Today we’d like to introduce you to Chhavi Punia.
Hi Chhavi, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Westport Centerpiece very organically. Before this, I worked in technology as a systems analyst, but after spending years focused on raising my children, I realized I deeply missed creating something with my hands and bringing beauty into everyday spaces.
It began very simply — helping friends and neighbors with seasonal planters and outdoor spaces. I loved seeing how a beautiful planter could completely change the feeling of a home and make people genuinely happy every time they walked through their front door. One project slowly turned into another through referrals, relationships, and community support.
Today, I create seasonal outdoor planters, indoor plant styling, orchid arrangements, and moss art for homes and businesses around Fairfield County. I love mixing textures, flowers, grasses, evergreens, and unexpected elements to create designs that feel personal, natural, and full of life.
The journey has been exciting, emotional, and honestly a little unexpected. I never started with a big business plan — I simply followed something I truly loved doing. What means the most to me is the trust my clients place in me and hearing how these spaces make them feel. I still get excited every time I start a new planter because, to me, every home has its own story, and I love trying to reflect that through my work.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building this business hasn’t been a completely smooth road. After spending years focused on raising my children, stepping back into a creative career was both exciting and intimidating. I had to rebuild confidence in myself and learn how to turn something I loved into a real business.
I was born and raised in Delhi, so adapting to the plants, weather, and gardening conditions here was a huge learning experience. The seasons and environment were completely different from what I grew up with. Joining the UConn Master Gardener Program helped me tremendously and gave me a deeper understanding of plants and the local environment.
Another big lesson was learning to value my work properly. When you’re creative and passionate, it’s easy to focus only on the artistic side and forget the planning, experience, physical work, and care behind every installation. Over time, I became more confident in understanding the value I bring to my clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
II’m the owner and creative person behind Westport Centerpiece, where I design custom seasonal planters and plant styling for homes and businesses.
My whole design philosophy is centered around one belief: “Every place has its own story.” I believe outdoor spaces, businesses, cafés, and homes should feel personal and reflect the people who live or work there, rather than look copied or generic. Through my creative approach, I try to bring that story to life using plants, textures, colors, and seasonal layers that feel natural, lush, and unique to each space.
What I’m most proud of is building my business organically through relationships, trust, referrals, and repeat clients over the years. For me, the most meaningful part is when clients come back season after season and trust me to creatively transform their spaces in a way that feels welcoming, personal, and full of life.
How do you define success?
For me, success has never been only about business or numbers. It’s the feeling when a client sends me a photo weeks later saying their planters still make them happy, or when someone trusts me enough to say, “Just do what you think is beautiful.” That kind of trust means everything to me.
It also means so much when someone tells me, “I saw your work at my friend’s place and had to call you,” or when clients come back season after season because they trust my creativity and care. I feel most successful when my work brings joy into someone’s everyday life — when a front entrance feels more welcoming, a backyard feels more peaceful, or an office feels warmer and more inviting. Even something as simple as a planter making someone smile every time they walk by it means a lot to me. Those little moments are what truly make this work meaningful for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://westportcenterpiece.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westportcenterpiece/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chhavi.terrarium/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhavi-punia-4216218b
