The minute she laid eyes on the sun-lit, artist loft in Oakland, blogger-knitter-designer Emma Roberston, a recent transplant from LA, knew she'd found a new home for her business, Emmadime. With wall-to-wall windows, a soaring ceiling, and industrial details, the 395-square-foot studio was the perfect space for creative innovation.
Taking her time to realize the total look of her new studio, Emma chose a classic black and white palette and iconic furnishings that complemented the industrial space, upon which she layered just enough whimsy to make it personal and fun. Of course our favorite touches are the plants. Here Emma seems to have expressed a bit of her wild side, using a varied selection of greens to infuse the space with a dash of color, character, and a little spunk.
For a complete tour of Emma's breathtaking office, including her tips on design, see the original article in Rue Magazine.
Photographs by Eva Kolenko. Styling by Emma Roberston and Euro Style Lighting.
Above: Located in Jack London Square, the former warehouse that now houses Emmadime's corner studio boasts huge windows, perfect for plants.
Above: Adding a touch of lofty green above an industrial-sized ream of paper, a staghorn fern is mounted on the side of a rescued tongue and grove box. A similar Staghorn Fern is available in a 4-inch pot from Hirts; $20. For instructions on how to mount your own fern, see this detailed tutorial by Terrain.
Above: Also adding a bit of color to the space is Emma's lively inspiration board, featuring samples from her newly released book, Knitting by Design, available at Amazon; $17.95.
Above: Sitting among the tools of her trade, the author, designer, knitter enjoys her new space.
Above: Acting as a subtle divider between the work space and sitting area is a simple philodendron. Small now, this tropical native may soon take advantage Emma's studio's lofty heights. Similar Split Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) available at Pernell Gerver; $25 for a six-inch pot.
Above: On either side of another philodendron, a feathery Maidenhair Fern (available at Greenwood Nursery; $12.94 for a 4-inch pot) and a couple of cacti enjoy life in zinc boxes. An Instant Cactus Collection is available at Hirts; $20.
Above: In an inspired, economical solution, Emma created a low cinder block shelf in the sitting area, deftly employing textured plants to add life to the industrial accents.
Above: Emma proves that ornamental grasses such as carex also enjoy life indoors, and look especially lovely in wooden planters. Similar Carex Leavenworthii Travis (Leavenworth Sedge) is available at Plant Delights; $12. Cedar Succulent Planters on offer at Andrews' Reclaimed; $12.
N.B. Want to get to know some more hardworking plants? See more office favorites that will help you Work Smarter.