LOS ANGELES – When you walk into the Flower Boy Project in Venice, you are immediately greeted by the bright colors of the flowers, shelves filled with artisanal gifts and the smell of coffee. The idea to combine a florist, a cafe and a boutique gift shop is flawlessly executed at Flower Boy. The mind behind the project is Sean Knibb, a local interior designer with the goal of redefining and seamlessly merging indoor and outdoor space.
Knibb was inspired to create this project by the bodegas of Venice and New York, which provide “grab-and-go” flowers and other items. Knibb’s studio used to be on Abbot Kinney Boulevard next to a bodega before he moved his studio next door to Flower Boy on Lincoln Boulevard. “I think maybe subconsciously I thought one day I would open a flower shop but I never really had a desire to,” Knibb said. His original plan was to open a coffee shop until he had the idea to add a retail aspect to the shop. The idea to add retail led him to question adding flowers to the mix.
At the start of the project, it took a lot of work to find baristas, florists, and retail people that were willing to help. However, once the idea was made known, Knibb found that many people wanted a part in the project. It was then that the idea to name the shop “Flower Boy” came to be. Knibbs said that he thought to himself, “because it’s Flower Boy, let’s make everything more about nature and flowers,” which lead to the creation of floral-inspired coffee like the “lavender boy” latte and “rose girl” drink. Knibb’s wife Stella crafted a toast menu to go along with the coffee, including toasts with lavender peanut butter and wildflower honey.
The main idea was to create a space for people to experience and enjoy. “If somebody comes to get coffee in the morning and can buy interesting things for themselves or flowers or something, that would be a good ritual,” said Knibb about his vision for Flower Boy. Three years later, the shop has become just that: a ritual for the patrons of his store.
The shop has a wide array of gifts and other items in the boutique section, many of which are unique and handmade pieces from small artists. The products offered at Flower Boy contrast the very polished, minimalistic look that you would normally see in other gift shops. Knibb said his intention with the boutique aspect of Flower Boy was to “try to find a little bit of the alternative craft to the mainstream.” Knibb and his wife work with small-scale and local artisans to curate the one-of-a-kind selection of gifts offered in the boutique.
Flower Boy currently has two locations, Venice and Downtown Los Angeles. Knibb said he chose the downtown location because it is located in a hotel that he had worked on before. “We’re trying to create this West Coast urban kind of aesthetic, so why not go downtown,” Knibb said about the decision. He has hopes to open more locations, most likely somewhere in Mid-City or South LA.
As a designer, Knibb is used to working on bigger projects like private gardens and expensive hotels, which are usually only accessible by the rich and famous of Los Angeles. Flower Boy is much more accessible than his other projects, which is one of the most exciting things about it for the designer. “For me, a big joy is making something that everybody gets to enjoy.”
The shop is able to be accessible to the public because Knibb and his family own it. “[Owning it] is a big plus. There’s more experimenting there.” Knibb said, “It’s a lot more freedom, but with that comes a lot more responsibility.”
Knibb has always wanted to do exactly what he is doing now, especially with landscape design. He enjoys creating things whether it be the small pieces of furniture he started his career with or the high-end hotels and gardens he designs. “I like making stuff. I think I just always wanted to work with my hands.”