Neighborhood Notes

Portland is no joke when it comes to conventional gardening—but what if you're an urban gardener? The great indoors has its own obvious challenges, but the greatest is thinking outside the ivy. Indoor plants simply don't have to be so, well, meh. If you have a modern and sexy space, bring it to life with a visit to Life+Limb on lower Burnside.

Molly Quan, graphic designer and photographer, fulfilled her desire to open a plant store with the launch of Life+Limb in November 2007—but Life+Limb is anything but ordinary! The minute you walk through the door, you're aware that design lives here.

With her new shop, Quan has been able to combine her interests in plants, modern design, and art to create a new plant and home accessories shopping experience. She says that many times, shoppers don't even realize that the plants are for sale!

Quan offers an amazing selection of ceramics from Jonathan Adler, Perch!, Page Russell, Joanna Mendicino, and Clay and Wood. She also sells vintage items including McCoy, Hull, Shawnee, and USA.

Life+Limb also offers a nice selection of books and modern home accents. As a member of the Central Eastside Arts District, Life+Limb participates in the First Friday Art Walk and features a new artist every month.

But the real star of the show is Quan's collection of succulents—the only type of plant you'll find at Life+Limb. These plants store water in their tissue, which results in fascinating and sculptural forms.

Quan travels to out-of-state nurseries and hand-picks plants that she knows customers will like. She tends to gravitate toward anything architectural looking. She also tries to find plants that aren't readily available in other Portland stores, although she does carry more common plants as well.

 

 

If you'd like to integrate succulents into your home design, Quan says that natural light is very important. Almost all of the plants she carries require medium to high light, although she does have a few that are great lower light options. Quan always asks her customers about their lighting situation, because she doesn't want to send a plant to a home that isn't the right fit for the environment.

 

 

On our trip to Life+Limb, Molly helped us pick out two (shown above and below) really great additions to our home. We were thrilled to learn that she offers in-store potting services. We dropped off our pots and a day later, we picked them up.

If you're really struggling, Quan offers in-home design services and even custom planter design and sourcing.

 

Best of all, Molly is cute-as-a-bug and she definitely makes Life+Limb a fun place to visit. Just in case you're curious, she lives in Cully, but really enjoys owning a business in Buckman. She says that "we're really spoiled" here in Portland because we have so many choices. Among her favorite haunts: Elsa+Sam, Canoe, Moxie, Pin Me Apparel, Una, and Black Wagon. But being a girl after my own heart, Molly really loves to eat. Her picks are Screen Door, Navarre, and Ken's Artisan Pizza. She's currently addicted to Broder Scandinavian Restaurant and says the food is "ridiculous." (in a good way!)

If you're in Buckman, stop by Life+Limb and say hi to Molly!

Life+Limb

1716 E. Burnside

Portland, OR 97214

503.233.4738

Tue–Fri, 11–6; Sat, 11–5; Sun, 12–5