Live in an apartment facing a dingy brick wall?
That’s the view Eliza Blank shared with her dorm mates when she moved from rural Massachusetts to New York as a freshman at NYU — and one that many urban dwellers
are all too familiar with.
“We had very little light and all I really wanted was a plant. I felt that was immediately going to make me feel more at home,” says the now 28-year-old.
Finding just the right greenery for her gloomy digs was the impetus for The Sill, the New York-based company she founded 18 months ago that brings artfully designed houseplants right to a customer’s front door.
Sign up for a free consultation and a plant specialist will come to your home, assess your light, your lifestyle (Do you travel a lot? Do you install an air conditioner in that window come summer?) and talk to you about your aesthetic — the design factor is what separates The Sill from, say, purchasing a plant from the hardware store or the fancy florist down the block.
After the initial consultation, Blank will send over a proposal recommending plants — and the planters — that best complement your decor and living situation. The company works with local potters and artists to create its own line of ceramic pots as well.
“We really approach it like designers,” says Blank. “The Sill provides inspirational imagery and more time and attention towards communication of how to care for the plants. And we focus a lot more on design elements of the planters. It’s just so much more thoughtful and curated than going to a Home Depot.”
And about that brick wall? Blank says a snake or ZZ plant will be right at home. For more suggestions on low-light plants, check out this handy chart:
Bright light is great for: a Fiddle Leaf Fig tree, Cactus or Ponytail Palm.
Credit: The Still
For medium light try a Peperomia, Hoya or Dracaena Reflexa.
Credit: The Still
Stuck with low light? Fear not: a Pothos, Snake plant or ZZ plant will work for you.
Credit: The Still
The Sill founder, Aliza Blank says “plants make people happy.”
Why invest in a plant:
“Plants make people happy,” says Blank. “It’s just the nature of having plants around you. It’s also important to have plants in your home because they do things like boost your mood and increase creativity or productivity. They also filter toxins from the air. Part of The Sill’s mission is bringing that knowledge to the forefront and letting people know that it’s not just about design — even though that’s a great benefit.”
Trends:
“Fiddle leaf fig trees are everywhere,” says Blank. “Cacti, more so than succulents. And anything vertical or hanging on the wall. There’s just more plants in home decor in general, too!”
