House Beautiful 101 Makeovers - Indoor Trees

In Feb. 2009. House Beautiful published 101 easy/instant home makeover ideas from 101 interior designers. Over the next few weeks, I'll be featuring some of the great ideas from that list and my thoughts on achieving the look on a budget.

Makeover Idea #2 from Celerie Kemble

"Buy a tree in a basket or planter and put it in your loneliest corner. I love a fiddle leaf fig for its sweet platypus bill-like leaves. If you want to got he extra mile, stock some uplights behind it."

Celerie Kemble under a lovely fiddle leaf fig tree.


I've been so inspired this week, driving by all the nurseries who are (finally) putting out their plants for sale now that it's spring. I've always been a fan of potted topiaries, but I'm intrigued by Ms. Kemble's tree concept. And apparently a lot of other designers like the idea as well...













Don't these rooms look beautiful and fresh? Many designers say there should always be some sort of fresh cut or living plant in every room. A potted tree, while maybe a bit of an investment at first, will last for many years. Seems down right thrifty compared to buying fresh flowers every week.
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10 comments:

  1. Things That InspireMarch 23, 2009 at 9:14 AM

    This reminds me of my mother - she always had a live ficus tree in our living room, even when we lived in a tiny apartment in Peabody Terrace (your neck of the woods - where my parents lived when I was born).

    I had a silk ficus tree for many, many years, even though I had a friend who would tell me EVERY time she visited that silk flowers or trees were a decorating no-no (she and I were close enough to say these kind of things to each other). I finally got rid of it, but I do love the look of a live tree in a room. OK, this might be the second purchase you inspire me to make (the first being the beautiful books that make me feel so happy every time I see them).

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  2. RowenaMarch 23, 2009 at 10:04 AM

    I was just thinking about this. I love the look of plants in a room, but I am not enough of a horticulturist to keep them looking good and it's just so much work.

    I recently decided the answer was to just have one potted tree. You get the greenery impact, but with contained upkeep.

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  3. Haven and HomeMarch 23, 2009 at 10:53 AM

    Oh this makes me want one for the corner of my living room!

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  4. AnonymousMarch 23, 2009 at 11:18 AM

    Thanks for sharing these great images. It is amazing how a tree can add so much to a room. I have a potted palm in a lonely corner of my family room and it just makes the room feel warmer and more alive (imagine that!). Now if I can just get the cat to stop chewing the leaves!

    Tricia - Avolli

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  5. HeatherMarch 23, 2009 at 11:48 AM

    I love the way plants make a home feel. Keep the great posts comin'! I look forward to reading this blog!!

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  6. High-Heeled Foot in the doorMarch 23, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    Oh I love the way all the rooms look with that touch of greenery. I so do not have a green thumb, but I might be giving this a try.

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  7. LauraMarch 23, 2009 at 2:08 PM

    love the kitchen with the fab. orangeish red cabinet.

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  8. StacyMarch 23, 2009 at 11:57 PM

    I'm loving the plants in the photos.

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  9. debsfrecklesMarch 26, 2009 at 12:49 PM

    I have been thinking about a tree in our living room, but I am afriad it would die. Do they need a lot of sunlight? Maybe I will have to google it.

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  10. AnonymousMay 3, 2009 at 3:21 AM

    i want some plants now! xo.

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)