The Language of Flowers: An Interview with Karin Jeffcoat
Surrounded by sprawling fig trees, pressed flowers, and trimmings from a current project, fine art florist and event stylist Karin Jeffcoat spoke with us about her passion for floral design. “I draw inspiration from nature,” she said. “Growing up in Europe, the styling is a little different than it is here. Everything is nature-bound.”
This early influence shines through in her working studio in downtown Aiken. Here, mushrooms hang delicately from a twisting, leaf-strewn branch; pottery and glassware fill every shelf; wreaths rest on mirrors and cabinets. While every placement is artful and intentional, it’s clear nothing is here for mere decoration—it’s all waiting to be used by Karin and the rest of her Côte Designs team.
“Côte Designs caters to weddings, events, corporate events. We do a little bit of everything,” Karin said. For every wedding, Karin works closely with the bride, conceptualizing the styling in accordance with a unique theme and seeing it through to the final installation. With a bandage on her finger from an installation the day before, Karin explained, “This is not very glamorous. There’s a lot of hard work.”
With a reputation formed from a lifetime of dedication to the craft, Karin is still as passionate as ever. Her precision and attention to detail are evident as she speaks of the years she spent building her business, and her creativity shines through in the imaginative, organic displays all around her studio.
