About the garden

Award: Silver Medal

This Indoor Plant Garden was set within the palimpsest of a Victorian terraced house living room—a space layered with history and wrapped in British collective memory. The design juxtaposed modern, vintage, and Victorian architectural and furniture elements, reflecting the eclectic, “magpie” approach many people take when curating their homes. This setting allowed the story of houseplants through time to be told in a visually compelling and historically grounded way.

The garden was divided into three distinct zones:

1. Victorian Hearth – Centred around a traditional fireplace, this area featured ferns, evergreens, delicate flowering plants, and Wardian cases—glass enclosures that once protected exotic plants during long voyages.
2. Mid-Century Modern – With G-plan sideboards and Ladderax shelving, this zone was dripping with hanging and cascading plants, evoking the lush interiors of the 1950s–70s.
3. Contemporary Plant Parenting – Focused on today’s DIY culture, this area showcased the infamous IKEA Milsbo glass cabinet, filled with rare cuttings and propagation experiments.

Topical Themes & Historical Inspiration

Borrowing the format of BBC Radio 4’s The Long View, the designer presented and compared plant stories from the past and present. The concept was heavily influenced by Catherine Horwood’s Potted History (2007), which explores how plants became fixtures in British homes.

The garden communicated that plants have heritage, highlighting era-specific species and drawing attention to the long-standing presence of greenery in domestic life. It suggested a new way to think about houseplants—not just in terms of wellbeing or aesthetics, but as living links to history.

Plant Selection & Display

The garden featured around 50 plants, including:

• Pteris and other fern varieties – emblematic of Victorian interiors
• Flowering plants – delicate and decorative
• Epipremnum (pothos) – a mid-century favourite
• Rare and variegated cuttings – representing today’s propagation culture

Unsung plant heroes were revealed through the designer’s historicised planting methodology, which rooted each plant in a specific moment in time. This approach encouraged visitors to replicate the concept at home, fostering a deeper appreciation for the stories behind their plants.

Plant lists were provided by the designer as a guide, based on the time of year, location, and client brief. Final plant selections depended on growing conditions and availability, and while updates were made where possible, accuracy could not be guaranteed.

Environmental Responsibility

The designer promoted sustainability by:

• Sourcing plants from UK-based nurseries where possible
• Choosing suppliers that use peat-free growing mediums
• Incorporating vintage and second-hand furniture and décor, rather than buying new

Plants were sourced from the Netherlands and the UK, likely including Flowervision and Quality Plants.