An indoor garden blooms inside a new architect-designed Brooklyn coffee shop

Chyelle Milgrom, a UI/UX designer and eco interior designer, transformed her Brooklyn loft into a vibrant home filled with unique, budget-friendly pieces. After enduring three years in a windowless New York City apartment, Milgrom meticulously planned her next move, prioritizing a window in every room, a bathtub, and in-unit laundry. She recognized that in NYC, with a limited budget, she would likely have to compromise on some of these desires. In 2020, Milgrom embarked on an extensive month-long apartment hunt, navigating through numerous unsatisfactory options. Despite the challenges, she maintained her determination to create a beautiful living space. When she finally found a three-bedroom rental in Brooklyn, it was in a deplorable state, reeking of unpleasant odors and covered in mold. However, Milgrom saw past the initial condition, recognizing its potential and the opportunity to personalize it, leading her to sign the lease that very day. Milgrom's design philosophy is an eclectic mix, drawing inspiration from Bauhaus, Parsons, Contemporary Bohemian, Organic Modernism, and Eclecticism. Her primary source for furniture and decor is Facebook Marketplace, a platform she mastered out of necessity due to budget constraints. She proudly refers to herself as a "Facebook-market thrifting king," having curated a collection of unique pieces with interesting stories and histories. Many of her prominent furniture items, such as the Mario Bellini Camaleonda sofa, Milo Baughman coffee table, IKEA BESTA cabinets, West Elm leather sofa, Wassily chair, standing ball ashtray, Eames lounge chair, and a tulip dining table, were all sourced from Facebook Marketplace. Other finds include folding chrome chairs from Reuse America NY and a Roly Poly cookie jar from the 1940s discovered at Goodwill. Since moving into the 970-square-foot loft with her roommate, Cris, Milgrom has undertaken significant renovations and DIY projects. She successfully transformed a small corner bedroom into a dining area by removing a wall, a project she anticipated for two and a half years while collecting various Danish shelving units, dining tables, and chairs. She also renovated the bathroom to include a tub, installed a washer and dryer, retiled the kitchen counters and backsplash, and designed two custom steel ladders to access the lofted spaces that now serve as a painting studio and a spare bedroom. Furthermore, she built a catio for her two cats, Qadir and Martin, and implemented a clever pulley system using carabiners and nylon rope for her extensive collection of indoor plants, allowing her to utilize the unit's 13-foot ceilings and maximize space. Milgrom's Instagram account, @fbmarketslut, chronicles her thrifting successes and aims to inspire others to create beautiful homes regardless of budget. #BrooklynLoft #InteriorDesign #DIYHomeDecor #FacebookMarketplaceFinds #EclecticStyle #BudgetDecor #PlantWall #HomeRenovation #Thrifting

Integrating indoor plants into a living room can significantly enhance its aesthetic appeal and introduce natural elements into the home environment. Plants offer a variety of benefits, including adding pops of color, serving as sculptural accents, and contributing to a more lively atmosphere. The selection of plants varies greatly in terms of size, shape, color, and care requirements, making it possible to find suitable options for different living space aesthetics and individual preferences. One popular choice is the Dieffenbachia, known for its variegated leaves with silver centers. While visually striking, it contains a toxic sap that necessitates careful placement, especially in homes with pets or children. This plant thrives in medium light and requires watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, eventually reaching up to 10 feet in height and 3 feet in width. Snake Plants are celebrated for their ease of care and diverse varieties, featuring green-banded or striped leaves often bordered with yellow or cream. They are highly adaptable, tolerating conditions from full sun to shade, and prefer their soil to dry completely between waterings, growing up to 3 feet tall. For a touch of color, the Bird of Paradise offers vibrant orange blooms, though flowering typically begins when the plant is around six years old. It requires bright, indirect light and consistently moist, but not soggy, soil, potentially reaching 6 feet in height and 4 feet in width. The Kentia Palm, a historical fixture in Victorian parlors, is a slow-growing plant that adds an elegant touch to any living room corner. It needs bright, indirect light and watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, with a mature height of 10 feet. Corn Plants evoke tropical vibes with their thick green leaves and sturdy trunks, making them excellent corner pieces. They prefer bright, indirect light to partial shade and thrive when the soil is allowed to dry out completely between waterings, growing up to 4 feet tall. It is mildly toxic if ingested by pets or humans. The Cast Iron Plant is notable for its resilience, capable of surviving with infrequent watering and in darker corners, making it ideal for those without extensive gardening experience. It flourishes in partial to full shade and needs its soil to dry completely between waterings, reaching up to 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide. Monstera Deliciosa, a highly sought-after houseplant, features impressive growth and can be managed through trimming and propagation if it becomes too large. It requires bright, indirect light and watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, with mature plants reaching 8 feet in both height and width. This plant is toxic to pets if consumed. Marble Queen Pothos is a low-maintenance, trailing plant with striking variegated leaves, suitable for shelves or mantles. It prefers bright, indirect light to partial shade and needs watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, with vines capable of reaching 10 feet in length. It is also toxic to pets if ingested. The Chinese Money Plant is often associated with good fortune and is a popular housewarming gift. It thrives in bright, indirect light and when its soil is dry to the touch, growing to about 1 foot tall and wide. Fiddle-Leaf Figs are impactful due to their large leaves and can significantly enhance a living room's presence. They require bright, indirect light and watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, potentially reaching 10 feet tall. Initial leaf drop is normal. This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested. ZZ Plants are drought-tolerant due to their water-storing rhizomes, making them robust and slow-growing. They prefer partial shade to bright, indirect light and complete soil dryness between waterings, reaching 4 feet in height and width. The plant is toxic to both pets and humans if ingested. Swiss Cheese Plants, relatives of the Monstera Deliciosa, are recognized by their unique perforated leaves that allow light to penetrate to lower foliage. They look equally good trailing or climbing a moss pole. They need partial shade to bright, indirect light and watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, with vines growing up to 8 feet long. They are mildly toxic to pets if ingested. Satin Pothos is another excellent trailing plant, noted for its silver-spotted leaves that shimmer in the light. Best displayed in hanging baskets in a window, it can tolerate low light but thrives in bright, indirect light. It is drought-tolerant, requiring watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, with vines extending up to 8 feet. It is toxic if ingested. Red Chinese Evergreens introduce vibrant color to a living room, with foliage hues intensifying with more light exposure. They perform well in indirect light and need watering when the top two inches of soil are dry, reaching up to 2 feet tall. They are toxic to pets if ingested. Hoya Carnosa plants are admired for their beautiful, spherical tropical flowers and can be trained to vine or allowed to trail naturally. They tolerate bright, indirect light to partial shade and prefer consistently moist, but not soggy, soil, with vines growing up to 4 feet long. Triostar Stromanthe offers a striking display of pink, purple, white, and green foliage, with colors becoming richer under bright, indirect sunlight. It needs part sun and consistently moist, not soggy, soil, growing 2-3 feet tall. String of Nickels is a delicate, whimsical plant perfect for cascading from mantles or shelves. It prefers partial shade to medium light and its soil to dry between waterings, with vines growing up to 18 inches long. Elephant Ear plants make a bold statement with their large, striking leaves, available in various varieties. They require bright light and consistently moist, not soggy, soil, growing up to 6 feet tall and wide. They are toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Ultimately, these diverse plant options provide numerous ways to enhance the natural beauty and vitality of any living room. Each plant offers unique visual characteristics and specific care requirements, allowing individuals to choose plants that best fit their lifestyle and home decor. Proper attention to light, water, and toxicity is essential for maintaining healthy plants and a safe home environment. The integration of such plants transforms living spaces into more inviting and vibrant areas. In conclusion, selecting the right indoor plants is key to creating a dynamic and aesthetically pleasing living room, with options ranging from low-maintenance to visually dramatic, all contributing to an enriched home atmosphere. The information provided aims to guide individuals in making informed choices for their indoor plant collections, ensuring both beauty and well-being within their homes. #IndoorPlants #LivingRoomDecor #HouseplantCare #Greenery #HomeDecor

This article compiles a list of the top ten stores in Toronto specializing in indoor plants, catering to individuals who wish to bring nature into their living spaces. The selection aims to help residents, particularly those in smaller apartments or condos without outdoor gardens, find a variety of plants and related supplies. Promise Supply, located near Dundas and Roncesvalles, offers an extensive range of plants, pots, and care products. Their inventory includes pet-friendly options, indoor olive trees, snake plants, and indoor citrus trees, enabling customers to cultivate tangerines, lemons, limes, or grapefruits at home. Chive, situated on West Queen West, is noted for its pet-friendly indoor plants, a diverse array of cacti and bonsai, as well as decorative vases, hanging pots, and unique planters that complement their tropical plant selection. Stamen & Pistil Botanicals on Bloor Street is a prime destination for pre-potted plants, offering a substantial collection of cacti, tropical plants, and succulents. The store also provides terrariums and hosts workshops for those interested in creating their own. Urban Gardener, a charming establishment in the Junction Triangle, features indoor greenery such as cacti, succulents, and potted plants. Their horticulturalists offer assistance in planning plant arrangements to ensure the longevity and health of the plants. Sienna Flora, found in Little Portugal, is recognized for its curated selection of houseplants, ceramics, and essential plant care items, including both small and large plants, often housed in quirky ceramic containers. Jomo Studio, a contemporary garden center in Fort York, presents a wide array of houseplants and manufactures chic concrete planters. This planterior design studio carries air-purifying plants, bonsai, cacti, and succulents, and conducts workshops on creating succulent and concrete planters. Plant Society in Moss Park specializes in tropical houseplants and unique planters. It caters to novice plant owners by offering a range of easy-care plants and also stocks high-quality Bergs Potter pots, handcrafted in Tuscany. Quince Flowers, a Riverside store celebrated for its premium blooms, also provides a significant selection of indoor houseplants. They offer a monthly plant subscription service called Marveleaves, designed for enthusiasts of urban jungles. Finally, Crazy Plant Shop in East Chinatown sources and grows its indoor plants locally, offering snake plants, hanging baskets, and cacti. The store also features unique cement planters and textured pots in various colors and patterns. The article highlights these ten establishments as key resources for Torontonians seeking to enhance their indoor environments with plants, whether for aesthetic appeal, air purification, or simply to enjoy the presence of nature. #IndoorPlants #Toronto #PlantStores #HomeDecor #UrbanGardening #Houseplants #PetFriendlyPlants #PlantCare #Terrariums

This article explores 19 diverse methods for integrating houseplants into interior design, elevating them beyond mere accessories to become central decorative elements. It begins by suggesting the use of grouped large-leafed houseplants in entryways to create a striking focal point. Specific plant recommendations include Schefflera ‘Amate’, lipstick plant, Alocasia ‘Polly’, ‘Neon’ pothos, Swiss cheese vine, variegated wax plant, Alocasia ‘Regal Shields’, and split-leaf philodendron. The article notes that some plants, like ‘Neon’ pothos, can thrive in vases, rooting in water, while water-loving Alocasia can be potted without drainage. The guide then shifts to utilizing vertical space by recommending hanging plants, highlighting the return of 1970s-style macramé and the all-green spider plant for its modern aesthetic and cascading plantlets. These plants are described as resilient, tolerating varied light conditions, and requiring weekly watering until drainage. Another technique involves using unique plants like the Pseudobombax tree, which develops a swollen caudex when growth is restricted in a pot, creating a sculptural piece. This plant, native to Mexico, is suitable for a shallow pot and makes an interesting addition to areas like hallways, requiring consistent moisture and post-flowering pruning to manage its size. The article also covers incorporating small succulents into kitchen spaces, identifying aloe, dyckia, euphorbia, and sedum burrito as suitable indoor varieties due to their narrow footprints and low water requirements. For a more dramatic effect, the natal mahogany is proposed as an alternative to ficus, offering height and a feathery form. This tree thrives in bright, indirect light and needs regular watering, with advice to keep it in its nursery pot within a decorative container for proper drainage. Further design ideas include pairing unusual plants, such as the accordion-like Euphorbia kibwezensis, with unique vessels to create a sculptural statement, emphasizing the need for bright, indirect light and infrequent watering in cactus mix for pots without drainage. The article also suggests elevating houseplants like rex begonia and Medinilla magnifica on tall, modernist containers to give them prominence, using muted tones for the pots to allow the plants’ textures to stand out. For a conservatory feel, a large fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is recommended for its substantial presence even in a modest pot. The article also advises on merging indoor and outdoor aesthetics using contemporary white Architectural Pottery planters. Bohemian interior design can be achieved by incorporating floppy, broad-leafed houseplants, while old fish aquariums can be repurposed to display curated cactus collections, ensuring good airflow. Vertical gardening is explored through trailing lipstick plants hung from brass hooks in compact kitchens, and creating an engaging stairwell display by mounting ceramic cube pots directly onto walls. Southwestern style can be introduced with columnar cacti in sleek white pots, maintaining a minimalist look. Innovative solutions like felt planting pockets (e.g., Wally One from Woolly Pocket) are presented for creating wall gardens with various houseplants. Finally, the article highlights the impact of a single, large specimen like the Euphorbia ingens variegata as a room's focal point, and the utility of small, uniformly potted cacti on shelves for a low-maintenance, modern display that accentuates dramatic backgrounds. #HouseplantDesign #InteriorDecorating #PlantStyling #GreenLiving #HomeGardening #IndoorPlants #BotanicalDecor #ContainerGardening #VerticalGardens