Behind the Biz is back for it’s third column, Giovanna gets to know Andrea of Art Terrarium.
Written by Giovanna Zavell, DSMG Contributor
If you haven’t visited this urban oasis yet, here is your sign. Opened in May 2017, Art Terrarium offers plants and art of all kinds, perfect for adding a bit of color to any space.
Strong Des Moines Roots
Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium, is a Des Moines native. However, throughout her life she has lived in other places. Sometimes, her journey brought her back to Des Moines. Other times, it took her across the globe. “I was born in Des Moines and lived here until I was six,” Andrea says. “My family moved to Pennsylvania for seven years and returned to Des Moines when I was in eighth grade.”
Andrea attended the University of Iowa where she studied Video Production. After graduating, she moved to Chicago and worked in the film business for a while. She then accepted a remote position with a small start-up company and moved down to Austin, Texas.
“I lived in Austin for two and a half years and then spent the next two and a half years traveling,” she says. “I traveled around the country and spent some time in Berlin, Barcelona, and Panama. In 2014 I moved back to Des Moines. And then in 2020, my husband and I moved to Bend, OR, where we currently reside.” And if you’re ever in Bend, be sure to visit Art Terrarium’s sister store, Desert Rose Cactus Lounge.
Pairing Art With Plants
“I had the entrepreneurial bug for a while,” Andrea says. “Initially, I had big dreams of opening a 24 hour cafe in downtown Des Moines. But, I quickly realized that opening a restaurant was not for the faint of heart, or for someone with no restaurant industry experience.”
Throughout her travels, Andrea fell in love with the plant shops she stumbled upon–her favorites including Alapash Home in Chicago and Pistils Nursery in Portland. Soon, the dreams of a 24 hour cafe shifted to creating a plant shop that resembled those she visited on her travels.
It’s Art Week 2016 in Des Moines, and a pop up store is set up in the downtown skywalks. Andrea and a few friends gathered over 30 Des Moines artists and a collection of plants from Harvey’s Greenhouse to display. Surrounded by colorful art and plants, inside a bright, glass room, something occurred to Andrea and her team.
“As we looked at the art filled skywalk bridges, we thought, ‘It feels like we’re in a terrarium filled with art…an Art Terrarium!’” and so the name was born. A year later, the brick and mortar store opened to the Des Moines community with the mission to build community around the love for plants and local art.
DSM’s Houseplant Boutique
Over the past five years, Andrea and her team of eight have served customers in becoming successful plant parents. Whether you have a green thumb or not, Art Terrarium employees are there to help find the perfect match for your skill level.
“We’re a full service plant shop,” Andrea says. “Our knowledgeable staff will help you pick out the perfect plant for your space and walk you through care tips. At our potting bar, we’ll pot your plants so they’re ready to go.”
Art Terrarium also hosts a number of events and workshops, many of which are partnered with other local businesses. From succulent paint nights to crystal terrarium creations with KIN, there is sure to be an event you’ll want to grab your pals and attend. You can see what’s coming up on the Art Terrarium’s events page.
“We’re more than a retail shop, we’re a community,” Andrea says. “Everything we do is centered around our community and how we can serve our customers better and collaborate with and uplift our fellow local businesses.”
Easy to Care for Favorites
Calling all hesitant plant parents! These plants are for you! And for our veterans, these easy to care for plants are a great addition to any home jungle.
- Air Plants -These guys come in all different sizes and can go just about anywhere! They also make a great gift!
- Marble Queen Pothos- Hardy, easy to care for and just a little bit more unique than the standard Golden Pothos. The white variation in the leaves is just gorgeous!
Want more tips? Check out our guide to houseplants with some of the experts from Art Terrarium here.
Art Terrarium
Monday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Wednesday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Want more?
Want more behind the scenes of cool people and businesses in Des Moines. Check out our “Meet” category at the link below.
