Meet Taran Findling | Floral Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taran Findling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taran, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
As a child, I spent a great deal of time with my grandparents while my parents both worked full time. My grandpa grew up in a very small town in South Carolina and went on to be an airplane mechanic, traveling the world with the U.S. Air Force. He exudes this very unique, very calming sense of wisdom that always resonated with me. One of his favorite sayings is “if it is to be, it must be me.” In other words, if something important needs to be done or said, you can’t sit back and wait for someone else to handle it. You need to be the one who steps up and does what needs to be done. I’ve always kept this saying in the back of my mind, and have tried to embody it in my actions in all aspects of my life – from starting my own business to speaking out about social injustices.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been completely fascinated by nature – plants, animals, bugs, weather – you name it. I’m deeply inspired by the complex beauty nature effortlessly provides us. I always try to mimic shapes and color palettes I see in nature, often rearranging or exaggerating them in imaginative ways. Many of my clients come to me for a specifically organic, garden-inspired style.

With this in mind, I feel a deep responsibility to honor our environment and constantly work towards more sustainable practices. An important part of this goal is never using floral foam in my designs. Floral foam is essentially a non-biodegradable, non-recyclable plastic that’s toxic to both humans and animals. It never fully dissolves in water, but breaks down into micro-plastics that can contaminate and disrupt our environment for thousands of years. There are many alternatives to using floral foam, but they require a great deal of research, experimentation, resourcefulness, and time. While designing without floral foam might take twice as long, it aligns with my personal values, strengthens my connection to nature, and challenges my creativity as a designer!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a total vintage enthusiast, so I love to take friends to two of my favorite vintage stores, Highland Row Antiques and Kudzu. There’s also an amazing little shop next to Highland Row Antiques called Young Blood Boutique – they have great artisan goods, including unique jewelry. Wrecking Bar Brewpub is a favorite place to grab a beer, and it’s housed in this gorgeous Victorian mansion.

While I enjoy going into the city for specific adventures, I do like to show out-of-towners how much some of Atlanta’s suburbs have to offer. I live very close to the Marietta Square, which is about 20-30 minutes outside of Atlanta, and I’ve fallen in love with the area. My all-time favorite little breakfast/lunch spot is Sessions Stand. I take friends and clients there all the time to grab a fresh-baked pastry and sit on their patio. Spring Restaurant is my go-to for an intimate, high-end, farm-to-table style dinner. Two Birds Taphouse is a staple for enjoying a delicious meal and great drinks in a warm, fun environment.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband and very best friend, Drew! He’s cheered me on every step of the way, dedicating countless nights and weekends to supporting me on the ground through every installation. He’s the kindest, most selfless person I know and I’m so grateful to have him by my side.

Website: taranmflorals.com

Instagram: @taranmflorals

Image Credits
Amanda Migliaccio
Savanna Sturkie
Farrah Power
Chaise Tinsley