The Indoor Garden – What’s hot for 2016?

Photos via Designer Pad and Gardenista – Split-Leaf Philodendron and Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Cold? Hot? Warm? Seriously, cold again? Yes, it’s that time of year when the weather won’t make up its mind, and it feels as though spring will never come. It’s called the in-between season, where nothing is consistent and everything feels like it’s in slow-motion.

Many of my clients call toward the end of February panic-stricken with an intense desire to completely re-decorate their home. And when I say re-decorate, I mean they want to strip the house down to the studs immediately.

Sound familiar? Yes, we’ve all been there. The key is not to panic and order the bulldozer. You simply need a refresh, not a new home.

So how do you decorate during the in-between season? The solution is quite simple: greenery.

Indoor plants can give a drab interior instant panache. They bring in an element of surprise, color and even art-like qualities. These greens spruce up a space with little effort and give a lot of bang for your buck. They are also healthy for you! Studies have shown that plant-life in the home creates a happier environment, as well as cleaner air.

What to buy? 

The No. 1 question I am asked about indoor plants is “What plant do I buy?” First and foremost, keep it simple. I encourage clients to choose indoor plants that are more sculptural, easy to maintain, and complements their design style. To make things easy, I’ve gathered the top indoor plants trending for 2016.

Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree: This large, ruffly leaf tree has been making waves in the home décor scene since 2013. Although there are a few contenders to take its place this year, the Fiddle Leaf is not going anywhere anytime soon. Easy to maintain and looks gorgeous against white walls.

Peruvian Cacti: Incredibly tall, prickly, stately and needs little water — this is the perfect plant for a modern space. It’s also great for all you plant killers out there. These guys are strong and can handle poor caretakers. As of late, this plant has been showing up in a lot of home magazines and will likely be one of the most popular plants of the year.

Staghorn Fern: In a pot, on the wall, mounted or hanging, these antler-like ferns are a playful plant that has lots of styling options. They vary in size from 6 inches to 3 feet wide.

Hanging Pitcher Plant: These Old World plants come from the carnivorous plant family. They look delicate, but they are anything but. Let’s just say you wouldn’t want to fall into one of those beautiful cups.

Bird of Paradise and other palms: Elegantly long stems brimmed with beautiful fans, the palm is a décor staple. Whether your décor lends to modern styles or old world antiques, a single palm will elevate your space with a classic, timeless look.

Split-Leaf Philodendron: A little more playful than the Birds of Paradise, with its stems branching in multiple directions. A nice combination of modern and whimsical. Looks best in minimal spaces.

Snake Plant: This plant is as modern as you can get. Sharp, clean-lines and all vertical. Ideal plant for those looking for something more architectural.

ZeeZee Plant: Similar to the Snake Plant, as it is also very sculptural and looks great in a modern space. But it is a little less serious and a bit more playful. Excellent choice for transitional interiors.

Succulents: These tiny plants have been incredibly popular over the years, and their popularity is still going strong. This year you will see them less on their own, and more clustered together in terrariums, mounted on wood, inside various desert wood, and hanging in glass and ceramic planters.

Where to buy?  

When you are buying plants of any kind, always buy local. Your local garden stores and nurseries not only carry a wide variety of plants that will grow properly in your area, they also offer care instructions and delivery, and they’ll even pot your plant for you.

My two favorite local garden shops are All Seasons Gardening & Brewing Supply and Gardens of Babylon (all photos were taken at these shops). Not sure what to buy? Afraid you’ll kill again? Don’t fret! Both companies love to share their knowledge, and it’s just as important to them that you keep your darling plants alive.

Nashville Sledding and My Misfortune

So, today was an uneventful day of having my arm examined by a physical therapist and sports doctor. Due to a sledding accident on Nashville’s Capitol Hill, I haven’t been able to use my arm. No driving, no lifting, and the most pathetic typing skills known to man. It wasn’t even a good wipe-out that was worthy of a great story. No, it was me panicking that I was going to end up in the street and be hit by a car if I didn’t figure out a way to stop the damn sled. I don’t even know what happened, except that there was a lot of ice, I fell off my sled half way down the hill, then somehow ended back on the sled, then using my arm I tried to stop the sled and then a final tumble into the frozen gutter. Not a cool fall…like at all.

But! The good news is my arm is not broken. I just have to wear the infamous sling for awhile and then have it reexamined for future physical therapy. I still can’t do much (which is really annoying!) but I am thankful this ridiculous injury will heal soon.

Besides the injury, sledding on Capitol Hill was a blast! With the ice, it was shear terror but very exhilarating. Hands down the best place to go sledding. Fantastic steep hill and the views are stunning. Just don’t panic like I did, and you’ll be fine.

I leave you tonight with a video my friend Justin Harvey made of our sledding adventure. And yes, that is me slipping on the ice before we even got to the hill. What can I say, I’ve got skills.

Nashville Ice Storm – City Walk

Yesterday, our lovely city was hit with an ice storm. What was supposed to be 4-7″ of snow, we instead received an entire day of ice rain. Many were unhappy with the snow results, but I found it to be magical. The moment I saw the ice forming on anything it could get its hands on, I knew a photography walk was in order. Bundled up in my favorite snow gear (thank you Montreal!), I grabbed my brother for a two hour walk through Germantown. We stopped at just about every plant, post, and odd object the neighborhood had to offer. The ice was fascinating! Water freezing in motion, creating beautiful ice sculptures.

After a stop at Red Bicycle for a hot drink, we headed home for curry and a warm fire. I am really happy I made the choice to step out and enjoy what nature had to offer. Too many times I have missed out because it was inconvenient (or I was just downright lazy). I do not want to experience life from the window anymore. I want to be apart of it.

So, that was my Monday. How did you spend yesterday’s cold winter day?

Celebrate Winter!

I cannot believe it’s been a month since I last wrote a post! Much apologies friends. With the holidays, my AMAZING trip to Montreal and getting back to work in this new year, I have completely neglected Flock South. But don’t fret, I have some wonderful posts in the mix and come Monday, Flock South will be back in the saddle. In the meantime, I will be catching you up on some of my past posts I’ve written for 12th & Broad’s Style Scout.

First up, Celebrate Winter! (all photos via Pinterest)
Halloween? Check.

Thanksgiving? Check.

Christmas? Check.

New Years? Check.

January? Throw all the festive décor back into the attic, go back to the norm and wait out winter.

This is the pattern we have for every year. We celebrate our biggest holidays in one quarter, decking every hall we can find and then poof! It’s over. So much, so fast and then nothing during the grayest days of the year.

I’m depressed just thinking about this cycle. Nashville, and most of the south, is not big on winter. It’s not cold enough to get snow and not warm enough for afternoon picnics in the park. It’s just miserable enough to keep everyone inside complaining on Facebook, dreaming of warmer days.

To add to the misery, everyone strips their home of any and all holiday décor the second the clock strikes midnight on the New Year. It took us how long to get the house looking nice for the holidays? And now we are expected to just chuck it all away and wait until spring to spruce up our homes? Again, depressing!
This past week, I have been in Montreal, Quebec. Where the days are ridiculously cold and the skies are heavy with shades of gray. Winter is harsh in this city, and it’s just the beginning. And yet, the city sparkles. At a high of 8 degrees, people are out walking the streets with friends, laughing and enjoying the day. The city is lined with interactive art (Luminotherapie) to make your daily walks more enjoyable, public spaces have fire-pits and Adirondack chairs, and the homes & local establishments are decked in simple winter décor. Montreal doesn’t hunker down for the darkest days of the year, it celebrates the season with gusto.
Instead of committing to lackluster days and a sadly decorated house this winter, try something different and celebrate this time of year. Winter is about slowing down and enjoying the simple things, not hibernating. It’s about cozy fires, good books, comfort food, hot drinks spiked with spirits and evenings well spent with friends and family. So stop complaining about the cold and make the most of this season.

Here are some fun tips to make winter more enjoyable:

1. Decorate your home for winter. Keep a few winter neutral items from your holiday décor out. My favorite winter items are pinecones, winter greens & berries, woodland animals, rustic décor, wool throws, sheepskin rugs and lots of candles.
2. Create a winter wreath for your front door. The Wreath Recipe Book has beautiful wreath ideas for every season of the year.
3. Invite friends over and have a winter cocktail party. Try the many cocktails listed from 12^th & Broads How To Survive the Holidays – One Spirit at A Time. You don’t have to have a holiday to enjoy a fab drink.
4. Build a bon-fire outside and roast marshmallows. Another great excuse to invite friends and family over.
5. Take a class at the Skillery, Craft Course Nashville, Abrasive Media or Camellia Fiber Company at Hey Rooster General Store.
6. Bundle up and have a picnic in the park. Pack a hot lunch or grab some take-out, bring a few blankets, (don’t forget the flask) and enjoy the fresh air with friends.
7. Go to the many art galleries, museums and theaters this city has to offer
8. Enjoy the winter menu at local restaurants, like City House, Husk, and Treehouse.
9. Go to a sports game or play a little sport of your own, like bowling at Pinewood Social.
10. Hike Radnor Lake, it’s beautiful in the winter.

Holiday Wreaths

I’m feeling the urge to make a holiday wreath today. There is just something so therapeutic about trudging through the woods, gathering bits of nature and then combining them into something beautiful for your home.

Gone are the days of big bows, cheap bright colors, and fluffy fake holiday wreaths. This season the trend is clean lines and soft color palettes. Using fresh flowers, botanicals and fruits. A welcomed change.

Looking for inspiration? Check out Alyssa Hoppe, Moon Canyon Designs, Annette Joseph and Gardenista on Pinterest. Or pick up my new favorite book, The Wreath Recipe Book.

1. Unique Holiday Wreath by Alyssa Hoppe (DIY on Design Love Fest)
2. Metallic Pinecone Wreathy by Papier D’Amour
3. Thanksgiving Wreath by Emily Thompson
4. Citrus Winter Wreath by Sarah Ryhanen
5 & 6. Wreaths by Moon Canyon Designs