Showing posts with label Outdoor spaces. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Outdoor spaces. Show all posts

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Current Inspiration: Landscape

Spring is here (tomorrow, officially) and that means revisiting my love of landscape renovation.  Do you feel like that too?  March gets here and we are blessed with a handful of warm days, and all I can think about is gardening.  I wish I could get out there and start digging up plants and putting down brick pavers, like I've done in years past...  but, my enormously growing belly is telling me that strenuous gardening ain't gonna happen this year.  With a baby due in May, I think the majority of my "gardening" may be regulated to Pinterest.  We've done SO MUCH over the years, and our yard is still a disaster and nowhere near finished.  I'm okay with that though.  You can't do everything, I realize this.  But, I would love to finish it someday before I die.

For now, here are some gardening ideas that are totally inspiring me this year-- and maybe they will inspire you too.  Please indulge me...

This precious picket fence has my heart a flutter.  A few years ago, I'm not sure I would have swayed this way.  But, time has changed me.  Our backyard is pretty big, so I would love to enclose half of it between the carriage house and the backdoor.  Not for privacy, but something to contain the children and maybe a dog someday (did I just say "dog"?  These days, I can hardly keep my head on straight and I'm thinking about a dog?  Yes, let's get a dog.).  This simple yet classic picket fence is my inspiration.


To go with my new picket fence, I'll take this lovely gate and arbor, thanks.  :)  Is this not idyllic?  I can imagine parking my car in the carriage house, and then walking through this gate to the backdoor.  That would be lovely.

I would also settle for something like this.  :)



If I get my fence and my gate (and my arbor), I'll need a new walkway from the carriage house to the back door.  So, I think we'll need some brick.  You might remember a few years back, we repaved our front walk with reclaimed brick.  I still adore the look of it and I want MORE.  I spotted this chic pattern awhile back and have saved it as inspiration for future hardscaping.  Isn't this great?  Thank you, Ruthie Sommers.


 And, while we're at it, let's throw in a swimming pool.  This picture has been my go-to for years now.  I'm obsessed with it and would die to have anything that remotely resembles this someday.  Love the complete privacy with those thick evergreens (I think that might be my favorite part)...  and the rectangular pool, modern furniture, and potted plants.  Wrapped it up and ship it to me.


This is also fabulous. 
 

And, this.  I mean.  Hello, gorgeous.  Pea gravel, black planters, stacked rock, perfectly green lawn, potted boxwood.  Perfection.



Happy last day of winter, everyone.  :)


...



Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Spring Dreams

It's that time of the year where winter is almost over, and I am itching to get out in the yard and work.  Even though it's not quite warm enough (or dry enough-- we're getting pouring rain today), my mind is already racing with new projects and "do this!" and "plant that!" ideas.  Some of the tasks include:
          • transplant sedum to the side of the house (it grows too big around the front porch and dwarfs our boxwood row-- see what I mean)
          • plant limelight hydrangea behind the new row of sedum
          • create a container garden of boxwood on the front porch
          • plant ivy along retaining walls of driveway

I'm sure the list will grow and change as the months progress, but this is what I've got brewing right now.  And, I realize that I never shared an "after" blog post on our new cobblestone driveway!  That will definitely be in the works for the spring (as soon as everything turns green, making for much prettier pictures). 

While I wait for my first day of serious yard work, I've been gathering more and more inspiration on my Pinterest page.  Here are some of my faves...


love the ivy beds here
 
 
my absolute DREAM.  Tall cypress trees = total privacy.
 

boxwood container garden


tips for growing hydrangea from trusty old This Old House


stunning!


more inspiration for a boxwood container garden
 
 
(please excuse Julianne)  Love the ivy above the retaining wall.


I LOVE this grouping with the woven outdoor furniture and bright white cushions.

 

We have four woven outdoor club chairs on the front porch from Target.  We bought them a few years ago and while I'm not totally in love with the style, I do really like them (and we honestly sit in them almost everyday in the warmer months).  Also, they're incredibly durable.  Should I buy a couple of matching ottomans this year?  I'm thinking I should.
 
 
 
Looking forward to warmer days!!
 
 
...
 
 

Friday, February 4, 2011

Poolside With The Stars

Cynthia Rowley in Manhattan


Dennis Basso in Long Island, New York


Kelly Klein in Wellington, Florida


Roberto Cavalli in Florence, Italy


Ben Stiller in the Hollywood Hills


from the Malibu home of Cindy Crawford


from the Malibu estate of Ellen Pompeo



I needed a little escape today.  The snow and ice are starting to get to me.


Have a lovely weekend kiddos.


all images from Elle Decor


...

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Dreaming Of Warmer Times



Hello perfect house with a spectacular pool. 

You're such a tease. 


...

Friday, January 14, 2011

A Modern Mix In The Hollywood Hills


One of my favorite images from the recent issue of Lonny Magazine.  This sunlit photo makes me wish that summer would start tomorrow! Cooper, the sweet pup above, enjoying the California sunshine, lives in the fabulously decorated home of Hadi Halawani and Kevin Howells.  Designed by Trip Haensich, this home perched among the trees in the West Hollywood Hills is modern and bohemian all rolled into one.  And all that warn sunshine?  I'm jealous.

I love this bright white entry, flanked by white sqaure pots.


When drapery is done with an inverted pleat, like these, everything just looks cleaner, sleeker, and less fussy.




I love the fiddle leaf fig, and the blonde wood of the coffee table and chair-- it suits a California home.  Plus, it really brightens the space.


terraces that seem to run the entire width of the house!

and a cozy guest room gets a little bling with an orange Hermes blanket.



even a fire pit!

...

With lows at 13 degrees (last night), I think it might be time to plan a quick vacation...  to a warmer spot.  Has anoyone been to Savannah, Georgia?  We're considering a road trip there!  Let me know if you have any insight!  I'd love to hear!


Happy Weekend, everyone!

...

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Dining Al Fresco

The weather is supposed be gorgeous this weekend (80 degrees and sunny!).  So, bring your dining table and chairs outside, buy a few strands of globe lights, and serve dinner.   These pictures inspire me to do the same...
















Thursday, April 15, 2010

Garden Inspiration



I've been swooning over modern gardens lately...


































And, it led me to these books...







If you are a city-dweller and don't have a lot of space (or, you have a black thumb and want to start out small), you can create a modern garden.  Plant a container garden.  For some great tips on planting a container garden, go HERE.









And then, treat yourself by getting some new gardening accessories!  Here are my favs...








...

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...