Alana Langan & Jacqui Vidal from Ivy Muse | Meet The Maker

IVY MUSE is a botanical wares studio based in Melbourne, with a range of designer and functional plant stands and botanical wares. Indoor plants are so hot right now in homewares, so if you’re going to start an indoor jungle you need to do it in style. We recently caught up with Alana and Jacqui, the multi-talented duo behind the brand who have aspirations to be the world’s leading botanical wares design studio. So head below to find out more, or just suckle on some amazing visual delights and plantspiration.

IVY MUSE is owned and founded by creative collaborators, Alana Langan and Jacqui Vidal. Alana is an interior stylist while Jacqui is the founder of ‘Signed & Numbered’, an art retailer. Together, they launched Ivy Muse to provide creative, modern and minimalistic plant stands. The brand, launched in the Spring of 2014, is based in Melbourne. Each piece designed and handcrafted to perfection. If you are looking for the perfect plant stands you can use in your own home, take a look at the Ivy Muse collection.

Name: Alana Langan & Jacqui Vidal
Brand: Ivy Muse
Job Title: Co-Directors
Location: Melbourne
Instagram @ivymuse_melb

ALANA LANGAN
1. What did you want to be when you grew up?

A Chef. I always loved cooking with Mum.

2. When and what was the moment that prompted you to start your own brand?

Jacqui and I had been wanting to collaborate together for a while. When we came up with the idea for Ivy Muse a couple of years ago, it just clicked. I think it all started with a phone call from Jac…!

3. In 3 words, describe your occupation.

Multi-Tasking Creative.

4. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

No-one ever told me this, but it’s pretty much my mantra. ‘Don’t ever let fear make a decision for you’.

5. What is your favourite creative outlet to get the juices flowing?

I seem to be most creative when I’m completely relaxed; usually after mucking about with our kids or meditating.

6. Where do you see yourself and the brand in 10 years time?

Kicking goals as the world’s leading botanical wares design studio. (Yep, aiming high much… we can’t help ourselves… if it’s not a challenge it’s not worth it)!

7. If you could invite any 5 celebrities to dinner, who would be on the guest list?

Louis Theroux (British docu maker, he’s a legend, clever and would have tonnes of great stories).
Vivienne Westwood (I saw her riding the tube when I lived in London; I was totally starstruck. I’d love to pick her brain on tonnes of things).
Sir Ken Robinson (British author; his book ‘The Element; How finding your passion changes everything’ was a game-changer for me).
Sia (Aussie musician – and hopefully she’d come ready to perform)!
Brett Easton Ellis; so Jacqui could come!

8. What was the last rule you broke?

Hhhmm, most likely a road rule of some sort. Guilty!

9. Do you have any hidden talents?

Juggling. For some reason, I really wanted to learn when I was about ten. I made myself juggling balls out of rice and practiced until I could juggle. It’s a bit like riding a bike. I haven’t forgotten!

10. What was the last movie you saw and was it any good?

‘Elysium’ with Matt Damon. It was entertaining enough but really went downhill towards the end. Sorry Matt, I’m a fan but this one sucked!

JACQUI VIDAL
1. What did you want to be when you grew up?

I have a major sweet tooth so I dreamt of owning a milk bar.

2. When and what was the moment that prompted you to start your own brand?

A phone call to Alana saying how about we go into business together! The rest, as they say, is history!

3. In 3 words, describe your occupation.

Slave labour – just joking! Creative, Varied and Challenging!

4. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Trust your gut!

5. What is your favourite creative outlet to get the juices flowing?

All my best ideas have come to me whilst in the bath – is that weird?

6. Where do you see yourself and the brand in 10 years time?

Ditto what Alana said!

7. If you could invite any 5 celebrities to dinner, who would be on the guest list?

Brett Easton Ellis, Brett Easton Ellis, Brett Easton Ellis, Brett Easton Ellis and Brett Easton Ellis #obsessedmuch

8. What was the last rule you broke?

I jay-walked this morning.

9. Do you have any hidden talents?

I have monkey feet. Anything I can do with my hands I can do with my feet. I have very capable feet.

10. What was the last movie you saw and was it any good?

Creed at The Astor. I can’t tell you if it was good or not – I fell asleep 5 minutes in.

Browse their insta, when you see all the beautiful homes with plants as the main focal point of their interior design, you will see why their fans are going a little cray cray for some plantspiration. Form and function are both important in any design aesthetic, ivy muse nails it all. Their sophisticated plant stands, stackable solutions and even shelves all caters to a design-savvy interior plant lover. Browse the entire collection here.

We want to know the beat of your drum…

Ivy Muse: Botanical Beats

We’re currently dreaming of one day having our own beautiful big retail space/HQ and this is the music we’d be playing in it…a mix of both our tastes, some songs are our old favourites but mostly they’re just fun and light-hearted tunes we like to buzz along to!

Selena Gomez / Hands to Myself