I stumbled upon the Instagram profile of Sera, a talented florist with great taste and aesthetic. I only look into profiles that I am attracted to so I was pleased to see that she and I live in the same city! After some message exchanges, we were sitting in front of each other enjoying sips of coffee in between talks about flowers, babies and work. I’m introducing a new segment in my blog where I will be featuring other people who inspire me. Those whose work and passion resonates with mine, those that make me want to get up in the morning, and those who I hope to collaborate with in some way through the magic of technology.
1. What is your full name?
Sera Murphy
2. Where are you from?
I grew up in Seattle, Washington, USA. My parents moved there from Korea almost 35 years ago. Growing up, I didn’t get to visit Korea as often as my parents would have liked, so now that I’m in Asia, I try to make it out to Seoul to see family and eat as much as possible.
3. What did you do before you got into flowers and how did you get into floral design?
I worked as a merchandise planner/buyer for various home decor and fashion companies. While being a buyer was absolutely something I enjoyed doing, I knew that I loved working with my hands and creating things. When I got married in 2012, I wanted to make my own flowers because I wanted a very specific look to go with my venue. After I moved to Hong Kong, I decided to pursue my passion full-time.
4. What was your wedding like? can you share some photos?
My wedding was held at a small restaurant in New York City called Public in the Nolita area. The neighborhood was special to us as it was where we had many of our first dates. We had the formal ceremony in the dining room, an amazing 2-hour 4-course meal with great drinks, a fun Korean ceremony followed by a dance party in the loft space. Basically, it felt like a really good night out in NYC with all my friends and family.
5. What inspires your floral design?
Fashion is and always will be a big inspiration for me. I love flipping through the latest runway shows to see what the latest color and fabric trends are. I like to think that each arrangement is a fashion statement in itself. Travel also inspires me, I love learning and discovering new types of tropical plants in Southeast Asia.
6. Did you study floral design? Where?
I am a self taught florist. My mother, who is the most creative person I know, taught me since I was little. She would always bring home flowers from the markets and I’d help her arrange them.
7. What are your favorite flowers and why?
Peonies are my hands down favorite flower because they are large, dense and they bloom beautifully. Lately I’ve also been loving King Proteas, which are having a bit of a trend moment in bouquets. They last long, plus they look great on their own too!
8. Can you give 3 tips for those who want to try free style floral arrangement for their homes.
In Hong Kong, getting the freshest flowers can make the world of difference. Always ask your florist for the most recent deliveries, but be prepared to pay more for them. It’s worth it! Use lots of foliage. The best part is, they will likely outlast your flowers so you can keep them as pops of green around the house for at least a week. Don’t be afraid to break the tradition or try something unconventional. For example, instead of a tightly arranged group of roses, try cutting flowers at different lengths to create more depth and levels in your arrangement.
9. Where can we reach/ follow you?
You can follow me on instagram @ seramurphyflorals, on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/seramurphyflorals/) and of course my website at seramurphy.com
Hope you enjoyed reading about Serah and seeing her beautiful creation!
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