89th and Autumn Flower Shoppe

Twin sisters Michaela and Jessica Namynanik founded their floral design and wedding company, 89th and Autumn, to bring beauty and joy into the lives of others. With the opening of their Flower Shoppe at the Mill on Etowah, the fully re-purposed historic Cotton Mill in Canton, the pair offers timeless and whimsical floral design for discerning customers. We sat down with the twins to find out more about them and their love of all things floral.

What inspired your love of flowers?

Michaela: I’ve always appreciated the beauty of nature and flowers! I remember going to Yellowstone National Park when I was ten and seeing the most beautiful wildflowers I had never seen before. It wasn’t the only time I had noticed wildflowers, but on this trip, I remember being so taken aback by how they made me feel so inspired and peaceful.

Jessica: Our Uncle Paul had such a beautiful garden, and as a child visiting his home, I was so in awe of the beauty he had spilled out of his flower beds. At that moment, I realized how vast the world of gardening and flowers was; it became one I continued exploring as I got older.

What led you to open a flower shop in downtown Canton?

Michaela. I just moved back from Southern California, and we knew this would be the perfect timing and opportunity to jump into something together! Working together has always been our dream, which we knew would come true eventually. I had worked as a florist in California for several years, and we decided to come together with our love of all types of design and start The Flower Shoppe. Canton was an easy choice for us. We love this city, and we love the potential as this city continues to grow. We love being a part of that growth.

How did you choose the name of your shop, and what does it mean?

Jessica: 89th and Autumn is a name Michaela and I came up with several years ago. We knew we would want to start a design business together. Eighty-nine came from the year we were born, and autumn is the season that our birthday falls in. It was a perfect name for anything we would want to do together, so as we launched our design business, 89th and Autumn was a great overarching brand. The Flower Shoppe is just our first expression.

What are some of your favorite flowers?

Michaela: Every season brings a new batch of favorites! I think there are a couple of flowers that I love. Daffodils and tulips are always flowers that I adore. I think it’s the first sign of spring and breathes so much life into the world.

What is the focus and the ways you help your customers?

Michaela and Jessica: In starting The Flower Shoppe, our goal was to be a place where our customers could have something uniquely designed for them. We love helping bring natural elements into our customers' homes, whether a fresh or dried bouquet of blooms or a beautiful house plant. We love to make that dream wedding come to life for our events. We love getting to know our clients, and understanding their vision and what they seek. Our creations are as unique as the people we work with, and we love that.

What do you enjoy about working with your twin?

Jessica: It is a dream! We love working together and creating together. We both are creative alone, but together, we come up with the best ideas and designs. Whether it is floral, interior, or graphic design — two minds are better than one.

What challenges do you have working with your twin?

Michaela: We are so similar but also so different. We have had different experiences and lived in many different places, giving us each a unique eye and view. Having been apart for the past eight years and just now being in the same place, the challenge of communication is present but manageable. We have learned to respect each other more as business partners and not just as sisters. It has been an enriching experience.

What do you love about having a shop in The Mill on Etowah?

Michaela: We love history. Jessica has a bachelor's degree in American history from Kennesaw State, and I have a degree in art history from Kennesaw State. It is so special to be in a space with so much history. We love hearing the stories as people come into our shop and share about the building and the mill. It seems like the building has had so many lives, and we are so grateful to be a part of restoring it and bringing it to life for our generation to enjoy.

What is your philosophy about how flowers enrich life?

Flowers remind us of the need for beauty in your life. Natural beauty to us has always been the most restoring. We find the joy that flowers bring to be an unmatched sensation. Our design philosophy is to work with the flowers, not against them. Every stem is different and uniquely formed. Working with flowers teaches us an adaptability that creates a much more peaceful and joyful life.

This article was featured in the Historic Canton magazine. Read more.