RootAndTimber

Often where you end up is not the same as the path you began your journey on. This is certainly the case with my shop, Root & Timber.

In 2010 my wife and I opened up a small design studio and retail shop in Seattle, Washington. My wife was passionate about floral design, and had already made a name for herself in the Seattle area. My passion was woodworking, but I soon found a love for designing with plants as well. I began experimenting with terrariums shortly after our store opened, and soon found myself captivated by the process. I have always been drawn to the idea of working on a miniature scale, and found that designing miniature landscapes was a unique and fun creative pursuit. I was particularly drawn to air plants (tillandsia), though I enjoyed working with succulents and other plants as well.

Once we realized how limitless the world of terrarium design truly was, and how fun and meditative the process of designing a terrarium can be, we decided to open up the experience to everyone. We opened up a build-your-own terrarium bar towards the end of 2010 and made all of the elements we had collected available to anyone who wanted to give it a try. The response was amazing! It wasn't long before we became known for our terrariums, and the DIY experience drew people from all over the city and beyond. It was truly inspiring to watch so many people find a love for designing with nature as our business grew around us.

In August of 2013 our daughter Chloe was born, and one year later, following some mysterious and troubling health symptoms, my wife was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
By the end of 2014 she was no longer able to work. With the help of a wonderful staff I attempted to keep our store going, but owning and operating a small business is difficult on it's own, and combined with the challenges of my wife's declining health, childcare needs and the rising cost of living in Seattle proved to be too much. In August of 2015 I closed the doors for good.

We had opened our Etsy store shortly after we began designing terrariums and began offering shippable terrarium kits. Once again, the response online was fantastic, and I have loved working with everyone in this online community. After a handful of challenging years, I am finally able to put my all into this store, and I am truly passionate about providing high quality, artistic pieces that are an experience as much as they are an item. My offerings are designed with care, and with an artistic eye that is evident in every piece.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and my store a little better.