Meet Our Team

team

GD Cecily Grand

 

Cecily Grand

Cecily Grand is the owner, founder, and head designer Grand Design. The company was created in 1988 in the New York Area. Her passion for flowers began as a child working alongside her grandfather, Robert L. Fowler a renowned landscape architect in Westchester County, New York.

Cecily’s interest in landscape evolved as she studied floral design both in the USA and England.  She ran the Baobab Tree Flower shop in Charlottesville, Virginia and then The Wind and The Willows in San Francisco, California.

For over thirty years Cecily has worked with clients to create personal and meaningful experiences at all of their events. Her years of practice have created a loyal clientele from Virginia, Maryland, California, New England, and Europe. Her knowledge and experience provides clients with the freedom to help identify unique colors, compositions, and styles to create elegant and unique arrangements. Cecily and her talented and dedicated team ensure that all arrangements, details and original designs exceed their clients’ expectations.


GD Jess tulips

Jessica Rizzuti

Jessica Rizzuti is the Manager at Grand Design, and has been in the floral industry for more than 16 years. She began working with Cecily in high school and was a natural fit from the start. Her passion for art and design led her to pursue a degree at the Rhode Island School of Design where she earned a BFA in Fine Arts, majoring in Textiles. Jess went on to further her education at the renowned Fashion Institute of Technology, where she perfected her knowledge of Handbag and Accessory Design.

Today Jess is the proud owner of a namesake luxury handbag brand based in NYC, while still remaining a fixture at Grand Design.

With her background in textile design and knowledge of color, Jess is skilled at providing clients a fresh approach and unique vision. Her love of flowers is evident and serves as inspiration in all aspects of her work. In addition, Rizzuti has been recognized for her use of sustainable materials, ethical practices, and contributing to various women’s philanthropic organizations.

 


Nubia

Nubia Salazar

Nubia Salazar is a floral designer at Grand Design, with sixteen years experience in wedding flowers and floral event styling.

Nubia’s inclination for the arts revealed itself as she pursued her passion for colors and textures from an early age. From 1976 to 1995 Nubia worked for several studio-imaging companies and built her reputation as an exceptional imaging artist/retoucher for high profile fashion, photography and commercial clients. For two decades she honed her skills for visual composition and color and finally applied it to her passion for flowers and floral design. Spaces and vases have become her canvas and main outlet for artistic expression. Through Grand Design, she has enjoyed the opportunity to actualize her talent through the use of space and objects and is proud of the fresh and organic beauty created for events that has propelled them to the top of the floral design industry.