The entrance to The Katelier at 628 Lamar Street. Photo by Katie Roach

In 2011, after helping several friends with wedding decor and flowers, Katie Roach officially started her business The Katelier, a business name that combines both her name and the french work "atelier" which means "a workshop or studio, especially of an artist, artisan, or designer." (Dictionary.com)

If you ask Katie how she got into floral arranging she will tell you that "Flowers found her". It's a beautiful thing when a business begins and then grows completely organically. With very little marketing aside from making arrangements for coffee shops and other local businesses to get her work in front of people, Katie has relied almost exclusively on word of mouth and it has served her well.

Katie started out apprenticing under Allie King of Sassafras flowers and after starting her own business, worked out of her 5th Avenue apartment. She likes to say that she was subletting her apartment from the flowers.

In early 2014 Katie opted for studio space outside of her home and joined several other woman owned businesses (including HYD) in operating out of The Hive.

Two years later when a friend asked her for ideas about what to do with a small building he owned, Katie jumped at the chance for a little shop of her own. After moving in 1 year ago, Katie has transformed the space and made it her own. Known for being incredibly resourceful, Katie has managed to make her studio look straight out of a magazine almost exclusively with second hand furniture and decor. Admittedly, Katie says she "buys sofas the way most women buy shoes", but this space is the perfect home for her collection. Aside from being Katie's workshop, her studio can be rented for small events, parties, and showers.

After spending significant time this year on furthering education and investing in honing her skills, Katie says that starting The Katelier has been the best thing she has ever done for herself and has been character building and life enriching. While her favorite kind of jobs are tablescapes and center pieces, she stays very busy year round with weddings. Her favorite part of the job is seeing the brides face when she see's her flowers for the first time on her wedding day. After all, this job is all about celebrating people and making spaces beautiful. (Side note-- Katie did all of the flowers for not one but TWO HYD weddings--we highly recommend her!)

Her favorite flower? Hellebore's and Garden Roses

Katie at the studio. Photo by Erin McCall

For more info on The Katelier floral services or studio rentals, check out her website, follow her on instagram @thekatelier, and like her on facebook.

A big thank you to Katie for giving us the tour!