In this climate, I find it hard not to use house plants. We live in a climate where plants are plentiful and beautiful. Plants will add liveliness and freshness to your abode. Plants are less expensive than furniture and will add pizzazz to any setting in home. And remember that plants, like books, can be the secret to having that final lived in touch you are looking for.
One of the greatest things about plants is that there is virtually no space they can’t fill. There is no piece of furniture, no corner that cannot be softened, and no setting that cannot be improved upon by the complimentary placement of stunning local foliage.
Would you be better getting an artificial plant? Some people won’t be here for months at a time or are only here a few months a year. If you don’t have a staff to care for your home, and water your plants, this could be a solution. Artificial plants give the illusion without the maintenance.
Real or artificial, plants can be an important design element. Tall plants can divide rooms and create walls where there aren’t any and give you ultimate privacy in close quarters. I have seen plants of all sizes placed in containers that make them mobile room accessories (and in pots they are easy to clean). For a dramatic effect, place lights behind your plants to throw shadows and to illuminate the foliage day or night. Other options for lighting might include the placing of spots or down lighting on top of them. Many designers will place plants or massed flowers under down light to add brilliance and intensity to any room.
Sample Project
In a recent project we placed plants on either side of the home to keep the mirror balance between the two sides. We also used them to rope off a huge patio. This patio was about 1000 square feet. The trouble with 1000 square feet was the fact that it was just too big and boring. The plants gave this space a new life. There was a small pool on the terrace so we blocked that off with bushy plants and left just enough space to allow an access to the pool. On the adjacent side of the terrace we did the same thing, only in blocking a bedroom to allow for a suite. The terrace was reduced to about 800 square feet and gave us a small canvas to work with. We allowed for the necessary furniture arrangements and then continued this mirroring process with one plant on either side of the balcony for building balance. Below is a drawing diagram of before and after design of this project.
That’s all for this month, don’t be afraid of plants. There are few things that can bring so much life into your home. Try moving a few plants around and you will surprise yourself with all the possibilities.
