Eclectic, modern, pet-friendly, airy, plant-obsessed… All of those descriptors describe Libby + Cary’s home in Atlanta, Georgia; but our most favorite description of all: modern meets urban jungle loft. Yup! Brimming with greenery, a plethora of paintings and artistic creations, dilapidated vintage pieces (particularly their cabinet), and more — their sweet space is definitely one we’d like to cozy on up in.
Shelby Rae Photographs toured Libby + Cary’s space as she snapped them in their humble abode. She shares: L+C are two self-proclaimed plant nerds who recently decided to open up their very own plant shop, The Victorian Atlanta, based solely on the fact that they themselves always wished there was a cool jungly plant shop to stroll through on a weekend after brunch. They’re passionate about offering inspiration and knowledge, and also cool potted plants and beautiful green things for locals to fill their homes and spaces with.
Some would say Libby is obsessed with plants – and they would be completely right! When she’s not flowering and bringing wedding dreams to life (or planning her own wedding + business launch + doing all the things), you’ll find Libby watering + tending to her plants, reading up on new design techniques, working in her community garden in Grant Park or at a farmer’s market trying to decide what plant to add to her home collection.
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L+C’s favorite part of their home? Definitely the floor to ceiling windows that allow all the beautiful natural plant-loving light to flood through our home. Our two cats love to sun bathe as well as our 50+ plants. Our entire aesthetic thrives off of our plants, and our plants wouldn’t survive without the light.
Isn’t this the most incredible display, EVER?! Talk about plant goals!!
General Houseplant Care Tips
Cactus: Place your cactus in a sunny South facing window if possible — East or West will also do, but never a North! Pot your cactus in sandy well draining soil and water only when the soil is completely dried out. Cacti go dormant in the winter so you can pull back on waterings during the cold months! Just remember less is more when it comes to water!
Air Plant: If they seem shriveled or dried up try soaking them overnight in a tub of water and the results you’ll see in the morning will be miraculous. Seriously! After you rehydrate it, you can soak once a week to keep them healthy; always make sure to shake them out really well to prevent rot and place them on a surface upside down to dry to help remove excess water.
Jade Plant: Considered to be a symbol of good luck — these plants are super easy to care for and make really great houseplants as long as you have a super sunny spot in your home. The most common mistake when caring for one is too little water; jade plants don’t like to dry out completely so water when just the top of the soil is dry to the touch, being careful not to over saturate, which can cause root rot.
Libby says: Cary is the real collector of art in our home and he can literally tell a story for every piece. We both actually have pieces of our own art on the wall – his photography work and my sculptures and prints. We even have original art pieces from my mother up there and Cary’s aunt who was a painter. Our collection also includes many original works from local Atlanta artists. Our newest piece on the gallery wall is a 2nd place ribbon won by our very own Velvet, who is a retired showcat.
What’s your advice for couples currently designing their home?
One thing that makes our space seem bigger is focusing on the little design moments and trying to stay organized. We probably rearrange the plants and furniture in our loft every month or so to keep it fresh and to keep us from getting bored with such a small space. Another thing that helps is having lots of extra shelving that goes all the way up to the ceiling in our closets – the extra tall ceilings help with a little extra space for storage..just gotta have a ladder handy!
For all of our plant-loving readers, how INCREDIBLE is this?! A huge thank you to Libby + Cary for inviting us into their home…
Make sure to check out The Victorian Atlanta — their darling plant shop!
photography: Shelby Rae Photographs
That’s a jungle! With a framed wall!
Nice post!!