Flower Power House

Floral diva Fleur McHarg invites us into her botanic workshop in Melbourne where she plans exquisite events and dreams up flower-inspired book and film plots.

WHAT HAS INFORMED AND INSPIRED YOUR DESIGN AESTHETIC?

I’m inspired by things I see from around the world on social media but my design aesthetic came from my mother Wendy Mead, a milliner, and my great-aunt Madge McHarg, who was editor of British Vogue. Our house was never ‘decorated’ but my mother’s creative nous ensured it always looked stylish. I got my condence by having air and a style of my own.

IS THERE A COMMON ELEMENT THAT RUNS THROUGH YOUR WORK?

Paring back was drummed into me by my mother always referring to Coco Chanel who would take off one item before she went out. It’s being able to take an element away and knowing when to stop.

WHAT INITIALLY APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT THE SITE OF YOUR STUDIO AND WHAT DID THE ALTERATIONS ENTAIL?

High ceilings and the roller door. It’s so cool for overhead installations – more practical than anything else. When I saw it I knew painted white it would look amazing. It looks so bad from the outside that it is really cool. Noone needs to know where we are but those who do will know where to go. When you turn 40 you stop worrying about status.