Exploring a lush plant-filled warehouse loft conversion | Garden Design | Gardening Australia
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 7. 09. 2024
- Josh visits a couple who have transformed their home into a lush, plant-filled inner-city loft. Subscribe đ ab.co/GA-subscribe
Josh visits a couple in East Perth who have transformed their three-story concrete loft into a paradise of plantings. Unfazed by massive brick walls and courtyard payment, Drew Thomas and Nicole Sangregory saw this warehouse conversion as a chance to get creative. Nicole says, âwe saw just an amazing space and possibility for as many plants as we could think of. Drew's vision really made that possible for us.â With no previous gardening experience, their loft is now filled floor to ceiling with greenery. Drew says, âyou just start with one feature and allow that to transform. Then you continue adding other features and effects... it's just trial and error."
Greening the walls are ivy, syzygium, and magnolias, and framing the windows are trailing ipomoea, dichondra and spider plants. A mix of shade-tolerant grasses and colourful understory plants dress the floor with every inch curated, and all of this is the result of learning by doing. Their shared design process is a balance of Nicoleâs eye for the look and feel of the space and Drewâs mind for functionality. âDrew is really good at the physical things,â says Nicole, âthe vision, how we need to care for the plants... It comes together I think really nicely.â While courtyard environments often get too much or not enough of the natural elements, Drew says, âwe've had to set up different areas of the courtyard and different zones and watering frequencies.â Without wind, plants can grow leggy, and to combat the harsh sun radiating off the walls, theyâve installed an overhead electrical awning for protection.
Once they maxed out the courtyard, they continued the garden upstairs. Indoor garden beds were installed with timber framework and gentle concrete slopes to drain water. Drew lined them with non-toxic pond sealer then gravel and weed matting. A free-draining and lightweight soil medium was an important consideration for the home structure. Drew says, âitâs a pretty precise composition of growing medium, probably six or seven different products in that one.â
The beds are jam packed with philodendrons, anthuriums, monstera, yuccas and umbrella plants positioned to receive natural light. Drew says, âwe've tried to control as many variables as possible. During summer, a lot of the light is obviously overhead, theyâre not getting enough light to stimulate that really filled out lush look,â so they installed adjustable artificial lights to provide uniform growth year-round. Nicole says, âwe have put together a lot of different systems to help us manage it quite well... Drew's done the construction of all the garden beds in a way that keeps it easier to maintain.â Automated humidifiers and irrigation systems are controlled via phone apps, which help the subtropical plants thrive, and maintenance routine manageable.
Drew and Nicole have put a huge amount of work into this garden and it's giving so much back. Nicole says, âbeing surrounded by an indoor garden when I work is so spectacular... you can look away and you get to see all this natural beauty. It's kind of resetting and peaceful, itâs lovely.â Drew shares, âgardening has just completely revolutionised my life... It re-centers me, it grounds me... it's a source of peace and contentment that provides meaning as well. The plants obviously require me and our love... it's a give and take kind of thing between me and the plants.â
Nicole and Drewâs impressive vision and work ethic demonstrates what's possible in a relatively small space, in a short amount of time. Itâs a space thatâs already providing improved well-being and quality of life, and thatâs something truly special.
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Drew mentions starting with one feature and adding from there. To me this is so important to mention because it reduces the intimiadation factor of starting a new project. The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step!
This is something we have spoken about a few times actually! When Josh asked us at the start if we were intimidated by the task ahead, I said no. This was because we didn't even know what we were doing in the beginning đ we just thought we were going to put a few plants and an outdoor setting and that would be it đ ultimately it was a series of small improvements over 18 or so months. If we had of planned to do it like this then I can see how daunting it would of been. Instead just "winging it" turned into an extremely fun, not so little project đ
And your passion shines through.. you can tell you've put lots of thought into every detail! Also one of the main reasons I love Gardening Australia - they celebrate all types of achievements.
Beautiful! Very well thought out and the lushness of it all shows all the work and effort that has gone into it.
That's a garden most would dream of.
This is so beautiful, interesting, using every space to the max. Congratulations. Gorgeous workspace. Would be a joy to wake up in.
Thankyou so much! We really appreciate your ever so kind words. Our space really is something that we will never take for granted. â€
Such a wonderful set up they have made, nature all around them, so soothing and beautiful!!!
Thankyou!!! We really do appreciate that so much đ
Such an amazing space you have created.
Hats off to you. Having seen many installs as a hort professional, this would be one of the best Iâve seen.
Absolutely beautiful set up!!! You can see how much hard work and effort Drew & Nicole have put into making the most out of the space; to create and to maintain such a large variety of plants takes skill and dedication. So my hats off to you both, well done and congrats!
Owhhh!!! thankyouu! So incredibly kind of you to say. We really do appreciate that so much! Much love, Drew & Nicole. (Team TNK) đ
WOW! A real credit to their vision, passion and love.
Absolutely!
Thankyouuu! We appreciate you đ
Amazing effort Drew and Nicole đđœđ»
Such a chilled out space!
Awesome achievement!
Love these peaceful and gorgeous garden creations. Two beautiful artistic minds!đ
Thankyouuuuuu! So very kind of you to reach out and express a little love đ
Excellent job!
A quiet sanctuary that has been created. I was waiting for an introduction to a professional landscape designer. And to meet someone with no knowledge that has a positive attitude towards gardening . It looks great well done bro. It looks awesome. I think alot more people could adapted this can do attitude. To balcony small spaces there is a pause then but. .. they love to have plants a bad experience has put them off further gardening.
I would love and really appreciate videos of them posting âhow-toâsâ for each of the gardens, and what they learned!!
BRILLIANT
This garden is absolutely stunning! I love it â€
It really is!
So incredibly kind of you to say đ thankyouuuu! â€
Amazing !
Thank you!
So beautiful!!!! Very smart!!! Restaurants should pay them for a design. Restaurants in Australia have so little stile.