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Online course: Home Styling and Decoration with Plants

Post author By Judith de Graaff
Post date 3 February 2022

Have you ever wondered where to start when you decided your life needed more plants? Which plants to go for? How to style your space on a budget? Which plant pot to get for your plants? Where to find that big giant Ficus elastica? Or which brands make the coolest plant pots? We have got you covered in our new Domestika course “Home Styling and Decoration with Plants“. We included as much information, styling tricks and plant tips as we could to create a chock full online course for any plant lover. It is particularly focused on beginning plant lovers, but we believe it will also be fun if you’ve been living with plants for quite a while.

Why Domestika?

Working with Domestika has been a breeze: they cater the best creative courses to a global audience. On their online platform you can learn anything from learning new digital skills, craft, presentation techniques, illustration, architecture and fashion courses. And their courses are not just available in the native language of the teachers, they are available with subtitles in many different languages. With our own global audience this was important for us: we like to keep our course affordable and easy to understand for every plant lover around the world. Also, Domestika courses are not just a quick Zoom course shot at home: they are professionally produced in the Domestika studios. We filmed our lessons in Madrid, Spain and it was amazing to work with a talented and very motivated crew. Often we would leave at the end of the day and the film team would still be shooting B-roll with the many plants that were at our disposal. And when we worked on the final setup, the entire office came in to have a peek: plants are attractive!

What’s in it for you?

In this Domestika course “Home Styling and Decoration with Plants” we will first welcome you and tell you a little bit about our professional background and how we approach plant styling. We also share our biggest influences and sources of inspiration.
You will get an overview of interior styling with plants and how to find your own signature style. Learn about the foundations of “happy plants” and how to keep them healthy in the long run. We will then take you on a room-by-room guide to show you the different ways you can incorporate plants into any room of your home.
Then you will start planning your urban jungle by analyzing your interior space and learning some simple decor rules and tricks. Next, create a mood board to start defining your style and design. We will then give you tips on shopping for plants and plant accessories.
Time to roll up your sleeves and start decorating. Learn how to use your floor space for a variety of plant arrangements. Discover how to combine the right plant with specific pieces of furniture before exploring various ways to incorporate hanging plants into different rooms. Then see both of us in action as they apply our knowledge and previous techniques to an example living room.
Wrap up the course by hearing some of our practical tips on photography for social media and how to share your plant-filled room. We share some final plant care tips and expand on how to connect with the online community of plant lovers.

What do you need?

No previous knowledge is required to take our course, but the main ingredient you “should” bring is: motivation! Then you simply need plants and plant accessories, like pots and hangers, for styling. If you start from scratch, we recommend getting the materials after taking the course, so you have the design finalized first.

You now get 50% OFF using our link!

When you sign up now, until the official launch on February 9th, you will get 50% off the price of the course. It starts on February 9th, but you can do all the courses at your own place, from the comfort of your home (or office, park bench, public transport… basically anywhere!). You will have unlimited access forever. SIGN UP HERE. See you in class or in the Domestika Forum where you can ask us all the questions you may have.

Tags domestika, domestika course, Home Styling and Decoration with Plants, houseplant course, styling with plants, Urban Jungle Bloggers, urbanjunglebloggers

Planty Inspiration Planty Product Uncategorized

World of Plants for USM Haller – A Vintage Berlin Home

Post author By Igor Josifovic
Post date 2 December 2021

Today we want to take you on another home story for our ‘A World of Plants for USM Haller’ campaign. We have taken you on a tour of a green home office in Berlin, a southern French hallway design, and now we want to show you a collected Berlin home with strong vintage vibes – of course equipped with the new USM plant shelves.

Some of you might recognize Theo from our Plant Tribe book – after all, she is a real plant lover just like us. She also loves interior styling – with a special knack for collected, vintage pieces. Her Berlin apartment is a treasure trove with vintage furniture, natural materials, ceramics, art, books, tactile surfaces. And right there, in this vintage home, a beautiful new USM shelf found its place – with two dedicated plant shelf units and the integrated USM Haller E light panels.

Theo opted for a almost ceiling high USM shelf consisting of three 50cm wide units. Her color of choice is the soft beige which perfectly accentuates the natural color palette in her home. What we love in particular in this home story is that it showcases how a USM shelf fits in any kind of interior style – even a more vintage inspired home. Not to mention that the integrated plant pots and plants do the trick here, too.

This is plant happiness combines with stylish furniture design – and the best: all of it is – typical USM Haller – modular and can be changed, rearranged, newly combined, and styled to your very personal liking and taste. And the plant shelves come in all kind of USM solutions – from big shelves to sideboards or bar carts. Get creative with the World of Plants for USM Haller!

Check out the World of Plants for USM Haller here for further information, ideas, products and shopping opportunities.

Photography by Jules Villbrandt

Tags berlin home story, theodora melnik, Urban Jungle Bloggers, urbanjunglebloggers, USM Haller, vintage berlin home, World of Plants

Hotel Planty Product

World of Plants for USM Haller – A Southern French hallway

Post author By Judith de Graaff
Post date 26 August 2021

We are firm believers in the positive power of plants – plants help us relax, but they also help us to focus, get more creative, and find inspiration. In our book PLANT TRIBE we have delved into the strong power of plants when it comes to being creative. We pledge that you surround yourself with nature in order to trigger your creativity and boost inspiration. Hence, plants in (home) offices are the way to go! And thanks to the new plant modules from Swiss design brand USM Haller you can now combine a piece of design furniture with your love for plants.

To celebrate the launch of the new USM Haller plant modules and their campaign ‘A World of Plants for USM Haller’ we have teamed up with USM to show you four home stories where plant enthusiasts live, create, work, meet and celebrate life surrounded by nature. These features will come over the course of this year to bring you more ideas on how to live happily ever after with plants.

The second home story takes us to the new home in the South of France of our co-founder Judith de Graaff. Judith is the co-author of both our books, Urban Jungle and Plant Tribe, and founded the Urban Jungle Bloggers community together with Igor Josifovic-Kemper in 2013. In Judith’s new home in the Ardèche, the spacious entry and hallway lacked structure and functionality. As a connecting space between entry, living room, kitchen, and all bedrooms of the home, the hallway was mostly used by her cats to play and run around. Lot of precious floor and storage space was left unused as well. Thus, a full shelving unit from USM Haller was the best option to combine design, space for storage as well as display, and a stylish solution for Judith’s houseplants.

The USM Haller shelving unit includes three new plant modules. Each plant module features three integrated plant pots with a watering set, consisting of a pot insert and water level indicator. There is no need for worries about dripping water or soggy plant roots – the simple yet smart watering insert and the indicators help you water your plants when needed without overwatering and without any spilling. Additionally, the plant pots come in two varieties: Basalt or Terracotta, as Judith has chosen for her white USM Haller shelving unit.

The entry and hallway of Judith’s home in the South of France has a bright and sunny vibe. Lots of natural light comes in through the big windows, filtered by striped blinds that add a touch of “holiday” to the space, a hint to the surroundings of the house: a popular holiday destination. Two oversized mirrors reflect the light throughout the hallway and complement the white facades and metal grid of the USM Haller shelves. On the rear end of the shelves, a USM Haller book display unit allows to show off the Plant Tribe and Urban Jungle books, and it also has a convenient storage behind to keep the international language editions of the books.

USM Haller shelves added multifunctionality to Judith’s hallway: there’s a coat rack as well as a wide bench to read or hang out with the cats (or spoil them with cat candy before bedtime). The plant modules are home to nine large plants that match the light situation of the hallway. The Alocasia sarawakensis, Philodendron birkin and Chamaedorea elegans soak up the largest amounts of light on the rear end closest to the windows, as where the Thaumatophyllum xanadu, Ficus robusta and Homalomena get only indirect light and the large Schefflera thrives in semi-shade near the bench. For everyone who lives with plants and pets: the USM plant modules are ideal too: with the big pots neatly stuck into the plant modules, there is no risk of cats or dogs tipping over the pots.

Check out the World of Plants for USM Haller here for further information, ideas, products and shopping opportunities.

Photography by Marta Puglia

Tags ardeche, Home story, judith de graaff, marta puglia, plant shelves, plantshelfie, saint-remèze, Surround yourself with nature, Urban Jungle Bloggers, USM, USM Haller, World of Plants

Planty Product

World of Plants for USM Haller – A Berlin Home Office

Post author By Igor Josifovic
Post date 19 May 2021

The first home story takes us to the new Berlin home of our co-founder Igor Josifovic-Kemper. Igor is the co-author of both our books, Urban Jungle and Plant Tribe, and founded the Urban Jungle Bloggers community together with Judith de Graaff in 2013. In Igor’s new apartment one room has to fulfill two roles – the role of a home office as well as a guest room. Thus, a full shelving unit from USM Haller was the best option to combine design, space for storage as well as display, and a stylish solution for Igor’s houseplants.

The USM Haller shelving unit includes three new plant modules. Each plant module features three integrated plant pots with a watering set, consisting of a pot insert and water level indicator. There is no need for worries about dripping water or soggy plant roots – the simple yet smart watering insert and the indicators help you water your plants when needed without overwatering and without any spilling. Additionally, the plant pots come in two varieties: Terracotta or Basalt, as Igor has chosen for his beige USM Haller shelving unit.

The home office/guest room in Igor’s Berlin apartment has an earthy and natural vibe. The abundance of beige and the metal grid of the USM Haller shelves are contrasted by the organic shapes and colors of the plants. The USM Haller E adds another highlight: the integrated light panels highlight styling arrangements and by dimming the light create a zen-like atmosphere to unwind and make the guests feel more than comfortable in this green guest room. Moreover, the shelving unit hides a sliding working desk and an additional, second desk by opening one of the storage modules.

When it comes to plants, Igor’s tips for the USM Haller plant modules is simple yet practical: select your plants according to the light situation of the plant modules. Two of Igor’s plant modules are placed on the right side of the shelving unit. This side is closer to the window with bright indirect light, while a third plant module is placed on the left end where there is only semi-shade. For the semi-shade corner Igor opted for a Snake plant, a ZZ plant and a variegated Monstera. The plant modules on the right feature a Calathea Burle Marxii, a Calathea ornata and a Heliconia, and the module closest to the window hosts a Begonia maculata, a Philodendron Tortum, and a Philodendron Billietiae.

Check out the World of Plants for USM Haller here for further information, ideas, products and shopping opportunities.

Photography by Jules Villbrandt

Tags Berlin, Home story, plant shelves, Surround yourself with nature, USM Haller, World of Plants

Planty Inspiration

Houseplant Travel to South Africa

Post author By Judith de Graaff
Post date 19 April 2021

While there is hope and optimism on the horizon as the easing of lockdown approaches, there’s still uncertainty about the possibility of travelling abroad this year. According to the Amex Trend report, people are missing travel so much that it’s taking an emotional toll and impacting their wellbeing, with nearly half (48%) of respondents citing that not being able to travel makes them feel anxious and stressed. We partnered with The Joy of Plants for our latest project to reveal how you can transform your home with houseplants to immerse yourself in another country, even if you’re planning a staycation at home.

The solution? Armchair travelling. The concept of armchair travel involves experiencing faraway places from the comfort of your own home – whether that’s reading a book, watching a documentary, or listening to the music from a particular country to immerse yourself in the sights and sounds without stepping a single foot outside your front door.

With many restrictions still in place and no sign of them easing soon, we want to showcase the power of Houseplant Travel. Houseplant Travel involves embracing native houseplants from countries across the world and pairing them with signature interior design trends to transform a space in your home and transport you to the shores of a faraway destination. Creating two distinct and beautiful looks, Igor took inspiration from Brazil while Judith chose South Africa. We both authentically capture the flora and style of each country, with houseplants firmly in the spotlight. Let’s kick off with our second destination: South Africa!

Can you tell us more about the look you have created?

JUDITH: For this look inspired by South Africa, I turned our guestroom into a cozy lush jungle. A place where you can sit down, chat, read a book and enjoy being surrounded by all the different plants from South Africa. A comfortable place with beautiful textiles and natural materials like linen, jute and cotton and a lovely plant shelfie with some smaller plants and handmade terracotta items.

What inspired you to choose South Africa?

JUDITH: When I think of travel, I instantly think of lush plants like palms, banana trees and plants with big leaves like Strelitzia. Strelitzia is a genus of five species of perennial plants that are native to South Africa, so that was my starting part. Being born and raised in the Netherlands, hearing South African slang in Afrikaans always makes me smile. And then there is contemporary South African design: it’s such an interesting mix of graphic shapes and craftsmanship. Styling this cozy jungle made me want to travel to South Africa even more!

What are your favourite houseplants to feature in the look and why?

JUDITH: My absolute favorites in this look are all the Strelitzia plants, the augusta, nicolai and reginae. I love their elegant leaf shapes and hard to miss: their cool tropical Bird of Paradise flowers! Another favorite is the Protea, the national flower of South Africa, that grows on small bush-size plants that thrive on sunny balconies or in the garden. And once the flowers are wilting, Protea also look really nice in dried bouquets.

How are elements of South Africa reflected in the design and styling?

JUDITH: South Africa is represented in almost all the items in the final styling! The large wall panel is the centerpiece of the room: it’s a beautiful linen piece designed by South African designer Amanda du Plessis for Evolution Product. It features an image from a rare book of historic pressed Sea Algae from the South African oceans by William Tyson, from 1908. The handwoven baskets for the Strelitzia, ZZ plant and Aloe aculeata were also created in South Africa: for the ZZ plant I picked a basket with a black & white zig-zag pattern and I love how the porcupine structure of one of the other baskets, made of palm leaves, matches the spikes of the Aloe aculeata. Contemporary textiles from South African brand Skinny LaMinx complete the look.

What is a unique feature or quality of houseplants native to South Africa?

JUDITH: When working on this project I realized there is such a big variety of plants that are native to South Africa: who would have thought that a String of Pearls originates from the same country as an Euphorbia ingens? I think their best quality is that South African plants are a good mix of very common and very exclusive plants: for example plants like a Kalanchoe rotundifolia or Zamioculcas zamiifolia are easy to find in most garden centers here in Europe, but then you have more special species like the ZZ black raven or the soft velvet-y Kalanchoe tomentosa. There is something for any plant lover!

What is your top styling tip houseplants native to South Africa?

JUDITH: Pair your plants with graphic and outspoken shapes, both in patterns on textiles and woven baskets, as well as in small furniture like stools and plant stands. Keep your colour palette limited to black and white/beige neutrals. Then let the orange hues of the handmade terracotta pots, and the bright orange Strelitzia and Aloe blooms add a vibrant pop of colour to your South African urban jungle.

What is your top care tip for houseplants native to South Africa?

JUDITH: Most South African plants love sunshine. Keep your plants close to a sunny window, or place them in the window sill. Once the temperatures go up, take your plants outside if you can, and let them soak up some well-deserved sunshine! Just make sure they don’t get a sunburn, move them gradually towards more light. Also, try to propagate your ZZ plant: simply cut off a branch at the base of your plant (with a clean knife) and place the cut stem in a small vase with water. Change the water every few weeks, and make sure there is no mold growing. Place the cutting near a window for bright indirect light. When your cutting has grown a rhizome and at least 4 cm of new roots, it’s time to repot!

In your opinion, how do houseplants help us ‘travel’ and achieve that holiday feeling from home?

JUDITH: Especially right now, when traveling is nearly impossible, bringing in one or more extra large plants that add an instant jungle vibe to your home, is a game changer. Also, spending time taking care of your plants, truly helps to unwind and relax, whether it’s from a busy day on Zoom, or a hectic day at the office. A mini break that helps to nurture your well-being as well as your creativity. Almost like a little holiday.

What would be your main advice for those wanting to recreate this look at home?

JUDITH: Start big! Maybe don’t go all out with dozen of plants like in my South African nook, but go for one (or two) big mature Strelitzia plants. Find them a beautiful plant pot or a handwoven basket that hides the saucer, add a stool with a cool zig zag shape and place it next to your favorite lounge chair or sofa. Offer yourself one Protea flower, or a bouquet, just for the sake of its beauty, pour yourself a drink, grab your favorite book, feet up and enjoy! Or even better: veel plesier!

If you could choose another country to (houseplant) travel to, what one would it be and why?

JUDIT: If I could hop on a plane right now I’d go to Arizona or Mexico to admire all cacti in their natural habitat. The variety of cactus plants growing there in the wild is mindblowing and I would love to see it with my own eyes one day. Cacti are probably my favorite plants and are such cool creatures that survive in such hostile environments by minimizing any waterloss. They store water inside their body and their skin’s waxy coating helps retain water. Most cactus spines function as condensation collectors, not just to keep nozy human fingers from touching them 😉

Blogpost created in collaboration with The Joy of Plants.

Photography by Pomelo Studio

Tags armchair traveling, houseplant travel, Houseplants, houseplants from south africa, jungle plants, native south african plants, south africa, south african botanicals, south african plants, Urban Jungle Bloggers