About us

Urban jungle to urban paradise

Plants make us feel good! Not just because they're beautiful. They purify our air, boost energy levels, inspire creativity and help us feel relaxed and calm. 

But the urban jungle has us indoors a lot - so why not bring nature inside, or right onto our balcony? Our goal is to help you create the plant paradise of your dreams.

Going to the nursery can be daunting. There's so much too choose from, it's impossible to know where to start, let alone researching which plants are going to survive in your space and how to style them to make them look fabulous! 

The Atrium takes out the hassle, curating and delivering the best in plant paradise to your door, making it easy for urban gardeners to get creative and keep their plants healthy. We help you find and select the right plants and pots for your unique needs. Our botanical emporium stocks only the best plants from award-winning South African plant breeders, steeped in years of experience. All our plant suppliers are affiliated with the South African Nurseryman's Association (SANA) and the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI).

 

Owning your piece of paradise is within easy reach, just click here to start!  

"Everyone should be able to connect with nature, even in their living room." Carolyn Ashmore, UK City & Guilds qualified landscape designer and founder of The Atrium. 

About our founder

Hi there, I'm Carolyn, founder of The Atrium. After a career in journalism and corporate communications, I felt like something was missing. Sure, the Blue Chip clients were exciting and the functions fun! But I longed to interact more with nature. I'd grown up fly-fishing and hiking and seeking out any kind of outdoor adventure, just to be among wild grasses, trees and flowers. I missed that sense of discovery and wonder. Then I moved into a Joburg townhouse with a small garden and discovered that I could in fact be in nature, right in the heart of the city. All through the joy of gardening! The love affair grew and before I knew it, I'd quit my job and enrolled in a full time landscape design course.

The Atrium is about sharing the joy of plants, encouraging greenery with creativity and making plants accessible to busy urban millennials who don't necessarily have tons of space or massive gardens. Plants are an endless source of fascination - if you want a hobby that never bores, try plants! You'll never stop learning - that's the fun, and they really do make you happy!