Experience Mediterranean-inspired sculptures, intricate water features and a touch of moss
Written by
26 November 2024
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3 min read
Led by founder Rachel Cameron-Lee, Gardeners Emporium’s latest collection offers a blend of custom craftsmanship and desirable European design that stands out in the market. "Our new Pietro Stoneware brand is such a personal product. I custom make each piece for clients, something no one else in New Zealand does," says Rachel.
The collection’s inspiration is rooted in European aesthetics, offering designers a taste of elegance in custom water features, urns and plant pots. “People love that it has a European feel—French, Italian, Mediterranean-style—that allows them to create a personal touch in their outdoor space.”
From exquisite sculptures to intricate water features, Gardeners Emporium’s new Pietro Stoneware pieces cater to the desire for customisation. “Designers can buy pieces off the showroom floor, though we carry a limited stock. I provide a colour swatch for custom orders so specifiers can choose from a huge range of colours. The selection is extensive; there’s something for everyone and every design plan,” she shares.
What sets the Pietro Stoneware collection apart is its innovative material composition. The pieces are crafted from 75 per cent fibreglass. “Crafting the pieces from fibreglass makes them lighter and more movable than traditional concrete while still being durable and strong. The fibreglass adds a beautiful, almost 3D quality, with a slight shine that brings the piece to life—it’s got movement instead of just a flat concrete look,” says Rachel.
Fibreglass not only makes the pieces more practical but also more environmentally conscious. “Each piece is handmade, from start to finish, and all finishes are hand-applied with reactive oxides to create coatings that last longer than traditional paint. They’re also eco-friendly, petrochemical-free, rust and fireproof, and fully recyclable,” Rachel emphasises.
While many clients fall in love with ready-made pieces, others are drawn to the opportunity to collaborate with Rachel on bespoke designs. “I enjoy working with clients to create custom pieces unavailable on our website. For instance, one recent request was a mermaid sculpture with a tail made from roses, and I’ve done water features inspired by pineapple tops. I love that creative freedom—it allows me to go in-depth with textures and colours, aging them with detailed layers,” Rachel adds.
Gardeners Emporium’s popular moss wall art is a striking example of how Rachel pushes the boundaries of what is possible. “Our moss wall art was a way of bringing outdoor nature inside. After a year and a half of development, we now source preserved moss grown in France, and my carpenters in Florida create the art pieces. We offer different framing options, either frameless or with oak frames, in various colours.”
Rachel emphasises, “It’s important clients know the moss is preserved; it’s a unique, indoor-only piece, and while you can still smell the moss, it’s not living, so it doesn’t need water.”
The Pietro Stoneware collection and moss wall art perfectly captures the ethos of Gardeners Emporium: beautiful, sustainable and bespoke. Rachel not only creates stunning outdoor and indoor pieces but also offers designers an opportunity to express their own creativity in their projects.
For those looking to add something different to landscape designs or outdoor spaces—or to bring a touch of nature indoors— Gardeners Emporium’s custom creations offer the ideal solution. With every piece, Rachel invites her clients to become part of the creative process, resulting in a product that is not only visually alluring but also deeply meaningful.