Holly Hipwell, Chief Flower Enthusiast and founder of The Flower Drum is a self taught floral stylist.
What started as a blog recording her floral adventures, soon grew into a business. From weddings to collaborations with well-known Australian brands, Holly's unique and colourful arrangements & installations have been in demand all over the country.
Read more about Holly’s inspirations, her most cherished piece at home and her favourite piece from Collécte.
Describe your style in 6 words or less.
Holly: Colourful, abundant, flowery, nonsensical & fun.
Which architects/designers/artists most inspire you?
Holly: I love the wondrous obscurity of Tim Walker - probably my all time favourite creative who captured my imagination back in 2005 with a Vogue shoot in India - the colour play, the scale, the madness ... all of it! I love his work.
One of the photos from the Tim Walker photo shoot "Lily takes a trip" in India for British Vogue 2005. Image: vogue.co.uk
What is your most cherished piece at home? (furniture, art, lighting or decorative)
Holly: My Borge Mogensen chairs. I stopped the car after seeing one in the window of a store. I ended up leaving with two.
Best piece of career advice you have ever received?
Holly: Something that has always stuck with me -"Say yes, and work it out later!"
And most recently "Time is something we can't make more of, use it wisely"
What are you favourites:
Favourite Instagram account/s you follow?
Holly: @misssarahglover She's a bit of a wild child chef from tassie - I enjoy following her evolving journey around food. And I also love @modernister where humour meets the most enviable abodes.
Favourite galleries or museums?
Holly: Most of the time when I am in a museum.. I'm working - creating floral installations for events. It thrills me to create my own art in places like the MCA + Art Gallery NSW. I adore the artists showcased at Arthouse Gallery, my most recent favourite show there would be the works by Leah Fraser.
One of Holly's floral installations. Image: www.theflowerdrum.com.au
Favourite way to unwind at home?
Holly: I love finding a sunny spot with my dog Ruffy and reading cookbooks... I love reading recipes - I don't have a lot of time to cook so I feel that reading recipes visually satiates my appetite! Either that.. or what I possibly do more frequently is move the furniture around - I used to live in an apartment many years ago and the downstairs neighbours hated me because I would move the entire living room around at 11pm - I couldn't sleep until every bit of furniture was in the perfect spot. Nothing lasts in situ for longer than a month.
Favourite restaurant?
Holly: Dunes in Palm Beach (Hello Blue Swimmer Crab Linguine)
Favourite podcast?
Holly: So, I quit my day job & The diary of a CEO
Favourite piece on Collécte right now?
Holly: I think this would just fit in perfectly at home! The Fortuny Moda floor lamp... yes please!
Holly Hipwell www.theflowerdrum.com.au, Instagram @theflowerdrum
Main image: Holly Graham
