Cozy PJs, sunny work from home set ups, and living rooms that inspire envy… This month, we’re impressed with your plant styling skills and how simply and artfully you bring nature into your home. Check out our favorite November posts from the #leonandgeorge family!

How sweet is this moment, with a subtle Desert Cactus. @zowwee

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A bedroom made complete by a lush Cascading Pothos. @michelle_withtwols

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The perfect cozy office nook, with the sun-loving Bird of Paradise. @jawsmartin

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The perfect pairing: Fiddle Leaf Fig with a side of Kentia Palm. @hollyvianeinteriors

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Living room goals, with the perfect touch of greenery. @lacalalum

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Met with the many challenges of 2020, Benedicte and her family have adapted to a new pace of life and, in the meantime, found a new perspective on home.

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How has life changed for you this year?

At the beginning of the year, our house became not only a home but also an office, a school, a gym, and of course a place of leisure. This year was all about trying to make that work for us. It was a real exercise in patience and homemaking, but there were some really magical moments that came out of it as well.

The Dragon Tree accentuates a changing fall light.

What home projects did you take on?

As a start, we moved a lot of furniture around to accommodate so much life at home, and refreshed some areas that needed refreshing. And of course, we baked. Breads, cakes, jams…culinary projects that we normally would not have taken on. Our creations filled the house with aromas that smelled like coziness and home.

A Bird’s Nest Fern sits atop one of the new vignettes created for more time at home.

In what ways has nature played a role in your lives and well-being this year?

We craved nature more than ever this year. When we could, we’d sneak to the beach or on a hike and it felt so glorious. We were finally able to go on our first camping trip of the year in the late summer, and being under the redwoods was absolutely incredible. We also brought nature inside when we could. We planted seeds and tracked their growth, and watched our houseplants unfurl new leaves. They helped us mark the passing of time and reminded us that life does go on, even during difficult and uncertain periods of our lives.

All photos by Margaret Austin for Léon & George.

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Silver Evergreen

Bird's Nest Fern

Dragon Tree

Golden Petra

Rubber Tree

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Autumn has arrived and brought with it crisp air and cozy nights. We’re already looking forward to the holidays and the magic that they bring into our homes. But before we string up our fairy lights we’d like to look back on our favorite October posts from our #leonandgeorge family.

We’re suckers for a Fiddle Leaf Fig in a clean and minimalistic space. @mr.patrickdeleon

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A Bird of Paradise as the perfect focal point in this dreamy (rentable!) cabin in upstate New York. @weekendhome.co

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Of course we had to include at least one Halloween photo! This costume takes “crazy plant lady” to a whole new level. @thesandytran

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Luxe textures, gorgeous neutrals, and leafy statement plants… a total dream. @theplantmami

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Capturing the first rays of that autumn light with the Jade Pothos. @state_and_local

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The perfect latte, a Manhattan moment, and a touch of minimalism are just a few of Tesa’s (@thenamestesa) favorite things. See how she created an enviable workspace in a window-side nook of her bright New York apartment.

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How did you know this home was for you?

It was the high ceilings and windows in every room that did it for me. If you've ever searched for an apartment in New York City you'll know windows can be nonexistent in some "bedrooms". Add to that the size, individual bathrooms, and location, it was truly the perfect place for us. It has been really fun decorating it and making it my own. I'm actually redesigning the living room at the moment and tailoring it more to my current style. 

A bright and inviting space to focus, framed with the perfect touch of greenery, a desktop Jade Pothos and large Bird of Paradise.

What inspires you when you decorate?

I will have an idea in my head of what I want the space to be, but in order to form that idea into something more concrete, I look to Pinterest and Instagram. I also love flipping through an Architectural Digest for new ideas and future home goals. Since I don't do well in an eclectic space everything has to match in tone with minimal clutter. As you can see, I love white - I think it makes a space look calm and inviting. In order to liven it up a bit I add pops of color with smaller accessories such as books, artwork, and of course plants! 

The Jade Pothos, a trailing plant ideal for placing on a desk or shelf.

What are your plant care secrets?

I only recently started taking care of plants myself so having detailed instructions and knowing how the plant reacts under different circumstances has been very crucial! I often look back to the cards I received with my Léon & George delivery, just to make sure I'm doing everything right. And apparently, talking to your plants and showering them with love makes such a difference! My mom used to do this every day and our palm tree flourished. 

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Bird of Paradise

Jade Pothos

Snake Plant

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Bring Fall’s foliage and hues into your home.

Fall is here and nesting season is upon us! There is so much to love about autumn, but for anyone who has an appreciation for interiors, prepping home for the cozy months ahead is a ritual in and of itself. Beyond pulling out the rugs and throws, lighting the candles, and possibly even investing in a gourd or two, bringing a new piece of art into your home is a wonderful way to refresh your space for the season, and bring nature inside while you’re at it.

Because, while we have a thing for plants, live greenery isn’t the only means to bring nature’s beauty indoors. Here are some of our favorite botanical prints that will add the feeling of fall to a blank slate, a gallery wall, or anywhere that could use a bit of color.

Marigold & Daisy Bouquet by Lara Lee Meintjes

Who said flowers were only for spring? Rich colors fill the work of South African artist Lara Lee Meintjes, including this print which so vibrantly captures the essence of fall.

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Jumping Rabbit Print by Chloe Giordano

This miniature print is the perfect homage to the flora and fauna of autumn. Chloe Giordano is an illustrator living in Oxford, England. She hand-embroiders many of her works before having them printed.

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Abstract Desert Landscape by Emma Hall

You might traditionally associate a desert landscape with summer, but we love the muted tones of this abstract print. Emma Hall is a Mozambican and English designer from Cambridge currently based in Lisbon.

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Your Job Screenprint by Rob Ryan

Papercutting is a specialty of London-based artist Rob Ryan, and this sweet print is the perfect addition to a bathroom or children’s bedroom. Ryan’s work starts as papercuts and is then printed across various mediums.

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Becoming by Clare Elsaesser

Inspired by “daydreams, retreat, and the formidable nature outside my window”, Clare Elsaesser’s paintings are at once moody, bright, and altogether beautiful. Based in California, she is an incredibly popular artist on Etsy with a prolific collection of both print and original wall art.

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Hoya Plant Print by PinterJohnson

Autumnal reds and oranges come together in this charming risograph print. PrinterJohnson is a printmaker and illustrator based in Norwich.

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If you’re longing for an Instagram-worthy plant set up but feel that it’s out of your reach, remember that practice makes perfect and with a few tricks of the trade, anyone can create a space that looks and feels straight out of an interior design magazine. Things like height, texture, and layering are simple tools that you can use to create a plant-filled living room or other space of your dreams. Read on for some interior design tips that will allow you to display your prized houseplants to their full effect.

The Rule of Three

A common rule of thumb for styling a space is to avoid even-numbered groupings as paired items tend to look a touch formal. A classic combination is a group of three, but so long as you keep the number of plants in each grouping an odd number they should look great. Here are some things to keep in mind when arranging a cluster of plants:

• Try to avoid grouping of a uniform height, as this can make all of the plants blend together. Incorporate at least one plant in each group that is noticeably taller than the rest.

• When creating a collection of plants try to group them based on some commonality, such as whether they have dense or spread out leaves or their primary hue. So long as all the plants in a grouping share at least one trait they will look natural next to one another.

Play with Textures

Textures play a big role in creating visual interest, and this isn’t just limited to furniture or room decor. Plants can play a big role in establishing variation within a space with their differing textures in foliage. When playing with texture it is important to think in terms of contrast, like pairings such as rough and smooth or minimal and detailed.

• If you favor minimalistic decor, a plant with a more a detailed appearance like the Zanzibar Gem will keep things from looking one-dimensional.

• If your home is already full of texture like layered rugs and knit throw blankets then a plant with refined glossy leaves, like as the Red Congo or Bird of Paradise, can balance things out.

Use Height to Your Advantage

When arranging your plants don’t forget to explore areas at eye level or higher. While taller plants such as Fiddle Leaf Fig Trees can usually only be displayed on the ground level, smaller plants give you the freedom to explore new heights. Here are some styling tips for getting plant off the ground:

• Get the most out of trailing plants like the Cascading Pothos by placing them on shelves and letting their vines grow out to create a lush jungle feel.

• If you have a medium-sized plant that is too big for a shelf and too small to serve as a focal point on its own try using a plant stand or end table to make it stand out.

Look For Leading Lines

When looking at your plants, ask yourself what direction their foliage naturally grows: utilizing the leading lines of a plant’s leaves can be the perfect way to draw attention to a certain area of the room. Typically you it is easiest to accomplish this with plants whose leaves point upwards or trail down, here are some examples of both types:

• Some plants whose leaves draw the eye up are the Snake Plant and the Zanzibar Gem. Use plants that point upwards to draw attention to the art on your walls or an interesting architectural feature on your ceiling.

• Plants whose trailing vines draw the eye downward are the those within the Pothos or Philodendron families. These sorts of plants can be artfully displayed on mantles or bookshelves to bring attention to your fireplace or can be placed on top of a shelf above key furniture pieces.

Keep It Colorful

While it can be tempting to perfectly color coordinate the wood of your plant’s stand to your coffee table variation is admittedly the spice of life. A way to play with color without things looking modge podge is to follow the Rule of Three from above. Typically you want to choose a primary color, a secondary color, and an accent color. Here are some other ways to make your space more colorful:

• Switch up planter colors, if you usually go for a simple white or black planters, try incorporating another color, even if it’s a neutral one like terracotta.

• Try a variegated plant for a splash of color directly on the leaves themselves. Some popular variegated varieties are the Philodendron Brasil or the Pink Rubber Tree.

Design With Your Plants’ Needs In Mind

And finally, don’t forget! No matter how beautifully you arrange indoor plants, things will start to look pretty ugly if their basic needs like light and humidity aren’t met. Make sure your plants get adequate light where they’re placed, and aren’t too close to air vents, heaters, or ACs. Now go off and arrange those plants like a pro!

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Born and raised in the South of France, model and activist Clémentine Desseaux (@bonjourclem) found a feeling of freedom and a lifestyle to love in the lush surroundings of Miami.

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How did you know this home was for you?

As soon as I stepped in it the first day I knew it was it. The original floors, the original fireplace details with gorgeous birds and plants on it. I loved how it was clean and redone but with the original touches that give it all its charm. The light was sooo important for me. I like to wake up and live with a lot of natural light, this place is drenched in light and beautiful palm trees views all around. Perfect for growing healthy plants! I also had a crush on those French windows! How cute!

A bright space that overlooks palm trees, the perfect setting for growing indoor tropical plants like the Bird of Paradise and Red Congo.

What inspires you when you decorate?

I am inspired by nature. I love everything tropical; animals, plants, decor. I have a great flying toucan planter, a jungle leaves wallpaper, a flamingo sculpture, art and images of tropical locations and scenes. Florida is my home and I love its nature, how I can hear the birds in the surrounding palm trees every morning, how I sometimes have a big lizard climbing on my window, or how I can pick up a giant avocado or a beautiful papaya in my friends’ trees. I love the lifestyle.

A Monstera Deliciosa grows in the bedroom with other tropical accents.

What are your plant care secrets?

I give them names. Each and every plant has a name. They used to be all girls, now we have a couple of boys. I talk to them every time i water them, cuddle their leaves and use spray on them in addition to just watering the soil. It’s like a morning dew everyday or so. They love it, I think! I also turn them once a week, so every side of them get some light. That’s about it. I have managed to keep them all alive so far, I went from killing every single one to mastering their growth. I am not sure what happened, I think it’s called quarantine. I needed company, they needed love. We found each other.

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Monstera Deliciosa

Braided Money Tree

Red Congo

Bird of Paradise

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Your bedroom should serve as an oasis – a place where you can unwind and recharge. Considering you spend ⅓ of your life in bed, having a bedroom that reflects your needs and wants is so important! Here are 5 easy steps to creating the ultimate bedroom sanctuary from Parachute.

Make the Most of Your Sleep Experience 

Bringing cozy, tactile textures into your bed creates a comfy sanctuary. Don’t be afraid to mix and match fabrics – linen quilts with percale sheets – to add dimension, warmth and interest. You also can’t have too many pillows on the bed. Not only do they provide for a comfortable sleep experience, they prop you up to just the right angle to enjoy a book and a cup of tea before bed. 

Create an Oasis 

Stick to a natural color palette in the bedroom to create a cozy and calm vibe. Keeping things minimal also helps to make the room look bigger. Soft greys, tan or shades of white provide warmth without being distracting. 

Keep it Cozy

Don’t forget about your bedroom floor! A rug is a beautiful accent in the bedroom and is a way to add more color and texture to a room. A braided wool rug provides the perfect amount of softness for your feet to land upon in the morning while looking incredibly chic. 

Let Outside In 

Bring the outside in. Plants add color and life to the bedroom, plus they clean the air. Snake Plants are excellent plants for the bedroom, and dried plants like lavender make a room feel welcoming while also adding a nice scent to the space. And maintenance is especially easy since dried plants tend to last for months. 

Ready to turn your bedroom into a lush oasis? Check out all the best plants for the bedroom.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Mirrors can help make a space look bigger, which can be particularly helpful if your bedroom is on the smaller side. The reflection adds depth to a room and amplifies light. A mirror can also serve as a beautiful piece of art!

Looking for the perfect plant for your bedroom sanctuary? See our recommendations for plants that pair well with better sleep.

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The gardening community has been producing practical indoor plant care books and manuals for decades. Today, so many of us look to the internet for information and inspiration on indoor plants, but there’s nothing like cracking open a beautiful book on the subject. Whether it’s for your own personal growth or as a gift for a plant-loving friend, here are our favorite books that not only cover some of the basics of practical plant care but also dive into the world of living with and styling beautiful indoor greenery.

The New Plant Parent by Darryl Cheng

Best for: New plant parents! And anyone looking to deepen their relationship and understanding of their leafy companions.

Darryl Cheng of House Plant Journal knows a thing or two about practical plant care. His book is a wonderfully holistic introduction to the world of indoor plants, and focuses primarily on developing the intuitive sense we know as “green thumb”.

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The House Gardener by Isabelle Palmer

Best for: DIYers and those looking to get their hands dirty.

From moss walls to greenhouse terrariums, this book by The Balcony Gardener’s Isabelle Palmer is a fun introduction to hands-on projects for small urban spaces.

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Wonder Plants by Irene Schampaert

Best for: architecture and interior lovers, plant styling inspiration, and unique coffee table decor.

From Antwerp to Tokyo and everywhere in between, Wonder Plants is a visual journey through beautiful green-inspired spaces. Best for gaining inspiration, this book also includes some practical plant care information.

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The Little Book of Cacti And Other Succulents by Emma Sibley

Best for: those looking to create a boho cacti collection.

The name says it all. This adorable little pocket book covers over 60 different varieties of cacti and succulents worth adding to your collection, including care tips, trivia, and more.

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Grow in the Dark by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf 

Best for: urbanites living in dimly-lit spaces.

You don’t need to have tons of light to enjoy the benefits of indoor greenery, and this book is proof. Discover and learn about the low-light beauties that bring just as much joy as their sun-loving counterparts.

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House of Plants: Living with Succulents, Air Plants and Cacti by Rose Ray & Caro Langton

Best for: practical coffee table decor.

The perfect balance of plant care and plant styling, this book makes not just a beautiful decor object but also a practical handbook for taking care of and styling some of the most popular indoor plants.

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Ask any interior design expert: neutrals never go out of style! But neutrals don’t always have the best reputation, and it’s no wonder why: when they’re not done right, they can feel boring, stark, or just plain cold. But a space that’s tastefully decorated with neutrals? Seemingly effortless, inviting and warm, and of course, always in style.

We tapped into one of our favorite experts in all things interior design and feng shui, Joanna Lily Wong, for a few useful tips on how to decorate and style using a clean and calm palette of beiges, grays, and what she likes to call “greige”! Here are her five key tips when decorating a living room or other space with neutrals.

Keep things warm with texture

Neutral living spaces can sometimes feel a bit lifeless. If you've decorated with grey and your space feels a bit cold, incorporate more wood elements and highly textured fabrics like wools or linens. This will help bring more vitality into the space.

Get into “greige”

Sometimes when a room veers on the beige/tan side it can look outdated (in a not cool vintage way), says Joanna. And then sometimes, when a room is all grey, it feels cookie cutter and lifeless.  So I like to use "cool beiges" and "warm grays" as a neutral color.  My favorite neutral color is what I call "Greige".

Style neutrals with a pop of color

If neutrals feel too conservative for you, use them as a foundation, and then bring in a pop of color.  A bright blue lounge chair, for example, or a fun textured rug.  

Styling by @rachelkathleenhome, plant in photo: Rubber Plant in Nouvelle

Learn to layer

When decorating in neutrals, it’s important to layer. If you use, for example, only one shade of grey, and only one shade of white, throughout the room, it will lack dimension.  Embrace different shades or dark and light, warm and cool. 

Build from a foundation of neutrals

Neutrals are always a safe direction to go.  Furnishing your house is expensive, and our tastes change.  But if you have a neutral foundation, you can play with different styles and colors with your home accessories like table lamps, bedsheets, or vases.

What are the ways you decorate with neutrals? Let us know in the comments!

Joanna Lily Wong is an interior designer and real estate developer. Her company, Ennate, takes a tailored approach to each project to achieve a high aesthetic standard, harmonizing form and function. Feng Shui is incorporated into her designs, under the premise that a beautiful, intuitive space can create a happy home.

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Hannah Briggs (@thistleharvest) is a collector of sorts: beautiful moments, simple DIY tips, and of course, plenty of indoor greenery.

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How did you know this home was for you?

My husband actually grew up in our home so it’s been in his family for years and years. We have since renovated it and made it our own and we love it more and more all the time. It’s where he was brought home from the hospital and where we brought our daughter home. It holds lots of sacred memories. 

Pops of greenery like this Little Hope liven up Hannah’s neutral color palette.

What inspires you when you decorate?

Nature in the form of plants (obviously), light woods, various textures such as linen, wood, velvet, leather, etc. I’m drawn to a Scandinavian style with lots of neutral tones and pops of greenery to liven it up. I like to keep things fairly minimal, clean, and cozy. 

The Monstera Deliciosa pulls together a collection of plants in the living room.

What are your plant care secrets?

Live and learn! Haha. I’ve killed many a plant but I try to study up on what they like as far as how much light and water they need, prune them regularly, and repot when necessary. All of my plants are so special and it’s fun trying to figure them out!

All photos by Hannah Briggs. Find her on Instagram or her blog for more design and plant styling inspiration!

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Little Hope

Monstera Deliciosa

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Rheanna and her daughter found home in a historic 19th century farmhouse, tucked away in San Francisco’s Mission District. A sanctuary of sorts, their space is filled with small treasures and moments of inspiration that make it their own.

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How did you know this home was for you?

I was living down the coast, in San Luis Obispo, but wanting to come back to San Francisco. My daughter's former nanny knew I was looking and gave us a call when the house across the street had a sign in the window. The block already felt like family, my daughter knew the neighbors, and while the place needed some major work, I saw potential. But what really sold it was the idyllic backyard full of beautiful plants and flowers; it felt like a mini escape in the Mission and reminded me of what I had loved at my house on the coast. I later learned that it's also an old historic pioneer-era farmhouse built sometime around 1860, so while it's old, it has a special history too.

A slice of heaven in the city, Rheanna’s backyard is filled with gorgeous greenery.

What inspires you when you decorate?

I like to feel a sense of calm and lightness at home. For me, that comes from a type of minimalist meets bohemian style. I have a lot of textiles from Mexico, art from local creators, and hand-crafted furniture from my brother who's a designer and builder. I also love having little moments of inspiration around the house like well-designed housewares, fragrant candles, beautiful magazines, paintings and art by my daughter, and those classic old family photos that can only be found in your home.

A Fiddle Leaf Fig Bush adorns a bright minimalist-meets-boho living room.

What are your plant care secrets?

Honestly, I don't have many secrets. I get so nervous that I'm not doing it right, but the plants from Leon and George have been some of the most beautiful and healthy plants I've had. My daughter and I have given them names, we wipe them down regularly, stroke the leaves, and I actually think the poor insulation in this home benefits the plants with extra moisture in the air. Sometimes I think that my daughter's constant singing makes them happier.

Photos by Aubrie Pick for Mother Mag & Rheanna Martinez.

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Snake Plant

Magenta Triostar

Cascading Pothos

Fiddle Leaf Fig Bush

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