We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paola Castillo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Paola thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Floral Grounds came from a really personal place. When I was going through my divorce and living in Nashville, I’d get flowers from Amelia’s Flower Truck and a coffee from Honest Coffee every Sunday. That little ritual became something I looked forward to every week. It gave me peace and helped me feel grounded during a time when everything felt heavy.

When I moved, I didn’t want to lose that. I wanted to create something that captured that same calm energy and share it with other people. The name is a play on coffee grounds and florals, but for me it’s deeper than that—it’s about how flowers have always helped me feel centered. When I’m designing, my mind quiets and I feel fully present.

That’s what I want people to feel when they interact with Floral Grounds. Just a small moment of calm. A reason to pause and enjoy the vibe.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Paola Nicole, the owner and floral vibe curator behind Floral Grounds. I started this studio as a way to hold onto a feeling I really needed—peace, beauty, and something to look forward to. During a really difficult season of my life, I would go to Amelia’s Flower Truck and Honest Coffee every Sunday in Nashville. That simple ritual—flowers and coffee—helped me reset. It gave me calm when everything else felt loud.

That’s where the idea for Floral Grounds came from. The name is a nod to both florals and coffee grounds, but it’s also about how grounded and present flowers make me feel. When I’m designing, I’m not anxious or in my head—I’m just there, in the moment. That’s what I try to give people through my work.

Floral Grounds is a whimsically moody floral studio. I design florals for pop-ups, intimate events, installations, and collaborations with other local businesses. I’m drawn to storytelling through flowers—using texture, tone, and movement to create a whole vibe, not just a pretty arrangement. Whether it’s a bouquet or a full install, I want it to feel emotional and intentional, like something you’ll remember days later.

What sets me apart is that I don’t chase trends. I build around feeling. I care deeply about the energy and experience someone has when they interact with my work. It’s not about being picture-perfect—it’s about making someone feel something.

I’m proud that I’ve built all of this from the ground up—while balancing a full-time job, life changes, and moments where I wasn’t sure I could keep going. Floral Grounds came from a place of healing, and it’s helped me grow into who I am now.

What I want people to know is: this isn’t just flowers. It’s care. It’s presence. It’s vibes you can feel in your chest. Whether you’re walking past a pop-up, holding a bouquet, or just following along online—I hope it makes you pause, breathe, and feel something good.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Back in 2018, I read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne, and honestly, it changed the way I look at life, business, and what’s possible for me. I’ve always been creative, but I used to doubt my skills and question whether I was good enough to actually do anything with them. That book helped me shift that. It gave me the audacity to believe that if I was thinking about something—if I could picture a version of myself living that life—it meant it was already meant for me.

It also taught me to release control over outcomes. My mindset now is: everything works out in my favor, even if it doesn’t look how I expected. That way of thinking has shaped how I approach Floral Grounds, how I navigate hard days, and how I trust the timing of everything.

Have you ever had to pivot?

In 2020, I was working as a contractor for an aeronautical company, and the job was 100% travel. When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, I lost that job pretty suddenly and had to figure out my next move. With travel up in the air—literally—I decided to lean into the skills I already had. I have a degree in digital marketing and advertising, so I started doing social media management for small businesses.

That pivot taught me a lot about resourcefulness and trusting myself creatively. And honestly, coming from a military background, pivoting isn’t new to me. I’ve always had to adapt when plans didn’t go as expected. It’s just part of how I move through life—stay grounded, shift if needed, and keep building forward

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paolanicole.co/floral-grounds
• Instagram: @floral.grounds