LotusHaus

DIY Sky Planters

Genius! If I had the time I would make my own Boskke sky planters like these! Check out this awesome and easy to do DIY project over at Design*Sponge. 

Terrain by Anthropologie

Check out Terrain the home and garden brand by the folks at Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters! I saw these lovelies (Pillow, Terrarium and Toiletry Bag) and thought, wow, spring is upon us... After checking out shopTerrain.com, I'm now getting some ideas for a very gardenesque and refreshing Easter decor palette... 

Outdoor Table and Bench with Arabic Geometric Flavor

Via Designboom, I discovered the 'Tablecloth Series' by landscape designer Tina Sudell. This outdoor table and bench series has a hot dose of modern design with powder coated steel, rounded edges and laser cut Arabic Geometric "tablecloth" pattern! It's a perfect punch of color and style for your patio!

Chlorophylle Grass Planter Centerpiece

These would be sleek and modern centerpieces! Grown your own grass in these luxe Chlorophylle grass planter boxes! Via Totally Tabletops.

Red Crocosmia } Perfect for the Modern Garden

With joy I discovered that we have some Crocosmia in the backyard...Also known as Coppertip or Falling Star, Crocosmia is a member of the Iris family and is native to South Africa. They must really enjoy summer in the Northwest, because I am seeing them in everyone's gardens! I love the red orange color and the shape of the blooms and stems. They add flair and texture to floral arrangements and remind me of the way orchids sprays look. The photos shown here are of an incredible garden design using crocosmia, the color red, and some really cool geometric walls and cut-outs - from the 2007 Royal Horticulture Society Flower Show in the UK. Check out the panorama of the garden here.

Floral Art LA } Designing in the "trough"

Floral Art LA is a exceptional floral design boutique located on the hip Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice, CA. I love the modern and architectural feeling of these "trough" designs. This look would be great for parties and weddings using long banquet style table layouts... Floral Art has recently rebranded and I love how their new logo and website look. Below are some photos I took when I visited the shop a couple of years ago...

Habitat UK

Housemartin reminded me to check out the latest selections from Habitat...I'm so glad I did! These images are inspiring!

A Green 4th of July!

For this year's 4th of July party I was inspired by the cool green, white and brown colors of Carlene & Sonny's wedding theme and the Its Heavenly Blog. I wanted to keep my party as green & reusable as possible and really didn't want to buy anything novelty that I knew would never see another day. I used green colored reed placements to dress up my wooden screen and covered my cushions with green fabric remnants. For table decor I used exising glass vases, wrapped them with bamboo placemats and filled them with colored curly willow that I already owned.

Other green decor included bamboo shoots from our bedroom and my masterpiece of the day...a bamboo water fountain! I took my bamboo floor lamp and secured a wood tray on top with raffia wire. Then I made an arrangement with bamboo shoots, river rocks, succulents from the backyard and an old fountain pump. Voila!  A relaxing and free flowing soundscape to melt away the heat. We love it! It's still in the patio and greets us whenever we enter our home!

In Vitro Plant } Grow Your Own Orchid

Wow! This is kinda cool ~ With an In Vitro Plant, you can watch a seedling grow and soon you will have orchid sprout that you can repot and enjoy! This is a nice gift for the office!

Happy Friday from My Garden

A pink peony, some pink roses and green grasses from my garden...My favorite bear from Shanghai Tang...A vintage fish catching basket...and found ceramics. Have a great weekend! It's a gorgeous day here in Seattle!

My Kind of Picnic!

These colorful tiered bento-style lunchboxes and tableware from Graham & Green make me want to party outside! These are from the UK but click here to purchase similar lunchboxes in the US.

Aviva Stanoff } Nature and Design - An Everyday Celebration

I have long been inspired by Aviva Stanoff and her amazing body of work since I discovered her Brooklyn design studio many years ago. (Check out my eco-luxe color & trend board). Aviva embodies the union of her Japanese heritage and the modern metropolis lifestyle.

"From her North Hollywood roots in 1970’s bohemian California to tending to the flowers surrounding her grandfather’s Buddhist temple in Okayama, Japan, Aviva Stanoff represents a cultural tapestry...She finds inspiration in the subtle palette of nature, the deliberate minimalism of tradition, and the city sunset seen every night from her design studio window. She translates these inspirations into pattern, color, and beautiful environments."

With roots in the fashion textiles industry, the Aviva Stanoff collection is known for its high end, heirloom quality pillows and soft goods that are hand-dyed, etched, and painted one at a time in her Brooklyn studio by skilled artisans. Real foliage is used to create the prints you see and with a special technique these elements are embossed into plush velvet leaving the texture and essence of nature for you to enjoy. For more inspiration, check out this video and watch Aviva explain how she creates her work. I guarantee it will awe and inspire!

Mother's Day Celebration

Mother's Day was a wonderful day! I had all the mothers in the house (mom, grandma and mom-in-law) and we had a fat old brunch at our big tables decorated with fresh lilac from local yards and pretty pastel blumeboxes. This was the first time I had the chance to use these recyclable cardboard vases and they provided a great boost of color (great idea for simple and affordable wedding centerpieces). They were also great as portable gifts - each mother got to take one home. Upon entering my home, guests were greated by a vintage Thai painting of women in the floating markets. This painting and my mom's love of lilac and yellow were my color inspiration. I decorated some white lidded boxes with 100% recycled cotton Midori paper in three different colors (purple, pink and blue) and filled each box with color coordinated goodies, like candles, candies, stationary and a sweet capiz photo frame of my husband and I. They were fun to open and can be reused infinitely! Afterwards we enjoyed a stroll through the Bonsai Collection and Rhododendron Garden at the Weyerhauser campus in Federal Way (south of Seattle).

FabricPot } Fashionable and Sustainable Planters

I'm really liking these funky and eco-friendly fabric planters by FabricPot. Instead of a ceramic or plastic container, these pots use high tech, breathable fabric made with 100% recycled polyester. The fabric material provides proper aeration and makes these planters collapsible and easy to store. On sale now for $24.

Organic Floral Decor } On a Mission to Celebrate Earth Day in Style!

Uphold the well being of the planet & celebrate Earth Day in style...enliven your inner space with some modern organic green! Treat the planet, it's inhabitants and yourself to these charitable & eco-chic floral arrangements. Each of these beautiful organic bouquets not only support the environment, but they give back to the beautiful people of the world. Pick up some flowers this week and feel good about the world you live in! You'll be happy to know that these blooms are also delivered in gorgeous sustainable packaging. Trust me, this will be an awesome experience! Don't forget to compost these lovely things of beauty and they will be enjoyed forever.

Rainforest Green Bouquet The mission of Rainforest Foundation-US is to support the efforts of indigenous and traditional populations of the rainforest to protect their environment and fulfill their rights. The Foundation helps indigenous communities secure land rights, manage natural resources and strengthen their capacity to defend and sustain their ways of life. Now you can support the Foundation through the purchase of these magnificent chartreuse colored roses. With each one dozen purchase 5% will be donated to the Rainforest Foundation-US. $49.95

Earth Share Oriental Lilies Earth Share is a nationwide network of America’s most respected environmental and conservation non-profit organizations. Earth Share is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and supporting the vital charities that work to protect the environment and our well-being every day. Now, you can help support Earth Share in its vital mission simply by purchasing this unique and fragrant bouquet of Oriental white lilies – 5% will be donated to Earth Share for each purchase. $59.95

A Bouquet to Save Plants United Plant Savers' mission is to protect native medicinal plants of the United States and Canada and their native habitat while ensuring an abundant and renewable supply of medicinal plants for generations to come. Now you can support United Plant Savers through the purchase of these beautiful mauve colored long-stem lavender roses. With each purchase 5% will be donated to United Plant Savers. $49.95

Asiatic Lilies that CARE CARE’s mission is to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world. Drawing strength from CARE’s global diversity, resources and experience, CARE promotes innovative solutions and are advocates for global responsibility. Now you can support their humanitarian efforts with the purchase of these vibrant yellow and orange Asiatic Lilies. Each bouquet is hand selected and shipped fresh from the farm. Plus a portion of the proceeds of this sale will be donated to CARE. $59.95

Healthy Child Healthy World Roses Healthy Child Healthy World (HCHW) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public, specifically parents and caregivers, about environmental toxins that affect children's health. Goals are met through increased scientific research, government policies which are more protective of children, and educating and mobilizing individuals around the country. Support Healthy Child Healthy World through the purchase of these spectacular bright pink roses. With each purchase 5% will be donated to HCHW. Includes two-dozen long stem roses. $69.95

Ann Demeulemeester Boutique } Green Seoul

Here's some more global green! Check out Ann Demeulemeester's green boutique in Seoul, Korea. Designed by Minsuk Cho of MassStudies. All I can say is WOW!!!! Click here for a slideshow and click here for more examples of modern greenery in retail environments.

Global Modern Gardens } Inspiration from Sunset Magazine

I'm really soothed by this backyard garden with global touches. The colors are refreshing and the details divine. I especially love the tea station for two! Via Sunset Magazine.

Bohemian Rhapsody was the theme for this lovely garden by Vanessa Kuemmerle a landscape designer and the founder of Vee Horticulture. I just love the wooden Balinese doors and the batik cushions!

Here are some of Vanessa's tips for what I would call an eclectic and global garden:

• Use tertiary colors on the color wheel for more complexity and depth. (ex. sage, lime, charcoal, maroon and aqua)
• Think eclectic and sensual - incorporate plants from all over the world.
• Use plants in layers and mix them for textures, colors and scents.
• Don't be a plant snob. Shop everywhere for plants & accessories
• Play with scale - uses big leafed plants up front and small leafed ones in back.

Via Sunset Magazine.

Lather Spa NYC } Plant Wall & Nice Gift Card Packaging

The latest online version of Organic Spa Magazine came out and I saw this great spread on the Lather Spa in New York. I love the punches of color, the plant wall and the beautiful gift card packaging for those special occasions!

Jim Denevan } The Zen of Sand Art

Take a deep breath and plunge into the beautiful work of Jim Denevan, a phenomenal artist that makes larger than life freehand drawings in the sand. Truly in touch with each moment and the law of impermanence, Jim's labor of love usually takes hours to complete. Once his freestyle design is done the ocean washes in to reclaim its canvas and to reinforce the awesome power of nature.

Parasoleil - The Art of Shade

Via An Indian Summer, one of my favorite blogs, I discovered Parasoleil, a company out of Colorado that produces earth-conscious artistic copper panels for architectural and landscape design. I have a love affair with wood lattice, window grills, carvings and iron works found in places like India and Asia, so this product really gets my blood pumping. Thanks Bhavna!

Lily Lodge } Organic Floral Boutique in LA

Via Style Court I discovered Lily Lodge, a truly unique organic floral boutique experience in Los Angeles. With a family history of creativity and a background in fashion, proprietor Ariana Lambert Smeraldo takes flower power to another level! At Lily Lodge you will find pesticide-free flowers from local and organic growers and an amazing selection of one-of-a-kind vintage vases, set in a truly beautifying atmosphere. Finally floral decor gets the elevated status it deserves! Check out the glorious parlor like furnishings and the custom designed flower cooler which was designed to mimick artwork in a gallery or museum setting. Simply stunning.

Verticulture } Green Concept for City Living

Verticulture saves the day for city dwellers with green thumbs and small spaces. Via Core 77.

Kamra Living } Nature is Photogenic

While in Portland last weekend I stopped into Cargo, an awe-inspiring global import store. In one of their many well merchandised sections, I spotted these really cool espresso cups and plates by Kamra Living. The collection is made of porcelain and features natural and refreshing photographic designs. You can buy the espresso cups here and the plates here! For some wall decor ideas with a similar flavor go here.

Clover House } Gifts, Plants, Home

Yesterday, I happened upon Clover House, a wonderful boutique near the Whole Foods in downtown Seattle. They have a really nice selection of plants, gifts and beauty products.

I scored the mini Hide Box that I wrote about in a previous post! I love it for jewelry and little trinkets and it comes with a small lavender sachet to keep things smelling as sweet as ever. There is also a larger size that is perfect for storing things like remote controls, bedside books, etc.

I also liked the selection of ceramics, lamps and floral related decor - like these gold plated "Tilla Flowers" shown above, farthest right.

I also got hip to Herve Gambs, an amazing French perfumery and high end decor company. The collection is  soooo amazing! Lastly, I was happy to see the full line of Dani, an all-natural, Oregon based beauty line. I really liked this shop and will definitely frequent Clover House more often!

Wintergreen snowflakes } DIY or buy an eco-gift

These wintergreen snowflakes are so lovely and naturally whimsical! Make your own using this DIY guide from Sunset magazine or jump on OrganicStyle.com and send an Organic Pine Snowflake or a Pine Peace Wreath to your favorite person! 

Eco Fabric Garden } 100% Design in London

So cool! This is a super hip "fabric garden" installation at the 100% Design show in London featuring reclaimed lamp shades, and fabric styling from Ted Baker. It reminds me of rice terraces, my favorite gardenscape of all time. Via Inhabitat.

Mod Flower Box } Living Art from France

To add some living color to your home decor, get inspired by Flowerbox out of Marseilles. I am so enamored by these easy and modern displays of micro foliage! There is a special moss, called sphagnum moss that allows the plants to get the required amount of water needed for their growth. Très chic! For more inspiration have a peek at the Flowerbox photo gallery.

Grass Planters by Chiaki Murata

I just love these grass planters by Tokyo based product designer Chiaki Murata of Metaphys. They kind of remind me of cement blocks. I can envision a whole world of floral possibilities with these vessels! Via Inhabitat. Buy a square version at Uncommon Goods.

Daily Dump } Composts with Indian Charm

What is that, you say? These beautifully crafted & painted vessels are compost centers by Daily Dump in India. Daily Dump is a wonderful & hygienic composting system that helps households to manage biodegradable waster matter and convert it into high-quality compost. Not to mention they look like natural additions to your home and garden. Visit the beautifully designed Daily Dump website to see the full product line and to learn more about how these elegant compost vessels are used. For a review of Daily Dump visit the Inhabit blog.

Rahmen } More greenery for your walls!

Here's another option for plant decor in your home. This is Rahmen by Baest a company in the UK. Rahmen is a wall mounted storage space for fresh herbs in the kitchen or flora and foliage in the living room. What a cool way to add greenery and architecture to your walls! Via Haute*Nature.

Eco-Friendly Wedding Gift Idea } Plant a Tree ~ Save the Planet!

Wouldn't these Plant A Tree kits by Seracon Candles be an attractive & sustainable wedding gift? I think so. I'm off to the Seattle Gift Show today so I'll be back tomorrow with an update! Check out the other cool gifts and things at this Canadian company.

Coya } Floral Decor for your walls!

This Flower Frame by Coya is a smaller, more manageable version of the Plant Wall by Green Fortune that makes me so green with envy (below)! Check out how the Flower Frame works at the Coya website here. Also, check out another simple DIY option for creating floral decor for your walls here.

Wedlog } Eco-Friendly Wedding Invitations

I'm in awe of these beautiful tree-free, hand printed, plantable, eco chic wedding invites from Thryn at Wedlog! You go girl! Can't wait to see more pictures of the beauty and splendor you have been planning for your big day!

Portland Chinese Garden

One of my favorite gardens is the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. Smack dab in the heart of Chinatown in downtown Portland, this garden was built as a replica of the Suzhou Chinese Gardens in Portland's sister-city, Suzhou, China.  It is a wonderful and serene place with ponds, bridges, scholar houses, viewing decks and a tea house. Please visit this splendid place the next time you are in Portland. These pictures are from our visit early last year.

Raise the Red Lantern } Innovative Chess by Wei Leih Lee

Via MoCo Loco, I spotted Wei Lee's conceptual & cultural spin on the challenging game of chess. Using a beautifully decorated pagoda and Chinese lanterns, you must employ physical prowess and wit to strategically move your pieces with a pole. Beautifully stimulating! See more stimulating 2D & 3D works at Wei's website, www.onthewei.com.

When Your Garden's at Stake

"A garden needs only a few simple things to thrive: water, sunlight, soil, and attitude!" These garden stakes by Pamela Barsky are such a riot! I love 'em! Buy them here.

Succulent Invitation

Here's a nice green invitation! Kira Evans created this living invitation for an intimate dinner party hosted by tequila connoiseur, Jose Cuervo. The box contains live succulents in honor of the agave plant, from which tequila is derived. The invite was letter pressed, wrapped with a delicate ribbon and hand delivered to each guest. I'm not a tequila drinker but I would have been quite happy to receive this invitation!

Feeling Succulent?

For your next floral arrangement, visit Succulent in LA for a longer lasting and sustainable alternative to fresh cut flowers. You'll love their low maintenance and greenery. To me, succulents are like the plant version of lotus blossoms!

For some modern garden inspiration, head over to Sprout Home's new location in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Check out more pics here. Via Design*Sponge.

Inspiration from the Garden } Curvaceous Iris

Beautiful Iris from my garden...simply arranged in a conical glass and glass beads. I chose these stems because of the way the flowers had to curve in order to get sunlight in my not so pruned garden... The small round woven basket is from my collection of antique Chinese sewing boxes scavenged from local vintage stores. You can find similar ones at Etsy or Ebay.

Bali } Modern Garden Tour

Via HouseMartin, I discovered this unique landscape & architectural tour of Bali, focusing on the modern art form of gardening. Visit the website to see more lush photography and learn more about the tour! I'm definitely adding this to my list!

"In Bali.. the modern art form of gardening combines with a rich traditional culture to create a truly unique blend. The result is a cutting edge style of its own. The fusion of traditional craftsmanship with modern influences set against a lush landscape produces the most extraordinary examples of garden design, artistry and architecture. The use of outdoor living spaces and fluid transitions from interior space to exterior is only one example of this small island's impact on the international design community."

Pangea Organics } shower then flower

I've always loved Pangea Organics for their sumptuous scents, sustainability, stylish packaging and merchandising displays. Until recently I had only found the line at Organic Co-Ops and Whole Foods markets. This weekend, much to my delight, I was shopping at World Market and discovered Pangea's organic soap line to be beautifully displayed in woven baskets on the shelves! When I checked out the World Market website, I discovered another wonderful tidbit...you can plant the box and grow either sweet basil or amaranth! Isn't that so cool! I have used their soaps before but somehow I missed this great eco-centric feature. Needless to say I picked up a few pieces.

Inspiration from the Garden } The Path of Pink Peonies

Take a moment to think about your current path in life...

There are old, well-trodden paths and there are new, freshly made ones. You must not think that the only paths are the old, comfortable ones. Even though they might be difficult and unfamiliar to travel, the new paths must also be taken, and this requires courage and effort.

The old paths exist as are, but the fresh and those yet to be created are endless in their possibilities. It is well if you discover a new path or even make one for yourself. 

~ Teshigahara Sofu, The Book of Flowers

These beautiful pink peonies are from the garden that I inherited when we moved into our new house! So precious and so fragrant, these flowers were mindfully arranged by me in the Sogetsu Ikebana style. It's amazing that with Ikebana and the art of floral arranging, I'm able to calm myself and be more mindful. In my work with sustainable textiles like organic cotton and bamboo fiber, nothing will ever match the organic experience of working with the color & form of live plant materials. If you're interested in this experience there are many Ikebana teachers in Seattle and all over the world. I am blessed to be a student in my practice with Charles from Hana Design in Ballard.

Seattle Urban Farm } Organic produce from your backyard to your table

This is just the thing! If you have an overgrown backyard that you've been wanting to turn into your own lil' locally grown Whole Foods produce section, then give Seattle Urban Farm Co. a call! I know I will! They will create an organic vegetable garden right in your own backyard. After an intial consultation, the trio of urban farm boys will hook you up by planting the veggies, herbs and flowers of your choice. They will even return regularly to maintain them, and even harvest your crop for you every week. Mmmmm, I can just taste the juicy organic tomatoes and fresh cilantro, and witness the glory of the colorful blooming dahlias!