Floral Designer Carl Ostberg

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A light filled space from HANA by Celsia that resembles a modern day ikebana installation is the creative studio of Carl Ostberg; a floral designer, stylist and photographer.

HANA designs are more conceptual, artistic and intentional, taking into consideration aspects such as the vessel, the surroundings and architecture. Carl is a large part of the creative genius that conceptualizes and creates these ideas. We sat down with Carl to find out more about how he got started in this creative field and what inspires his creative process.

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Hi Carl, where were you born?

I was born here in Vancouver, well in New Westminster. I grew up in Maple Ridge.

How did you start working with flowers?

Well I was tricked (laughs)

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You were tricked? Ok so what happened?

I was just working retail and I was on my fifth year just doing like mind numbing retail work.

Which retail shop?

At Anthropology. Not even displays, I was in the stock room tucked away in the back.

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Right. But you liked the whole Anthropology vibe and that's why you wanted to work there?

Yes definitely. I've always been artsy. I just feel like I like paused for a little bit. But then I started doing some installations with Lululemon, the lab in Gastown. And I had done about three, it was pretty casual.

Were these floral installations?

No not floral at all. That wasn't even on my radar. There was a girl Kyoko who I work with now at Celsia Floral. She reached out to me and just said hey do you want to meet up and chat. Nothing about a job. And then I met her at Celsia and we talked for an hour and a half, it was super casual. And then at the end, as I was leaving she was like ok I'll let you know as we have other candidates. And I was like wait what.I played it cool as if I knew that I had just gone through a job interview - and then I got it!

Which was amazing, because I feel like they definitely took a chance on me because I had nothing in terms of any experience in that area.

So they must have just seen something some spark!

I guess so?

Well obviously because you're a genius. So how long did you work there for doing flowers and the more classic work with them?

I did two freelance weddings with them. In the summer we get very busy and these were two large scale ones and they needed help with installation work. So I did those two, but I was still working at Anthro at the time and then Celsia have this thing called Boheme workshops over in Greece. They had done them in the past, and I was still new but then Jo decided just to send me.

Wow that’s amazing!

Yes technically it was my third time working (laughs) I just kept asking Jo the owner, are you sure you want to send me?

'I feel so blessed in that way of how I fell into this, and so grateful that they took a chance on me because once I started doing this, everything kind of clicked for me.'

- Carl Ostberg

So is this what you are truly passionate about, as in floral installations and such. How do you see it evolving?

I don't totally know. I don't have a clear vision where I am going to be in five years, or even five months. It's funny because when I was a kid I loved flowers. I would steal flowers from other people's gardens and plant in my own garden. I was obsessed with it. But then I sort of grew up and forgot about that. So when I started doing it, it clicked and then it just kind of felt right and then things just started moving really quickly and I feel like that's it's a sign that I'm in the right spot.

I agree. If you keep following the thing that you like the most it's always going to lead you to the right place.

Yes definitely. And I feel like from there it was a natural development to go into photography and styling. It went just from the arrangement to the photography.

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Have you always been a photographer?

Just very casually. I mean I always liked it, but it's only now actually quite recently that I have become really passionate about it. And there is a few different directions that I am going in that I really love equally. So I don't know where that's going to take me but I am really excited about it.

What do you love the most about your work?

The whole process. I was asked this recently and I was trying to figure out what the specific thing is like flowers or whatever. But really it's the process. Like this for example (points to studio setup) I just put two pink sheets and I don’t totally know what I am doing but I know I'll have a photo in a couple hours. Just that process of starting something and having a photo in the end thinking this is really cool and it kind of came out of nowhere.

What artists or creatives inspire you?

I think more than just one specific person, for me it's more like the overall aesthetic. I recently visited Glossier in New York and it blew my mind. To walk into somewhere like that where it's just fully branded, well thought out and completely on point. I find that inspiring. There's something about that, which really excites me. When you can look at it and it's just so right. And the florals in Glossier (by Brrch Floral) are also one my biggest inspirations.

What would be a dream client or commission?

Glossier, forsure. Let's just say (laughs)

Vancouver is your home but are you interested to ever move to another city?

When I was 19 I moved to Sydney and I was there for five years for school. And when I grew up in Vancouver I feel like I didn't come downtown very often. So when I came back from Australia, it was almost rediscovering this city in a new way.

And it's changed so much, it's amazing. There reallyfeels like a true creative vibe going on here now, more than ever.

Yes, for sure.And as much as things can feel busy and chaotic I love my home, and I like doing these routine things. I feel like for now it's great, but do I see myself moving somewhere in the future? Maybe! I don't know where exactly that would be, but yeah, maybe.

THE DIARIO ASKS

What are your three favorite spots in Vancouver?

Ok my anchors on the daily are Nemesis. I go there everyday so it's a local spot but it's also inspiring and a creative hub.

Polygon Gallery is amazing. It's relatively new but we have done a few events there and it's a beautiful and minimal space and very inspiring.

And of course Dressew. I go there almost daily as well, it's just this place with so many different things, and I never know what I am going to find and how it will inspire my next project.

You favorite instagram accounts to follow?

Brrch Floral is just so inspiring.

If you could travel anywhere where would you go?

It's super basic but I just love Hawaii. I would just keep going there. I've been there five times but I just love going there and there is still islands that I haven't yet explored. There's just something about Hawaii. I'm using The Secret, so when I retire at 50 or 40 I just want a pink rancher in Hawaii, that's all I want! (laughs)

What is the best advice you have ever received?

Last year I called my Mom, and it was right around the time where I started to get busy and overwhelmed and I was having a pity party like you do when you call your Mom (laughs) And she was having none of it. Not in a mean way but just trying to be helpful. And her one line was "You asked for this". And it just snapped me right back into place realizing this is good, I did ask for it. Idid want this. That being busy doing what I love is a good thing. And ever since she said that, every time I feel like that again, that's always in the back of my head.