Here are a few panoramic pictures of the apartment as the blank slate it is right now.

Living Room

Dining Room

Computer Room / Office

Art Room

So, How About Those Plants?

I have been wanting plants every place I have lived, and tried a couple times, but the lighting was woeful, and the cost for supplemental lighting was going to be unreasonable for our budget, so I kept putting it off, simmering on the back burner of the stove, and waiting. Waiting, waiting, waiting.

But this is going to be the move to get things started. I have a vision, and I want to start the process now, because when we move into a house, I want things to be relatively established and easy to set up. I want greenery in the traditional studio. I envision a canopy of greenery (eventually), and hanging plants like ivy, pothos, etc.

I also would love a Monstera - but that may be a longer-term goal - I will have to see. Seems like they might be a major wallet killer.

I want to have climbing and trailing plants as well as some potted plants on the floor. I don’t have a super specific selection I want in here, I just want some nature pulled in, and I would like to have it kind of “cocoon” the room a little, and make it cozy and someplace I can really enjoy drawing and painting in. The light in this room is decent, but I will probably need to look for plants that are ok with some shady conditions. I will invest in lights and put them on timers so it will spank our wallets as minimally as possible.

One thing I want to probably use is “Fuhgeddaboudit!” as I don’t have the greenest of thumbs, and it seems from reading about it that will help me with my novice plant care skills at least in the beginning. If I use it I will let you know how it goes.

Plants I am interested in (I may not be able to get them, but these interest my eye and mind):

Buttercup - small leaves in yellow and green variations based on amount of sunlight
Big Shot - large leaves that start out between cream/yellow and as it matures switch to deep green
Fluffy Ruffles - combo of pink and green leaves with curly edges
Gold Dust - has different variegation on each leaf, which makes it stand out from the rest. The foliage is also spotted with golden-yellow hues
Red Rhipsalis - Pseudorhipsalis ramulosa - (aka Red Mistletoe Cactus) - deep red violet fleshy semi succulent leaves that trail down
Black Bat Flower - Unique purple black flowers with trailing “whiskers” for vertical interest
White Bat Flower - Same as Black Bat, but in white with purple streaks in the flowers. Super interesting.
Orchid Yellow Tall Phlox - This might be a bit tall for indoors in the apartment, but it is really pretty kind of chartreuse yellow-green flowers with purple-pink centers on tall spikes.
Crème de la Crème Phlox - appears like it has double flowers, pink to greenish-yellow flowers
Geraniums - Leaning to the purple/pink ones like Geranium cinereum (Noortil), pratense (Summer Skies), and (Rozanne), these are perineal (instead of the typical annual) so they will come back year after year without replanting.
Heuchera - wide range of colors, I like Smoke And Mirrors Heuchera (grey green leaves with pink undertones and tiny/dainty flowers of purple and pink), Catching Fire Heucherella (lime green foliage with purple “flames” in center, flowers can be white to pink)
Coral Bells - lots of color varieties and patterns. I’m really interested in Heuchera Americana Marvelous Marble, Melting Fire, Amber Waves
Hens and Chicks - lots of color varieties, low growing succulent with fleshy rosette pattern to the leaves. These don’t need a lot of soil, and can even be grown in dishes and bowls, would be nice to rim pots with for some texture and possible colors.
Dwarf daylillies - I like the colors of Happy Returns, Purple Del Oro, Stella Del Oro
Missouri Evening Primrose - bright yellow flower clusters shaped a bit like buttercups.
Tango Hummingbird Mint - This has a tall spike flower with orange flower with hints of blue, would be fun in mixed plant pots for texture and height.
Nectar Hummingbird Mint - This is like the Tango Hummingbird Mint, but comes in oranges, reds, fuchsia, and yellows.
Torch Lily Mix - Thin blade/grass like leaves with spikes of flowers that ombre from red to bright yellow.
Red Monarda - mint shaped leaves with pompom like bright red/crimson flowers
Dazzle Rocks Limonium - low thick cover dark green leaves with spikes of dainty lavender tiny flowers
Double Scoop Cranberry Coneflower - Vibrant green foliage with cranberry/rosy-red flowers and a very pronounced “puff” (almost mum like) for centers.
Black Mondo Grass - neat texture and dark purple-black leaves in thin blade like shapes, pink to lilac flowers.
Creeping Blue Sedum - Splash of pink and blue, forms a perfect, circular mound of arching stems covered with fleshy, round, blue foliage with a deep pink line, the foliage turns pink in the winter. In late summer, flat heads of pink flowers
SunFlare Japanese Forest Grass - blade like green and red grass that mounds
Lily of the Valley Nosegay - pink and white flowers that are very fragrant with large flat leaves.
Burning Hearts Dicentra - beautiful red and white heart shaped flowers with “frosty” fern like leaves, with an upturned twisting edge at the bottom.
Valentine Bleeding Heart Dicentra - similar to Bleeding Heart Dicentra but instead of pink, has bright red heart shaped flowers.
White Gold Bleeding Heart Dicentra - Same as Valentine Bleeding Heart Dicentra but with pure white flowers and bright yellow-green foliage.
Japanese Painted Fern - gorgeous purple plant that looks like it has been painted with silver, needs high humidity, so would need to do something with a humidifier possibly.
More ferns that if I manage to get the humidity arranged, I would like: Athyrium Filix-Femina, Adiantum, Polystichum Acrostichoides, Athyrium Niponicum var. Pictum 'Metallicum', Adiantum Pedatum, Cyrtomium Fortunei, Asplenium Antiquum 'Crissie', Dyopteris Erythrosora 'Brilliance', Dryopteris Wallichiana 'Jurassic Gold'
Another one if I can sort out the humidity - Aeschynanthus (Lipstick Plant) has thick leaves and ends in red flowers ranging from bright red to dark red almost black
Dracaena Marginata - a palm tree like plant that stands about 5-6 feet tall, might not be good for the apartment, but it looks cool, and I want some tall things / height.
Another one that might be too big for an apartment but I would love to have if I can work it out is a true Elephant Ear plant - probably a Alocasia, but would love a Xanthosoma (gets 6-9 feet tall with 4 foot long leaves that are 3 feet wide)
Chenille Plant - bright red flowers that resemble a cat’s tail and droop down beautifully.
Oxalis - there are several versions, I want the purple leaf shamrock which has 3 large leaves around a center point and tiny white or pink flowers.
Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia Milii) - has long thick vibrant green leaves and small pink flowers.
Purple Heart / Inch Plant / Wandering Jew / Wandering Dude - Clusters of purple lance shaped leaves which terminate in a trio of purple or pink flowers.
Cyclamen - this has been one of my favorite houseplants for years (20? maybe) I love how the flowers look like they are upside down, and the colors are bright and vibrant.
Watermelon Peperomia - Thick oval leaves in green and white looks like a tiny watermelon
Staghorn Fern - get the “look” of an animal head, but it is 100% alive and growing.
To add some other textures to certain pots, perhaps Pebble Plant (Lithops), looks like tiny stones or even some look like mini brains growing out of the ground.
This looks cool, but it needs warm surroundings, so I need to do more research, but Mother of Millions / Thousands (Kalanchoe Daigremontiana). It grows it’s baby plantlets from the edges of the leaves.
I remember us having one of these when I was younger, don’t know what happened to it to be honest, but it was cool - Resurrection Plant (Selaginella Lepidophylla) doesn’t have roots, and can come back from the dead quite literally. All it needs is to have a few hours being exposed to moisture to reactivate, even from complete desiccation.
Desert Rose (Adenium obesum) is an easy natural bonsai plant. The bright two tone pink flowers and vibrant green fleshy leaves on a plum woody trunk look really nice.
And we can’t forget the Caladium!

For pots, I am looking at the following for some visual interest, but I will keep some “normal” pots too:

Elliptical Hanging Planter - teardrop glass planter for air plants, sedum, succulents, or tiny plants in terrariums.
Ladles for Succulents - you heard me right - it’s awesome looking and quirky to boot.
Could also consider teapots, mugs, colanders, whisks (for air plants), etc.
Wine Glasses, Brandy Snifters, bowls, plates, etc. for succulents, air plants, and small seedlings. Could use colorful sand to add some creativity under the soil.
Egg shells for tiny plants - I have (somewhere) some ostrich shells, emu shells, and rhea shells which I think I could use for larger plants, but even chicken egg shells can be used for tiny plants, and in the end, they are 100% biodegradable.
PVC pipe and fittings - a little hard to explain, but creating a pipeline with plants growing out of the ends - depending on the size and type of the plant probably best for sedum and succulents.
Mason Jars - wide range of sizes and even colors. Could be used with the opening as the top, or cut the bottom off and make an almost lightbulb shape with a larger opening.
Test tubes for seedlings and tiny plants
Wicker Baskets
Upcycled Drawers
Corks - for tiny plants, succulents, and air plants that don’t need lots of water.
Those plastic easter eggs that break in half to put candy in
Votive holders
Furniture feet
Thimbles
And I could make my own using pinch pots etc.
Musical Instruments beyond repair - don’t know what I might find somewhere or somehow, but possibly things like guitars, trumpets, tubas, drums, cello, base, french horn, etc.
Would be awesome to get a piano, but not while we are in the apartment - no room, even for an upright
Recycle my k-cups into mini planters for seedlings and tiny plants, succulents, and air plants.
Ironically, recycle a few unneeded carafes from coffee pots/machines that no longer work into terrariums.

So, that’s a little bit of a brief overview of some of my ideas, but I will keep a log of how things go, both with unpacking and decorating, as well as the move.

If you would like to see a little walk through of the apartment, I have put a quick video. I attempted to make it smooth so you won’t get seasick, but I was limping from a very minor foot injury (I didn’t realize I was limping until I watched the video), so there is a little bit of a shake as I walk down the hallway.

A little backstory: My traditional art studio room in this house was supposed to be a thing, but that room got filled with boxes, and try as I might - I couldn’t clear it out with the time I had available between all other tasks. Therefore, I am doing that as I pack/re-pack and clear out. Now, the theory is, when we move into the apartment, I will be able to more quickly unpack because I will have less “mess” to deal with.

The traditional art room will have a drafting table, my easel, a nice streaming backdrop for traditional streams/videos, and all my traditional supplies nicely organized and stored. There isn’t a lot of space, so I might need to use the closet in the computer / office room for additional storage, but we will see. Sometimes you have to be creative with these things - lol. I also want to upgrade my book storage. My current bookcases are a little worse for wear - having moved 10-15 times in their lifetimes, and they were not great quality/condition to start with (they were hand-me-downs). I have some nice ones picked out, and just need to order them (will have to take a few months to do that because we want several.

I will need to make sure the floor and walls are protected, so I will probably need to put down some canvas and maybe hang some canvas behind the backdrop so paint/dust/etc. won’t damage the surfaces.

I don’t know yet how I am going to deal with my computer in the traditional art room so it doesn’t get damaged/messy, but as I work out the room, I will be thinking about this conundrum and find a solution.

The computer room is going to be where both Barry and I need to be able to access the computer for work/tasks, so it will need to be a little more “toned down” and office like, but yeah, my unique flavor will sneak in there too.

The living room and dining room will probably be where I do most of my video editing for YouTube so I can spend time with my hubby while still working. I have an “L” shaped desk that will probably go there, although typing this up now, I am thinking about swapping it into the office for my digital art/streaming, and then using the monster desk that is currently in there in the dining room where it will be a little more open space. This “monster” desk is also “L” shaped but is a Frankenstein creation of several pieces of furniture, and the dining room (as you see above) is an open space, since on arm is smaller than the other, the smaller one can stick out into the room. It’s not a “pretty” piece of furniture, but I can do a bit to disguise it’s “meh” qualities. I’m not sure it will work (haven’t taken measurements) but that might be an option to consider.

Well, that’s it for now. Kind of a list for a blog post, but I will update with blogs as things progress.

Until then…

Take care of yourselves and each other,

Lucy