A Living Sanctuary: Bringing Stillness and Green Indoors
Tell us a little about yourself and your journey—how did you get to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Valerie Benner. I was born and raised in beautiful San Diego, and I still call it home today. In 2020, I started Living Sanctuary Design—a heartfelt leap that came after a winding journey filled with both challenges and unexpected inspiration.
I actually began my path in medicine, earning my MD with the hope of becoming a doctor. But over time, I found myself feeling increasingly disconnected. The further I went, the more I realized that I was losing a sense of who I was. Eventually, it became clear that I needed to make a change—not just in career, but in direction. I found myself returning to something simple yet deeply grounding: my garden.
Plants have always been part of my life. My mom, who is from Indonesia, brought the lushness of the tropics with her wherever we lived. I grew up surrounded by greenery, and it felt natural to return to that sense of nurturing, growth, and calm. What started as tending to my own indoor and outdoor plants soon grew into something more meaningful.
One day, my dad sent me a post he saw on a neighborhood app—someone was looking for help styling their home with plants. He encouraged me to reach out, and I decided to give it a try. I treated it as a fun side project at first, never imagining it could evolve into a business. But word spread from that one client, and slowly but surely, more opportunities began to come my way. That’s how Living Sanctuary Design was born—organically, one plant at a time.
As I worked with more clients, I often ran into the challenge of designing for spaces without natural light. That’s when I discovered the magic of preserved moss. Creating custom moss art has become one of my favorite parts of the work I do—offering a way to bring the feeling of nature indoors, even in the most unlikely places. One of my pieces was even featured at the San Diego Airport as part of their exhibit, “A Necessary Departure,” which was such a special moment for me.
This journey has been full of growth, beauty, and surprises—and I’m so grateful for every bit of it. I can’t wait to see what’s next, and I’m honored to continue creating spaces that bring peace, joy, and a little more green into the world.
What inspired you to become an artist? What are your biggest creative influences?
I never initially saw myself as an artist—I simply thought I was creating a mossy alternative to traditional indoor plants. But the more I experimented with techniques and allowed myself to be creative, the more I realized how much this process meant to me. It became a true outlet, and that’s when I began to embrace what I now call plant-based art.
Much of my inspiration comes from spending quiet time alone outdoors. It’s in those moments—without distractions—that I can fully appreciate nature in its purest form. Recreating the look and feel of plants in their natural habitat can be challenging, but observing how different species grow and interact with their environment helps everything click when I’m designing a piece.
Can you walk us through your creative process? Any special techniques or materials you love using?
When I begin a new project, I love to start by sketching out a few designs—it’s where the excitement really begins! I think about the colors I want to bring in, the textures I’m drawn to, and how everything can come together with a natural sense of flow. It feels a bit like solving a puzzle made of beauty and balance. I enjoy experimenting with all kinds of natural elements—stones, dried florals, unique tree branches—anything that adds character and tells a story. I always try to stay true to nature, steering away from plastic plants and flowers in favor of materials that feel real, organic, and alive in their own way.
What themes, emotions, or messages do you aim to convey through your art?
When I create moss pieces and plant arrangements, I try to make them feel like quiet moments pulled from nature—soft, soothing, and effortlessly alive. The goal is to make you forget, even for just a second, that you’re indoors. Like stumbling upon a hidden corner of a lush forest, captured in time. These pieces aren’t meant to be perfect—just like nature, they grow with gentle irregularities, and I hope they serve as a little reminder that not everything needs to be structured. Sometimes, the most beautiful things happen when we let them unfold organically.
What role does nature play in your work? How do you see moss and other organic materials fitting into your artistic vision?
The things I create are inspired by the magic that happens in nature—how moss might gently begin to grow on a piece of bark or how stones would slowly become cradled by plants and moss in the wild. I adore working with moss because it’s such a playful, ever-changing medium. The variety of species brings an endless dance of textures and colors, each one unique, like a secret waiting to be discovered. Every new piece feels like a little puzzle, full of surprises, where no two creations are ever quite the same.
Have you faced any unique challenges as an artist, and how have you overcome them?
This might not be the most unique thing to say, but imposter syndrome definitely sneaks in from time to time. I didn’t go to art school or have formal training, so there are moments when I question whether I’m “qualified” to create the things I do. On top of that, so much of creativity is deeply tied to mental health. It can be really tough to pour yourself into creating big, lush pieces that radiate peace when you’re struggling just to care for yourself. In those moments, I try to be gentle with myself—take a little time to rest, find inspiration again, and make a simple list of baby steps to ease back into creating. It’s not always easy, but those small steps make all the difference.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other artists looking to work with natural materials?
If you’re able to, I really recommend spending some time outdoors. Whether it’s a quiet hike, a walk through the park, or just sitting somewhere green, being surrounded by nature can be incredibly grounding. Watching how moss and plants grow in their own way, without force or structure, can be both calming and inspiring. The more you observe how and why things grow the way they do, the more naturally your own designs start to come together. It’s not about doing it perfectly—it’s about connecting with the rhythm of nature and letting that guide you.
Are there any upcoming projects or pieces you’re particularly excited about?
There are a few things I’ve been excited about lately! I’ve been experimenting with new ways to incorporate larger plants into my moss wall pieces. It’s a bit of a balancing act—you want to keep the plants healthy without soaking the entire wall, and of course, it needs to be sustainable enough to last over time. It’s been a fun challenge to figure out.
I’ve also been teaching more, which has been such a rewarding experience. I’ve led classes on everything from plant propagation to starting box gardens, and I’m planning to offer moss design workshops soon too. There’s something really special about seeing that spark in someone’s eyes when they connect with plants for the first time—or watching them deepen their love for it. Being part of someone’s growing plant journey feels like such an honor.
To explore Valerie’s work and bring a little more stillness and sanctuary into your space, visit Living Sanctuary Design and follow her plant-based journey on social media. Whether it’s a single moss frame or a larger custom installation, every piece she creates offers a reminder to breathe, slow down, and reconnect—with nature, and with yourself.
Want to work with Valerie or learn more? Reach out via Instagram @livingsanctuarydesign or email [email protected]. 🌿
