Riverside Esplanade, Mooloolaba — Luxury Penthouse Plant Styling
A landmark luxury penthouse on Mooloolaba's Riverside Esplanade
Multiple levels, four outdoor areas, panoramic river views and a rooftop terrace to rival anything on the Sunshine Coast. The brief was to style the entire property with plants and planters that matched the premium price tag, complemented the existing interior styling and made every space feel as considered and beautiful as the property itself.
With a fast turnaround and a large, complex space to curate, this was one of iki and moss's most extensive property styling projects to date.
Project details
Client: Private vendor
Agent: Whisker Coastal Property
Service: Property plant styling
Location: Riverside Esplanade, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast
Property type: Luxury penthouse apartment
Spaces styled: Entry, dining, outdoor sunroom, main lounge deck, rear outdoor space, main entertaining area, upper level, wellness room, rooftop terrace
Plants used: Island jungle arrangements, monstera, gingers, heliconias, bird of paradise, yuccas, large palms, Kentia palm, bamboo, dragon plant, pothos
Pot palette: White (outdoor throughout), charcoal (dressing room and retreat), sage (wellness room)
Turnaround: Fast turnaround for sale campaign
The Spaces
Entry & Dining
The entry level set the tone for the entire property — a considered welcome that flowed through to the dining room and established the lux, tropical aesthetic carried throughout. Plants were selected to complement the existing interior styling and signal immediately that this was a property styled with genuine care and intention.
Plants: Curated entry and dining arrangements
Pots: Sage
Outdoor Sunroom — River Views
The sunroom overlooking the river was one of the property's signature spaces — and one of its greatest opportunities. Two trio pot sets, one statement piece and three island jungle arrangements were installed to create a centrepiece worthy of the view, drawing the eye into the space and making the most of the outlook across the water.
Plants: Island jungle arrangements, statement specimen
Pots: White
Main Lounge Deck
The slim deck off the main lounge presented a design challenge — an electricity pole in direct sightline of the space. Rather than drawing attention to it, strategically placed low level pots and larger pots with yuccas and sun-loving plants were used to soften and redirect the eye, creating a layered, lush outlook that made the most of the deck without highlighting what lay beyond.
Plants: Yuccas, sun-loving varieties
Pots: White
It's always in the details.
Sometimes the quietest touches say the most.
Main Outdoor Entertaining Space
The largest outdoor space on the main level wrapped around the side of the building — a full entertaining area with seating and a BBQ space requiring serious planting to create the outdoor living feel the property deserved. Large palms were installed to establish scale, provide a sense of enclosure and deliver the tropical resort atmosphere that makes an outdoor space feel like a destination. A statement palm was used to redirect attention away from existing planting that had seen better days.
Plants: Large palms, statement specimens
Pots: White
Upper Level Nooks & Corners
The upper level was styled with restraint — single tall elegant pots placed in corners and nooks with simple, beautiful specimens that added height and presence without crowding the space. Dragon plants, cascading pothos, bamboos and Kentias were chosen for their elegant vertical form, complemented by glass and ceramic vases that completed the luxury feel throughout.
Plants: Dragon plant, pothos, bamboo, Kentia palm
Pots: White throughout, feature charcoal in dressing room and retreat
Rooftop Terrace
The pinnacle of the property. A sweeping rooftop terrace accessed from the master suite with panoramic views across the bridge and river — and the most extensive planting installation of the entire project.
The wrap-around deck was styled across multiple zones. The dining area received a statement palm and a lush arrangement of sun-tolerant plants on the tables. Five troughs were installed along the glass balustrade — filled with bird of paradise, gingers and heliconias — creating a living screen that drew the eye up and out across the view while softening the electricity lines that ran beyond the glass. Large palms and a bird of paradise statement pot anchored the space at scale.
The rear basketball area was finished with three yuccas and a generous arrangement of sun-tolerant plants in white pots — practical, polished and consistent with the aesthetic carried throughout the property.
Plants: Bird of paradise, gingers, heliconias, large palms, yuccas, sun-tolerant varieties
Pots: White throughout
The Result
A luxury penthouse styled to its full potential — every space considered, every challenge quietly resolved, every outdoor area transformed into something that felt as impressive as the property itself. From entry to rooftop, iki and moss brought the outside in and made every square metre count.
