What Happens to Floral Design When Winter Takes Over? Inside Graen Studios in Iceland

We were living in London at the time and Graen was born from a longing to work more closely with nature, to surround ourselves with it in our everyday lives, and to share that inspiration with others. Today, that inspiration is all around us. We feel very lucky to live in Iceland, where the landscape and nature that first drew us to this work is now right on our doorstep. Graen continues to be a way for us to explore that relationship and share what we discover along the way.

Moving from London, where there is an abundance of variety at your fingertips, one of the biggest challenges was adjusting to the lack of materials and learning to work with what is available here. It also made us question the commercial production of flowers, as well as what we really need to create something meaningful.

The light, seasons and landscape are so unique in Iceland, it’s hard for that not to filter into our work. Summer is incredibly short, so there is often this intense period of activity spent outdoors, growing and gathering as much as we can. It’s still a learning journey, navigating the environment and weather here - there is a greater need for letting go of expectations and accepting that nature sets its pace and limits. In many ways, that has become an important part of our practice.

It’s so important to recognise this part of the natural cycle, and to see the beauty in these moments rather than overlooking them. It feels even more relevant in Iceland, where we spend much of the year in a kind of natural downtime. This means making use of what is available and becoming more attentive to interesting shapes and forms when colour and blooms are absent.

There are so many beautiful structural forms at the moment in this transitional Autumn to Winter time. Angelica and cow parsley skeletons, along with all kinds of grasses have such beautiful shapes and delicate details. I love how these plants hold their own character even after they’ve finished flowering.

It has and continues to have such a positive influence. Being outdoors more, looking and observing more deeply, appreciating the small details. There’s something grounding about being connected to the seasons and paying attention to what’s happening around you, especially during the more chaotic times in life.

Let yourself linger; inspiration often comes when you give yourself time to notice things. Get your hands in the soil and grow your own plants and flowers, even if you only have a little space. And push yourself regularly to step out of your comfort zone into the unknown.

Meeting other creatives from around the world and seeing what they create and the inspiration they take from Graen.