Creative art pieces displayed around the living room greeted me when I entered Karen's small, immaculate house that she shares with her husband. The couple had moved from Pasadena to Berkeley where he continues his studies.

"Composing spaces" has been Karen's interest for a long time. In college she pursued a BA in architectural design and an MPL in urban planning. During her studies she spent a year in Japan where she was exposed to Ikebana. She was amazed to learn that it isn't only a special floral design but also an art form with a foundation in nature. "I like to use the most prominent feature of a material; it can be the curvature of a stem, the unusual formation of a trunk, or branches to establish the basis of the design, which I then enhance by incorporating other colors, textures and shapes," Karen told me.

Karen is as much in tune with nature and space as she is in tune with her clients during the wedding planning process. "Seeing the wedding venue and the bridal gown provide me with clues about her taste and preference in her wedding flowers."

With her background in architecture and Ikebana, Karen brings a fresh look to her designs and is not afraid to experiment. I love her wedding work; in particular the attractive bridal bouquets, some of which have galax-leaf covered handles. Her calla lily bouquets utilize the curvature of the blooms to form a graceful composition, quite different from other ones I've seen. Her whimsical centerpieces include surprising botanical elements that she finds while hiking.

Besides weddings, Karen's work can be seen at San Marino's Huntington Library, the Botanical Garden and Art Collection in Southern California, and was exhibited at the Guy Hide Chick House in Oakland, as well as in the Oakland Museum. Her clients love her creativity and adore working with her.