Once again, I am writing something based on an idea sparked by a plant. This time it has come from the new fittonia plant which now lives on my desk where I do most of my writing. It’s the plant in the photo. Fittonia plants are sometimes known as ‘nerve plants’ because their leaves have the most incredible patterns on them. Patterns which inspire me.
I will begin by saying that everything that follows is my opinion. You may disagree with some of what I’ve written, and that is absolutely fine. I have no wish to offend; I’m simply expressing some thoughts I’ve had for a while.
The fittonia plant got me thinking about motifs in nature. Once you start really contemplating it, it’s difficult to stop thinking about nature’s patterns: animal skin, the grain in wood, snowflakes, leaf shapes, spiral shells…
When I am designing spaces in my client’s homes, the inclusion of natural materials is extremely important to me. I’d say it is my number one guiding principal.
Why, you might ask? Especially when we are able to get hold of imitation items often for a fraction of the price.
There are two main reasons.
1. The environment
As most of us know, sustainability is a minefield, especially within the interior design industry which is linked so intrinsically to the building trade (building is one of the worst things you can do in terms of carbon footprint). When I work with new suppliers, one of my first questions is about the sustainability of the product. Of course, many suppliers are wise to this these days and have quick answers, but I am keen to delve deeper into what it really means.
Can replacement parts be easily sourced if something breaks? What types of materials is the item made from? Can they be widely recycled and if not, how long do they take to decompose? Where in the world is the product made?
At the risk of offending (but perhaps also at the risk of persuading some to look at things from a different perspective), consider the environmental implications of astroturf or fake grass.