One of Laura’s favourite sayings is, “Teamwork makes the Dream work”; and this week’s blog will absolutely prove this to be true! Laura is renowned for killing every single plant she has ever owned. She once put a succulent in the oven at 100deg to dry it out after overwatering it. Needless to say, that didn’t work out much to her disappointment and inspiration from the Albuquerque desert (holler Breaking Bad fans).

THANKFULLY, Rachel Pace, Interior Designer here at Birdblack Design is a budding florist. With her knowledge and knowhow, and Laura’s writing skills; we may have a winning blog on our hands!

Let’s dive straight in…

This Green Wall at our ‘Benjamin Residence’ features close to 100 plants! Interior Design & Furniture Curation: Birdblack Design Building Design: South Coast Building Design Build: Saltbox Building Co Photography: The Palm Co Videography: PipeWolf Media

Lush and beautiful greenery currently inundates our social media feeds, from stylish homes to commercial properties and everything in between. These admired interior images promote a sense of health and wellbeing in the observer and we are all too willing to implement something similar into our own homes.

Our latest Commercial Design, ‘The Back Dr’, features a Green Wall in the Massage Station, as well as plants all throughout the clinic. Interior Design & Furniture Curation: Birdblack Design Photography: Better Together Photography Co

Plants are not only aesthetically pleasing, but come with a plethora of other beneficial factors:

*They clean household air and help us breathe cleaner and clearer air

*They remind us to the beauty of nature as we sit within a manmade, technology-driven world

*Studies indicate the presence of nature indoors can boost productivity and concentration

No Modern Industrial Kitchen is complete without different form of live greenery. ‘Sandy-Foot Residence’ showing us how it’s done. Interior Design & Furniture Curation: Birdblack Design Building Design & Build: GN Williams Custom Homes Photography: Better Together Photography Co Videography: PipeWolf Media

Despite their natural form, colour and texture, live greenery is not always picture perfect. These beautiful plants aren’t always a walk in the park to care for. As plants age and grow, there maybe periods of declining health.

At this point of plant life, there are two types of people:

1.      Those that neglect their plants (they wither and die)

2.      Those who over-care, including overwatering (Laura: bless her)

The epitome of luxury in the Master Suite at ‘Benwerrin Residence’ with this majestic Monstera sitting regally upon the plinth. Interior Design: Birdblack Design Building Design: Moshonis Building Designers & Engineers Build: JPM Project Management Joinery Manufacture: L and J Joinery Shoot Stylist: Birdblack Design Photography: Better Together Photo Co Videography: PipeWolf Media

Undoubtedly, a little research goes a long way towards your plant selection including light requirements, temperature, watering and fertilising requirements.

The Patient’s Kitchenette at ‘The Back Dr’. That’s right – even our clients’ patients are cared for when Birdblack Design are at the helm. Interior Design & Furniture Curation: Birdblack Design Photography: Better Together Photography Co

To help you build your indoor plant family, our hero of the day, Rachel, has listed five easy-to-care-for indoor plants, as well as some styling tips. These plants will grace your interior with their natural beauty and will be less likely to wreak havoc.

Quite the entrance at ‘Benjamin Residence’ with seasonal plants being able to be swapped in and out of the planters on the treads. Interior Design & Furniture Curation: Birdblack Design Building Design: South Coast Building Design Build: Saltbox Building Co Photography: The Palm Co Videography: PipeWolf Media

Devil’s Ivy (featured in ‘Sandy-Foot Residence’ and ‘The Back Dr’)

  • Perfect for training up a pole, as well as styling shelves and side table
  • Lighting: Bright and light
  • Watering: Keep soil moist
  • Fertiliser: Feed monthly

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Monstera (featured in ‘Benwerrin Residence’ and ‘Sandy-Foot Residence’)

  • The distinct ‘Swiss Cheese’ foliage creates a focal point. Perfect for shelves or floor plants in the Living Rooms of the home, or Reception in Commercial spaces
  • Lighting: Bright and light
  • Watering: Keep moist in warmer months and allow plant to dry out between watering in the cooler months
  • Fertiliser: Feed monthly

 

Rubber Plant (featured in ‘Benjamin Residence’ and ‘The Back Dr’)

  • Large plants with rubbery, glossy leaves are ideal as floor plants in Living Areas or smaller plants on side tables or buffets
  • Lighting: indirect light
  • Watering: Keep moist in warmer months and allow plant to dry out between watering in the cooler months
  • Fertiliser: Feed monthly
  • BONUS NOTE: can bounce back from short periods of neglect. YAY!

 

Boston Fern (featured in ‘The Back Dr’ and ‘Benjamin Residence’)

  • Able to withstand fluctuating temperatures and moisture levels, making it a perfect plant to style in a hanging basket in a Bathroom, Laundry or Waiting Room
  • Lighting: moderate to bright light. Rotate it during the week to ensure even exposure to light
  • Water: Keep soil moist at all times
  • Fertiliser: Fortnightly with diluted fertiliser at half strength

 

Fiddle Leaf Fig (featured in ‘Benjamin Residence’)

  • A little more of a challenge than those mentioned above
  • Ideal as floor plants in Living Areas, Receptions and Waiting Rooms
  • Lighting: Indirect light and small amounts of direct light
  • Water: once topsoil has dried
  • Fertiliser: Feed monthly
Even the Bathroom at ‘The Back Dr’ features greenery. Interior Design & Furniture Curation: Birdblack Design Photography: Better Together Photography Co

We hope this has been insightful and helpful to you. A huge THANK YOU to Rachel, and plenty of well-wishes from Laura on your live greenery ventures!
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If you need more help, you know where to find us.

Talk soon,
BD x