Born and raised near the Black Forest in southwestern Germany, Svenja was influenced by the lavish gardens of her mother and grandmother as well as by the eclectic creations of her artist father. A childhood spent collecting leaves, flowers, rocks, and branches for art projects naturally led Svenja to the study of art history in college, where she was equally entranced by the exquisite floral still lifes of the Dutch masters and the sculptural juxtapositions of modern art.
            After moving to the Bay Area with her family in 1996, Svenja became inspired by the harmony and abundance of the Northern Californian landscape and began to study floral design with internationally renowned Master Florist Alisa de Jong-Stout. After a successful career working with some of the region’s most notable floral designers on weddings, special events, and restaurant arrangements, Svenja became one of the first California Certified Florists in 2006. Highly sought-after both for her outstanding design sense and her attention to detail, Svenja has now entered a new phase with the establishment of her own floral design studio: Chestnut & Vine.