Professionals Serendipity 
If Tamborine Mountain is known for anything, it is of course its beautiful harmony with the nature that surrounds residents every day. The mountain is rife with stunning waterfalls, breathtaking views, and rich hiking trails. But what about those days where you just can’t get outdoors? Carol Lange of Plant Homewares has the solution, with a range of décor both botanical and botanically-inspired to bring that touch of green to your home, and she’s eager to tell us more.
by Kyle Hitchmough
How long have you owned Plant Homewares?
I’ve owned Plant Homewares for just over three years. I moved from Adelaide and I brought my business with me. I originally started in a smaller shop here in Whistling Duck Village, and now I’ve moved into a larger shop in the same complex.
What was your original inspiration to open this business?
That’s an amazing question. For me, it’s about bringing plants, living things, back into people’s lives. With the corporate hustle and bustle, people are very focused on their jobs in very sterile environments. I love to bring a bit of nature back in. Nature brings calmness, it brings mindfulness, it brings the world to a stop while you’re tending to your garden rather than the chaos that the world is.
For those who might not be familiar, could you explain what it is you offer here?
We offer a large range of plant-inspired homewares and a huge range of living terrariums and indoor plants. Plus, we now have our do-it-yourself terrarium bar which is available seven days a week between 10 and 4. It’s like Build-a-Bear for adults, with plants!
Which plants make for a good indoor range?
I tend to offer the more dwarf plants, specifically the indoor baby plants for the terrariums. I also have a large range of cacti and succulents. We do hardscape bowls. We also offer a range of indoor plants like palms or peace lilies, so people can fill their home with beautiful plants.
What’s your most popular or bestselling item?
I’ve got two biggest draws. We stock a range of very cute, interesting and different caricature plant pots. We have what we call our Wall of Pots, and we’re very proud of it. They come in a range of shapes, colors, animal designs, sizes, prints, etc. It’s a very big variety and it’s something people are very much attracted to. Secondly, our terrariums. We showcase a large range of ready-made and ready to go home please adopt me terrariums!
Do you have a favourite plant?
That’s a great question! Ooh… It’d probably be a close tie between the fittonia, because they come in such a large range of colours, shapes and sizes, and I would have to say an Arizona snowcap, because they’ve got the cutest little white spikes and they look like they’ve got snow on them.
What goes into the average day here for you?
Every day is different. It could be making terrariums, we’ve got an online store we’re just about to put the finishing touches on, and there’s lots of discussion with customers. People come in here quite bamboozled because they’ve read so much information online and it’s hard to discern what’s correct. I do a lot of education, discussion around where this plant’s going to live, why they’re purchasing it, what’s going to be the best plant for them, so it’s very much tailor-made.
Are there any particular trends in your clientele?
No! I feel like plants transcend age, race, religion, political views, etc. They’re the least sparky thing we can talk about in our community right now. It’s irrelevant to who you are, what you do. I have people that are 16 right through to 90. It’s a very wide age gap!
Are you a local? What’s your opinion on the Tamborine Mountain area and community?
I am! I live right near Gallery Walk. I’m very happy to call the mountain home. We live here, we work here, the kids go to school here, Tamborine Mountain is our home. It’s an amazing community. I feel that it’s currently going through a large demographic change, which is fantastic.
Do you have any favourite things to do on the mountain?
We love to go hiking! We just love to get out in nature, that’s the whole purpose of us being on the mountain. I love the Coffee Plantation, it would have to be one of our favourite spots to eat and have coffee. Definitely Fortitude Brewing as well for the beer!
What do you think Plant Homewares really provides to the area?
Plant Homewares is very different to anything else on the mountain. We’re not a nursery, we’re very niche in the sense that we only stock plant-inspired homewares and it has everything to do with plants. A lot of it is handmade, hand-curated, and we actually offer the education as well. It’s a warm, friendly service and we have a huge repeat customer base now on the mountain.
What do you enjoy most about doing this?
Every day for me is an absolute joy. Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life! As cliché as that is, it is absolutely true. I cannot wait to walk through my door every morning, turn the lights on and welcome new and existing customers into the shop. It brings me so much happiness that I get to work with plants and people in a fun environment and everybody is so happy. How could I go wrong?
What’s been your most memorable moment in your time here?
I’ve just received a message from a client from back when we were in the smaller shop. A lady came in and she loved the small terrariums so much that she smuggled it onto a plane back to Adelaide! Nine months on she’s sent me a picture of it still going strong, and said she can’t wait to come back and get another one! They are the success stories that fill my heart with joy and are perfect for what I do.
Is there anything else you’d like to go on the record?
We also have a monthly workshop date. On that day we have three different classes on offer. It could be anything from making a terrarium, a dried flower arranging class, making a cactus garden or preserving moss. We’re always ever-changing with our workshops and we look forward to welcoming you!
Plant Homewares
120 LONG RD, TAMBORINE MOUNTAIN QLD 4272
We are always looking for new topics for our blog. If there’s something you like to see more of, email your suggestions to: social@professionalsserendipity.com.au, or email the writer at kyle.hitchmough@hotmail.com
