Today we’d like to introduce you to Adama Jay.
Hi Adama , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My path to floral design wasn’t necessarily a straight one, but looking back, every chapter has influenced the way I approach my work today.
I studied Interior Design at Drexel University, where I developed an understanding of composition, scale, color, architecture, and how the details within a space can completely shape the way it feels. Later, my career took me into the beauty and fashion industry, where I spent more than a decade working with brands including MAC, Chanel, and NARS. That world further shaped my eye for artistry, luxury, storytelling, and, perhaps most importantly, the client experience.
Flowers eventually became another creative language for me. What began as an interest grew into years of learning the craft—studying horticulture, working within different areas of the floral industry, and developing my own perspective on design. I became increasingly interested not simply in creating beautiful arrangements, but in how flowers could transform an environment and tell a story.
That philosophy ultimately became the foundation for Lavish Leaf Floral Design Studio.
Today, Lavish Leaf is a bespoke floral design studio serving weddings, events, corporate and hospitality clients throughout the Triangle and beyond. Our work ranges from intimate floral moments to large-scale installations, weekly floral programs, editorial projects, and brand experiences. We approach flowers much like an interior designer approaches a space—considering architecture, scale, color, movement, and the experience we want someone to have when they enter it.
Over the years, that approach has opened the door to opportunities I could not have imagined when I began, including creating work for the North Carolina Museum of Art’s Art in Bloom, Morehead Planetarium, High Point Market, Universal Furniture, corporate and nonprofit organizations, hotels, private clients, weddings, and editorial projects.
But what I’m most proud of is that the business continues to evolve without losing the foundation it was built on: creativity, craftsmanship, thoughtful service, and integrity in the work.
I’m still building, learning, and pushing creatively. I think that is one of the most exciting parts of entrepreneurship. There is always another level to reach, another relationship to build, and another opportunity to use flowers to completely change the way a space—or a moment—feels.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road, but I’ve learned that very few worthwhile journeys are.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to be both a creative and a business owner. Loving the work and knowing how to create beautiful things is only one part of entrepreneurship. You also have to understand pricing, operations, sales, relationships, marketing, finances, and how to make decisions that protect the long-term health of the business. There have been plenty of lessons that I had to learn simply by experiencing them.
Relocating and building the business within a new market was another challenge. I had to establish relationships, understand the landscape, and introduce people to not only what we do, but why our approach to floral design is different. Building a luxury brand takes time because so much of it is rooted in trust, reputation, consistency, and the experience you create for people.
There have also been the natural highs and lows that come with running a creative business. Seasons change, clients’ needs and budgets change, opportunities don’t always happen when you expect them to, and sometimes a “no” or a closed door forces you to reconsider your direction. I’ve had to learn not to measure the future of the business by one difficult season or one lost opportunity.
Another important lesson has been learning to trust my own creative voice. It can be tempting, especially when you are building, to look at what everyone else is doing or to believe you need to fit into an existing mold. Over time, I’ve become much more confident in what makes our work distinct and in understanding that the right clients are often drawn to us because of that difference.
The challenges have ultimately made me more intentional. I’ve learned when to pivot, when to say no, when to take a chance, and when to stay committed to the bigger vision even when the immediate results aren’t visible yet.
I’m still learning, and I think I always will be. But I’ve come to appreciate that entrepreneurship isn’t really about creating a perfectly smooth road. It’s about developing the resilience, discipline, and perspective to keep moving forward when the road changes.
As you know, we’re big fans of Lavish Leaf . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lavish Leaf Floral Design Studio is a bespoke floral design studio based in Durham, North Carolina, serving the Triangle and beyond. We specialize in creating thoughtful, artful floral experiences for weddings and events, corporate and hospitality spaces, editorial projects, brand activations, and ongoing floral programs.
At the heart of the brand is a simple belief: flowers are atmosphere, not just decoration.
My background in interior design has greatly influenced the way I approach floral design. Before selecting a flower, I’m often thinking about the space itself—its architecture, scale, light, color, movement, and how people will experience it. Whether we are designing a single arrangement for a hotel lobby, flowers for a wedding, or a large-scale installation, the goal is for the flowers to feel intentional to their environment rather than simply placed within it.
Our aesthetic can move between modern garden-inspired and sculptural, but there is always an element of restraint and intentionality. I love interesting shapes, unexpected floral varieties, movement, texture, and allowing individual flowers to have their own moment. Storytelling is also an important part of our work. I want to understand what we are creating, who we are creating it for, and what we want people to feel when they experience it.
Equally important is the level of service surrounding the design. We work with private clients as well as businesses, hotels, residential properties, restaurants, organizations, designers, and brands that understand the value of creating a memorable environment. For our corporate and hospitality clients in particular, we offer ongoing weekly and biweekly floral programs that allow flowers to become part of the overall experience of a space rather than something reserved only for special occasions.
What I believe sets Lavish Leaf apart is the combination of design, storytelling, and service. We aren’t interested in creating the same arrangement repeatedly or following every trend. We want the work to have a point of view while still being appropriate for the client, the environment, and the moment.
Brand-wise, I am most proud of the trust we have been able to build. We’ve had opportunities to create for incredible institutions, brands, businesses, weddings, and private clients, but I never want growth to come at the expense of the care that helped build the company. Whether the project is intimate or large-scale, I want people to feel that someone genuinely thought about the details.
Ultimately, I want people to know that Lavish Leaf is about much more than flowers. We are creating experiences and helping shape how spaces and moments are remembered. Flowers happen to be our medium.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is taking spontaneous drives with my parents. Every so often, my dad would simply say, “Let’s take a drive,” and we would get in the car and go.
There was no GPS, no carefully planned itinerary, and sometimes no real destination. We would just drive and see where the road took us. Sometimes we would end up exploring a new city, other times we would go fishing, discover somewhere beautiful in nature, or simply spend hours together seeing something we hadn’t seen before.
As a child, there was something so exciting about not knowing exactly where we were going. The adventure was in the discovery—and, of course, in being together.
Looking back, those simple trips are some of the memories I cherish most. They taught me that some of the best experiences don’t have to be perfectly planned. Sometimes you just have to be curious enough to take the road, pay attention to what’s around you, and enjoy where it leads.
Even now, I still love the idea of discovering something unexpected. I think a little bit of that child who was excited to get in the car and see where we might end up has always stayed with me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lavishleaf.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/lavishleaf
- Facebook: facebook.com/lavishleaf
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adama-jay-3344522b3/
