Best-in-class, uniquely handcrafted floral arrangements now are available locally via the recently opened French Florist boutique, operated by Westfield residents and business partners Joe Viater and Kadi Miller. The new Northside boutique, located at 1514 W. 86th St., is the first Midwest location launched by the luxury shop's Los Angeles-headquartered CEO Michael Jacobson.
"Having grown up in Carmel, this new endeavor and location feels like my backyard," says Viater. "With the local investment in arts and design, I believed the outstanding quality and elegance of French Florist's vibrant floral arrangements that I saw on the West Coast while attending graduate school would perfectly match the values and mindset of the Carmel community. I've never seen such eye-catching flowers before. And, I felt deeply passionate about bringing beauty to everyday life with intentionality."
A beauty-enhanced sentiment runs in the family. Viater says his stepfather filled the basement of their family's house with 200-plus orchids. "He had greenhouse-style shelves and rows of orchids. He would swap out various orchids so they could make appearances in different parts of our house. Because of him, I had respect for growing delicate types of flowers but I never dreamed of having a floral business. Yet, his orchids spoke to me, and to this day, flowers engage all of my senses."
As a flower farmer with his own green thumb, Miller's father inspired and influenced her interests in flowers. The former art teacher has been practicing the art of floral design since 2021. “Flowers are the universal language of love,” she explains. “They help people express joy, comfort and connection. For me, it’s deeply personal because my dad grew flowers, and after he passed, the first arrangement I ever made was for his funeral. Now, I get to continue that legacy and love of flowers with our Indianapolis community.”
She says flowers communicate when people can't find the right words for life's developments, especially to convey their deep love or grief. "Giving the gift of flowers speaks volumes. I enjoy flowers as self-expression or creativity, and it offers a meaningful opportunity to intentionally blend community building with artful design.”
Miller says the flowers come from all over the world, including Ecuador and Holland, and that over a year's time, they will offer 300-plus seasonal arrangements. "We have access to so many beautiful flowers by being part of the French Florist family, plus we're eager to work with local flower farmers for seasonal blooms."
Because orchids are typically included in nearly every French Florist cut-stem arrangement, Miller says they lovingly add individual water tubes or vials to each bloom to help extend their freshness.
“French Florist embodies everything I was looking for in a business: authenticity, emotion and genuine connection,” says Viater. “It’s a premium brand that perfects every detail yet never loses sight of what truly matters, which is bringing smiles and genuine connections to the communities we serve. That’s what makes French Florist so special."
Founded in 1978, French Florist is now a premier, floral powerhouse network offering iconic, luxury arrangements, designer vases and gift items, accompanied by same‑day local delivery and backed by more than 5,000 five‑star customer reviews and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The shop's name and resulting creations are inspired by the European concept of "every day in bloom," where they are plants known for having very long or repetitive flowering periods. With 45-plus years of design expertise, French Florist professionals serve occasions ranging from birthdays to sympathy and holidays with fresh, artfully designed bouquets.
Franchise owners Miller and Viater opened the boutique at the end of November and scheduled to celebrate its grand opening on Jan. 30, 2026. They confirm that they went to Los Angeles to work with a team of certified trainers.
“Flowers have this rare power to say what words can’t,” reminds Miller. “Every arrangement tells a story, and we’re honored to bring that storytelling to Carmel and the Indy region.”
French Florist Carmel
As business partners of French Florist for the Carmel/Indianapolis region, Joe Viater and Kadi Miller have known each other for years, due to Viater's wife, Mollie, being close friends with Miller since middle school. When the opportunity to bring French Florist to Indiana emerged, the two saw it as the perfect collaboration: Miller's floral artistry and community ties paired with Viater's business acumen and growth mindset. The 1,600-square-foot boutique offers custom-created floral arrangements and seamless delivery options. With additional plans to expand into Columbus and Cincinnati, the franchisee pair indicate they hope to make French Florist a staple for meaningful celebrations and acts of everyday love across the Midwest.