INTERVIEW
Surrey’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine
Perfect display
Roni Floral Design is a family business whose creations have graced high profile events hosted by Sharon Stone and Leonardo DiCaprio. Today the company’s work in floral design is sought after by a clientele in its native France, England and Italy. The main creative force behind the company is Nicolas Barelier. Andrew Peters caught up with him following his recent move to London.
Q Nicolas, do you have any siblings?
A Yes, I have two older brothers and a younger sister and we all work for our family passion, floral and vegetable art!
Q Are you the artist of the family?
A That’s a big word and I don’t really like to describe myself as the artist of the family. I come from a family of artists, from father to son, for four generations now, all with the same passion for flowers. Personally, I like the idea of inspiring the people around me and creating the unexpected.
Q Does your family have an artistic history?
A Absolutely, this is a family passion passed down the generations since 1880. It’s an incredible story, a destiny brought together by the rose. The rose is a symbol of life, ephemeral as it is eternal, a never-ending story.
Q What first attracted you to floral design?
A It’s in the blood and we were lucky as from a young age we had the trust of individuals interested in the beauty of their event or evening. It’s a fascinating and amazing feeling to have the opportunity of limitless and boundless creation.
Q Did you ever consider you would be designing floral displays for your current clientele?
A Not really. I feel very lucky to continue the family tradition and do something I love. Every day we create all types of projects: different floral designs in different dimensions. This may just be a bouquet for the interior of a house, or a magical setting for a birthday, a wedding or other important life events.
Q You recently moved to London, why?
A The London market is extremely international and diverse at the moment; I would also say it’s the event capital of the world. Everything is decided in London before recreating itself across the world.
A Yes, I have two older brothers and a younger sister and we all work for our family passion, floral and vegetable art!
Q Are you the artist of the family?
A That’s a big word and I don’t really like to describe myself as the artist of the family. I come from a family of artists, from father to son, for four generations now, all with the same passion for flowers. Personally, I like the idea of inspiring the people around me and creating the unexpected.
Q Does your family have an artistic history?
A Absolutely, this is a family passion passed down the generations since 1880. It’s an incredible story, a destiny brought together by the rose. The rose is a symbol of life, ephemeral as it is eternal, a never-ending story.
Q What first attracted you to floral design?
A It’s in the blood and we were lucky as from a young age we had the trust of individuals interested in the beauty of their event or evening. It’s a fascinating and amazing feeling to have the opportunity of limitless and boundless creation.
Q Did you ever consider you would be designing floral displays for your current clientele?
A Not really. I feel very lucky to continue the family tradition and do something I love. Every day we create all types of projects: different floral designs in different dimensions. This may just be a bouquet for the interior of a house, or a magical setting for a birthday, a wedding or other important life events.
Q You recently moved to London, why?
A The London market is extremely international and diverse at the moment; I would also say it’s the event capital of the world. Everything is decided in London before recreating itself across the world.
Profile: Roni Floral Design
In the Barelier family, children grow up in greenhouses. When Constantin Barelier, the great grandfather, discovered the Côte d’Azur in the 1800s, he fell in love with its scents and settled as a horticulturist on Cap d’Antibes.This former Greek shipbuilder was very successful and received the title Meilleur Ouvrier de France (best craftsman of France) in 1887. This distinction sealed the family’s destiny and the grandfather continued to cultivate roses before his son, Robert, took over the reins. Robert met Nicole, daughter of one of his father’s biggest clients, for whom she composed bouquets, and they married. Naturally, they decided to open their first boutique in 1971 at Cagnes-sur-Mer, followed by a second in Juan-les-Pins in 1984.
Since then, Robert and Nicole’s children – Jean-Marie, Emmanuel, Nicolas and Audrey – have gained a passion for flowers. Their playground was a field of roses where games of hide-and-seek left their skin scratched with fond souvenirs. Today the siblings celebrate their floral success that they hope to share with the whole of Europe.
Emmanuel is the businessman, Jean-Marie and Audrey juggle commercial consistency and creative gifts while Nicolas is a bold, instinctive and intuitive designer, constantly pushing at the boundaries of his own limitations.
Q How do you first approach what a new customer wants?
A In a few words: by listening, being attentive and accurate, offering imagination and reassurance. It’s sometimes difficult for people to visualise what they are thinking and that’s where reassurance and trust come into the equation.
Q What’s the process for achieving a positive result and a happy client?
A Be attentive to their personality, style and the people around them. Be responsive to the smallest issues and provide a wealth of ideas. Once guidelines are set, we keep a level of secrecy in order to reach the big day with that element of surprise. Perhaps, most importantly, be attentive in the final discussion!
Q Where does your inspiration originate?
A Fashion is a tremendous source of inspiration and it’s exciting when great artists from around the world exchange ideas and talents. One has only to see new dresses, new hairstyles and new models. My trips overseas are also an opportunity to gain inspiration.
Q After establishing yourself in France and Italy, what’s next?
A Internationally, of course, and specifically the United States. ‘A French family conquers Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills’. I can see this headline in the newspapers.
Q The company is named Roni Floral Design, why?
A It's a love story between my father and mother. They combined their names, Ro (Robert) and Ni (Nicole). For the past year, we have signed all our events under the Roni Floral Design label precisely to promote and emphasise the history around the word.
A In a few words: by listening, being attentive and accurate, offering imagination and reassurance. It’s sometimes difficult for people to visualise what they are thinking and that’s where reassurance and trust come into the equation.
Q What’s the process for achieving a positive result and a happy client?
A Be attentive to their personality, style and the people around them. Be responsive to the smallest issues and provide a wealth of ideas. Once guidelines are set, we keep a level of secrecy in order to reach the big day with that element of surprise. Perhaps, most importantly, be attentive in the final discussion!
Q Where does your inspiration originate?
A Fashion is a tremendous source of inspiration and it’s exciting when great artists from around the world exchange ideas and talents. One has only to see new dresses, new hairstyles and new models. My trips overseas are also an opportunity to gain inspiration.
Q After establishing yourself in France and Italy, what’s next?
A Internationally, of course, and specifically the United States. ‘A French family conquers Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills’. I can see this headline in the newspapers.
Q The company is named Roni Floral Design, why?
A It's a love story between my father and mother. They combined their names, Ro (Robert) and Ni (Nicole). For the past year, we have signed all our events under the Roni Floral Design label precisely to promote and emphasise the history around the word.
Q What are your favourite flowers to work with?
A I love this question. I would say all, simply all of them without exception. All four seasons are magical even though, it is true, that flowers are subject to global warming and the blending of the seasons: the season of the Peony, Sweet Pea, Anemone, Dahlia, Lily of the Valley… I really love all flowers and take great pleasure in bringing them together.
Q You have created floral designs for de Grisogono jewellery, the high profile amfAR gala (hosted by Sharon Stone) and the gala for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in St Tropez. Do you have a favourite type of event?
A Not really, these are big names and big events from the real work of floral art. It’s an honour to work for charity causes which are necessary for the future wellbeing of our children and grand-children today.
Q Your next project is to open a store in St. Petersburg. Was there a particular reason for choosing this city?
A We were approached directly to do so and are currently working on the project. St. Petersburg is a wonderful city and an exciting opportunity.
Q How do you relax away from the business of flowers?
A I feel the fulfilment of all artists around the world is rather confused and mixed up. Personally, I create and that rewards me enough, this to me is relaxation. If you do something you like, it helps not to get too stressed.
Q What do you find most rewarding about your job?
A When my kids are asked: “what does daddy do for a living?” and they respond at the top of their four and eight year old voices: “My dad’s an artist!”
A I love this question. I would say all, simply all of them without exception. All four seasons are magical even though, it is true, that flowers are subject to global warming and the blending of the seasons: the season of the Peony, Sweet Pea, Anemone, Dahlia, Lily of the Valley… I really love all flowers and take great pleasure in bringing them together.
Q You have created floral designs for de Grisogono jewellery, the high profile amfAR gala (hosted by Sharon Stone) and the gala for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in St Tropez. Do you have a favourite type of event?
A Not really, these are big names and big events from the real work of floral art. It’s an honour to work for charity causes which are necessary for the future wellbeing of our children and grand-children today.
Q Your next project is to open a store in St. Petersburg. Was there a particular reason for choosing this city?
A We were approached directly to do so and are currently working on the project. St. Petersburg is a wonderful city and an exciting opportunity.
Q How do you relax away from the business of flowers?
A I feel the fulfilment of all artists around the world is rather confused and mixed up. Personally, I create and that rewards me enough, this to me is relaxation. If you do something you like, it helps not to get too stressed.
Q What do you find most rewarding about your job?
A When my kids are asked: “what does daddy do for a living?” and they respond at the top of their four and eight year old voices: “My dad’s an artist!”