complexity, colour, texture, movement, emotion, and shape.

 

Whether it is a hand-tied bouquet, a large-scale installation, or an elaborate tablescape, I approach each project as a living work of art — crafted with love, sensitivity, and profound respect for both the flowers and the people they are created for. It’s hard to believe, but I have never repeated a design. Each creation is entirely bespoke, inspired by a person’s story, emotions, and unique character. It is a true honour to translate every vision into floral art, crafting moments that are unforgettable and unique.

 

People feel drawn to this style, and I feel blessed with all the fantastic clients I’ve worked with over the years, coming from all continents: North and South America, Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe. So far, I have accomplished hundreds of projects and taught my style to dozens of international students.

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Chapter 7: Achievements & Highlights

From the very beginning, my journey in floristry has been shaped by extraordinary opportunities: being selected as an artisan of the Homo Faber Guide, a European initiative celebrating craftsmanship worldwide; exhibiting at the Homo Faber Biennial 2024 in Venice with an object “Throne of the Rose Fairy”, created alongside Amsterdam-based artist Cedric Laquieze; my long-standing collaboration with the prestigious David Austin iconic English roses, which led to winning first place in a distinguished garden rose competition; being recognised as one of the world’s top floral designers by Weddings & Honeymoons magazine; and creating “Rose Gardens of the World,” one of my largest wedding projects to date, featuring over 30,000 flowers, 45 varieties, and the artistry and craftsmanship of a team of 40 dedicated people.

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With over 1,250 projects completed, each opportunity has been a profound honour, and every project, whether intimate or monumental, has become a cherished chapter in my story.

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Chapter 8: Touching People’s Hearts

I hold my family, friends, colleagues, clients, and team close to my heart, and I find deep joy in creating something meaningful for others. My heart and soul sing when I can make something truly special and touch people’s hearts. Creating for people has always been my greatest joy, and I feel a deep connection to my clients, genuinely caring about their dreams, emotions, and visions.

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From the very first object I shaped with my tiny hands as a little girl, I have been guided by the same pure love for creating something beautiful. Throughout my life, this spark of inspiration has remained unchanged. Each of my designs is created to speak to the heart, to honour life’s meaningful moments and the gatherings, milestones, and celebrations they accompany.

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This connection, formed through craftsmanship and flowers, is one of the greatest gifts of my career. I pour my soul into every project, cherishing the privilege of creating something entirely unique for each client.I look forward to meeting you, listening to your dreams, and bringing them to life through flowers that feel intentional, alive, and deeply personal, creating an experience that lingers long after the celebration.