Creativity Over Coffee: Navya Kelly

Happy Friday, friends! I have a special Friday surprise for you: the next installment of Creativity Over Coffee! If you love flowers, then you’re in for a real treat. My friend Navya from The Little Flower Cottage is joining me. I met Navya online but we actually live around the corner from each other in in Scituate. What a small world! Navya creates the most beautiful floral arrangements and I’ve swooned her IG feed. She is like a sculptor with flowers! This fall we’re hoping to get more time to hang out. I’m so excited to have her on the blog today.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your creative journey?

Navya: Sure! I have always considered my self a creative person, dabbling in everything from cooking to interior design to florals; despite that, I followed a very traditional path through school and college, working in Finance for several years after graduating from Northeastern’s. I was always searching for that creative outlet, and it was almost by chance that my love of flowers became my profession. Gardening and making arrangements had always been a hobby and one year a close friend asked me if I would help them DIY their wedding florals. I realized that this “hobby” was something that I wanted to peruse as more and never looked back! I took classes with designers throughout the country that I respected, taught my self so much about how to care for various flowers so I could do it right, and have been hands on learning ever since. It’s a constantly evolving world and such an incredible way to bring beauty to people on one of the most important days of their lives – I love it so much!

How did you come up with the name – Little Flower Cottage?

Navya: Our floral designs are all very organic, natural and whimsical and I think the name captures that feel! My studio is based out of our home here in Scituate – a 200 year old antique cottage that I have been slowly burying in flowering plants and gardens! One might even say, it’s now a little flower cottage!

When do you feel most creative or happy?

Navya: I find a special kind of joy working in my flower garden that’s geared for humming birds and butterflies on a beautiful morning, especially when the air smells like the ocean in our little coastal town. It always seems to bring me some clarity and helps me stay centered especially during a busy Wedding season!

How long have you been working with flowers, what is your favorite part?

Navya: As a professional florist, I’ve been doing this for 3 short years, but I can’t imagine doing anything else! Designing wedding florals is a different kind of animal; we’re often in the studio for hours on end, to create a huge quantity of arrangements and details in a small amount of time, which can be tedious! That said, my favorite part of that process is getting to see my clients on their wedding day and taking in how utterly happy they are, knowing we had a huge part in making that special day perfect for them. I also source a lot of our product from local flower farms and not much compares to an early morning at a flower farm hand selecting beautiful blooms with the people who grew them!

Who or What inspires you?

Navya: When it comes to my designs I draw a lot of inspiration from the season, and the surroundings of each event. Each season in New England is so special; it gives our designs a lot of personality and makes them very unique to each client. As for who I’ve always been super inspired by Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua who is doing something really special her upstate NY farm, and design studio in Brooklyn NY.

What is your favorite color? Is there any color you don’t LOVE?

Navya: My favorite color is….White! Technically not a color right? But I love it. Crisp white interiors, linens, flowers, everything! My favorite wedding pallet is a simple & clean white and green assortment. As for colors I don’t like…..I could live with out traditional red, but in the right context it’s still ok!

Favorite flower? Any flowers you don’t like?

Navya: Oh this is a really hard question to ask a florist! I love so many flowers and I don’t know if I can pick one favorite, but I can’t live with out Peonies in the Spring and Dahlias in the Fall. I’m also a hydrangea addict. (I’ve planted over 25 bushes at our house!) I would say my least favorite flowers are Gerber daisies! (sorry if that’s anyone’s fave!)

Can you give my readers any fun tips for their own arrangements at home? How can they keep flowers alive longer and tricks for arranging?

Navya: Sure! I think most people enjoy simple flowers inside their home – if you’re purchasing blooms from your local florist or the grocery store, remember things look best in odd numbers so for example go for 5 hydrangea in a vase instead of 4. Easiest tip to keep flowers alive longer – is just to change the water as often as you can, and when arranging remove all of the foliage below the water line. Both of these tips cuts down on bacteria in the water and keeps your flowers fresh longer! Incorporating some foliage in to your arrangement also helps provide some fullness and structure.

Can you share a funny “behind the scenes” moment from a wedding or an event?

Navya: Honestly not a lot of funny business on wedding set up days from me or my team, we run a pretty tight ship!! There was one instance of someone getting pooped on by a seagull at one wedding though!

Well, I hear that’s good luck! What advice would you give to someone who is interested becoming more creative or following in your footsteps?

Navya: If you’re passionate about something, anything is possible. If you have an idea or a dream spend as much time as you can learning about the craft, and start small!

Growing up I was a huge follower of INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO. At the end of the program, they would ask the interviewee these questions:

What is your favorite word? Serene.
What is your least favorite word? Humid. Ugh. My hair.
What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? I love spending the day outside near the water with my husband, nothing like a soothing day to spark your creativity.
What turns you off? Clutter, can’t stand it. Nothing makes me happier then purging a junk closet.
What is your favorite curse word? Not technically a curse but I am known to say RATS pretty often.
What sound or noise do you love? My English Bulldog Bowser makes the funniest snortly noises when he’s happy on your lap, love those noises.
What sound or noise do you hate? Squeaking metal. Hate it! I always have a can of WD-40 around.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I am a real estate addict; I would secretly love to be a Realtor especially in our seaside community!
What profession would you not like to do? I would hate to be in tech support, I am so not tech savy. I think most people’s grandmothers are better than me!
If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Come on in!

A huge thank you to Navya for stopping by and chatting with me today. Isn’t she talented? Be sure to keep in touch with her and the Little Flower Cottage:

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* All photography in this post is by Megan Braemore Photography.

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