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Welcome to my lofty (labor of) love story! This love has taught me patience, endurance, agility, and an immeasurable appreciation for the little details. For those new to the party, I am so glad you're here! I'm Shayla, your concierge behind the Plant Penthouse. Come take a walk down memory lane to see where this studio project started - and where we're headed! A beautiful view lies ahead (if I do say so myself), and I am beyond excited for you to see the finished product very soon. I promise this one will be worth the wait. With that, pack a snack and let's go for a stroll (...or a scroll) behind the scenes into my creative studio design progress. Along the journey, you'll see me giving a special thanks to TileBar for sponsoring the vibrant tile you'll see around Plant Penthouse II. I am so grateful! HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Another Plant Penthouse, eh? I do believe the answer to this question is where the love story begins. In July, I knew the time had come to start thinking about what's next? Because the OG Plant Penthouse is also my home in Minneapolis, it isn't the right venue to lovingly host the masses. She just plays one on TV (...or IG) ;). I envisioned a space where I could host plant and styling workshops, events, bring clients, and just, create. So the search began. For those wondering how each space I create is a penthouse, I'm here as your concierge to tell ya! Whenever a “penthouse” is usually mentioned, the automatic thought is usually one of exclusivity. Well, not anymore! Thanks to a marketing refresh, a penthouse can be defined as any unit with a different layout from others in the building, ample outdoor space, or premium views; and it’s not necessarily on the top floor! With that in mind, after stumbling upon this commercial studio in Northeast Minneapolis, I immediately saw the potential for something greater. I’m here to tell you we each have the ability to cultivate our own elevated and vibrant dwelling experience, regardless of the size, location, or circumstance. Turning industrial lofts into tropical getaways is my new past-time. BEHIND THE DESIGN Let me start by saying when my lease commenced in September, I naively estimated this to be a 2-3 month project. For those who have done any type of renovations...particularly in the last 2 years, I have since learned the error of my ways. Let's laugh (cry) together. Sprint forward 6 months today, and even I could use a refresher on where this design scheme began! I knew I wanted to create an unexpected yet inviting tropical oasis and set out to tackle the largest impact project first: operation tile makeover. Who remembers our Fall voting rounds to decide on plant tile design direction?! With the final numbers tallied in favor of the Tropez Foliage Artisan Décor Porcelain Tile, as a visual person it was extremely helpful to order samples (with TileBar you can order 5 for $5!) and use the TileBar room visualizer to envision my final tile design. You'll have to see for yourself (compared below) just how close the tool mock-up matches the final install! I was AMAZED. For a design pit-stop (there's a lot to take in down memory lane), here's a peek into overall studio mood I am traveling towards. Pinks and greens make me feel like sunshine, and the tile you'll see throughout Plant Penthouse II will be the perfect vehicle for our ride. LET TILE DO THE TALKING I just knew I could really create something special using tile (and I have been blessed with a landlord who is allowing full creative freedom!). If you can't tell already, I am ecstatic to say the tile is looking even better in person than I imagined! My expectations continue to being exceeded all around, making this project well worth the wait. I MEAN TAKE A LOOK: This is a true instance of everything happening for a reason, because the black and gold combination against the green variations makes SUCH a statement. This tile has a textured feel that takes the completed mural to new heights. I will be escaping to the tropics each time I step into the kitchenette -- which will be officially known as the 'Green' room. I'm naming my rooms like I name my plants, so feel free to chime in if something speaks to you. ;) The Tropez tile quickly became the focal point for my Green Room design. Do you see that SPARKLE AND SHINE?! With so many shade variations to pick up, I immediately fell in love with the Portmore Green wall tile to compliment our accent wall. For visual contrast, I went with the 4x4 Glazed Ceramic Wall Tile and 3x8 varieties for the adjacent walls. No wall in the Green Room will be left untiled and I have no regrets! Once my green tiles arrived for the adjacent walls, I played around with different layouts until I landed on what you see here! This is yet again where having a great tiler will come in handy to chat through final ideas-and grout selection! Talk about the details that will keep you up at night! WHAT'S NEXT? From here, it will be time for installation of a cute coffee bar, sink and PAINT - life is being breathed into the space with each day that passes. My how far we've come! And oh, lest we forget the BATHROOM! As much as we love a good linoleum x blue mermaid wallpaper combo, a little refresh never hurt anyone - so the journey begins. Anyone want to help me steam wallpaper off the walls...please? I am accepting emotional support and serious inquiries. Well, here you have it! Thank you for trekking on this winding journey to see the current state of Plant Penthouse II! So much more to come, but wow, the hike to get here was well worth the view. PLANT PENTHOUSE SHOUT-OUTS Here is the full product listing for those who want to get to shopping (TileBar provided these materials in exchange for sharing my experience with you lovely Penthouse Residents!): Loft Floor, Optoro Bur Oak Brindle, 28mil Wear Layer 6x48 Rigid Core Click LVP Bathroom Wall, Lancaster Noir 3x12 Polished Ceramic Wall Tile Bathroom Floor, Esplanade Black Beauty Marble Tile, Polished Kitchenette, Tropez Foliage Oro 24x48 Artisan Decor Porcelain Kitchenette, Portmore Green, 4x4 Glazed Ceramic Wall Tile On the docket: Jena Holliday, the phenomenal artist and owner of Spoonful of Faith is blessing my space with the tropical mural of my dreams and I cannot wait to share the final vision for this new space. If you have any questions, I'm here! Until then, keep your eyes peeled for Housewarming planning! We're going to make this piece of NE Minneapolis our own oasis. Big hugs, so much love, and do Stay tuned for the After! xx Shayla

First, I need you to know it is currently -15 degrees in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And leave it to Pinterest to speak to my longing thoughts of dream-worthy getaways with fanciful, albeit very applicable, quotes (on stylized backgrounds, of course). My latest pin went something like this: "I googled my symptoms. Turns out I just need a vacation." With a single proverbial tear cascading, the need for a getaway has been echoing in my SPIRIT. Am I dramatic? Absolutely. But the emotion was very much REAL. Can you relate? With my craving for a getaway growing with each day of my January 2021 free trial (...I've since subscribed), I was absolutely humbled when Meet Minneapolis reached out to partner for their 'Get Away Without Going Far' staycation campaign; to stay one night at a local hotel. To that, I said just tell me WHEN AND WHERE. Knowing this girl's [plant lady] lifestyle, the answer was Hotel Emery. Allow me to explain with a montage of this absolute sanctuary, built in 1907 as the Woodland Bank and renovated just to my liking in 2019: Lest we forget, Hotel Emery has been ranked in Condé Nast Traveler's 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards as the #2 hotel in the Midwest, AND #29 in THE WORLD! Let us take a quick moment to look up my friends (well, literally, down at the next picture) because Hotel Emery installed ceiling Solatubes (the first of it's kind!), which are essentially mirrors that sit atop the roof and provide natural light to the plant babies! HOW NEAT IS THIS: Alright, now that you've seen my living room (formerly known as the Emery Hotel lobby), allow me to share how much I enjoyed my stay. The room was spacious, without being overdone - and I am very (VERY) particular when it comes to cleanliness (my sister refers to me as 'Ms. New Bougie...let's say, lovingly). For those keeping score at home, my room received a solid 10; which is appreciated even more so in the current times we're in. I took a short stroll to Boludo (and most definitely returned back to my room to enjoy my churros in bed), took a nap (what better time), and RELAXED before indulging in the most wonderful pasta feast from Giulia right onsite! I'm realizing with all the hustle and bustle of this last year, I am consciously relearning what the word 'relax' actually means, and this was a wonderful start. And don't even get me started on the Spyhouse Coffee Lounge. A zoom background for your next call? Start the meeting. A Covid-precautious afternoon getaway? Make it a Spygirl with oat milk (and a Black Walnut Bakery pastry), THANK YOU SO MUCH. While you're here, please help me figure out a way to move in. My suitcase is still packed from this staycation, so I am ready when you are. Well, this was fun, friends! As I leave you with my best influencer poses, I want to encourage you to support local, and get that R&R in. Whether it is an afternoon away or an overnight stay, you've been through a lot and deserve a moment to getaway. <3 BIG HUGS, xxx your Concierge Shayla

Shayla, your concierge here! At one of my favorite local nurseries, Tonkadale! So...how DID I land on the plant lifestyle? If you had told me five years ago that I'd be living in a loft with over 80 plants I would have...well I don't know what exactly I would have done, but I would have certainly laughed! I guess this is a hobby that runs in the family, because indoor plant care and gardening was a TRUE passion for my parents when I was growing up. I can still remember the meticulous care my parents gave to the many Bird of Paradise plants we had in our home. I honestly looked at them like crazy plant people (I mean, who gets emotional when a plant doesn’t survive a winter move?!...Which if you were wondering, the answer is now me ;)), but it wasn’t until my move to Seattle and a re-introduction to plants (shoutout to you Melissa!) that a true zeal for plant parenting took root! My first Seattle plant purchase stemmed from a desire to decorate within the parameters of city apartment living, and has since blossomed into a hobby I never predicted! When I moved from Seattle, I chose to sell my plant collection to friends and local plant enthusiasts, and hit the ground running when I moved back to Minnesota (as you can tell!). Tip: If you're a new plant parent, instagram was, and still is, an amazing resource for learning and sharing proper plant care. Here are my Favorite Plant Accounts of the moment: i. Hilton Carter @hiltoncarter ii. Jaimie’s Jungle @jamies_jungle iii. Black Girls Gardening @Blackgirlsgardening iv. Jungle In a Room @jungleinaroom v. Jungle Suitcase @junglesuitcase vi. Black Girls With Gardens @blackgirlswithgardens vii. Black Men With Gardens @blackmenwithgardens viii. Summer Rayne Oakes @homesteadbrooklyn ix. Urban Jungle Bloggers @urbanjungleblog x. I Plant Even @iplanteven