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Feb 19

Bringing the outside in with a Living Wall

In our previous blog, we discussed open plan living and how room divisions could be created without the need for bricks and mortar. One of our suggestions was that of a living wall. For those who love the idea of bringing the outside in(and are not known for their lack of green fingered prowess), a ‘living wall’ brings that concept to the very heart of your home, or work environment. Plants provide an uplifting and calming effect and studies have shown that simply having a view of greenery increases productivity in the workplace, so maybe it’s time to ditch the painted walls for planted walls!

So how difficult is it to achieve? If you have a structurally sound solid wall, you can have a living wall. With the excitement surrounding this latest trend in home dividers, there are kits available making this a feasible option in home decoration. In principle, decide where you want your living wall, build the frame using treated 2 inch x 1 inch battens and mount it to the wall, attach the plastic planters to the fame working from the bottom of the frame upwards in staggered rows. Finally fill the planters with your chosen plants. Choosing the right plants is important, work out whether you want colour, scent or do you want plants you can use in the kitchen?

Plants that work well are:

Adiantum(maidenhead fern)

Galanthus(snowdrop)

Liriope muscari(lilyturf)

Pelargonium peltatum(ivy-leaved geranium)

Vina minor(lesser periwinkle)

Herbs such as Thyme, Oregano and Basil

Your living wall will need watering every 2-3 days and like any other living plant, will need to be taken care of. If you’ve chosen flowering plants, they’ll need to be deadheaded to encourage new blooms, and any annual plants will benefit from a liquid feed every couple of weeks to stay looking their best.

If you’re looking to truly bring life to your indoor space and are tired of plain walls, we’ve found some fantastic ideas to give you inspiration. Call Gary or Greg today at Lime Interiors to discuss how we can help you create your dream space.

Feb 06

How do you create room divides and still experience open plan living?

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If you’re a fan of TV home improvement shows, it’s likely that you will have the likes of Grand Designs and Love It or List It on series link. Despite the fact these shows are presented VERY differently (think Kevin McCloud’s somewhat pompous air versus Kirsty and Phil’s more relaxed demeanour) what these programmes generally have in common, is a desire for open plan living. Open spaces are great for a number of reasons especially in the home, done well, this type of home arrangement keeps things flowing and bright.

So how do we achieve this open plan living? If the desire is ‘Separate but Seamless, look no further, we’re here to help.

Firstly, you need to consider ‘Zoning’ This is where you work out exactly what you want from your ‘living space’. It’s important to work out which space is for social interaction with family and friends, where do you want to work and study, which area is for calm reflection and where do you want to collapse in a heap with a glass of wine after a long day at work?

The only time the open plan living concept may not be quite so ideal, is when you need a little privacy to actual define a specific space without the restrictions of a brick wall. Thankfully, all is not lost and there’s no need to call in the bricklayer. The answer…is Room Dividers. These dividers allow us to section off parts of an open plan living space. They enable us to create little micro rooms without fully closing off areas, and still allow light to flood in to what could otherwise, if walled, be a dark and gloomy space.

We’ve pulled together some fabulous ideas on ways to divide rooms, let us know what you think.

If you’re great at keeping plants alive, why not consider a living wall?

We love this idea of an almost ‘floating wall’ providing light above, below and at each side.

We like the idea of separating
a bedroom and en-suite using wooden panels

Who would’ve thought there was a bedroom the other side of this divide?

Always remember that natural light makes a space feel larger than it actually is. So, if you have the desire for ‘bringing the outside in’ and budget allows, consider wall to wall, floor to ceiling patio doors, or bi-folding doors, both allow a seamless flow out to an adjacent outdoor space. Many of us find joy in collapsing on a comfortable sofa at the end of the day, so within your open plan living space, ensuring you create a seating area that offers a sense of almost privacy, is vital. This where the right type of furniture is important. A corner sofa can provide the ‘illusion’ of being behind a wall, it helps to create a defined seating area.

Everyone can plan a room, but it’s our passion for kitchen, bathroom and bedroom design and our ability to create beautiful spaces with a clear understanding of what the client needs, that makes us different. Give Lime Interiors a call today to discuss how we can help you create the open plan living space you’ve always dreamed of.

Uncategorized

Bringing the outside in with a Living Wall

How do you create room divides and still experience open plan living?

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