Stitching Pathways - Jack Kramer

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atop this ornate table pedestal.

       Use Single Plants as Focal Points

      You can turn a favorite specimen into a focal point by displaying it on a stand or pedestal, or on a table or mantel. This will add a welcome burst of color. Houseplants can make dim corners inviting, especially when you place them in attractive ceramic containers or on stands. Orchids and gesneriads displayed this way are particularly breathtaking. In fact, they can be more striking than traditional cut flowers, and they usually last much longer.

       Create Transitions

      Another technique employs plants to create a transition between an indoor room and the outdoors. If you have sliding glass doors or a large bay window, place houseplants inside that resemble—or are related to—plants growing outdoors. In the Southwest, for example, an outdoor garden could be echoed by potted cacti and succulents indoors. In the Southeast, palms and gingers can create a continuous tropical feeling, both indoors and out.

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      Bring the outdoors inside with an arrangement of potted plants. The vertical cactus anchors the scene and adds drama, while the varied leaf shapes of the other plants provide eye-catching texture.

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      Correct plant placement, using balance, form, and texture, is represented in this living room. The fig tree in the corner sets the stage for the other plants, which accentuate, rather than compete with, the green upholstery.

      When choosing plants and their locations, try to match the visual mass and weight of plants to the size and proportion of the room. For example, it’s usually better to use bigger, bolder plants in a large room. Symmetrical, well-trained plants with large, smooth-textured leaves, such as Dieffenbachia amoena and corn plant (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’), are highly appropriate for formal rooms. They are often best centrally positioned in front of a large window and become an important design element when repeated. In a large, open, L-shaped room, consider the space carefully and try to imagine groups of plants from all sides. If the room has beams or cornices that make strong horizontal lines, consider a row of plants to carry through the horizontal motif. Rooms with slanted or hipped ceilings look best with groups of plants. If the ceiling is vaulted or cathedral-shaped, you can plant cascading or fountainlike plants, such as philodendrons or arching palms, in hanging baskets to create a harmonious look.

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       The plants give this dramatic stairway a more appealing, less formidable scale. They also break up the plain expanse of hallway behind the stairs

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      Large potted plants transform this functional space into an inviting transitional area. Here, large jars and the sand-colored tile floor convey a Southwestern feel.

       Halls and Entryways

      People form their first impression of your home inside the entry, but in many homes this is hardly a hospitable place for plants. If the space is large enough, a plant on a pedestal can lend an elegant look. If there is a reception table, use a small plant such as prayer plant (Maranta) or a small colorful bromeliad such as Cryptanthus.

      If the hall is barren, think about using a single large plant in place of a piece of furniture. Cascading plants placed on tables or shelves in halls will soften the sharp lines of furniture and hardware. Always use appropriate mats, saucers, or other protective devices so that water leaking from drainage holes does not damage furnishings.

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       Good Plants for Halls and Entryways

• Aspidistra elatior (cast iron plant) here
• Begonia, rhizomatous types here
• Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant) here
• Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) here
• Dracaena here
• Ficus (fig trees) here
• Fittonia verschaffeltii (mosaic plant) here
• Maranta (prayer plant) here, here
• Philodendron here
• Syngonium (arrowhead vine) here
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      A single arching palm can work wonders for an otherwise sparsely furnished living room. This palm fills the gap between the two sofas, echoes the green in the large painting, and—not least—brings nature indoors.

       Living Rooms and Dining Rooms

      These generally large rooms tend to be bright with natural light and usually have even, moderate temperatures of 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C). Large plants, thoughtfully placed, can lend a sense of organization to the space and direct the flow of traffic. Large plants are generally well suited to spacious living rooms and dining rooms because the plants don’t look out of scale there. If the room is long and narrow, choose an upright plant with slender branches, such as a specimen dragon tree (Dracaena concinna). If the architecture is modern and the décor contemporary, consider a large, sculptural cactus. Such plants are especially striking in modern interiors.

      If your floor space is limited, consider hanging baskets of ferns or tropical trailers from the ceiling. For greater impact, try positioning the baskets at three different heights. To break the monotony of walls that are mainly windows, use medium-size plants, perhaps in groups of three, to bring color and life to the blank area. Such plants will benefit from the excellent light.

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      This dining area needs the low planter near the expanse of windows as much as the flowering plants themselves need to be positioned near the light. The attractive planter does not obscure the view.

      Another likely place for plants in living rooms and dining rooms is behind a table and chairs, to supply vertical accents. Instead of placing a long table behind a sofa, try a row of identical plants in identically colored containers. Install lighting fixtures to ensure that the plants receive sufficient light. Once the large plants are in place, add a few complementary

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