At RWD, we believe that every room should have greenery in it to bring life into the space. It automatically brightens up a dark corner and boosts your mood to see a plant thriving. If it has to be fake, that’s ok, but of course real houseplants are always better!

Saying this, we totally understand that taking care of a plant can sometimes be a lot of work, and a little daunting to someone without a natural green thumb. To help, we’ve put together this list of our favorite house plants with tips for making them happy. Most of these are plants we have at home or in the office, so you can trust our judgement!

Before we get into it, a general tip is to take some time after you get a new plant to study it. What we mean by this is that it’s a good idea to move the plant to different spots, closer and farther from a window to find a place that makes it truly happy. Pay attention to its leaves to know how it’s feeling; if they get droopy or start to brown, it is time to change location. The same goes with watering; try slightly different amounts and different watering schedules to see what makes the plant perky. Pro tip: less water is better than more when you’re just getting started; over-watering is one of the surest ways to kill a plant! Also, as your plant grows (yay!), make sure you re-pot it into a bigger pot occasionally so the roots have space to grow too.

Now, on to the list!

Philodendron

Philodendrons are a great plant for beginners because they’re so easy to care for! They are known for their heart-shaped trailing leaves that can get quite long. They prefer low to medium indirect light and to be watered weekly or every two weeks. Before you water, make sure the soil is completely dry!

Monstera

Monstera, or the swiss cheese plant, has a lot of character with its beautiful broad leaves and natural holes. A type of philodendron, it really thrives in bright to medium indirect light and doesn’t do as well in intense direct light. Watering every 1-2 weeks works well for this “Monster,” just make sure to let the soil dry before watering again.

Snake Plant

The Snake Plant is another plant that’s great for beginners, and it’s actually even easier to care for than the Philodendron! It’s a very attractive, modern-looking plant with thin, shiny leaves that add height to a space. It’s also an air purifying plant, which is an added bonus. It doesn’t need much water or light. It prefers medium to bright indirect light but can withstand low indirect light. Make sure the soil is dried out completely before watering it again. We water ours in the office just a little bit once a week and it’s very happy!

Succulents

“Succulent” refers to a wide range of drought-tolerant plants. Because they come from the desert, their minimal needs make them good for beginners. They need bright direct light and not much else. Don’t over-water, even if it’s tempting! Just water them every 2-3 weeks when leaves start to wrinkle. They prefer normal to dry humidity (think desert climate!).

Fiddle Leaf Fig

The “it” plant right now, and for a good reason. They’re SO pretty with giant shiny green leaves. They can also get pretty huge when cared for correctly! However, the fiddle fig is one of the harder houseplants to care for. They need a lot of bright light, but aim for filtered or indirect light to avoid burning the leaves. These plants are also used to warm and humid climates. If the leaves are dropping, they’re likely too dry – set up a humidifier or mist them with a spray bottle. Keep the soil moist, but don’t let the plant sit in a puddle or you’ll have root rot on your hands!

What to Avoid

One word: orchids. Orchids are beautiful, but they’re nearly impossible to keep happy. We know people with a real talent for keeping plants alive who have struggled with orchids! So unless you’re a profession orchid keeper, try to avoid them because it can only end in heartbreak.

Another word: ferns. Ferns are pretty hard to keep alive because they love humidity and they tend to get bugs really easily. We’ve had really bad times with ferns – it’s probably best to just avoid them.

We hope this is a helpful start to your plant journey! If, for some reason, a plant passes away, don’t beat yourself up over it or feel like a plant parent failure. Just try again using the lessons you learned, and everything will be peachy keen!

XOXO,

All images and help on the care guide from thesill.com <3

Master Bath Design

Our clients requested a contemporary style for their master bath remodel. The only must have: a double vanity.

We delivered, and incorporated these stunning penny-round tiles that span the wall, from counter top to ceiling.

The vanity mirrors also slide up to reveal a medicine cabinet, fully equipped with lighting, electrical plugs, and glass shelves.

Our clients also wanted a walk-in shower, with less grout to clean, and a separated water closet.

So we installed large-format shower tiles and a side-light to let in light from the SolaTube in the brand new water closet. We even added some stylish grab bars and a bench for ease of use. And of course, we added a built-in niche for shampoo and soap (you can’t see it here, but the back of it is covered in more penny-rounds!).

Master Bedroom Design

In the bedroom, we updated the existing paint color to a bold blue. We also removed the carpet and replaced it with new wood floors. The fan, window treatments, and accent furniture were also updated, pulling the design together. The art is something our clients found in Hawaii (they are avid travelers) and we think it’s perfect for the space!

Guest Bathroom Design

The clients desperately needed more storage in their guest bathroom, so we added a tall linen cabinet next to the sink. We also removed the outdated shower doors and replaced them with a simple shower curtain, letting the vertically laid tile shine.

Railing and Stair Design

We updated the stairwell with a fun blue accent wall, and switched out the light fixture and flooring. The biggest and most beautiful change, though, is the new, modern glass railing. Forget those basic, wooden slats! We installed this gorgeous glass railing, which instantly updates not only the stairs, but also the living space downstairs.

To see all of the project images, click here!

XOXO,

Renwil’s goal is to create works of art for the world of interior design, and that’s exactly what they do. The pieces are created by in-house artists, which is why they are so unique and… cool!

Renwil offers accent pieces that tend to steal the show. They sell art, mirrors, lighting, rugs, accessories, and some accent furniture like poufs and side tables.

We especially love their lighting and mirrors. They provide ceiling fixtures, floor and table lamps and wall sconces. We’re particular fans of their table lamps, all of which are SO stylish, but the ceiling fixtures and floor lamps are also gorgeous! Renwil’s mirrors come in all styles, but we often find ourselves turning to them for a good ol’ stylish vanity mirror.

Here is the Renwil website where you can find something beautiful and artfully designed. Let us know when you’re ready to purchase! Or, click here to contact us to let us find something for you. 🙂

XOXO,

I sat with my friends at dinner this week thinking about the number 40.  We were all in the same class in high school and all had February birthdays, so we thought it would be fun to commiserate together.  We concluded that 40 is just a number and there is no reason to be scared of it.  Just because we thought 40 sounded ancient when we were running around together as 16 years olds doesn’t mean it is true.  As you get older you get wiser, right?  None of us “felt 40” and we all thought we didn’t “look 40” either! Of course we didn’t get the opinion of a nearby teenager.  I shared with the group how I remembered my dad’s 40^th birthday when I was 5, and how all his friends dressed in black and laid into the “over the hill” party theme.  I don’t hear about these “over the hill” parties so much anymore, so maybe 40 really is the new 30?!

At any rate, I feel like I have been preparing for this birthday all of my 39^th year.  The big 4-0 stared me down as I reflected about what it means to be finishing my 4^th decade.  My 30’s were an amazing time of growing for my business, from just me working out of my in-laws loft (where my husband and I lived during the recession before we bought our first home) to having a dream of a studio in mid-town Sacramento with 2 amazing designers working for me.  It was also the season of having my 2 babies, experiencing the joys and pains of parenthood, and helping them become self-sufficient enough to start school.

For the first time this year, I chose a Word of the Year, which is a self-reflection and goal setting exercise I have been wanting to do for a few years now.  The word I chose was “Foritfy”. I liked that is had some great alliteration with “Forty”, and when I landed on that word it was like the heavens were singing; I just knew that was my word.  I have spent the last few years refining my business practices, and reading books on self-awareness, so I felt like now was the year to actually strengthen and further develop the foundation that had been laid.  I also grabbed the word “Flourish” as my word of the decade because that is also relevant.  I really feel like I’m standing at the precipice of a great thing that will happen in my career.  I can see that all the seeds that have been planted through the sweat of intentional work, mistakes I’ve learned from, and my mentors’ wisdom will now start to grow, and even flourish this decade. On a personal level, I also hope to flourish and have my family flourish along with me.

So bring it 40’s!  You are going to be fabulous!

XOXO,