Construction is finished in the little back room in our house we’ve dubbed the “house plant room.” Here are the before and after photos. My husband designed the new house plant shelves and book shelves to combine both my loves in one space-saving place. He built the book shelves and a little extension for the heating/cooling duct. On top of the book case he added linoleum tiles, purchased at a local store that is going out of business. The tiles blend perfectly with the stone tile floor. The linoleum squares on top of the bookcase will make it easy to clean and I won’t worry about any excess moisture dripping from the plants (even though I have saucers or cache pots under ever single one!)
Notice that I don’t include any of our special books in the plant room – books that I don’t want to get damaged. Even with the precautions, the higher humidity needed in the house plant space can ruin books, so I keep only paperbacks and second hand books in this room, books I don’t mind keeping in a humid environment.
The house plants are now grouped according to plant type with the exception of one African violet that I think may have an insect infestation. I’m keeping that one away from the other violets just in case. The remaining plants are grouped together according to light needs and adjusting nicely to their new environment. As for me, this is my favorite room in the house. I love sitting back here with my book to relax in the afternoons. It’s near enough to the kitchen that I can keep an eye on whatever is cooking, yet sit and relax among my plants and good books while the radio plays the local classic music station. Heavenly!
After: Book and plant shelves built by my hubby, covered with linoleum tiles that blend perfectly with the room. Plenty of room for videos, books and of course – house plants!
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| Shelves, organized plant collection, new curtains |
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| African violet blooming today |
Before: Snack tables and a board draped across the tables held my collection of African violets, orchids, Christmas cacti and assorted miscellaneous plants.
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| Plant room – before |
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| Plant room – before. |
