No longer content with the basic potted plant or tiled patio, homeowners are now looking for statement pieces - cascading fountains that gurgle with elegance, statues that evoke emotion and pots that turn simple flowers into showstoppers.
Gardening is no longer just about green thumbs, it is about creative souls. "People are no longer just gardening, they are curating," says Wangeci. "They want their outdoor spaces to tell a story."
Opened in 2022, this outdoor space in Nairobi's Two Rivers Mall is a plant gallery.
“When we started developing the property as a family, I naturally took on the landscaping. But it wasn't just about arranging plants. Something deeper was awakened,” she recalls.
She found herself immersed in the colours, textures and shapes of gardening, not as a chore, but as an artistic expression. It's a deliberate move to transform gardens into living exhibitions - where nature and sculpture coexist harmoniously.
Today, Garden Space is not just a place for plant lovers, it is a place for garden art collectors, landscaping enthusiasts and those who see their outdoor space as a personal image.
Sculpures at the Garden Space at Two Rivers Mall.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
What started out as a hobby quickly became a full-blown Sh2 million artistic retreat.
"I just wanted to create something different. Something that spoke not just to the eye, but to the soul," she says. "We're growing at our own pace, but we're growing strong," she says with a smile.
"Garden Space is about passion. About beauty. About art that lives and breathes outdoors."
What sets Garden Space apart isn't just the variety of exotic plants or the handmade planters. It's the sculptures and fountains. Large, hand-cast pieces that act as conversation starters and centrepieces of beauty.
A fountain at the Garden Space at Two Rivers Mall.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
Each is cast in concrete, designed in collaboration with Mombasa-based sculptor Vishal Sennik and brought to life in stages, from casting to final installation on site.
"I wanted more than just pots. I wanted presence," says Wangeci.
And that's exactly what her fountains deliver - magnificence, grace and a soothing soundtrack of flowing water.
Known for his mastery of concrete casting, Vishal is not just making sculptures, he is co-creating experiences. Each piece balances fine craftsmanship with environmental harmony, fusing artistic vision with the organic beauty of outdoor living.
As the art-in-the-garden trend grows, Wangeci has noticed a shift - clients now want more African identity in their pieces.
Forget the generic cherubs and Greek urns. She has started to receive requests for black statues - figures with African features, traditional dress and poses that reflect local heritage.
But she admits that sculpting culture is no easy task.
"It's not just about colour, it's about character," she says. "People want art that represents them - statues that feel familiar, that speak to their roots.
Now she and her artistic partners are developing forms that reflect the African experience - statues that feel like they belong, that tell stories of home.
With customers in Nairobi and as far away as Rwanda, Wangeci sees a growing appetite for artistic outdoor spaces.
Her clientele? Private homeowners, a mix of hotel owners, and anyone with a love of unique, luxurious gardens. Most of them, she says, "want something no one else has".
"There is a hunger for uniqueness. Everyone wants something that makes their space stand out," she says. "And art does that."
Each fountain takes up to four days to assemble and is made of weather-resistant concrete. Prices for the fountains range up to Sh700,000 for a larger one, while sculptures sell for as little as Sh50,000, depending on size and design. Some cost less.
Today, Garden Space employs four permanent staff and contracts more as projects arise.
"We're Kenyan. We're local. And we're building something beautiful, one garden at a time," says Wangeci.
And the market, she believes, is just beginning to blossom.
