Eight Gardening Solutions for Small Spaces
Small-space gardening solutions for plant lovers with tiny patches of earth—or none at all
By Lauren Mang March 13, 2014
This article originally appeared in the April 2014 issue of Seattle magazine.
1 Organization Station
When space to grow plants and store garden tools is hard to come by, opt for one grand multitasking unit. Ikea’s Socker plant stand, (pictured above) $39.99, with a slim profile that allows it to fit just about anywhere in your abode, is constructed of powder-coated steel and supports multiple sleek and shiny galvanized steel plant pots ($0.99 each) for cultivating greenery and stashing pruning shears neatly and efficiently. Ikea, Renton, 601 SW 41st St.; 888.888.4532; ikea.com
2 Take a Stand
The Jean-Baptiste indoor/outdoor stool, $325, created by industrial designer Jean-François D’Or for French furniture retailer Ligne Roset, has a three-legged base of natural finished larch that holds either a satin white stoneware tray or pot ($140, pot or tray)—complete with drainage holes. Ligne Roset, South Lake Union, 112 Westlake Ave. N; 206.341.9990; ligne-roset-usa.com
3 Double Duty
For small garden spaces, go with products that offer up more than one function. Design Within Reach’s angular indoor/outdoor Cutter stool, $375, in chic teak, by Danish designer Niels Hvass, serves as as a spot to display plants and flowers, and moonlights as a place to park when you need a breather. The optional Cutter box, $170, slides underneath, providing handy storage. Design Within Reach, Downtown, 1918 First Ave.; 206.443.9900; dwr.com
4 Flower Power
Wall Flower, $195, the petite light fixture by Marcel Wanders for contemporary lighting manufacturer Flos, enlivens yards with LED light by night and imparts a peek of pretty blossom-shaped glass (in transparent or acid-etched gray) by day. $125, power supply driver required. Inform Interiors, South Lake Union, 300 Dexter Ave. N; 206.622.1608; informseattle.com
5 The Skinny
Edmonds-based biz KuL Designs produces modern, functional and illuminated furniture and accessories that are all sustainably manufactured in the U.S. We love the Modenvaz Alto planter (starting at $205) made from recycled polyethylene that punches in at a space-saving 12 inches wide and 30 inches tall. Opt for one of nine vivid shades with LED- or solar-powered illumination, or select neutral or white and illuminate with the auto-changing RGB (red, green, blue) light. Available online only at kuldesigns.com
6 Cast Away
Take the hands-on approach to gardening one step further by casting your own planter. Each NativeCast DIY eco-concrete garden kit (starting at $16) contains a mixing spoon, mold, bag of eco-concrete, seed starter soil and a pack of seeds. Fleurt, West Seattle, 4536 California Ave. SW; 206.937.1103; fleurtseattle.com
7 True Colors
Don’t ignore the floor: A swath of cool coral with a heathered, off-white trellis pattern underfoot jazzes up even the smallest spaces—indoor and out. Crate and Barrel’s Dyna rug, $49.95, in a compact 3-by-5-foot size, is made of machine-loomed polypropylene and is a cinch to clean—just hose it down and let dry. Crate and Barrel, Bellevue Collection and University Village; crateandbarrel.com
8 Hang Time
Go retro (and vertical) with these Roost jute macramé hanging planters, $89. Fill up the large glass orbs with layers of sand and add succulents or pop in a rootless air plant (which absorbs moisture and nutrients through its leaves) for low-maintenance foliage on high. Ravenna Gardens, University Village, 2623 NE University Village St.; 206.729.7388; ravennagardens.com
Follow Us
Blueprints for Building Community
After tragedy struck a local restaurateur family, one of their daughters stepped in to complete the design for her brother’s unfinished home.
Although he was just 35 when a heart attack took his life, Khoa Pham’s imprint on Seattle’s international district was such that the city quickly designated April 21 as a memorial day in his honor. With his rescue pitbull, Pinky, by his side, Pham cut a colorful figure through Little Saigon and became well known…
Tuft Stuff
Tuft Ruft turns fiber art into a social, hands-on experience in Pioneer Square.
It all started with a bout of pandemic boredom. Like many, when COVID-19 hit, recent graduate Carrie Xiao found herself stuck at home, with extra time on her hands. One day, while scrolling social media, she discovered tufting: a textile manufacturing technique that creates a garment or rug with a “pile,” or raised surface. After…
Collaborating Cultures
Looking to build a home to welcome family and friends, one Kirkland couple turns to a sister to design a modern house with influences from the wife’s Thai heritage.
For many years, when homeowners planned to build or remodel, architects and designers advised them to think first and foremost about resale value. From the number of bedrooms to the materials, appliances, and finishes in the kitchens and bathrooms, homes were often treated solely as an investment, with an eye to future sales. In recent…
Whale Of A Remodel
The transformation of an Orcas Island home takes advantage of remarkable views
For many years, Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders entertained his Orcas Island neighbors with breathtaking acrobatics in his vintage airplane. Anders and his wife, Valerie, had purchased a five-acre compound on the isolated western edge of the island for its mesmerizing view, a subject he knew something about. As a member of the first human…