When Thierry Boutemy opened his atelier in Brussels close to my home in rue Vanderkindere, which is well known by locals for its traiteurs and groceries, I immediately recognised that it wasn’t a flower shop like most others.

Visiting Boutemy’s atelier is like entering a magical world. His little shop, which resembles a fantasy cave, is an explosion of colours where you experience a wonderful selection of flowers. Boutemy puts a lot of care in selecting flowers, which mostly come from small and local producers. No wonder they are so beautiful and have such exquisite colour shades. At Boutemy’s, you can also find a small but sophisticated selection of artworks, perfumes and candles.

Boutemy has gained international reputation by now and his floral settings full of fantasy are celebrated far beyond Brussels. Not only has he cooperated with movie director Sophia Coppola for her film “Marie Antoinette” and Lady Gaga for her cover in Vogue magazine, he also regularly works with famous fashion brands such as Dior. He also creates floral arrangements for public events, such as Brafa, Brussels’ most prestigious antique fair. Of course, he is also quite sought after for weddings.

I visit Boutemy’s atelier regularly and it is always a real pleasure to observe his collaborators composing a bouquet for me, Boutemy himself being usually busy in preparing arrangements for events.

So, if you happen to be in this area of Brussels, don’t miss Thierry Boutemy’s atelier, it’s worth the detour.