Daily Classic

Decorator's Show House

2010-04-19T10:51:00.005-04:00

Our office has been busy! We have been working away getting ready for the Decorators Show House that opened this past weekend. It is definitely a show that you do not want to miss!

This year's Show House is located at 3639 Tuxedo Road at the beautiful home owned by Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot and owner of the Atlanta Falcons.

With acres of koi ponds and gardens to show, the house is appropriately named Giverny.

Our office was in charge of the design of the front entrance.

Although these are not the best photos, this gives you a preview of what our garden looks like.

Come see the show, and I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed!

Click here for more information.

Family

2010-04-12T10:03:00.002-04:00

I try not to get too personal on the blog, but my nieces and nephews are SO cute that I just cannot resist.

First we have Porter, the first born of our siblings children. He is Hunter's oldest sister's first child and is the first grandchild on his side. He is now 3 years old.

Next, came along Kennedy. She is the first grandchild on my parents side, and is my middle sister Mary's little girl. She is now 2.

Third was Pierce, who is my oldest sister Sophie's little girl. She will be 2 in July.

And then there was Jack, Porter's little brother who will be 1 in May. He is such a precious little pumpkin, and will be the closest in age to our little peanut who has been growing in my belly for only 8 1/2 weeks now.

We got to see our first sonogram last week at the doctor and can not be any more excited!

We are so blessed to have such a amazing family, and are so happy to add our own contribution to the family tree!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

2010-04-09T13:40:00.001-04:00

*photo by Michael Graydo

Hollywood Vintage

2010-04-07T13:04:00.005-04:00

Now that Easter has past I have white on the mind... not just white clothing, but also furniture.

I love the look of classic white furniture. Something about the vintage style makes me think of hollywood and movie stars. And not the pop stars of todays time, but more like someone out of a Slim Aarons photo.

The two pictures above are from the garden of Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson. They had the vintage iron garden furniture reupholstered in the soft blue - green fabric - one of my favorite colors!

This dining chair is from the Calcutta II collection from Brown Jordan. They have a great selection of many different outdoor furnishing styles, but it can get quite expensive.

I also love the modern vintage look where less is more.

You can get more for less with the chairs pictured below... we have a source for under $50!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!

Easter Traditions

2010-04-01T08:51:00.009-04:00

"Christos Anesti" means "Christ has risen" in Greek. You will hear that quite often on Easter Sunday and the following weeks if you are around any Greek family during this celebratory time.

Another beautiful tradition is the abundance of Easter Lilies.

According to source, "Tradition has it that the beautiful white lilies sprung up where drops of Christ’s sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. Churches continue this tradition at Easter time by banking their altars and surrounding their crosses with masses of Easter Lilies, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and hope of life everlasting."

The "Easter Bunny" ...a symbol for Easter and fertility because of their well known rapid rate of reproduction.

The egg is a symbol of rebirth. It was adopted by early Christians as a symbol for the resurrection of Jesus.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Easter weekend as we celebrate re-birth, and the true meaning of Easter!

Lantern Lights

2010-03-30T08:50:00.015-04:00

Remember my post on Alys Beach from about a month ago? I said that I would find a picture of the lighting fixture above the fire pit. I found one....

It was one of the many images on The Photographers Life where they did a great post on Alys Beach.

Creative outdoor lighting can add so much to enhance your garden no matter what setting.

It can be simple.

Or more formal.

It always catches your eye.

And sets the mood for the area.

It is always worth the investment.

Images via The Photographers Life, Dargan Landscape Architect, Tracery Interiors, Designing Life In Miami, Abby Sharp Tumbler

Hollywood Style

2010-03-29T08:15:00.003-04:00

In the most current issue of Garden Design magazine Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson opened up the garden gates of their home in Ojai, California.

Doesn't it remind you of Meryl Streep's house in It's Complicated?

It has the cottage feel with amazing garden rooms.

And so many perimeter spaces that make you want to live outside.

I love the vintage outdoor furniture.

There are so many more inspiring pictures so be sure to view the full article here.

Contemporary

2010-03-25T17:31:00.006-04:00

A good friend of mine and previous Daily Classic contributor, BPQ TX, recently had some work featured on the Contemporist. The Austin, TX based landscape architect worked on all of the landscaping and hardscaping (including all of the walls, etc) of the house pictured below.

With such an amazing views of the city, it is such a refreshingly inspiring project.

Click here to view the full article, and see even more amazing photos.

White

2010-03-24T08:37:00.005-04:00

White. My husband and I are still in the middle of a painting project where we are painting all the rooms in our house one color. White. Tennis Court White to be specific... it is really a little off white. I have been getting a lot of "really, white?" or "all the rooms the same color?" or "you are turning into your mother" (my parent's house is white too - and my sister's.) I love white.... it is so clean and fresh. We have a small house so I think it will be nice for all the rooms to be the same color and flow together, and then we can use different accent colors to make each room pop. I am thinking of painting the back of one door a bright color- inspired by the last picture - I may go with a kelly green. I cant wait for it to be complete!

Happy Spring!

2010-03-22T09:26:00.006-04:00

We have seen the signs that it is coming...

We even caught a glimpse this past weekend...

Although the snow flurries outside are telling us otherwise...

It is "officially" spring!

Happy Friday!

2010-03-19T09:14:00.003-04:00

Hope that you have a great weekend!

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, and we are heading to Thomasville to see the fam! Further south and even better weather... highs of 77 and 78! I cant wait!

How Cute Are These?

2010-03-18T08:41:00.000-04:00

We have a client who lives on a river in Louisiana that wanted us to find a "pirate ship paddle boat" for their children's playground. Look what we found...

The pirate ship is cute, but the "African Queen Boat" (below) is even more precious, and is what they decided to go with.

Their two twin girls maybe the luckiest children in the world to have a river side play ground equipped with their own African Queen Boat!

Although not fitting of this site, I do love these pelican and swan paddle boats as well.

* pictures found here.

Happy St. Patty's Day

2010-03-17T08:42:00.006-04:00

I forgot to wear green today, but I can still give you a little green with these images of West Green Garden in the UK.

The image above is of "the chicken house." This fanciful cage is where they house their "Pekin chickens." Pretty lucky chicks...

The last three images are pictures of the garden room named The Alice Garden. This whimsical garden is designed with checker boards and topiaries to give it an imaginary feel.

This reminds me how much I want to go see Alice and Wonderland... hopefully this weekend!

Check out the website for more information the West Green Gardens. There is so much more to see!

Easter Pines

2010-03-15T20:27:00.002-04:00

Now that daylight savings has come, Easter will be here before we know it. I received an email the other day that claimed the Pine trees know when it is time for Easter.

This email explains that " The Pine trees start their new growth in the weeks before Easter-- if you look at the tops of the trees two weeks before Easter, you will see yellow shoots. As the days get closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross. By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the Pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest shoots."

I have no idea if this is true everywhere especially because of all the unusual weather this year.

But I am definitely going to keep my eyes pealed for it in the upcoming weeks.

* quoted story found here.

Celebrations

2010-03-14T19:51:00.005-04:00

This weekend was full of celebrations.

I celebrated my birthday by going to Chicago to spend the weekend with two of my very best girl friends. It was my first time there, and we were able to accomplish just about everything you could possibly do in one weekend. We went to Second City, Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigleyville, Greek Town, ate deep dish pizza, and of course, shopped the magnificent mile.

We also celebrated St. Patrick's Day, Chicago style.... they are crazy about St. Patty's Day! If you don't believe me, just take a look at the river...

I had a wonderful time, and I am so thankful for my wonderful friends and family as I turn another year older!

Tomorrow, I have the dreaded Jury Duty, another first for me. I hope to be back at work on Tuesday.

*pictures found here and here.

Daily Reading

2010-03-10T13:01:00.008-05:00

I have had my nose in a book for the past few days/weeks... more studying for the LARE. I just completed two more sections (out of the SIX!!) and still feel that there is no end in sight. I could go on and on about this licenseture exam and how impossible it is, but I will spare you...

During my studying I did come a cross a few interesting books that were not on the CLARB reading list, but were referenced in my study material. Although, most of these books would be more appealing to people within the Landscape Architecture profession, I thought some of them may be interesting to a broader group of people.

Described as a "vision of the future that combines the best of the past with realities and modern conveniences of today." What do you think about New Urbanism? It would be pretty nice to be able to walk to work and to the grocery store while running into friendly neighbors everyday.

Published over 25 years ago, Design with Nature was the first of its kind and changed many design fields dramatically. This book "offers a practical blueprint for a new, healthier relationship between the built environment and nature." It is pretty interesting to our generation that only 25 years ago this was a new concept! We are getting better and better everyday :)

This book caught my eye although I have not read it. Louv links direct exposure to nature as an important factor of a child's healthy development physically and emotionally. He further describes types of play habits and the importance of each. Check out the website to learn more.

*Images from Amazon

Let The Sunshine In.

2010-03-08T12:35:00.005-05:00

The sun finally came out in Atlanta! We had such a beautiful weekend, and it is still a gorgeous day today!

It is time to open up the doors,

And the windows...

And let the sunshine in!

I LOVE the seamless transition in all of these pics.

Speaking of opening the windows...

Have you ever heard of the these two sisters blogs...

Fly through our window

Urban Grace

My sister called me this morning and told me that I had to check them out. I had heard of them before, but it had been a while since i had looked. They are both so neat!

Happy Hump Day!

2010-03-03T17:24:00.003-05:00

Hello All. Sorry that Daily Classic has been neglected lately, but I do promise to do better with great post to come... stay tuned!

Hope you are having a great week!

Happy Monday!

2010-03-01T08:51:00.005-05:00

How was your weekend?

*photo by Paul Costello

Mine was filled painting. Unfortunately, not creative painting like this, but painting the walls in our house. We still have a long way to go, but we are making head way. We decided to go with the color, tennis court white, suggested by my interior decorator (my sister) out of the Ralph Lauren Collection.

And we LOVE the color! Ralph Lauren paint is sold at Home Depot, but we found out that they are discontinuing the line. Which is good news and bad news... bad that they are no longer carrying it, but good that it is now on clearance!

If you have been thinking about a painting project, than check out the Ralph Lauren collection. And act now, while supplies last on clearence!

Why are vacations always so short?

2010-02-24T08:04:00.006-05:00

Vacations just seem to fly by these days. I take one day off of work, and it takes me three to recover. And now it is already Wednesday??

BUT, it was definitely worth it...

These are the pictures from Alys Beach that I promised.

The above picture is a fire pit at a community area in Alys Beach. There is an amazing lighting fixture hanging above the fire; it is hanging by chains from four palm trees. I unfortunately do not have a picture of this, but I will try to get one to post soon.

Every house has private court yard areas within the walls. A lot of them have these gorgeous pools as well.

The entire community is tied together with the rhythm and repetition of these gorgeous planters filled with tropical plant material.

There are so many creative design details in every aspect of the entire place.

You feel like you are in the Mediterranean rather than on the coast of Florida.

And, they have a great play ground for kids.

How creative is this? Fonville hill. It is a spiral mound made of grass for the kids to play on.

I am already ready to go back.

Check out there website for even more fabulous images!

Escape.

2010-02-17T08:25:00.011-05:00

Wouldn't you love to throw on some spring clothes, hop on bike, and just escape right into spring?

Well, I am going to try. I have had enough of this cold weather so I am taking tomorrow off. My mom, sisters, their little girls, and I are going to Seaside for a girls weekend.

With the forecasted highs at 61 degrees for the weekend, it may be too cold for beach time.

*picture for Watercolor Beach

But, it will not be too could to bike from town to town and see all the wonderful communities.

Along Hwy 30A there is 10 mile stretch from Grayton Beach to Rosemary Beach that includes about ten different new urbanist beach side communities full of wonderful design elements.

* picture of Rosemary Beach

Seaside.

Watersound.

Alys beach.

This mediterranean style community of Alys Beach is the one I am most excited about! I will do a whole blog on it when I get back.

I cannot wait to get on the road.

I hope that you have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend!

Winter.

2010-02-15T08:49:00.008-05:00

Just as the groundhog predicted, it is still winter outside and will be for a few more weeks. It was nice over the weekend when we were able to play in the snow, but now that the snow is melted and it is still freezing outside, what are we to do?

There are some colorful plants that can brighten up your winter garden, and help you hold out for the spring blooms.

Beautiful pansies and violas are always a wonder pick for the winter, and they look great in pots all by themselves.

Snapdragons are also a great choice and look wonderful as cut flowers in an arrangement as well.

Ornamental kale is a plant whose color intensifies in the cold, but will last all the way into spring. It is great for massing in beds and also looks wonderful in containers.

And one of my favorites, paper whites. They always look great, and are a fun center piece for arrangements.

Most of these winter blooms are on sale in nurseries now so it is a perfect time to go buy a few and brighten up your containers until spring.

Herb-icious

2010-02-10T08:28:00.009-05:00

Nothing makes a recipe better than cooking with fresh herbs.

It would be easier to do if you had these adorable herbs pots on hand.

They make great decorations and are of great use in the kitchen.

This one is perfect for a table top...

Two of these would be gorgeous flanking an entry door.

All of the pictures above have been rosemary, but lavender is also another great herb with many uses. And it also comes in these adorable cone and topiary pots.

OR you could just get the mini assortment of several herbs.

This mini assortment would look wonderful hanging in a window seal.

These pots do not come with the herb plants, but are so adorable, and would be easy to plant yourself.

dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 3.5

dimensions: 11.5 x 4.5 x 3.5

dimensions: 4.5 x 3.5 x 2.75

Successful Show

2010-02-08T15:42:00.005-05:00

The Southeastern Flower Show was a success. There were many beautiful gardens, arrangements, and exhibits, AND I had the honor of having a couple conversations with Vince Dooley.

He stopped by our booth twice over the weekend, and he is quite an interesting character.

Not only does he have a national championship, 6 Southeastern Conference titles, and 25 years as UGA's athletic director under his belt, he is also a remarkable gardener.

Here are some picture's of his beautiful 5 acre garden in Athens, GA.

A bridge over "Weeper's Creek." A name Vince jokingly gave it because after a loss he would stand over the stream and weep. I love the weeping trees that cascade over the bridge into the stream.

He also has quite a collection of container gardens where he experiments with Japanese Maples, Bonsai Trees, and Azaleas.

How gorgeous is this drive?

Lined with camellia sasanquas and a beautiful canopy of shade trees... how lovely!

Vince told me that he often sits in on UGA horticulture classes given by Michael Dirr and Allan Armitage. Above is a picture of him standing by the Dooley hydranges, named after him by Michael Dirr.

So stunning! I hope to see it in person one-day.

Pictures found here.

Sneak Preview

2010-02-04T09:08:00.007-05:00

The Flower Show opens today at 10am, but here is a preview of all the wonderful things in store.

Photos of Dargan Landscape Architects show garden.

My mother and I worked on the arrangements in the two beautiful planters.

Don't forget to stop by and put your name in the drawing for a autographed copy of Timeless Landscape Design.

This is an adorable retail booth just beside our show garden. They have so many cute finds for your home and garden!

Need any seeds for your vegetable garden?

Or books for your collection?

Or some eye candy for inspiration?

You will find it all at the show.

There are some really beautiful exhibits that are definitely worth the ticket price.

Remember these pictures were taken while people were setting up, so the best is yet to come!

Hope to see you there!

SOUTH EASTERN FLOWER SHOW

2010-01-28T17:45:00.000-05:00

The South Eastern Flower Show is next week!

Because I will be mostly out of the office, I am going to take a week off from blogging. I hope that everyone will come out to see all the beautiful exhibits. Here is a sneak peek of what ours is going to look like...

The annual Flower Power Benefit will be held on Friday night to benefit the Southern Horticultural Society. Click on the link below for tickets and more information!

Daily Contribution

2010-01-27T08:08:00.005-05:00

Pamoja Penda music and Arts Festival is an event in which 100% of the proceeds will go to a new medical center in Northern Uganda.

Act locally, give globally is the message of the Pamoja Penda Music and Arts Festival at Park Tavern in Atlanta, GA on March 28th. The goal is to connect communities in Atlanta to Africa by bringing by friends and family together in an eco-friendly celebration of arts, music and culture. Tickets are only $10 if you buy them before Feb. 1st, then they go up to $20.00 in Feb. and $30 in March. The day will be filled with activities including seven bands, a barefoot soccer tournament organized by Grassroots Soccer, documentary films, a sustainable arts and crafts market and more.

We hope that you can join us and encourage all of your family and friends to as well!

Even if you do not live in Atlanta or know that you cannot come to the event, buying a $10 ticket would be a great donation to an amazing organization... remember 100% of the proceeds goes towards building the new medical center. For more info on the Pamoja Penda or UAPO please go to their websites. To buy tickets, click on this link and enter the promo code chenritze (please dont forget the promo code it helps us to track the ticket sells.)

Forcing Bulbs

2010-01-25T08:20:00.005-05:00

The Southeastern Flower Show is next week, and our office is getting excited. We have been getting ready for our exhibit since September when we began the process of forcing bulbs.

To begin the process you first cover the bottom of a clay pot with about 1" of gravel then add the potting soil. Place the bulb just below the rim of the pot with at least 2" of soil below the bulb. Then follow the chart below. *To chill place in a cold basement or in a refrigerator keeping the temperature around 40 degrees.

After following the process above (with a few alterations... i.e. adding heat to those that are moving slow and putting some bulbs back in the freezer that are blooming to soon...) we are anticipating beautiful color for our exhibit.

This formula could be applied anytime of year. And makes for a great gift.

I may try to force bulbs for Christmas presents next year.

More on the Southeastern Flower Show to come...

Checkmate.

2010-01-21T08:15:00.004-05:00

Do you see any similarities in the two courtyard photos below?

Picture via Style Court

Patio designed by Thomas Church

They are both so perfectly classic with the brick, vegetation, and of course the checker board floor.

Designed by DLA

This classic look can be applied to add another element of interest to your design.

It can be accomplished with hardscape or vegetation or a combination of the two.

via Bunny Guinness

Thymus serpyllum 'Minmus' and Indian stone slabs make the checker board pattern shown above. This makes such a whimsical playful look that can be enjoyed year round.

Can You Top Topiaries?

2010-01-19T08:16:00.010-05:00

Topiaries are well known garden ornaments that date back as far as the Renaissance period. Today they are still very stylish garden ornaments that can be used for several occasions inside and out.

They look so classic by your front door.

Or in your kitchen..

Herb topiaries can be great decor and functional for cooking.

(Lavender above and rosemary below.)

They can be a perfect solution to wedding decor.

In front of a church

Or as the center piece for the tables.

They also make great gifts...

Less expensive than cut flowers and they last longer!

House warming,

Birthday,

New baby,

Or just because.

Email me if you are interested any of the topiaries pictured above. I can get them for you at prices that cannot be beat!

Have you seen

2010-01-13T14:54:00.005-05:00

It's Complicated?

It is a good movie but what makes it even better is the garden, house, and bakery of Meryl Streep's character.

The garden is so perfect that it makes you want to pack your bags and move to Santa Barbara where it was filmed.

It makes you wonder, can a garden really be that perfect and fruitful or is this just the work of a talented set designer?

The shed is even perfect.

And the covered outdoor loggia along the perimeter of the house.

Her house is amazing on the inside too. I love the open floor plan where the kitchen flows into the living room. The picture above and below show the view from both angles.

You cannot forget The Bakery ... ahhh! I also read that the scenes for the bakery's kitchen and refrigeration area was filmed at Sarabeth's Bakery in the Chelsea Market.

I think I will just walk right into the movie and move in!

Daily Dreaming and Outdoor Curtains...

2010-01-12T13:12:00.010-05:00

Thanks to Garden and Gun's Talk of the South newsletter, I am daydreaming that I am at Islamorada in the Florida Keys at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa.

Cheeca, which burned in 2008, is now rebuilt and better than ever. To top it off, Cheeca is offering discounts up to 30% for guest before January 31.

I love the outdoor cabanas along the pool in the picture above from Cheeca. This is a simple look that you can bring to your own home just by adding a few outdoor curtains.

Courtesy of Architectural Digest

The curtains add the perfect touch to soften any exterior.

Courtesy of Country Living

They bring a slice of paradise into your own home.

They can enhance balance and order.

Add rhythm and repetition.

Courtesy of Antonia Hutt

I love the fun aspect of the striped curtains.

Courtesy of One King's Lane

Outdoor curtains look great anytime of the year! They are a great way to add excitement to a cold wintery garden!

Courtesy of Cottage Living

Greenhouse Gardening

2010-01-11T07:41:00.002-05:00

With all of this cold weather it is just about impossible to get out and do any sort of gardening. That is unless you have a greenhouse... Then you are able to garden all year.

There are several pop up green house kits that you can find at your typical Home Depot, etc. These get the job done and you can place them just about anywhere.

BUT if you are going for style and would like to make the greenhouse a garden feature then it really gets fun...

This is an image of a "lean to" green house in which the back wall is the wall of the house.

This green house is perfectly set into my dream garden.

And this one...

Ill go with the latter choice and take the green house as a garden feature and focal point. Is the perfect garden included?

The last four images are found at Marston and Langinger.

If you already have a greenhouse and are looking for tips of what to plant this time of year than see the chart below:

Tips for 2010...

2010-01-06T09:22:00.003-05:00

Check out Mary Palmer Dargan's new blog at :

http://darganlandyap.blogspot.com/

Outdoor Fireplace

2010-01-04T16:14:00.007-05:00

It is cold, cold, cold in Atlanta right now, and is suppose to stay this way for a while. The only way that I want to go outside in this weather is to cozy up by one of these...

Image courtesy Southern Accents

I love fireplaces.

Image courtesy Cottage Living

But there is something about the outdoor fireplace that just makes it more fun.

So many different styles and materials to choose from.

They fit into so many different settings.

All guaranteed to warm you up.

last three images are designed by DLA.

The fire pit is always a good way to go as well.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-04T08:52:00.006-05:00

2010. A new year. A new decade. What will you do this decade?

Buy a house?

Build a pool?

Add on outdoors?

Build a patio?

Get a dog?

Build a vegetable garden?

Wishing you all the best in 2010 with all of your endeavors!

Holiday Travels

2009-12-22T07:59:00.003-05:00

photo courtesy of Anna Wolf

We are packing up and getting ready to go see family for the holidays, and will not be back until 2010. Hope you have safe travels and happy holidays.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Georgia Home Show

2009-12-16T14:18:00.004-05:00

The Georgia Home Show is January 9-10th at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA.

Visit the website and buy your tickets now to come see our office's exhibit.

We are forcing bulbs and getting ready... less than a month until show time!

Favorite Christmas Decoration Ideas

2009-12-15T08:02:00.006-05:00

Christmas is officially just around the corner, and I love seeing all the Christmas decorations everywhere you go. Here is a collection of some of my favorite Christmas decoration ideas.

IVY! Topiaries, wreaths, etc. make great decor year round, but tie a red bow around it and it is perfect for Christmas!

This moss wreath is amazing...

*Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Paper Whites! Great for decor and also a great gift to give friends.

*Courtesy of Coastal Living

Christmas trees outside. Not everyone has the space, but I love the creative idea.

*Courtesy of Coastal Living

M E R R Y C H R I S T MA S !

2 Discoveries...

2009-12-10T08:11:00.009-05:00

I was catching up on my blog readings last week, when I saw Silver Bottom South had a post on One Kings Lane. Then the next blog that I read was Continuous Thread of Revelation, and they also had a post on One Kings Lane. I immediately clicked on the site, and was thrilled by what I saw.

I know that we are not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but when marketers have pretty pictures and well designed logos, I am just about sold. As I began to explore the site, I loved everything that I saw. The site has different brands of home goods and accessories at a whole sale price. Click this link to check it out and become a member.

It would be a great place to get some christmas gift ideas!

Discovery #2... another product with gorgeous marketing photos, Ego Paris. Last week a lovely french woman who is a rep for Ego Paris, came to our office to introduce their outdoor furniture.

Although, I usually have more traditional taste, I was very impressed with the line.

It is all very well designed and engineered.

And could be perfect for a more contemporary setting.

With pretty marketing pictures like these, how can you not love it!

Stop and Smell the Roses

2009-12-09T15:07:00.005-05:00

I apologize for being so absent lately. I have had my nose in a book or have been hunched over a drafting table for the past few weeks, studying and working practice problems. I took section E of the L.A.R.E exam yesterday. Five hours spent on four vignette problems has left my brain exhausted. Now, I am just glad that it is over, and I am going to take a break to stop and smell the roses. I will get back into the swing of things with more regular post beginning next week.

Have a great rest of the week and weekend!

And don't forget to stop and smell the roses!

Timeless Design

2009-12-01T08:45:00.018-05:00

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis = Art is long, life is short

After reading a post by Style Chronicle and Things that Inspire about trends that define the 2000s and The Trends of Tomorrow, I began thinking about trends in landscape design.

Gardens pictured above: Versailles, Filoli, and home designed by DLA in Atlanta, GA

Although we have had the famous names of those we remember as altering landscape design as we know it, (i.e. Olmsted, the first landscape architect and Thomas Church with the modern movement) I believe that one of the great things about garden design is that well designed gardens last forever.

Ars longa, vita brevis is from The Aphorisms of Hippocrates meaning that life is short, but art will live on long after we are gone. A well designed garden built with sustainable materials can last forever. There are several world famous gardens that we continue to study and learn from that prove this theory. Although they may be on quite expansive scales, the basic elements are still the same components that we use in garden design today.

Claude Monet's garden at Giverny

Gardens, of course, have altered somewhat through the years. As our lots get smaller, gardens become more of an extension of our home. So build a porch, extend a patio, buy some classic outdoor furniture, and watch your garden spring into life.

"Haul out the Holly...

2009-11-30T08:28:00.008-05:00

Put up the tree before my spirits fall again now, cause I need a little Christmas, right this very minute!"

Now that Thanksgiving has past, it is time to get out the Christmas Decor! At our house, we picked out a tree and decorated it last night.

(image courtesy of Country Living)

We still need to get a wreath to decorate our front door.

And maybe add a few more touches here and there.

I love this red bow shown above on a wreath at the White House.

The last picture is my sister's house decorated for Christmas. You can hardly see the lights in the palms in this picture, but they look great at night.

'Tis the Season!

Home for the Holidays

2009-11-24T09:20:00.009-05:00

Today we are headed south for the Holidays.

We will have a our family Thanksgiving meal here...

(The two little ones on the blanket will be the guest of honor.)

We will be eating here quite a bit as well...

The girls will be shopping here...

While the guys will be out doing this...

And that is a few of the reasons why we love Thomasville, Georgia. Check out Garden and Gun for even more reasons.

If we are really lucky, we may even get to go peak around at some of the old Plantations such as Millpond (pictured below.) This one is particularly special to us, because this is where we had our wedding reception.

The last four pictures are courtesy of Garden and Gun.

Hope you have a wonderful Turkey Day!

In the Garden

2009-11-18T09:12:00.009-05:00

Architectural Digest recently featured an article titled "Stars in Residence; Unforgettable Portraits of 12 Silver Screen Immortals, Each Captured in the Private Comfort of Home."

The two pictures below especially struck me because they were taken of famous people in the comfort of their own garden.

Above, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who were married over 50 years, pose on their daughter's backyard swing set at their Hollywood home. From this picture, you would never know that they were oscar winners; it is nice to see such well known people so understated and seemingly accessible.

Actress Doris Day (pictured above) is quoted as saying “From the time I was a little girl, my only true ambition in life was to get married and tend house and have a family.” She was said to have a great interest in design, which is evident in the above picture of her Los Angeles's Toluca Lake area home. This photo reminds me of the picture below from Sea Island.

When looking at pictures such as these, I have to throw in a few by Slim Aarons (via Photographers Gallery.) These garden parties captured by such an amazing photographer seem indicative of a more glorious time.

Sweet November

2009-11-16T11:08:00.012-05:00

It is hard to believe it is November with this fabulous fall weather - today high of 74 in Atlanta!

*I dont have the source of the picture... sorry!

If this keeps up we could have Thanksgiving dinner al fresco. The screen porch above looks like the perfect place!

Screen porches are a simple way to extend your home outdoors.

They can become a second living room in your home, and create a great place to cozy up by a fire place.

OR a great place for outdoor dining.

Just over a week away - What are your plans for Thanksgiving dinner?

* last three pictures courtesy of Cottage Living

Barkitecture

2009-11-12T08:09:00.005-05:00

If you are a dog lover, than this is the coffee table book for you. Barkitecture by Fred Albert is full of a variety of dog houses. Some are quite the monstrosities, and some are so perfectly designed that they fit seamlessly into the garden. The cover of the book illustrates a great example of this.

This thatched roof dog house is one of my favorites in the book. It reminds me of the play house at Old Westbury Gardens.

How funny is the one?

The book is just full of interesting designs that are very entertaining to look at.

The above picture is not from the book, but does it remind you of something? Maybe a post earlier this week... It is from Boutique Tents! They even make a dog version.

The last two pictures are of Mosley's house (my parents dog.) The shingles and the paint color match the house perfectly. Although it is tucked in a corner it still becomes another garden element or focal point instead of an eye sore.

Office Outing

2009-11-09T16:47:00.010-05:00

Last week we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous fall weather; so we took a break from work and heading to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

It is hard to believe that there are 30 acres in the middle of the city dedicated solely to art, education, horticulture, and sustainability.

There are so many gorgeous focal points around every turn.

There are several smaller themed gardens such as the Japanese Garden, the Rose garden, the Fuqua Conservatory and Fuqua Orchid Center. I am sorry that I don't have pictures of all of these to share, but I do have picture of the children's garden which was one of my most favorite!

This map shows a plan view of the children's garden.

There is a fun tunnel for the children to crawl though which also explains the metamorphosis of a caterpillar. And a butterfly garden...

There is the sunflower fountain- just for fun!

And the slide...

There is also a vegetable garden and an amphitheater for the kids that I unfortunately do not have pictures to show.

The Elevated Canopy Walk is under construction and is projected to be completed by Spring 2010. I cant wait to get back to see this exhibit!

For more information of to plan your visit click here.

pictures via www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Boutique Tents

2009-11-09T08:16:00.004-05:00

While we are on the topic of circus acts and classic American style, I thought that these Boutique Tents were fitting. They can be used any where from weddings to cabanas. They are made of aluminum and can be left outside year round.

This tent creates a unique out door room and would be a perfect spot for an outdoor lunch or a children's tea party.

This tent is from the Viceroy Palm Springs, California luxury resort and spa. It serves as a great shelter for dinning al fresco, an intimate pavilion for parities or to just hang out, and it adds so much to the daily atmosphere.

The last two images, via shelter, show the timeless use of the black and white tents as pool cabanas.

Great Expectations

2009-11-05T09:17:00.007-05:00

Ever since 1998 when the movie Great Expectations came out, I have been awed by the house where it was filmed.

Paradiso Perduto (meaning Paradise Lost) is the name of Ms. Densmore's neglected mansion in the film. As the story goes, she was to me married in the garden there, but when the marriage fell through she fell apart. The house fell apart with her, but this dilapidated set only heightens the magical quality of the film.

When I discovered that the set was really the Ca d'Zan, the winter home of John and Mable Ringling of the famous Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus it only spiked my curiosity even further.

The Ca d'Zan is described as a Venetian Gothic mansion designed by architect Dwight James Baum. It overlooks the Sarasota Bay, which reminded the Ringlings of Venice, their favorite city.

The above picture was taken in 1927 of John Ringling at the Ca d'Zan (meaning "the house of John" in Venetian dialect.) The house was completed in 1926 at the total cost of $1.5 million. According to Wikipedia, with inflation that converts to approximately $16 million today.

The unique architecture and specific attention to whimsical detail is indicative of the the circus background of the owners and only seems to make the place more magical.

The above picture is of Mable Ringling. She was said to have loved being out doors, and loved gardens. The grounds and gardens include the Italian rose garden, Mable's Scvret Garden, the Dwarf Garden, Millennium Tree Trail, and other delightful views of the bay.

Pictures above found here.

The Ca d'Zan mansion is now open for tours, a venue for public events, and can be rented for weddings.

I have great expectations of touring the mansion and grounds when I one day make it down to Sarasota, FL.

On the Hunt...

2009-11-04T09:05:00.008-05:00

I am still on the hunt for that potting bench for an outdoor work space, and so is a reader from Athens who requested I do a post on potting benches and potting sheds.

This potting shed/green house from Bunny Guinness's website would be ideal, but most of us are just not ready for that type of commitment.

The above picture is just torture, because we can no longer get it. Can you guess where it is from?

Smith and Hawken we miss you dearly!

The galvanized metal top to the potters table above makes for a great work area. This find is from Vagabond Vintage.

There is always the old piece of furniture that you can turn into your potting shed. This serves as a great place to store your tools, but the only down fall is that it may not be weather resistant.

When stumped you can always turn to Martha, and as much as we may not like to admit it, she usually has a pretty good solution for just about anything. These last two pictures from her website are of make shift tables or benches.

These serve as a great way to display your pots, and they blend in well with the surrounding. This last one is simply four pots overturned with a slab of stone or wood on top.... a pretty great simple solution.

Patio Furniture

2009-11-03T08:21:00.010-05:00

All to often we forget about the details of our outdoor elements such as patio furniture. What we don't realize is what an amazing statement it can make when it is thought through.

Outdoor furniture should fit into the landscape setting. This can be achieved by the style of the furniture...

The color...

The material it is made of...

Or all of the above.

This image (courtesy of Verdana) is a great example of how the furniture should blend in with the surrounding. The fluffy cushions add such a conforming touch that draws you right in.

Below are a few images from the Dargan Gardens custom furniture line. These timeless pieces fit right into the landscape. They are also so sturdy and well made that they will last a lifetime.

Swing into November

2009-11-02T15:45:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that November is already here. The leaves are falling, and it is getting colder outside, but it is still not too cold to get outside enjoy the nice chill in the air.

I was recently asked to design a logo for our small neighborhood garden club. Our neighborhood is very family oriented and kid friendly, so I wanted the logo to illustrate that. After I few tries, this is what I came up with...

I love wooden tree swings, and think that it is such a timeless depiction of fun. My husband, his father and grandfather, spent a Saturday afternoon constructing this one for our front yard.

See the similarity between it and the logo I drew?

This one, courtesy of Country Style, is a little more dolled up version of the tree swing. So lovely!

This swing at Utana Bluffs fits so perfectly into the setting you would hardly know that it is there.

This image was the cover of a post card that Mary Palmer picked up at the Chelsea Flower Show in the UK last spring. I love how there are no leaves left on the tree, but the swing is still standing strong, ready for someone to come play.

This last picture is obviously not a tree swing, but how much fun would it be to have a chic rope swing like this in your house.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-29T07:51:00.005-04:00

I am going to be a scarecrow this halloween.

I first got the idea when we were at Utana Bluffs and saw these two scarecrows in their garden.

This particular scarecrow is the one I am actually dressing like, as we have a whole crew going as characters in the Wizard of OZ.

They are such funny characters. Put here to do one thing... scare crows.

Yet they do not have a very frightening appearance but rather fun and quirky. Maybe it is just the W.O.O. that gives us that image.

But then again I guess they are just for the birds.

Hope you have a Happy Halloween!

What are you dressing up as?

You Better Shape Up

2009-10-26T13:07:00.011-04:00

your lawn with brick or cobble edging...

Have you ever looked in your back yard, and thought that you could use some organization?

Just a little structure to pull it together?

One design element that we frequently use is edging on a lawn.

We use the running brick or stone edging that serves as the mowing strip, and the standing brick edging that helps contain the flower beds.

This detail helps to define the space by giving shape to your design and distinguishing an order.

The edging can add value to the form by giving it depth and perception no matter what size space you are working with.

*all pictures are of designs by Dargan Landscape Architects

Where to Start

2009-10-22T08:31:00.007-04:00

Thank you to the ladies of the Hanover West Garden Club. I had a great time giving my lecture to such a nice group! One frequently asked question was :

If you were only going to begin with one thing, what is the first thing you would do to enhance your landscape?

The answer to this can obviously vary according to different sites, existing problems, etc but one answer that remains true across the board would be to develop a plan. We can all get so overwhelmed it is hard to even determine where to start . That is where we come in...Our intentions are not always to create new ideas but rather organize and implement the ideas of our clients as well as presenting knew ones that fit their vision.

Our firm begins with an initial consult where we go out to the site and discuss the issues, needs, and desires. Our expertise could end there with some on site suggestions, or we could design a comprehensive master plan for your property and guide you through implementation to a beautifully crafted environment.

Lecture

2009-10-19T17:54:00.005-04:00

Tonight I am giving a lecture to a local Atlanta Garden Club. I will be lecturing on the four part master plan of timeless landscape design. This lecture is based on the book by Hugh and Mary Palmer Dargan, Timeless Landscape Design.

I have realize that when hearing a lecture or looking through a coffee table book, it is sometimes hard to imagine your house ever looking like some of the extensive designs presented. It is important to identify the design principles that you are attracted to and begin to apply those at a fitting scale to your own house. The basic design principles include balance, rhythm, proportion, emphasis, and unity. I am considering doing a whole post elaborating on each of these principles so stayed tuned.

Wish me luck tonight!

Canopy Cottage

2009-10-19T15:11:00.009-04:00

Most all of us have some magical memories of playing in a tree house as a child. Here are some wonderful examples of great tree house designs that redefine the word tree-house and would be better suited by the title "canopy cottage." Why not go out on a limb and build one at your house?

via howstuffworks.com

Via Home and Garden

via Abby Sharp Tumbler

Tree House at Utana Bluffs

Sorry, cant remember where this image is from.

image Credit: SQN120@flickr.com

via www.visualsupercomputing.com

via stilesdeisngs.com

This last picture is not of a tree house. It is actually called a "Duck Canopy" used for nesting, but I think that this hexagon style would be an adorable tree house.

Eclectic Planters

2009-10-19T15:00:00.007-04:00

As you can tell from previous post, I love it when I find abnormal containers to use for planters. These rustic wooden dough bowls are my newest find and work perfect as a planter.

The old wood is so beautiful, the container makes a perfect display item alone. They could also be used for a serving platter. Maybe a bread basket?

I use the other wooden piece it is sitting on as a cheese board.

But the most beautiful is the European Dough Bowl full of plants used as a center piece.

I recently found a great source for these wooden bowls so email me if you have to have one.

Recession Reading

2009-10-16T12:31:00.004-04:00

A good friend of mine recently reintroduced me to the public library, and I am so thankful! I can't believe what I have been missing! They make it so easy for you... you can search for a book on the online catalogue, place a hold on it, then it will be waiting for you at the front desk we you are ready to pick it up.

They even have several good design books. I like to keep my design books for my coffee table collection, you may say. Well I do too, but it is nice to check them out at the library for a couple of weeks to judge whether it is worthy of your collection.

I just picked up two new books, and I cannot wait to get home to read them. With this gloomy weather outside, it is the perfect time to cozy up with a blanket and a book.

The Bang for the Beauty

2009-10-15T07:58:00.005-04:00

I have just signed up to take Section E of the LARE, Landscape Architecture Licensing Exam, in December. This portion of the exam, titled Grading, Drainage, and Storm-water Management, is a five hour graphic illustration consisting of four vignette problems that (if completed correctly) prove I am able to manipulate contours for efficient drainage and water runoff for a site. With the passing rate less the 50%, this is said to be the most difficult of all the five parts. I began studying this week by doing practice vignettes and plan to continue this until December.

As much as I have been dreading taking this test, I am glad that I have finally taken the plunge and signed up. Now, I am on my way to officially becoming a "professional." Wish me luck!

The above images are of a practice vignette, but that is an easy one!