Bisley Store + Maria Zimmer - How Foster Spaces Designs with Plants, Purpose, and Organization
Posted by Bisley Store on Apr 2nd 2025
Using Design and Plants to Transform Interiors
Maria Zimmer is a designer who sees the world through the lens of connection — between people, places, and the natural elements that shape our daily lives. As the co-founder of Foster Spaces, a West Michigan-based interior plant design studio, she specializes in creating environments that do more than just look beautiful; they support well-being, productivity, and a sense of belonging. Her approach blends aesthetics with data-driven insights, bridging the gap between nature and design to craft spaces that feel intentional, functional, and restorative.
With a background in business intelligence, Maria is fascinated by how our surroundings influence our behavior, mood, and interactions. She brings both analytical precision and creative intuition to her work, ensuring each space she designs has a measurable impact—whether in a home, office, or hospitality setting. Her philosophy centers on the idea that thoughtfully curated spaces help people not just exist but thrive.
Organization plays a key role in this process, ensuring that every tool and material is within reach when inspiration strikes. For Maria, her Bisley MultiDrawer unit is an essential part of her workflow, a key player in keeping her creative space as harmonious and efficient as the environments she designs. Below, she shares more about her creative process, the role of organization in her work, and how she brings her vision to life.
Bisley Store: What role does organization play in your creative process? What does it mean to feel "organized" in your world? How do you get there?
Maria Zimmer: Organization is the WD-40 of my creative flow—essential for keeping ideas moving without friction. It’s a non-negotiable factor when I’m in my own space, allowing inspiration to take shape freely. I’m fascinated by the way our environments influence us, and for me, organizing isn't just about tidiness - it is an act of self-respect, a way to honor my creativity and invest in mental clarity.
Feeling organized isn’t just about knowing where everything is; it’s about intentional placement—aligning objects with when and how often I need them. It’s also about structuring my time—designating certain days for right-brain creative work and others for left-brain, detail-oriented tasks. Through trial, error and reflection, I’ve learned that more isn’t necessarily better. The key is thoughtful simplicity—curating a space that truly supports my energy rather than overwhelming it.
What drew you to your particular medium, and how has your style evolved over time?
Long before Foster Spaces became a business, I was naturally drawn to bringing plants into friends’ homes—helping them choose greenery that felt like an extension of their lives, habits, and spaces. It was never just about decoration; it was about creating environments that felt alive, supportive, and deeply personal.
What truly solidified my path in plant design wasn’t just the data—it was what the data represents. Yes, we know that biophilic spaces accelerate healing in hospitals, improve learning outcomes in schools, and even contribute to lower crime rates. But beneath those numbers is something profoundly human: the way a thoughtfully designed space can make someone feel safe, inspired, or at home. It’s the child whose curiosity is ignited in a classroom that feels alive with natural energy, where learning becomes an experience rather than a task. The patient who finds comfort in a hospital room that embraces vitality and doesn’t feel sterile and cold. The community that thrives because its public spaces are vibrant, welcoming, and restorative.
Plants aren’t just aesthetic—they are a language of care, a way to cultivate connection between people and place. Our work is about more than filling spaces with greenery; it’s about creating environments that nourish, heal, and bring people closer to themselves and each other.
Five things you can't live without?
A slow morning with coffee and stillness
My yoga & meditation practice
A long walk in nature on a sunny afternoon
A creative outlet - whether its sketching, writing, or styling plants
Deep, meaningful conversations with people who inspire me
What inspires you? How do you find inspiration?
I am endlessly inspired by nature—the way it organizes itself effortlessly, adapts, and thrives. I find the most creative clarity during mindful walks, where I take time to observe patterns, textures, and ecosystems. Traveling and immersing myself in different environments around the world has deepened this connection—whether it’s studying the lush biodiversity of tropical rainforests, the resilience of desert landscapes, or the quiet elegance of Japanese gardens. Each community offers its own unique rhythm and relationship with nature, and these experiences continually shape how I think about design, balance, and the harmony we can bring into our built environments.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking to refine their workspace, what would it be?
Start with how you want your space to support you. Before adding anything, ask yourself what functions are essential to your workflow and well-being. Every object in your space serves a purpose—whether intentional or not—so take ownership of that process. Curate with care, introduce only what truly adds value, and design a space that aligns with how you want to feel and create.
Maria Zimmer’s work at Foster Spaces demonstrates the power of intentional design, blending plants, aesthetics, and research-backed insights to create environments that support well-being and productivity. Her approach goes beyond décor—she carefully considers how spaces influence mood, focus, and connection. By integrating nature into interiors, she helps transform homes, offices, and hospitality spaces into thriving ecosystems. Check out Maria’s work and discover how biophilic design can elevate your space at Foster Spaces.
Looking for your own way to stay organized? Explore our storage solutions, designed to keep your creative space as functional as it is inspiring.
Maria's Bisley Green 8-Drawer MultiDrawer (with casters!) is a perfect mobile plant care center.