#theelements

Earth: Earth is everywhere, and it appears passive, it doesn’t really “do” anything. Yet Earth gives us our birth. While we live it, it sustains us. When we die, it covers us. Earth encompasses nourishment, protection, obstruction, wholeness, stillness, plant and animal life, prosperity, and rest.

Altar Objects/Representation: Pentacle, Coin, Stones, Soil, Grains or fruit, Flowers and herbs, Green or brown Candle, Cauldron

Air: Air is the Element of communication, exchange, and ideas. It is swift moving, changeable and self-aware.

Altar Objects/Representation: Athame or sword, Feather, Bell, Incense, Book, Angel, Yellow or white Candle, Clear Quartz crystal

Fire: Elemental Fire is the pure power of heat and light. The energy of Fire is strong, primal and often dangerous. Courage, willpower, lust, protection, renewal.

Altar Objects/ Representation: Wand, Candle, Incense, Dragons

Water: Water is the great partner of Earth, creating life as we know it. Water appears gentle but contains immense potential power. It is cleansing, calming and healing. Governs the magic of love and emotions, intuition, pleasure and introspection.

“Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.” – Erma Bombeck

Impressive architectural details are the star of this entry; however, the simple white pots with greenery create a soft and welcoming introduction to this contemporary home.

When Kathy Sorbe and the Design Team were posed the question when wouldn’t they use Mother Nature in a project, there were a lot of thoughtful looks. And even after a few minutes to mull it over, they couldn’t think of any. It’s a tough question.

“Mother Nature is an essential part in almost every one of our design projects,” says Kathy Sorbe, owner and lead designer at The Elements in Storm Lake and Ankeny. “Even when we aren’t using actual ‘Mother Nature,’ we’re still inspired by the colors and textures she uses in plants, rocks, wood … even the sky… and rely on these when we design spaces.”

Live house plants can be incredible, but they can also be challenging if you’re not blessed with a green thumb. Instead, the Design Team likes to place artificial or permanent florals and greenery that are high quality, realistic and really honor Mother Nature. And as warmer weather approaches, homeowners will gravitate to outdoor spaces and, frequently, to the real thing.

“Whether you choose permanent or live greenery, they need to be contained in a pot,” says Sorbe. “These can be simple or elaborate, and depending on their use and placement, homeowners can choose from glass, glazed pottery, concrete, fiberglass and new composite materials that are stylish, sturdy and weather resistant.”

A very traditional entry is flanked with classical black urns. These pots are subtle but bring the ferns up from the ground and create an approach to the front door. Pink geraniums add a pop of color to this very neutral, transitional home’s entry.

Much like a rug contains and anchors furniture in a space, or a tray confines books and accessories on a coffee table, a container or pot takes elements of Mother Nature, corrals them and instantly makes them more important.

“Containers and pots are available in many styles, colors and sizes, and picking the right one can be a challenge,” says Michelle Patten, a designer at the Storm Lake store. “They can make a statement, almost like a piece of art, or they can quietly settle in the background and let the contents shine.”

Outdoors, on decks, porches and patios, containers with greenery bring life, color and add a soft edge to a home’s architectural features. Flanking a front door, they welcome guests into a home.

“The first thing before choosing an outdoor planter is deciding where it will go,” says Michelle Patten. “Choose a container that suits the color and architectural style of your home, and be sure to pick one that’s size-appropriate.”

Take cues from the home and choose planters that feel like a natural extension of the home’s façade, landscaping and interiors. In the outdoors particularly, Patten stresses the importance of choosing a container that’s not too small.

“Proportion plays a role in creating impactful containers and pots,” says Patten. “For years, homeowners chose low planters and created height with tall plants. We’ve turned that upside down, placing a lot of tall pots with lower plantings. The outdoors is big; it’s important to keep that in mind and choose pieces that are large enough to be impressive, but not overwhelm the space.”

The fiddle leaf fig is the new must-have plant. We like the real ones and love the artificial options, which are much simpler to maintain and could fool even the most experienced gardener.

When choosing exterior pottery and containers, especially in the Midwest, their ability to withstand rough weather is critical. They need to hold up to hot sun and not fade, withstand summer storms and not blow over, and handle cold weather and temperature swings without cracking or breakage. The Elements has products designed specifically for outdoor use that check all these boxes.

“Frost and freezes will kill our plants; winter is hard on our outdoor containers as well,” says Patten. “While we generally don’t recommend leaving them out all winter, some containers will fare better in an Iowa winter than others. The enemy of pottery in the winter isn’t really the cold, it’s water and ice. Ensuring the pots are properly drained will help them weather a winter if the pot is outside. This also means you can enjoy them all year and even add seasonal or holiday decorations.”

The Design Team recommends placing outdoor pots and containers on a hard surface and not directly on grass and soil. This can hinder drainage as cold weather approaches. There’s no such thing as a 100% frost-proof planter, so it’s important to keep the freeze/thaw cycle in mind. If possible, the Design Team recommends bringing in unused planters for the winter.

Clay pots … move aside. Materials like resin and concrete create interesting finishes. Unique shapes, energetic colors and impressive sizes are all available at The Elements’ Storm Lake and Des Moines showrooms.

If durability is key for outdoor containers, indoors, it’s all about versatility.

“Anyone who’s been to one of The Elements’ seminars has heard Kathy talk about ‘investment pieces,’ which are larger, more substantial and likely pricier than the pots your grandmother used,” says Patten. “However, investment pieces aren’t a one-and-done. We like clients to use these for years, frequently changing them out.”

Sorbe and her designers have filled large glass containers with fruit, dominoes, sand, rocks, holiday decorations … you name it. She likes the flexibility of these pieces, using them as containers for greenery, but also for very functional uses as well.

“We love glass,” says Sorbe. “It reflects light and can be sleek and stunning. Glass also can disappear, making whatever’s inside the star of the show. And the contrast between the fine character of glass with the rougher elements of Mother Nature is brilliant.”

Indoors, the Design Team uses pots to hold tall grasses, artificial trees and even birch branches or driftwood, with the height creating scale in the space. It’s another opportunity to bring the beauty and energy of Mother Nature into living spaces.