Photo by Essential Home 

In our previous blog (Fresh Us, Fresh You), we talked about how to better yourself in 2018. To further that notion, we’re sticking to our resolution of providing trendy suggestions that can impact your interiors.

Pull from some of this year’s latest trends to set-up the right vibe for your home or office. If you recognize how to work with what you’ve got, while adding statement items where necessary, you too can accomplish the perfect interior harmony.

To help elevate the ordinary in your space, we’ve compiled our 2018 design recommendations from some of the industry’s leading all-stars:

In Vogue, Alex Papachristidis said:

“Green has been missing from the market lately. It’s a color that I love and will always use and I feel it’s making a comeback. It’s such an important color because it brings nature indoors and into the home.”

Right photo by @hiltoncarter left photo Bird of Paradise by Léon & George      

In Homes to Love, Emma Vidgen writes:

“As our lives become more hectic and reliant on technology, our desire to reconnect with nature and return to a simpler way of life will be reflected in the design and style of our homes.”

Right photo by Coco Lapine design left photo Monstera Deliciosa by Léon & George

In the National, Rin Hamburg suggests you:

“Use plants liberally to inject life into your home, but don’t just stick them anywhere. Create large groupings to turn them into a feature, or even max out with a living wall. Alternatively, think of unusual ways to display your plants – hang them from the ceiling or choose unexpected decorative pots. You can also mirror live plants with touches of botanical prints.”

Left photo by California Home Design, middle photo Snake Plant by Léon & George, right photo Leo's Oyster Bar in San Francisco, CA

When revitalizing any space, houseplants are the most direct way to bring nature indoors! A safe place to start is with easy-care plants that fit in even the shadiest of corners in any home or office. Want to be bold? Our large statement plants are an immediate eye-catcher and they make a luscious focal point for any room. Does your apartment lack the floor real estate necessary to house a larger plant? Have no fear - consider some of our NEW tabletop pieces as they are easily workable in confined spaces.

The Braided Money Tree by Léon & George

Increasing your collection of greenery is a sure way to re-vamp any interior environment this year! Use the tips we’veBraided Money Tree compiled to help liven up your home or office, after all, when you’re in a positive place, you’re more likely to pollinate others with your vibrance.

Happy decorating!

Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Happy New Year plant people! What an exciting time to start fresh. Who else is looking to nurture 2018 so it grows into the best year yet? At Léon & George, we definitely are!

As a company, we're heading into our second year and our new year’s resolution is to continue to make this world a greener place. We'll be bringing more people and plants together, and that means a commitment to:

• Sourcing only the highest quality and trendiest greens that best compliment our interiors
• Maintaining positive relationships among growers, partners, team members and customers
• Consistently sprouting out fresh, new products and services
• Making it as easy as possible for people to select, purchase and own indoor plants

Plants aren’t the only living things that require proper TLC. We also plan to use this year to take care of ourselves and so should you. Channel your inner houseplant and use the following self-care tips to help YOU flourish in 2018...

• Reconnect with your roots by occasionally disconnecting from technology and surrounding yourself with nature, indoors or out!
• Water your relationships by checking in with loved ones and monitoring the ways you too can help them thrive.
• Feed your creativity by nourishing your passions and carving out time for your hobbies.
• Shed light on the things you wish to accomplish by setting realistic goals and doing all you can to grow towards them.
• Establish a healthy environment by creating a vibe in your home or office that allows you to feel inspired, enjoy your downtime, and experience a sense of calmness in this otherwise hectic world.

2018 is an opportunity to cultivate your personal green-thumb. And once it’s solid, don’t grow alone… get a plant :) Look to us for trendy greens, and together, we can freshen up this new year. Now's our time to thrive!

Photo by Léon & George

If you haven't already noticed, we've added a NEW product to our selection of all things living and lovely! We're excited to announce that the Desert Cactus is here and it's looking sharp. Whether you're aware of the existing cacti-craze or you're completely in the dark, let us shed some light on why prickly plants are starting to populate style-guides, Instagram feeds and store fronts as of late. 

What makes it cool?

Its been obvious for some time that succulents are sweeping the nation. Their easy-care qualities and unique variations contribute to their popularity, and they're sprouting up in coffee shops, window-sills, and home interiors everywhere. The Desert Cactus however, a distant cousin to many succulents, is the not-so-typical plant in town.

More formally referred to as the Euphorbia Ammak, this California-native desert cactus is quite a rare find. It's strikingly grand in stature and has a bohemian aesthetic that makes it extremely photogenic. This Euphorbia can reach a height of 10m and its whimsical, branching arms make it seem almost human-like! Its most common coloring is a pale yellow, but the natural coloration is a deep, saturated shade of green. Add one of these plants to your home or office and it's bound to be an eye-catching conversation starter. Benefit from the Euphorbia's unique, impressive presence with the easy-care nature of any simple succulent. 

Left photo by @david.david.studio right photo by Justina Blakeney

Care & Design

With spines as sharp and tough as its personality, this low maintenance cactus is distinctive and unusual. Like its name, these cacti like desert conditions with a lot of light and not a lot of water, especially in the winter months. You can put in minimal effort and this plant will thrive. To quote an article from The Guardian, " [these] cacti are easy-care, striking to look at, and 'green' because they require little water: sustainable interior decoration in a pot".

The Euphorbia Ammak is known for having unpredictable branch-like arms that often grow in clusters. Although aesthetically it seems very unique and unconventional, getting the most out of this cactus is actually quite effortless. For best results, provide this Euphorbia with full sun and sharply-drained, lean soil. If you need additional care tips, look no further.

Photo by @thenowmassage

Bring the desert to you

Adding a Desert Cactus to your life is a sure way to accomplish that modern and trendy boho-style that everyone craves! Grown with the utmost care in California, this plant will add warmth to any interior space. If you're looking for an avant-garde Euphorbia of your own, we can help!

And don't worry about the stress of getting this plant to and fro, like usual, we will take care of all those prickly details! 

Left photo by Léon & George right photo by @heartshakestudios

Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree by Léon & George at Serpentine SF

Move over, mossy terrariums, there's a new plant in charge. The fiddle-leaf fig tree has started popping up in fashion spreads, high-end offices, and just about everywhere in between. The secret to the fiddle's popularity? An Instagram-worthy leaf structure that livens up every space it inhabits.

The New York Times called it "the perfect balance of volume and negative space, structure and whimsy." Today said it was "the plant taking over homes across America." They are go-to fixtures in the offices of luxury retail brands in Paris and San Francisco. And in 2017, the fiddle-leaf fig tree was Léon & George's best-selling plant of the year. Here's what makes it unique.

Why it stands out
The fiddle-leaf fig is a tropical tree native to western Africa. It thrives in warm, wet climates, which can be tricky to replicate indoors. But when potted and cared for, fiddles are long-lasting and vibrant, with broad violin-shaped leaves. They vary in shape and size, each one with its own personality and quirk. Some form tall columns, while others grow like trees, usually between two and six feet tall when potted.

Their full shape is what caught the attention of artists and architects who first used fiddles in their work. Fast-forward a few years, and they are some of the most sought-after plants of the decade. The recent hurricane in Florida, for example, temporarily depleted the supply and led to long waitlists for potted fiddle-leafs across the US.

Care + design: Tips for styling your fiddle
Fiddle-leaf figs photograph beautifully and they add character to any room they're in. But here's the drawback: they can be finicky and definitely require a little TLC. Light pruning will keep them looking fresh and happy -- just like you should feel when you're around them! For basic care, water once a week (less in winter) and spray the leaves regularly to create humidity. More care tips here. 

When it comes to styling your fiddle, it's all about proportions. To make your plant the center of attention, try dusting the leaves to create a light-catching sheen. You can also trim lower branches to guide the growth up and out. Designers are drawn to fiddles because they are versatile and fit nicely in tight-cornered apartments or open-concept offices. The Léon & George team recommends giving your fiddle at least a foot of clear space in every direction, and pairing it with a sleek architectural planter that will really do it justice.

Last word: Go ahead, fall in love
The fiddle-leaf fig may not be the easiest plant to care for, but that hasn't stopped it from winning the adoration of millions. And as great as it looks in the photos, we promise it'll be even better in person. Ready to join the Fiddle club? The Léon & George team is here to help with more care tips and design pointers to get you started.

Nothing says jungle vibes quite like a big, bold, tropical plant. And right now, there’s one in particular that seems to be on everyone’s plant wishlist. Its leaves can grow up to two feet in width, and it is the ultimate statement plant for any style or space.

Say hello to the majestic Elephant Ear.

The Alocasia, or Elephant Ear as it is commonly called, gets its name from its flat, jumbo-sized, heart-shaped leaves. Elephant Ear plants make a great decorative piece for a spacious room and instantly bring a lush, tropical vibe. They are typically fast-growers that thrive best with indirect sunlight, humid settings and moist soil.

A few fun facts:

• The entire plant is edible, but only when cooked

• A popular houseplant since the 1950s, it can live decades with the right care

• In Asia the plant is known as “the great protector”

There are a few different varieties of the Elephant Ear, including the Alocasia Regal Shield (pictured), Alocasia Calidora, and the Alocasia Black Magic.

How To Care for The Elephant Ear

This plant is easy to care for indoors and does not require an expert green thumb. Here’s the low-down on how to care for the Elephant Ear plant:

• Light: medium to bright indirect light is ideal

• Water: water once a week or when the top two inches of soil is dry

• Feeding: fertilize once a month in the spring and summer

• Miscellaneous: as a tropical plant, the Elephant Ear loves a consistently warm environment. If it’s too cold, brown spots may appear on the leaves, and if it’s too hot, it may droop

Read our full care guide on the Elephant Ear to learn how to grow this majestic beauty!

Where to place an Elephant Ear

Beyond medium to bright indirect light for the Alocasia, you’re also going to want a lot of space: this plant does not get too tall, but it can get quite large in width and will need room to grow. While this is not a great plant for a small room or narrow corner, the Elephant Ear can truly transform a space if given the chance!

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