Paper Cosmos: Studio Duggan Collaboration
Creating Bespoke Flowers for The SpeakEasy Salon at WOW!house 2026
This month I had the pleasure of collaborating with Studio Duggan, the acclaimed London-based interior design studio founded by Tiffany Duggan. Known for their distinctive, colour-rich, and tactile interiors that masterfully blend old and new, Studio Duggan creates sophisticated yet inviting spaces for high-end residential and commercial projects.
The commission invited me to create thirty handmade paper cosmos flowers as special gifts for guests to take home after the breakfast event, as well as a live flower-making demonstration during the morning at HOH! House (WOW!house) at the Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour.
A stunning illustration by Syaleen Stokes capturing the warm, cocoon-like atmosphere of Studio Duggan’s room for Black Edition at WOW!house.
The glamorous bar corner of The SpeakEasy Salon by Studio Duggan 🥃 Illustrated beautifully by Syaleen Stokes.
The Commission
The project began with Tiffany Duggan’s sketches for The SpeakEasy Salon, a room designed for Black Edition by The Romo Group. With its curved walls enveloped in embroidered seagrass wallpaper, the space exudes quiet luxury — a harmonious blend of rich plum, pistachio, and layered textures that feel both intimate and opulent. My flowers were to grace the Holden Desk, its Birds Eye veneer glowing with a subtle, almost luminous depth.
Tiffany’s colour direction — deep chocolate plum, lilac, peach, and zingy greens — guided the entire palette. I approached the work with the intention of creating pieces that would not only complement the room, but quietly converse with its textures, tones, and atmosphere.
The raw beauty of the hand-dyed papers. Layered chocolate plum, vibrant magenta, rich berry, and soft peach tones drying in the sun. These papers became the foundation for the 30 unique cosmos flowers made for Studio Duggan.
Textural details on the hand-painted accent paper. Delicate green and chartreuse watercolours layered over a soft base to create organic patterns. These subtle accents brought extra life and depth to the cosmos flowers.
The Making Process
Preparation became a meditative act of material transformation. I dyed and painted sheets of paper by hand, wetting the surface and layering plum, pink, and peach tones to create organic, almost geological textures. These layered washes produced soft, unexpected blends — moments of colour that feel alive and unpredictable. I then hand-painted lilac sheets with delicate green watercolours, building subtle patterned textures that would later serve as quiet accents.
Each of the thirty cosmos-inspired flowers was individually crafted. I simplified the form while preserving its essence: eight gently shaped petals surrounding a finely fringed centre. Deep chocolate plum served as the hero tone, with softer pinks, peaches, lilacs and vibrant greens dancing across the collection. No two flowers were alike. I finished each stem with whimsical, expressive lines — spirals and angular gestures — to evoke a sense of organic movement and life. These thirty flowers were created as gifts for guests to take home after the event.
The finished cosmos blooms — each one unique. Deep, velvety plums and magentas brought to life in paper, their stems dancing with organic movement.
The Live Event
For the breakfast event, I arrived early after a 5am start and travelled into Chelsea Harbour. The SpeakEasy Salon, with its rich, windowless interior, created an intimate and cocoon-like atmosphere, lit warmly by lamps and designed to feel enveloping and luxurious.
I began making flowers live at the Holden Desk at 8:30am as guests arrived. Over the next 1.5 hours, I worked spontaneously, creating around eight additional flowers that complemented the colour palette and style of the pre-made cosmos collection while showcasing the hand-painted papers I had prepared. Guests enjoyed breakfast, listened to Tiffany’s introduction of the space, and mingled while observing the process.
There is something uniquely rewarding about making in public. Watching visitors pause, lean in, and respond with quiet wonder reminded me why I love this practice. The time passes quickly — balancing focused creation with answering questions and sharing the process is both challenging and deeply enjoyable.
Creating and sharing the joy of paper flowers live at Studio Duggan’s breakfast event in The SpeakEasy Salon.
Emmeli Kimhi concentrating on hand-painting a cosmos flower during her live demonstration for Studio Duggan’s SpeakEasy Salon at WOW!house.
Final Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed this project and would love to do more live demonstrations and collaborative events in the future. It was a true pleasure to bring Tiffany’s vision to life in such a beautiful setting.
A big thank you to Tiffany Duggan at Studio Duggan for trusting me with this project, and to Jo Israelsohn at Portrait Communications for making everything run so smoothly.
A glimpse into the morning's palette at the Black Editions Speakeasy Salon. Hand-dyed and painted papers waiting to become flowers, with newly finished blooms emerging throughout the breakfast event.
Sharing the process behind the flowers to Tiffany Duggan. Throughout the morning I improvised blooms from custom papers I had dyed and painted especially for the event, inviting guests into the making process as each flower took shape.
Closing Reflection
This project reinforced my belief in the quiet power of handmade objects within thoughtfully designed spaces. I’m grateful to have contributed to such a beautiful and cohesive vision.
A heartfelt thank you to Tiffany Duggan of Studio Duggan for the invitation and trust, and to Jo Israelsohn of Portrait Communications for her seamless coordination.
This vibrant, sculptural bouquet captures the joyful energy of a wildflower meadow in full bloom. Handcrafted in my London studio, each stem is individually cut, painted, and shaped to create a natural, organic feel.
The arrangement includes bold orange cosmos, cheerful yellow buttercups, and graceful hanging bell-shaped blooms in soft pinks and deep purples — perfectly balanced in warm sunset tones.
Details:
One-of-a-kind handmade bouquet
Features: x4 Cosmos, x3 buttercups, x4 bell flower stems
Approx. height: 55-60 cm
Vase not included
All flowers are made from high-quality Italian crepe paper with wired stems for natural movement
Because every bouquet is handmade, slight variations in flower placement and colour make each piece truly unique.
Perfect as a long-lasting statement piece for your home, or as a special gift that never wilts.