In Bloom

A single seed can’t grow in a garden alone, it needs the right soil, the perfect amount of sunlight, and the right plants to help nurture that growth. In Bloom is a theme that stuck in my head this year when I began planning out our Pinterest board coming into spring. I thought the term really described Black Iris’ new growth since July of last year. It also describes us and how we have really come into our little garden here. We have thrived thanks to our clients and customers who have nurtured us along the way.

We started out in July having transitioned from a holding state where our business was in limbo. We were still busy after The Mill had closed up in November of 2024 and had been trying to find the right place to plant ourselves. I will say this time and time again we are so grateful to the building we currently occupy. It was a different transition for us and our customers to go from a larger retail space to our current. Although we have a smaller space I love how cozy and boutique-like it is. I feel like everyone notices the little things that might have gotten overlooked in our bigger space. A smaller space also allowed us to really focus on the design side of the business. Offering our skills and expertise to our clients and helping them make the right decisions on their projects. It was so easy once we opened our doors to get back into the rhythm of how we’ve done business since 1998. 

The trouble we faced was making sure our clients who weren’t from the area could still find us. Through social media and Google and our friends at Lena Brewery we were able to get the word out as much as possible. There is no better feeling when someone walks through our doors and tells us how happy they are they found us again or they are so happy we are back. We have always done furniture differently than your typical furniture store. We aren't a “what you see is what you get” or “one size fits all” type of store. We are all about creating and cultivating the right look and style that fits our clients needs and lifestyle. In this way we help our clients bloom in their spaces to make them feel more at home. No two plants are exactly alike just like people. One might require more water, or no water at all. Some might require more or less sunlight or the right amount of soil PH. As our clients nurture our growing business we in turn nurture their needs. 

When it comes to your “Garden” aka your home or a specific room in your home what are the things that are acting as weeds? What is keeping your home from blooming the way you want or need it to? The first question I ask myself when helping any one with a project is how it needs to function. If the room can’t function right, who cares what the color of the paint is. The first step in identifying these weeds is pretty easy. When you have a space with poor function you already know that if that “thing” wasn’t there it would make daily life a whole lot easier. Once you identify those weeds there are two approaches. You either get rid of the weed or maybe the weed isn't a weed at all and it just needs the right garden to make it make sense. I know I just totally flipped the script on you. The weed isn’t a weed? What on earth do you mean! I will tell you what I mean with an example. I had a customer come to me needing help with her living room. She had a fireplace that was off centered in her long living room and wasn’t sure what to do with it. I instantly knew the fireplace needed to be grounded with something. Instead of ignoring the elephant in the room we needed to enhance it with the right thing. Those things being two piers on each side of the fireplace, something new above the mantel wall and two swivel chairs to cozy up the space. 

Think about your problem areas or your “weeds”, sometimes all you need is some kind of inspiration to kick start a new project or give you ideas on how to approach that project. At the end of the day, every home deserves the chance to bloom. Sometimes that growth comes from a major change, and other times it comes from simply looking at a space differently. Your home should support your lifestyle, tell your story, and feel like a place where you can truly thrive.

As we continue growing here at Black Iris, we are so grateful to every client and customer who has supported us, trusted us, and allowed us to be part of their homes and projects. You’ve helped us bloom in more ways than you know, and we hope in return we can continue helping you create spaces that feel inspiring, functional, and uniquely yours.

Maybe this season is the perfect time to pull a few weeds, plant a few new ideas, and let your home bloom into something even better.

Check out our Pinterest Board dedicated to "In Bloom" https://www.pinterest.com/blackirisdesignco/in-bloom/