Tumbleweed is nature at its most expressive. Home stylists have long appreciated the sculptural potential of organic objects
from a commanding vase of flowering branches to delicate reindeer moss, tucked beneath a glass cloche. A small cluster of tumbleweed can add a soft, organic touch to a shelf display, while a large one can work as a focal point.
Looking for a source of reliable information on the best air-cleaning plants? Few organizations have as vested an interest in healthy air in tight spaces as NASA
The NASA Clean Air Study was originally published in 1989, and it turned out to offer a resounding endorsement to the power of houseplants, and its chief conclusion is just as applicable to your stuffy bedroom as a NASA space station. NASA concurs; plants play a crucial role in “cleaning” our air.
There's a trick to learning how to decorate with a glass cloche — or a bell jar, as these elegant, streamlined pieces are often called
Think of the cloche as a three-dimensional picture frame. Within the glass cloche, almost anything can earn pride of place — but of course our favorite bell jars show off delicate, organic matter. Natural reindeer moss makes for an earthy, rustic display, while under a glass dome, these wood flowers become even more sculptural.
Everyone wants a healthy, happy home — but where to start? Dr. Rob Brown knows.
Here, we speak to Brown about how to create a healthier, happier home right now, from minimizing use of BPA — otherwise known as bisphenol A, a chemical used in plastics — to using houseplants to manage our exposure to VOCs (volatile organic compounds, which can be released from consumer products like paint.)
FRENCH DESIGNER AND PLANT DYE DEVOTEE, MARIE SILANES, USES BOTANICAL EXTRACTS TO GIVE HER ARTISAN CRAFTED TEXTILES THEIR NATURAL, NUANCED HUES.
“These fabrics tell the story of a people,” says French designer Marie Silanes, who hand-produces cushions, pillows, and other home goods with silk, cotton, and alpaca and merino wool made by artisans in India, China, and Bolivia. “When I see normal fabrics — industrial fabrics — they just don’t talk about the same things.”
Lab glass was produced on a much smaller scale than mainstream glassware, and today these pieces are highly collectible.
It’s a favorite of decorators who use it to accent minimalist as well as industrial-style interiors. And author, interior stylist, and frequent Bloomist collaborator, Hilary Robertson, often incorporates lab glass in her still lifes as seen in the images above and below on her heavy stone table.
Ever pick up fresh flowers in the market, only to get them home and find that none of your vases work?
Different vases are designed for different kinds of flowers, branches, centerpieces, and bouquets, and pairing them is simple. Follow our guide, and always remember the first rule of successful flower arranging: get the vase before the flowers.
HOW CHAMPION KNITTER AND SIEN + CO. FOUNDER ALEX GIBSON FOUND HER TRUE CALLING (AND EVENTUALLY HER LUGGAGE) IN KATHMANDU.
After a challenging stint working as an event planner in Silicon Valley, Sien + Co. founder Alex Gibson decided to make a sweeping life and career change. An amateur photographer, she decamped for Nepal with a loose ambition of documenting the after effects of a devastating earthquake outside the capital city of Kathmandu.
“KEAP” IS A NOD TO THE KEAP STREET, WILLIAMSBURG KITCHEN WHERE FOUNDERS HARRY DOULL AND STEPHEN TRACY MADE THEIR FIRST CANDLES.
“Our zero-waste approach to candle design mimics nature’s cyclical systems,” Tracy says. “Our labels are biodegradable and removable, making it easy to repurpose our candle tumblers.” The pair provide instructions for safely repurposing used candle vessels on Keap’s website, making it easy for buyers to give these glass containers a new life (as whiskey tumblers, perhaps).
But that’s just part of their mission.
