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A Hidden Gem: This New New York City Florist Combines French and American Design

 byMaxwell Ryan
Maxwell Ryan CEO
麦克斯韦尔于2001年离开教学开始公寓Therapy as a design business helping people to make their homes more beautiful, organized AND healthy. The website started up in 2004 with the help of his brother, Oliver. Since then he has grown ApartmentTherapy.com, added TheKitchn.com, our home cooking site, and has authored four books on design. He now lives with his daughter in a lovely apartment in Brooklyn.
updated May 3, 2019
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Uncommon, unexpected, and totally unique. (Image credit:Gem Fleuriste)

We have a special treat for today’s Fantastic Find — our very first guest star! I was so excited to welcome Phoebe Ma of floral companyGem Fleuristeinto the office to share her incredible bouquets with us. While she is New York-based now, her inspiration is worldly and her work is stunning. I got to see her bouquets come together in person and learn all about her best flower arranging tips. Watch the video below to check it out for yourself!

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Phoebe Ma in her element. (Image credit:Gem Fleuriste)

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The Backstory

Phoebe Ma grew up in the suburbs of New York City, always surrounded by flowers of all kinds. After moving to the Upper East Side for high school, the lack of natural beauty in her life became incredibly apparent — until she discovered a flower shop in NoLita that quickly became her go-to spot to get her fix. While it never occurred to her to work with flowers herself (she got her college degree in Art at The New School), Phoebe went back to that same flower shop after graduating and offered to work for free if they trained her. And so her career as a florist began!

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You can watch the video below for some tips — but if you find yourself wanting more, be sure to sign up for one of Phoebe’s private classes! (Image credit:Gem Fleuriste)

How It Works

While her flower arranging apprenticeship began at that very florist, Phoebe also trained under another New York florist and a Parisian florist before launching her own company, Gem Fleuriste, in January. This education led to a unique style: she combines local and exotic flowers, uses French techniques, and sprinkles in other fun touches like unexpected scents and textures. As a customer of Gem Fleuriste, pick any of the classic arrangements fordelivery, book a privateflower arranging class, ororder custom arrangements for events— including bespoke wedding bouquets!

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Gem Fleuriste combines an innovative use of texture with some incredible local and exotic flowers in her arrangements. (Image credit:Gem Fleuriste)

Perfect For

Anyone in your life who has a taste for natural and unusual combinations of flowers in innovative arrangements. I love findingnew sources for flower deliveriesand Phoebe’s are some of the best I’ve seen in New York. The bouquets feel so special — to the point that you as the gift-giver will feel just as good as the receiver.

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Maxwell's Fantastic Find: Gem Fleuriste

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