New Desert Casual Design

Succulents and their use in interiors have been hot for a few years now and I don’t think they are going anywhere any time soon.  More recently we’ve seen the additional surge of the use of cacti and other desert plants in high end homes.  They are being paired with warm woods, and light pastel hues for a light and ethereal look that’s an alternative to the more traditional heavy, desert southwest look.  I don’t know that this look has an actual name but I’m calling it “new desert casual.”  This light and airy look can lean a bit bohemian or a little more modern.  First, a few examples and then a few ideas for how to achieve the look yourself!

Amber Interior Design was able to even mix the desert look with some beachy prints to complete this relaxed desert boho inspired look below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure of the original designers of these that follow but they are desert casual at it’s finest… and fairly easy to recreate yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Create New Desert Casual Yourself!

A few ideas for achieving a similar look yourself and where to find some desert casual items.  (My eyes have now been awoken to the splendors of faux large cacti – who knew – and they look so real on the computer!)  List below has clickable links to all items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Artificial cactus    $214
  2. JELD-WEN 41.5 in. x 41.5 in. V-4500 Series Single Hung Vinyl Window with Grids – Black    $589 
  3. Behr Pink Elephant
  4. Round Pot Planter by Cyan Design   $65
  5. Volta Fabric Arm Chair   $425
  6. Oversized Blush Mongolian Faux Fur Lumbar Pillow     $25
  7. Marine Madonna Throw Pillow by Catherine Holcombe, Society6    $20
  8. Seagrass Basket with Handles   $32
  9. Houndstooth Design Throw Blanket    $39

Indoor Plants Bring Life!

I’m guilty.  I know that adding greenery in the form of an indoor plant to a room can really complete a look and help things feel bright, clean and natural. I have broken this rule. In my living room there is one small terrarium of succulents and in my kitchen I have several hanging terrariums of succulents.  That’s it.  Pitiful. As you might imagine the draw for succulents is that they are so interesting to look at and … ahem … really hard to kill for those of us with green brown thumbs.  So here’s my pathetic indoor plant collection, all 2 of them.

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Now, here are some indoor plants that I should use to up my interior oxygen boosting game.  Every design pic I’ve been seeing lately has a fiddle leaf fig in them.  They look exotic, are terrific growers, give exceptional size to those spaces that can accommodate them and they are apparently hearty (maybe we’ll see about that).  I’m redecorating my living room soon and I definitely plan on including one.  Fingers crossed I don’t kill it.

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I always try to put some greenery into my client’s designs and this little baby is perfect for the client with a small budget.  It’s a Majesty Palm.  Can you believe it, it’s just $12 at Ikea?  So you won’t feel too bad if you kill it.  These look great potted in a large urn or basket.

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I am not a fan of keeping houseplants outside and then bringing them inside to your living space for the winter… bugs…. uh no thank you.  This aloe plant is perfect for year round interior living and are also very forgiving as they don’t need a ton of watering.

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The monstera, also affectionately called the “swiss cheese plant” has very interesting “holey” foliage and would look fabulous in a large floor bucket or an urn atop a table.

monstera