It was $189 USD, which is about $250 Canadian (yikes), but at least the shipping was free! Because I live on a part of Lake Superior that is close to the US/Canadian border, I have access to a US address for parcels, which makes shopping online a lot easier because I can have things shipped within the States or Canada. When I cross the border on my way back, sometimes I have to pop into the CBSA office and pay HST (although they usually wave folks by if the value of goods is under $100). This time I had to pay tax and as I walked out with my receipt I was kind of stunned by the final price. I only made it a little way up the road before turning the truck around and marching back in, certain they'd made a mistake calculating my HST. They had not. When the border guard I was harassing showed me the exchange rate for the day I actually blurted an expletive and he had a difficult time keeping a straight face. When I drop an f-bomb with my 12 year old voice, it tends to be more amusing that combative. Thoroughly embarrassed, I informed everyone who was eavesdropping that I have a PhD, and then I quickly egressed.
All this to say that I experienced some serious sticker shock making this purchase. When the dust settled, I paid around $282 CAD for my planter. Despite that staggering sum, I actually saved $100 by ordering direct from Modernica and using my US shipping address, because to order from a Canadian retailer is $384 CAD.
So, what possessed me to drop nearly $300 on a planter?
Truthfully, I'd been lusting after the case study planters from Modernica for awhile, but the price was too steep for me, even though I have been very happy with the two side shell stools and trio of bubble lights I'd purchased from them. The stools and lights are functional pieces that see daily use, while a planter seemed like a bit of an indulgence. I ultimately decided that I didn't deserve one because I'm terrible to plants.
As you know, though, I recently inherited some very precious plants. You already saw me caring for the orchids by making over a plant stand, so they can bask in the perfect light, and then spending major bucks on fancy orchid pots. In addition to these orchids, I also inherited a snake plant and I decided that it, too, deserved a fancy new habitat, especially after it spent two days in a bumpy, stuffy, over-packed u-Haul trailer. I'd seen some really great DIY case study knock-off tutorials, but I really liked the actual ceramic planter Modernica sells. The walnut frame would be easy to duplicate, but not the pot (Kim and Scott, from Yellow Brick Home, had a tough time finding a large, cylindrical pot for their cool, globe-turned-plant stand project).
I decided that I didn't want to hunt for the right planter and reasoned that this plant, of all plants, is special enough to warrant buying the real deal.
Was it worth the price?
I don't regret buying it at all (and I can say this having already paid the credit card bill with this purchase, so that's saying a lot!). I've been really thrilled with the quality of the bubble light and side shell stools we purchased. We experienced a bit of sticker shock with both of those purchases too but, almost two years later, we still love the looks and the quality. So far, this planter is what I expected too. The structure of the base is very simple (the legs just slide together for assembly), but the walnut is beautiful - no stain can hold a candle to genuine walnut. The ceramic pot is very substantial (it must cost a fortune to ship) and it was flawless when it arrived. I wish that the timing could have been better - only a few years ago the CAD and USD were at par - but I didn't want to wait.
If I ever stumble across a planter with the same shape and look of this
case study planter, you better believe I'm going to take a stab at a
knock off, but for now I'm super thrilled with my purchase.
I read about some plants dying in the case study planters, but I suspect that might have something to do with a lack of drainage so I filled the bottom with large rocks before adding my soil and re-potting the snake plant. Hopefully that helps keep the roots from getting soggy, but I'll also take care not to over water this fella. After hauling rocks from the shore and completing the messy task of re-potting, I read about someone using packing peanuts, which seems infinitely lighter and easier (but is it good for plants to have that synthetic material near them?). I'm not sure which method is better, but if you have any tips I'm all ears!
For now, at least, the snake plant seems happy with its new home.
The greenery that you can see from the kitchen, dining and living room really adds some more life to the lakehouse - I've missed having plants!
