Certainly, many designers make use of plants to contrast and soften or to simply fill a space, but the key to their successful use is judicious placement and selection.  Plants work when they are integrated into the design rather than used as an afterthought.   

This dramatic arrangement acts as an architectural element anchoring the room.

 The height and scale of this fiddle leaf ficus provides a connection between low slung furnishings and the extreme height of the interior.  The gaze is drawn upward to keep the eye scanning throughout the whole space.

 

Another important element – the container, or lack thereof.  This simply wrapped root ball shows just how the container serves to further express the aesthetic of the surroundings.  We can’t imagine a more appropriate way to relate to the worn and textural elements of this vignette.

  

Via India Hicks and David Flint Wood.  

Often designers use plants to “soften”.  In contrast, these fronds serve as a highly graphic and rectilinear element with the more static furnishings expressing softer lines.  Proof that every design rule can and should be challenged.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 11:02 pm and is filed under Garden Guru.