Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kara Kelly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kara, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

At Naturalist, our mission is simple: Let nature in. We are a Biophilic Design Studio specializing in the design, fabrication, and installation of preserved moss feature walls for commercial spaces. But our mission goes far beyond aesthetics, it’s rooted in the belief that the human desire to connect with nature is universal and essential to our well-being.

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us don’t have the time or access to step outside and recharge in nature. That’s why we partner with interior designers and architects to bring natural elements indoors, creating biophilic moments within the built environment. These green installations offer more than beauty, they provide a sense of calm, a breath of life, and a visual connection to the natural world.

This mission is deeply meaningful to me because I’ve seen the impact these spaces can have. A simple moss wall can transform a sterile office, a crowded lobby, or a busy airport lounge into a place that feels grounded, alive, and human. Our work is about more than design, it’s about helping people feel better where they are.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of business, creativity, and well-being. When I first encountered the concept of preserved moss walls, something clicked. I immediately recognized the potential to not only create beautiful spaces, but also positively impact how people feel within them. That moment sparked the beginning of NATURALIST.

We were one of the very first providers of preserved moss walls in the United States, and we’ve remained a leader in what has since become a fast-growing industry. What makes us unique is our deep commitment—not just to the craft of biophilic design, but to the why behind it: improving quality of life in the built environment.

Many of our clients are just beginning to explore biophilic design. We often have the opportunity to introduce architects and interior designers to the power of preserved moss and plants. Unlike living walls, which require complex irrigation systems and ongoing maintenance, our preserved moss walls are 100% real plants that have been naturally preserved using biodegradable methods. This makes them completely maintenance-free—no watering, trimming, or lighting needed—while still delivering the calming, organic presence of nature.

Our work fills a crucial space between live plant walls and artificial greenery. It’s a smart solution for commercial spaces where live plant care isn’t feasible, but where the benefits of natural design are still needed—offices, airports, hospitals, hotels, and more.

What sets NATURALIST apart is our experience and our team. We’ve been doing this longer than anyone else in the U.S., and many members of our original team are still with us today. That continuity speaks volumes about the passion, expertise, and care we bring to every project. We also pride ourselves on being accessible—we work within a wide range of budgets to ensure that anyone who wants a green wall can have one.

Ultimately, what makes me most proud is knowing that our work touches the lives of the people who move through these spaces every day. We design for the end user—the employees, the guests, the patients, the students—people who may not even know what biophilic design is, but who feel the difference when they enter a space that lets nature in.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Nearly four years ago, our company experienced a devastating fire that completely destroyed the building housing both our warehouse and showroom. It was a total loss. Everything that kept NATURALIST running—our raw moss materials, tools, equipment, even the smallest items like box cutters—was gone in an instant. To see everything we had built reduced to ashes was heart-wrenching. It was a blow none of us could have anticipated, let alone prepared for.

But we didn’t give up.

We stood back up as a team. Every single member of our crew carried the weight of that loss and helped us restart from the ground up. There were days when we questioned our every move—when we wondered if it was even possible to rebuild. But we held tight to our purpose, to our why, and we pushed forward together—not just as colleagues, but as a family.

Like many things in life, this experience came with unexpected silver linings. We found a new home for NATURALIST, one that’s significantly larger than our previous space. Without being forced out, we may never have made that leap. It also prompted us to re-evaluate the role of our showroom. Rather than reopening it, we reinvested in expanding our production capabilities—allowing us to increase our capacity, take on larger projects, and serve more clients than ever before.

That fire could have been the end of our story. But instead, it became a defining chapter in our journey—one that proved just how strong, committed, and resilient our team truly is.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Our reputation has been built on one core principle: the client experience must be collaborative from start to finish. Every moss wall we create is completely unique—tailored to the space where it will live and designed in partnership with the interior designers and architects who have poured their vision into the overall environment.

These design professionals often come to us with a verbalized concept or a high-level vision for a feature wall. Our job is to translate that into something tangible. The creative process always begins with a conversation about the atmosphere they want to create, followed by a review of inspirational references—this could be imagery from the outdoors, photos of our past wall garden installations, or elements drawn from a brand’s visual identity.

We work on everything from hotel lobbies aiming to evoke calm, organic luxury to corporate offices that want to weave sustainability into branded moments throughout their space. Taking the time to deeply understand each client’s intent is step one. Step two is our commitment to sourcing and using only the highest-quality preserved moss and plants available.

Over the years, as demand for preserved moss has grown globally, we’ve seen a noticeable shift in quality across the market. At NATURALIST, we’ve actually removed entire moss species from our offerings if they no longer meet our standards for durability or longevity. Our clients expect—and deserve—the very best. That dedication to quality is something we take seriously, and it’s helped us earn the trust and loyalty of some of the most respected designers in the industry.

We stand behind every installation—whether it was created yesterday or ten years ago. That long-term commitment to excellence, combined with our collaborative design process and refusal to compromise on materials, is what continues to set us apart in the marketplace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://WWW.NATURALIST.US
• Instagram: @NATURALISTINTERIORS
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Naturalistinteriors
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naturalist-biophilic-design-studio-98029b18b/

Image Credits

NATURALIST