How a greenery installation works, indoors and on terraces

The goal of this project was to create a showcase interior and a functional terrace that would look natural not only right after completion, but also several years from now. The job included choosing houseplants and planters, fully planting the built-in trough planters and installing an automatic irrigation system.

The brief

The client wanted three striking indoor statement plants. Two were to stand right next to large west-facing windows, and the third was to create a focal point in the center of the room.

At the same time, we designed the complete planting of the built-in trough planters on the terrace, which will later be home to an outdoor seating area and a grill. Thanks to the sliding roof, we could work with a wider range of species, because the plants are not exposed to rain all year round.

Interior: we choose plants to suit the space

The interior was furnished in a modern style with light wood and clean lines. In a space like this, it is not just about the plants being beautiful. Their proportions, growth habit and whether they will look too heavy in the room matter just as much.

Strelitzia Nicolai next to the sofa

Next to the sofa, we placed a Strelitzia Nicolai about 160 cm tall. We needed a plant that would grow mainly upward without taking up more width than necessary.

As a result, the leaves rise elegantly above the sofa and create a striking focal point in the space. Strelitzia also thrives in these light conditions, and each new leaf will usually be taller than the one before. Within a few months, it can become a statement plant about two meters tall.

Another advantage is that it copes well with an occasional missed watering without its appearance suffering right away.

Ficus Lyrata right by the window

The second plant was a two-stemmed Ficus Lyrata 160 cm tall. We placed it right by the window, where it will get plenty of western sun. These are exactly the conditions in which ficus plants grow best.

But more light also means the plant uses more water and nutrients. That is why we recommend more frequent watering and fertilizing in spring and summer.

Ficus Lyrata has one more practical advantage: it takes well to pruning and shaping. If your idea of how the plant should look changes over time, it can be made bushier and kept to the proportions you want.

Schefflera as the central statement plant

For the middle of the room, we chose a tree-form Schefflera arboricola Compacta 140 cm tall. Here we wanted the planter itself to stand out more and to create a statement plant that visitors notice as soon as they walk in.

Schefflera is low-maintenance, yet it grows fairly quickly. Within a few years, it can catch up in height with the other focal plants.

Choosing the planters

The design covered not only the plants, but also the planters. We chose the Private Label Antwerp collection, which combines a modern look with a durable build. The finely textured surface looks natural, and thanks to the fiberclay material, the planters are lightweight, UV-stable and suitable for long-term use.

For the Strelitzia, we chose a shorter gray model with a concrete look that matches the color of the floor. We paired the other two plants with taller beige planters. These visually add height to the plants and also go well with the light wood in the interior.

All the plants were potted in protective BAQ liners , which shield the planters from direct contact with water and make future maintenance easier.

A terrace for everyday use

On the terrace, we planted about forty shrubs, grasses and herbs. We based the design above all on practicality, the natural development of the planting and year-round appeal.

Near the future grill, we planted thyme, rosemary and lavender, so fresh herbs are always at hand.

In the remaining trough planters, we mainly planted Carex sedges, which quickly form a dense mass of green. Over time, they will create a natural screen, soften the space and provide a greater sense of privacy.

The composition is completed by the pine Pinus schwerinii ‘Wiethorst’, the juniper Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, white-flowering hydrangeas and a striking Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’, which will change the character of the whole planting over the course of the season.

The result

On every project, we look for a balance between aesthetics, functionality and long-term sustainability. We do not just choose pretty plants. We design solutions that fit the specific space, the light conditions and the client’s lifestyle.

Thanks to the right choice of species, suitable planters and automatic irrigation, the result is a space that will work well not only right after installation, but also in the years to come.

You can find more interior, terrace and office projects on our Instagram @dejmipokojovku .