I’ve wavered a lot on the state of the flagstone planter that creates a half-wall in our living room. It’s not a design feature that’s necessarily hot on my list to resolve–as awesomely authentic to the 50’s ranch style as it is–but we have spent some time exploring what our options may be with this cool feature.
First of all, when we moved in, the planter was filled with plastic cascading plants. Those are gone. They weren’t of a terrible quality though (more rubbery than discolored silky), which naturally meant that I felt inclined to hoard them like a crazy plant lady, in a cardboard box, in the garage, after giving them a thorough spray down with the hose.
We have two visions. One would call for us to have a giant weighs-more-than-we-do piece of blue flagstone cut to size to serve as a permanent cap on the opened planter. This would immediately make it a catch-all for toys, jackets, bags, etc., and we’re messy enough as it is, so I’m not sure how I feel about that. Plus, can we get it to match closely? Plus, $$$.
Alternately, we like the idea of refilling it with more plants, but because it is a very shaded room, we’ll have to go the faux-route, just with something more appealing than the mashup of what was there.
We shopped around Preferred Plants for some inspiration. This is the place we had our wedding last winter, and we received a gift card from some friends that we still have yet to use, which makes it both convenient, and only a wee bit $. We were initially drawn to a few of the taller leafy and grassy options that the store has for sale on the floor (or could special order us through their suppliers), but I really liked the idea of using short wheatgrass panels instead once they caught my eye. The panels are 6″x6″ and stand about 4″ in height, and would cost just under $20/each. By my measurements, we’d need 12 pieces.
I couldn’t figure out why I liked them so much at the time, but have since realized that they’re a design feature in one of our favorite date night destinations in Rochester (The Gate House), so, shoot, there we go. They look pretty cool, and I haven’t even have the desire to take scissors to them and trim the tops like I trimmed my troll doll hair. What, who’s OCD?
Our friends at Preferred Plants let us borrow some of their inventory so that we could test it out at home (and confirm measurements) before deciding if we were going to invest. I didn’t create a frame to level them on–something I would eventually do to guarantee a solid base–but used an assortment of books and DVDs on which I could lay the grasses as we began to consider them.
I liked it for what it was, a fresh low-pile kind of way to accent this feature in the house without creating a tall visual barrier between it and the front entryway. If anything, I thought it might have looked a little too asian-inspired for the space, and that was my only qualm. Pete immediately saw it as a place that kids would destroy; in essence, it is the perfect playground for dinosaurs, dolls, and soldiers.
So, we’re back to square one. Thoughts and recommendations?
22 Comments
We had a half-wall like that in our last house. It was capped with a thick slab of wood that overhung the stone by about an inch on all sides – stained and sealed to match the wood floors. We liked the look, though it brings you back to the “catch-all” problem. We didn’t have that issue as our door opened against it so it was awkward to put things down there. We also hung a open window frame in the space above the wall to give a little more visual interest (though I know window frames aren’t “trendy” anymore.)
I like the wood slab idea, but the real reason I like stone is so it would coordinate more closely with the fireplace hearth on the opposite end of the room. Pete brought up making more of a divider between the entry and the living room (like hanging a screen like your window) but I worry it would block out a lot of light that we get through that front door when it’s open! So many options.
I love the grass idea, but as a parent I can totally see the toy playground issue!
Capping it would make the most sense, I guess. I’ve been doing open houses at a listing in Brighton with a similar planter in the entry, and they capped it with an upholstered bench top. Not sure it would mesh well with the flagstone, though – but it does give one a place to sit and pull on boots, as well as being soft for little noggins. :)
If you wanted to do real plants there both Snakeplant and Golden Pothos have extremely low light requirements :)
Funny, I think the real plant we have sitting there right now is a Golden Pothos (a housewarming gift from friends that I thought bore a different name), and the Snakeplant was one that we considered buying fake, thinking that we might not have enough light for them! The Golden Pothos is doing really well, though it sort of looks like it’s getting lighter/whiter than it was when it was in a sunny window…
Faux succulents? You wouldn’t have the height, but it would look great with the stone.
The height probably wouldn’t be much different than the grass! I like that. Great idea. How much light do real succulents actually need? Time to do some research.
I was going to suggest succulents/faux succulents as well!
Only other thing that comes to mind is to maybe do some sort of faux-contrete/stone treatment to a long board, and hinge it. Might be lighter and less expensive than flagstone, you could probably do a colorant to match the planter/fireplace, and even if it still be a catch all, but it’d be hidden?
I like your idea, and the idea of trying to match the flagstone coloring. I also love the succulent idea… still giving it more thought. Thanks for sharing, Cait!
With our house built in ’56, we too have the entryway planter. And after reading your post I felt like Pete might have just told you about the current state of ours. So, yes, right now it’s a place we dump our keys, find stray legos and errant army men.
We did have “real” plants in ours for years, and they thrived. Thrived to the point they started getting really big, and grew towards the light of our front windows—which compromised the symmetrical aesthetic.
Then we got cats. And they started eating the plants. We changed them out to plastic plants, but it turns out cats also like to eat plastic.
Our plan now is to build a partition-like structure that goes all the way to the ceiling to cap off the planter, with the usual modern geometric details from the era. Just an idea.
Good luck, I know whatever you guys do will be awesome.
Oh man. I hope you go the plant route. This grass looks totally awesome! Something similar would add such a modern touch to the fabulous retro design feature.
I actually love the grass! But I think succulents would be really cool, maybe you could put rectangular window box type planters in, and do fake or real. Lots of different heights and textures. Maybe small stone gravel as the base.
Kind of like this
http://www.gardeningoncloud9.com/category/garden-journal/page/2/
Look at the photos of Vickie’s Cactus Garden
I think a stone slab would be easier, but I agree it would most likely become a cluttery catch-all. And I tend to go for things a little more outside the norm. You also might could get some small fake plants in pots from ikea and then cut the right size holes in a long board and set it in. and have a row of different fake plants still in the pots. I wish I could explain what I mean better!
Kind of like this I guess
http://www.casasugar.com/Etsy-Find-Wood-Windowsill-Planter-4224184
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90120060/
How about a pretty piece of butcher block from Ikea? Stain and seal it to work with the other natural wood pieces in your living room/ dining room.
I like the idea of neat catch-alls – could you use covered baskets or boxes for keys, mail, etc. – intermixed with individual low-light plants in pots? I don’t know what kind of ‘tray’ is inside the planter? We have a simple sofa table in the foyer against the railing (to a step down family room) and I have pretty wood bowls to catch keys and miscellaneous things in transit, along with a few decorative things for height.
A pretty catch-all (or try-to-catch-all) will be a must if we go the flat-topped route, that’s for sure!
Hey there Emily! Congrats on the baby and the new house!!
I think I would knock out that stone and build a floor-to-ceiling two-sided bookcase! (meaning, open to both sides – maybe the lower portion could have a “back” so the opening would face the family room). That way, light can still get through plus a few baskets could corral your “stuff” when you walk in the door, and a few lower-hung hooks on the front-door side could be nice for backpacks, purses, etc…..
Leah: )
Hey Leah! Thank you! I think Pete would knock out the wall given the opportunity… I’m fighting hard against it! I’m irrationally attached to it already!
I think that space is calling out for succulents.
I’m starting to feel like succulents would be a good interim trial! I think I’ll need a lot. Like, a really lot, to help make it seem lush before they are lush naturally. Hmmm….
I vote for a slab of poured cement (counter top). So sleek and so darn modern, but clean and subtle.
How thin do you think you could make such a slab without it being apt to crack?
Hi Emily, I am preparing to finally make some cosmetic changes to my living room. I began my search with checking ideas of other diyers for a flagstone fireplace and a flagstone planter wall. Your site immediately pulled up, and as I was reviewing your before and after pictures I was amazed at how much your home had many of the same features as mine, down to the light pink ceramic tile floor in your kitchen and the same gray stone. Although ours is a bit different in the layout of the floor plan, I was really amazed at many of the same details. Then, I noticed that your house is in Rochester, NY. No wonder my house is similar to yours. Mine is also! What a coincidence. Out of the whole world wide web, yours was the first site I looked at. You have so many wonderful ideas. I myself am a diy kind of gal, with major concentration in repurposing, reusing. I love to put on my creative cap and follow my instincts on taking drab and making it fab. Here is what I was thinking for my flagstaff wall, and planter. My planter divides my living room from my diningroom. and stands about 2 feet in height.
At first I was thinking, get a really cool salt water aquarium with some cool tropical fish. Great idea, but then I realized how much work that would be maintaining, etc…., then I grabbed a discarded six pane window and began the process of distressing it, at which time upon completion I was going to hang it with chain, or heavy duty rope,above the planter,and put some tall faux tropical looking plants inside the planter. My son broke one of the glass windows out . I never got another six pane window to distress.
I do plan on painting my flagstone wall either black or white, take out the tacky brass fireplace doors, spray painting them the same with a little trim. But….I’m back to that short flagstone planter. What do you think? Should I knock it down and open it completely? What do you think about some of my ideas for repurposing? Also, back to the flagstone fireplace wall, I too have the flagstone mantel you have. How did you decorate yours?
Please let me know…. I sure could use your input.
Thank you so much,
Your friend in Rochester
Janie D.