Maurice Harris is a multitasker. While talking to us he is also having his internet upgraded and is making sure his absolute star of a dog, Leroy, stays out of trouble, all while remaining fully engaged and hilarious. “I do this weird thing where I think I can do multiple things at once,” he says, laughing, “so I have a lot going on right now.” This vibrant juggling act is reflected in his multifaceted career; he runs Bloom & Plume, a floral studio with an impressive client list; he’s also the founder of a coffee shop of the same name that doubles as a community space; and he is steadily becoming a regular fixture on television.
While he approaches almost everything with an all-in mentality, finding equilibrium is important to Maurice. You can see it in his flowers, in the way he shares his thoughts, and in the design of his home. “I’m constantly trying to think about a balancing act of light and dark,” he shares. “I think that’s where one’s true authenticity lies, in the modality of both of those energies intersecting.” Maurice considers his home a reflection of his authentic self, that quest for balance, and his double Cancer nature: It is a rental (one he has lived in for 16 years), but he treats it as a permanent space. He makes his living in flowers, but the way his duplex is laid out it doesn’t get much light, so he is a professional florist without any plants.
Maurice’s space is filled with intention in that every single item in his home brings him joy. “I just wanted my space to feel like a weird old Black lady who might have been a rich white lady in her past who is a little bit of a hoarder but is in recovery but she has such cool, interesting things and everything has a story so you can’t get rid of it. And you discover something new every time you come in.” Not only is his home filled with beautiful and unique objects but he also has a growing and impressive collection of art by Black-identifying artists. He approaches collecting less with a collector’s need to invest in the next big thing (though he has grabbed a few works by up-and-comers) but with an eye toward the circularity of community support: “I want people to support me the way I try to support others. I would love for lots of Black people to own and have my work.”
CREDIT the Source: Tour the Eclectic and Highly Personal L.A. Home of Floral Designer Maurice Harris
