Nikola  - April 1, 2026

Arranging Harmony

Robyn K. Harder Owner of RK Florals

As winter shyly approaches spring, we fill our heads full of events to plan and attend. We thought it fitting to speak with two master florists, Robyn K. Harder and Karis Vandel-Holm, who are steeped in the world of merry making. Their perspective on the fluidity and impermanence of their medium held a mirror to the way we experience those most special events of our lives; the thrilling grief of embarking on something joyous with its cessation just around the corner. It felt near to our own craft as every piece we make is destined to be enjoyed into nonexistence. Our talk with Robyn and Karis shed warm and endearing light on the fascination with ephemera and fortified our spirits heading into the upcoming season of festivities.

Encountering artistry like that of Robyn and Karis suspends the heart as we search our minds for the timeless dreamscape it must have been born from. The works of Robyn K. Harder, owner of RK Florals, and Karis Vandel-Holm, owner of Flowers by Karis, are not made from the mesmerizing stuff of dreams alone but a lineage of thoughtful observers and craftspeople. Robyn’s striking, painterly approach summons us back to the Dutch Golden Age of still life. Robyn’s mother grew up in Belfast and the European sensibility around beauty wafted through her childhood home, “There is a different appreciation for flowers there — one rooted in daily life, seasonality, and quiet reverence… During the blooming season, we always had fresh flowers in the house, brought in from the garden simply because they were there. What I carry forward is that same intimacy with flowers — the belief that beauty doesn’t need an occasion, only attention”. Karis told me of her childhood, immersed in the gentle teachings of nature which would become the unassuming foundation of her passions. Her designs show a balance between the cascading effortlessness of plantlife and a discerning, sculptural hand. “I grew up spending my summers [in Michigan], running around in the trees, my grandfather showing me how to graft plants together and how to take care of things. I remember planting a pumpkin patch with him in one of our fields”... She recounted the simple joy arranging flowers gave her even as a fledgling “[I made] the boutonniere for my senior prom for my partner—who is now my husband—and it looked terrible. I did a terrible job, but I had fun making it”... There was an organic rhythm to the world making itself known to Robyn and Karis and it didn’t demand spectacle or perfection, just enjoyment.

Karis Vandel-Holm, owner of Flowers by Karis

Arragment by Karis Vandel-Holm, owner of Flowers by Karis

There are sturdy, well worn design principles and personal inclinations behind the exquisite floristry these artists produce. Karis’s soft whimsical maximalism is a result of years in the functional realm of floristry “working for other people—pulling flowers for them, designing for them, [practicing using] what’s in front of me instead of only choosing what naturally calls to me. It was a really wonderful exercise in learning to work with all different shapes, sizes, styles, and ingredients. Now that I have my own business, I do let things speak to me so much more… Through trial and error, I’ve really learned what feels aligned with me aesthetically”. She also references Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne as being inspirational in her creative process with refreshing pushback on the notion that classics are basic, “as I’ve continued to evolve and get older, [Monet’s] work continues to absolutely stands out to me as some of the most fantastic, thoughtful, and beautiful of all time...Impressionists feel dreamy and otherworldly while still being rooted in something true. With Monet especially, it’s the way light falls on forms and shifts their color. For me, so much of why I take in and love a piece has to do with color more than anything. Both of those artists are incredible at showcasing that and weaving it through their paintings”.

Arragment by Robyn K. Harder Owner of RK Florals

Robyn shares Karis’s appreciation for pairing intuition with classical teachings of the skilled artists that came before across many mediums. “My grandfather was a fine artist — a watercolorist, a violinist who also made violins, and a calligrapher. He moved fluidly between disciplines with patience and care. Any creative talent I possess comes from him. Honoring art history isn’t about imitation; it’s about lineage. Understanding where ideas come from gives weight and integrity to what we create now… Teaching is preservation. When we pass on context, discipline, and reverence — not just technique — we keep the lineage intact and ensure the work continues with depth rather than becoming trend-driven or disposable”. She goes on to describe how she listens to her medium, “It often begins with a single moment of intrigue — a unique stem or branch that has a bit of cheekiness to it. A bend, something slightly wonky, or a particularly expressive piece of nature that feels worth highlighting. From there, the process becomes one of observation and editing. Whether I’m designing a bouquet or an entire environment, I’m guided by instinct, season, and restraint, always asking what truly needs to be there and what can be left unsaid”. This care for the craft as a whole in tandem with their own talents is what makes Robyn K. Harder and Karis Vandel-Holm’s work truly breathtaking.

Arragment by Robyn K. Harder Owner of RK Florals

Event planning for significant days in our lifetime can elicit a mixture of excitement and pressure. We feel the need to encapsulate all sorts of emotions, backstories and meaning into a few short hours of our guests' lives. We need flowers, candles, music, food. The guidance of skilled artists can offer value beyond simply assisting with the heavy task load, providing knowledge gleaned from an entire community and history of craftspeople. “I listen for intention… My role is to translate that emotional intent through my own vocabulary of form, texture, and restraint. When there is trust on both sides, the work feels cohesive”, Robyn says as she describes her role in wedding planning. She details the thoughtfulness of her technique when scaling floristry for larger events “Restraint is the quiet discipline behind this style. Understanding the necessity of negative space is absolutely essential — it’s what allows form and texture to breathe. With a single bouquet, every stem carries narrative weight… At an event, those same principles are echoed across a broader canvas. Negative space, repetition, and pause become even more important so that abundance remains intentional rather than overwhelming”. Karis delightedly tells us of meshing her aesthetic sensibilities with a client’s, “The balance usually comes in when I have a client with a specific request. I see it as a really fun challenge. I’ll let my heart guide part of the process, but I can’t go completely wild—I have to be steered a bit in the direction of what they’re envisioning, maybe a particular color or a specific flower. And that’s actually really nice. It pushes the creative brain to make combinations that might not have come together otherwise”. The harmony these artists seek when putting together anything from a single arrangement to an entire wedding is so clearly parallel to nature’s bounty; always in flux between what needs to shine and what must exist as quiet support.

Arragment by Karis Vandel-Holm, owner of Flowers by Karis

“Candles introduce time, movement, and intimacy into a space. They soften flowers, deepen color, and create a sense of quiet focus. I also love the tension that can come from a striking contrast — pairing something dramatic or sculptural with the simplicity of flame”.

Karis Vandel-Holm

Another iteration of quiet support are the adornments that accompany Robyn and Karis’s florals. Candles echo so many of the sentiments that flowers do in their brevity, their beauty, their delicacy. They also serve as a balance for flowers in their practical nature and solidity. Robyn, musing on the visual aspect of using candles, tells us, “Candles introduce time, movement, and intimacy into a space. They soften flowers, deepen color, and create a sense of quiet focus. I also love the tension that can come from a striking contrast — pairing something dramatic or sculptural with the simplicity of flame”. Karis says, “Artistically, they elevate an entire event. High-quality candles aren’t just another object on the table; every single element adds another layer to the conversation, the artwork… I often think about the overhead shot on a table—if you back up and take it all in, sometimes you notice the candles before you even notice the flowers. That makes them incredibly important”. She goes on to speak of their usefulness “For a summer evening dinner outdoors, candlelight alone can be absolutely stunning… you might not need any additional lighting… In a giant ballroom, low candlelight can make things feel moody, while spotlights on the dance floor provide contrast. Candles really elevate everything, both visually and atmospherically”. Robyn intimates to us “Candles anchor an environment emotionally. There is something inherently romantic about them; they reinforce the fleeting nature of the moment and invite people to slow down” and follows this thought with one of our favorite sentiments “A candle should feel inevitable within a space”. Just as we pick flowers knowing we have fated their dazzle to a vase or bouquet, we light candles with a fascination of inciting their conclusion. We aim to get all the joy we can out of these temporary wonders while they are around. We gather with our dearest loved ones, those we wish to impress, our accomplices in celebration and assign reverence to our time together through ephemera. After all, “mortal” and “ephemeral” are synonymous so it is only natural we are so drawn to surrounding ourselves with that which mirrors us.

Karis Vandel-Holm | Flowers by Karis
FLOWERS BY KARIS
IG: FLOWERS_BY_KARIS

Robyn K. Harder | RK Florals
RKFLORALS.COM
IG: RKFLORALS