{Garden} Backyard facelift

27 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in DIY (do it yourself), Gardening, Maintenance, Outdoor living

Tags

Kooboo chairs, Outdoor living, pea gravel patio

My readers will remember that Hubby and I were able to take on two over-due facelift projects for the house this summer. One of the projects is the guest bathroom (to be blogged about later). The second project is/was the grass in our back yard, along with a pea gravel space for some teak chairs (otherwise known as the killer patio chairs). The killer chairs were relegated to the back yard when I purchased the Kooboo chairs from Cost Plus. The teak chairs were always quite comfortable but would NOT slide on the concrete patio and because they were adjustable chairs, they would collapse on our guests when anyone would try to scoot back from the table. So once again…

Once we placed the chairs under the trees it became clear we needed some kind of surface under them to create a sort of patio area. The grass has never thrived in this spot since there is so much shade. My blog friend over at French Kissed posted a picture of a similar area (she had helped design the area during a styling job) where she had created this oasis of pea gravel, potted fern and comfortable chairs. I knew that would work for our yard and voila...the inspiration for our project...

before:

This is after the grass (weeds) had been sprayed to kill out the invasive devil grass and weeds. Jose, my talented gardener had started the removal process when I remembered the “before” pictures!

You can see the sparse grass and roots of the trees. Our next door neighbor replaced the fence with a more weather friendly redwood fencing and the design is so much prettier.

after…

Now that our back yard has lush, green grass, sans all of the weeds, and a pea gravel pad where we can enjoy the shade of 2 very large trees when we’re looking for a spot to put our feet up and sip something wonderful we’ll be spending more time out there…that is until it’s too cool, which may be some time.

Amazing how much better the yard looks with green grass, not weeds and bare patches.

We’ve had this teak coffee table stored for years, it is so nice to be able to use existing items around the house.

The white cushions are $5 / Ikea. the gravel is birds eye pea gravel. We had our gardener plant a crescent of boxwood (above) which will provide a visual wall behind the chairs. We have a calliandra vine (below) planted on the fence. The vine won’t bloom in this much shade but the plant thrives even without sun.

This sasanqua ‘noel’ will be blooming by November. The stone border was the result in our changing out the stone bath we used to have leading to the teak bench. My gardener put the stones on edge to create a nice border for the gravel space and edge of the flower bed.

The white helebore has seen better days but its getting ready to bloom and hopefully will multiply for next season since it was given some new compost nutrition during our back yard re-do/clean up.

I’ve planted some Irish moss in this little metal bird feeder. I planted Spanish moss in the spaces between the river bed rocks…it’s a very shady area and I’m hoping it takes off.

This calliandra vine has gotten very large (it’s on the patio) and I’m hopeful the 5-gallon vine planted on the fence is as happy as this one.

The side yard was refreshed with additional Krista Mountain gravel; the lantern is lit when we’re outdoors at night.

We added the lattice overhang recently in hopes that it will provide a little break from the constant south facing sun that beats down on our bay window…it’s been a challenge for fabrics and furniture in the library, the room this bay window is in.

I apologize, our garden shoes are by the door…keeping it real.

So, the back yard is ready for relaxation and fun…even if it’s only a short time before it’s too cool to be out there!

Thanks for coming by for an update.

Happy fall. Do you have any fall yard work on your list?

{Garden, Home and Party} Exciting news…an engagement

20 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Designer, Entertaining, Family, Flowers, Party Planning, Personal Information, Traditions, Trends

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

weddings

Friends and readers (one in the same) will know that hubby and I have 2 sons…one is happily married and living with his lovely wife, and my very first granddaughter, in Austin. Son #2 just proposed and she said “yes”! We’re thrilled for many reasons, not the least of which is we love this girl and believe she and Son #2 are a good match. Reason number 2, at least for me, is we get to be a part of planning a wedding! Weddings encompass all manner of great things where HOME is concerned and can cross over into GARDEN and certainly PARTY.

via 100 Layer Cake

As I was typing those very words one of my favorite quotes from one of my all-time favorite movies came to mind. Father of the Bride, 1991, staring Steve Martin and Diane Keaton, when George Banks (Steve Martin’s character) says,

“I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall in love, he buys a ring, she buys a dress, they say I do. I was wrong. That’s getting married. A wedding is an entirely different proposition.

I know. I’ve just been through one. Not my own, my daughter’s. Annie Banks Mackenzie. That’s her married name: Mackenzie. You fathers will understand. You have a little girl. An adorable little girl who looks up to you and adores you in a way you could never have imagined. I remember how her little hand used to fit inside mine. Then comes the day when she wants to get her ears pierced, and wants you to drop her off a block before the movie theater. From that moment on you’re in a constant panic. You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy, the kind of guy who only wants one thing, and you know exactly what that one thing is, because it’s the same thing you wanted when you were their age. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy. That’s the greatest fear of all, because, then you lose her. It was just six months ago that that happened here. Just six months ago, that the storm broke.”

There are so many options for planning and inspiration, from the ring to the reception, the world wide web now hosts blog sites that feature amazing ideas for every tiny detail of the big event. As I perused sites that came recommended, my head began swimming. I was overwhelmed with beautiful images of every imaginable event and all the trimmings that are tied to a wedding, no matter how small and simple.

Snippet & Ink is such a fun blog site where any upcoming bride, or groom for that matter, can find real wedding photos as well as Inspiration Boards created by Snippet & Ink’s author, Kathryn.

In fact, when Son #1 got married bride-to-be choose a seaside location and desired a “family only” wedding. At first I was slightly disappointed because I had hoped to share the day with close friends but in the end, this tiny 11 person wedding was so beautiful and intimate I was happy our DIL had wished for it. We later hosted a reception for dear friends and enjoyed celebrating the marriage a couple of months later.

My point, although you may be wondering at this point if I have one, is that the wedding of Son #1 and now DIL, took nearly as much planning as a larger version would have. You still plan for invitations, flowers, food, table settings, music, photographer and all the icing that goes on wedding cakes and receptions.

Above images: (left) Style me Pretty; (right) 100 Layer Cake

So, we’re off to begin what I believe will be a bonding experience for me with my future DIL #2. I’ll keep you posted. We are hosting an engagement party at our home and shopping invitations has begun.

via tiny prints (sample)

via Style me Pretty

{Home} Cozy and other adjectives that describe home

26 Friday Aug 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Family, Gardening

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

cozy decorating

I am guilty of using some of the same adjectives to describe people, places and things (home decor) that I like or feel strongly about…such as the word “love” (I defiantly use this word too much, wait isn’t love a verb?), warm, inviting, calming, comfortable and on and on. One of the words that I use to describe rooms or vignettes that I like is “cozy”.

Design Chic

I search for cozy and inviting all the time. They describe best what attracts me to a room or a corner of a room.

House Beautiful

Great meals can fall into the whole cozy definition for me…a fall or winter stew or soup with warm crusty bread can garner the feeling of cozy. Maybe that is why I like the fall and winter seasons.

Melanie Molesworth

What does ‘cozy’ mean to me? I think for me it means the room has a lived-in comfort, furnishings that are overstuffed, less than perfect, warm colors, accessories that display a life of the person that lives there, a history, a warm color palate, someplace you would like to sit yourself down and enjoy a welcoming cup of tea or a glass of wine and good company.

Accessories make the room for me and antique treasures, above all, invite me in, provide the interest that makes me want to sit and stay awhile…

Content in a Cottage

Fairy Graphics

Michael del Piero Interior Design

for the love of a house

Home and Garden

Domino

But above all, certain rooms or vignettes immediately make me feel like they are inviting, cozy.

The Lettered Cottage

Books and sliding barn doors say cozy to me…

Content in a Cottage

I still like spring and summer descriptions…cool, fresh, breezy, carefree, comfortable (although this word works with cozy too).

Even gardens can create a feeling of comfort and cozy for me. English cottage gardens do a great job of conjuring the feeling in me.

Design Chic

What do you think of as your favorite adjective to describe a home, inside and out? What speaks to you about homes you love?

A blast from the past…Southern Accents magazine

22 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Decorating, Gardens

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Southern Accents magazine

The mother of two of my nearest and dearest friends is moving from a home she’s been in for 50 years. I always found Marilyn’s home comfortable and charming. It doesn’t hurt that it is located in one of my favorite Orange County cities, Corona del Mar. But her home has gotten to be too much for her and since she has family and friends living in a nearby senior community, Marilyn has decided to make the leap to a new chapter and more manageable abode.

The CDM home is a single-story ranch style home that sits on a canyon where deer were often spotted…I’m not sure whether they still see deer but the canyon is filled with trees and shrubs so it’s such a great backdrop to the ocean view off in the distance.

Linda (Marilyn’s eldest daughter, and my maid of honor nearly 39 years ago) is down from Bainbridge Island to help her sister (my other good friend, Gretchen), pack up the home and host a garage sale to get rid of some of the items that won’t fit in the new, smaller home.

Since Linda, Gretchen and I all share a passion for home design, and nesting in general, when the sisters came across a box of magazines they thought of me. Thank you Gretchen and Linda! The magazines they delivered this afternoon are none other than one of my all time favorites, Southern Accents. As most of you probably know, the magazine shut it’s doors without notice a couple of years ago and fortunately I had saved about 12 issues. I still miss the magazine’s southern style and all the lovely rooms and fabulous gardens they published 10 times a year.

The nine issues are mostly dated 1990 and 1991 but there is a 10th anniversary issue dated 1987! Interestingly, most of the images hold up but there are a few of the ads that clearly have the “Country French” vibe, similar to the trend that took Southern California by storm around that time…probably the rest of the country as well.

The May-June 1987 issue, had this ad for Country Life Designs. In Southern California this look (above) was huge and I had a bedroom that resembled this look. Some of my friends had nearly every room wallpapered in the Country Life designed paper and I always thought it was so pretty. We all used faience farm animals as decorative accessories…bunnies and geese were especially popular. I still have a few of the rabbits but usually only display them in the spring. The faience geese were more timeless and I still love seeing them as an accessory in a country French style room. Furnishings were French, some new and some antiques.

The formal garden featured in “Quintessentially Mobile” article is timeless. The images for a home by architect Harry Inge Johnstone are typical of the lovely homes Southern Accents featured in each issue.

Like this New Orleans apartment…

The sofa looks almost slip covered, although I believe it is upholstered, the room looks as if it could be in a feature for a 2011 magazine. Good design never goes out of style even if some of the contributing features such as wall paper use come and go. The 3 panels above the sofa are wonderful. Today the room might have wood floors and a sisal rug but the neutral palate is very 21st century.

In a 1990 issue I noticed a monthly feature titled Tablescapes. That is what made this magazine a favorite of mine. They would give you ideas for all aspects of comfortable and gracious living.

I apologize for the blurry pic. My scanner wasn’t working so I took a picture of the magazine page.

I always looked forward to the issues with reference articles done on various antiques. They would advise you how to purchase authentic antiques and what to look for and what to avoid.

If you visit Southern Accents website HERE you will see some of the later rooms featured in their magazine.

When I’m experiencing withdrawals from Southern Accents I’ll now have the dozen or so issues I kept for the year or so before the magazine closed their doors and a dozen issues form the early nineties. That should give me plenty to garner ideas and inspiration for some time.

Do you have an all time favorite home designs magazine? I’d love to hear.

{GHP} Summer…just do it

10 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Family, Gardens, Outdoor living

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

summer living

I’m not a summer person, most of my nearest and dearest know this fact. Not sure how they know, unless it’s my whining as the summer heat sets in and I start to feel like it will never be cool again. I haven’t had as much to whine about the past couple summers since its been pretty comfortable here in Southern California. So, with that in mind I’ve decided to embrace the season, slow down and take time to read more, spend time in the garden, dine out on the patio more, relax, sip iced tea or, if it’s 5:00 p.m., something refreshing and seasonal like a vodka tonic with lime.

To help me get in the mood…here are some images that make it feel like summer and inspires me to work on my attitude!

This image appeals to me, and I do currently have a bicycle in our garage (although it doesn’t have a cute basket attached), it makes me want to enjoy a ride around the neighborhood. However, the neighborhood is rather hilly and a bike ride like that will undoubtedly make me feel hot, so maybe I won’t. 🙂 (Am I whining again?)

There are other activities that I associate with summer. When I was growing up we had a very large “side” yard. I’m not sure if our lot was a 2-lot location or if the builder of the tract of houses felt the “side” yard wasn’t large enough to build a house on and tacked it on to our home. In any event we used to play croquet in the side yard at every family summer barbecue, birthday celebration and holiday. I loved this sport and wish my current back yard had a more level playing field for croquet.

image via Martha Stewart

via Party Resources

Joni over at Cote de Texas posted about her Pottery Barn vs. Kooboo chairs some time ago…this [below] is her outdoor use of those chairs and it was an image that inspired me to make better use of my outdoor garden space and to purchase a set of Kooboo chairs for my patio dining table HERE.

I believe this is a French Kissed image…I love the pea gravel and comfortable seating under the shade of a tree…I’m currently attempting to create the same look in our back yard. I’ll show you pics once I get the pea gravel installed.

image via Dan Marty

There are so many activities that feel like summer, dining alfresco is one of them…I must make an effort to do this more often.

via House Beautiful

via Cote de Texas

image via John Saladino

image via Elle Decor

When entertaining in summer there are a wide array of little things that can enhance the appeal of the food and beverage.

image via Country Living via Party Resource

Another of my favorite spring / summer activities is work in the garden. I understand how this isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, but I find such a comfort from digging in the dirt and am always relaxed once I’ve clocked in some time in the garden.

image via Content in a Cottage

Polished Pebble always has some inspiring images on her blog (her yard in Ojai, California)

I’ve always wanted to grow this variety of primulas…primrose.

In the famous words of Nike ads, Just Do It (summer)!

{Garden}Cottage gardens…home improvement

25 Monday Jul 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Flowers, Gardening, Maintenance, Outdoor living

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Cottage Garden

As any avid (or even an amateur) garden enthusiast knows, gardens are an ever changing landscape (no pun intended).

Plants grow, mature, and have seasonal fireworks of blossoms and, sadly, some die, joining the great compost pile in the sky (or backyard, as the case may be). In any event, the one thing I have come to understand is that the only consistency in a garden is its unpredictability (and inconsistency). Yes, I know that certain plants can and do bloom at certain times, but haven’t you had a plant that will suddenly stop performing for no apparent reason? I sure have!

Chive in bloom living with viola Nemesia beside a dwarf delphinium

As some of you may remember from my ramblings, I was a partner in a landscape business for 13 years. My partner (and friend, Wendy) and I planted cottage gardens for word-of-mouth customers. We attempted to monitor growth patterns of a variety of plants including a particularly scientific study of how frequently roses re-bloom once old blooms are cut off. *This study was brought about as a result of Wendy’s youngest daughter’s wedding, which was held in Wendy’s backyard. We discovered that most shrub and hybrid tea roses bloomed every 6 weeks (in Southern California) during the summer months.

A sad sample of the blossom of ceratostigma plumbaginoides astromontana ‘pink pop’

So knowing my garden is in constant transition I set out this spring to create a blue, lavender and white planting area. One of the sunniest locations in my yard (off our kitchen on the south side of our house) I am able to grow a ‘French Lace’ hybrid tea rose on one side and a burgundy iceberg shrub anchoring the other side. I know the color burgundy doesn’t fit the color palate I set out to achieve, but it’s a great bush and I decided it would be okay.

I have always loved columbine but had failed at growing it because I always planted it in planters, now that its directly in the soil it seems very happy.

I moved a rusty, old armillary that I had purchased in Rosarito Beach, Baja, Mexico to one of the beds and when the morning glories started popping up I transplanted some of the seedlings to the base of the metal structure and they have been happily climbing ever since. Some of the plantings didn’t make it (bachelor buttons, which may have been over watered or under watered, not sure which) but I have a variety of blue and lavender plants that have outperformed my expectations. My list of proven winners (at least for now) are {common names given where possible}: Columbine, delphinium (both the miniature and full-sized variety), French lavender, lobelia ‘fountain blue’, pincushion flower, morning glory, and nepeta tuberosa and lamb’s ear.

When I took this picture my French lace rose had just finished a spectacular bloom…it’s the white rose to the left of the armillary.

This morning glory vine returns every year without new seeds. I love it for that!

lobelia has always been a favorite of mine and it somes in so many lovely colors.

To take care of these I plant with “Super Soil” garden compost and then water and fertilize with Miracle Gro. I’ve read that Miracle Gro is junk food for plants but with my schedule it works for me and makes my life easier while making my garden happy. I use Gro-Power once ever 6-8 weeks. Be sure to water in in well. I sprinkle the fertilizer around the plants and then water. Gro-Power is also great for potted plants, it will green up an anemic plant in a relatively short amount of time, again be sure to water well and follow the directions. (BTW, the bag doesn’t look like this but this was the only image I could find).

pincushion flower produces all summer long and then repeats the following spring.

A little dusty miller in the garden makes a nice contrast for the flowers and green foilage. This daisy caught my attention because it had the lavender center.

Papaver hybridum ‘Lavender Breadseed’ poppy

I planted oriental poppies this year thanks to a recommendation from Trish of Trouvais. She has a lovely garden and if you’ve never visited her you will not be disappointed.

How is your garden growing this summer? Any favorite plants that are proven winners for you?

{Party}A Napa wedding #2

22 Friday Jul 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Flowers, Food, Party Planning

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Napa valley, weddings

We attended a beautiful wedding in Napa last September HERE and were lucky enough to be invited to another. Who doesn’t love a wedding, especially in the wine country of California? Warning, there are no pictures of the wedding/reception in this post. I just couldn’t bring myself to take my camera to such a formal affair. Once there, I realized it would have been perfectly fine since lots of folks had their cameras.

The mother of the groom did send me this image…the bride had arranged for her and her groom to sit on this loveseat during the dinner/toasts. How romantic is this?!

Instead, I’ll share with you our road trip to Napa and some of the highlights of the incredible weekend. First off, those who live in California probably know that the wine country can be pretty hot in July. We lucked out…I’m convinced Mother Nature knew to comply with the lovely bride’s day! It was a pleasant 72 degrees and never warmed more than 75 degrees during the entire weekend.

First stop…Bakesale Betty’s

We live in Southern California and the road trip, while not for everyone, happens to be fun for Hubby and me. We love to stop in North Oakland (Temescal District, adjacent to Berkeley) to grab a favorite fried chicken sandwich from Bakesale Betty’s. This quirky bakery only sells this sandwich and an array of baked goods that could add 10 pounds to anyone in a very short time.

The only sign for Bakesale Betty is the had written sign taped to the glass door.

This is even more delicious than it looks. I think I could duplicate the slaw but the chicken is a challenge.

Alison Barakat, an Aussie, cooked at Chez Panisse Café for 3 years before meeting her husband and opening the bakery. There is always a line for lunch and Alison has set up tables (ironing boards) around the entrance to the walk-in bakery for dining.

Next stop…4th Street, Berkeley

This is a wonderful diner and I have never been there when there wasn’t a wait…so worth it. Oh, and just so you know, there is no ocean view!

We then hit 4^th Street in Berkeley for a quick stroll up one side of the fabulous shopping/dining area and back down the other.

Mulholland Brothers have been making quality leather bags for years…I liked all of them but especially the 2 bags below…

On to Napa…

The rehearsal dinner was held at Silverado Vineyard. I felt as though I was standing on the patio of a pensione in Italy.

The food, ambiance and wine (of course) were delicious and we enjoyed the evening.

On Saturday we decided to visit one of my favorite Napa Valley towns, St. Helena. We started by enjoying an all-American breakfast at Gillwood’s Cafe. We then walked the main street. One of my favorite stores is Vintage Home. I wish there was a location closer to Orange County.

Love the Hermes lamp, even if orange wouldn’t work in my home.

The wedding began at 3:00 PM at a historic Catholic church in St. Helena. The church was dressed in beautiful white peonies and trees at the entrance, planted in zinc planter boxes, added beauty to the venue. (Kate and William started something having trees at Westminster Abby, a really effective addition). Bride, groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids all performed perfectly.

We were shuttled to the estate of Beaulieu Vineyard, the private home of the Beaulieu family heirs, where all of us were wowed by the formal gardens, European arbors, fountains and mature trees and vines. I really wish I had taken my camera! Anyway, the wedding was beyond lovely and fun.

Along this walk were places to take pictures to be put in a book for the bride and groom, there were stations offering appetizers and drinks. By the way, the beverage offered as we disembarked the shuttle was a St. Germaine. Elderberry liquor, vodka, club soda and a splash of grapefruit juice, refreshing and delicious.

This area was set up with long, black, wooden tables which bordered the perimeter of this garden. On each of the tables, down the center, were glass/crystal footed pieces that floral arrangements were sitting on that consisted of white peonies, white hydrangea and white dahlias.

I’m afraid these Googled pictures don’t do the site justice but it was truly beautiful and I’ve since found several photographers that have photographed weddings at Beaulieu. If you are planning a wedding this is a magical venue.

The following morning we were invited to Yountville Inn for breakfast. Yountville Inn was recently remodeled and I think it is my new favorite place! See for yourself.

This is the courtyard off the main lobby…so inviting.

The grounds of the Yountville Inn are filled with white, flowering plants…lots of hydrangea.

Love this fountain/sculpture.

All in all it was a magical weekend. Truly memorable. Thank you Jim and Glenys for including us.

Have you attended a wedding that will forever remain in your memory?

Napa on Dwellable

{Garden, Home and Party}In the beginning

13 Wednesday Jul 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Gardens, Misc

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

my story

I’m relatively new to blogging. I was encouraged by our eldest son to blog about Garden (I have always loved working in the garden and used to be in a landscape business; we planted cottage gardens for our clients), Home (I have enjoyed feathering my nest, no matter where I live, since I was 8 years old) and Party (who doesn’t love to attend/throw parties?) … in July of 2007.

Photo by Neil A. Landino

Photo by Zeo Perigord

I had only gone back to the corporate work place in April of 2005 and was still adjusting to working full-time for someone, over working part time as my own boss. I thought logically, “Sure, I can do that!” without having one tiny idea how or what to do. Does that ever happen to you…someone you love thinks you can move mountains when you don’t know how to fire-up the bulldozer but you’re so flattered you say, “Okay!” {Maybe writing a blog isn’t really moving mountains, I may have exaggerated a bit, but when you don’t know how to do something it can feel like moving mountains}

My first few posts were pretty pitiful and when I asked our 2 sons, who are both in web development/advertising, how often I need to blog I nearly fell over when they said, “Everyday”. I felt like a duck out of water. I quickly decided that a) I really didn’t have that much to say and b) there was no way I could make time to blog daily! So for the year of 2008 I didn’t even visit my site. I told sweet Son #1 that it felt too much like “homework” after a busy day at the office. Fortunately or unfortunately he didn’t lecture or pressure me about it, he is wise beyond his years.

By 2009 I had discovered blog sites like The Happiness Project and Pioneer Woman. Gretchen Rubin of the Happiness Project was so much fun to read and I found myself looking forward to her emails that signaled a new post. I stumbled upon Ree Drummond’s (Pioneer Woman) site just before she attained rock star status. My loving to cook made her site a favorite when I wanted a new recipe.

I sheepishly approached Son #1 and asked if my site was still up or if he had shut it down. He said he’d left it ‘as is’ and I could start blogging if I wanted. I still had some misgivings but decided I needed a creative outlet since my job as Executive Assistant wasn’t doing anything for me in that arena {sorry, boss}.

Over time I have become comfortable with a schedule of posting 3 days a week and try not to feel guilty if I take a vacation. I don’t try to earn money doing this, although I know there are plenty who do…I say, good for you! I have visited many sites of many, much more talented and clever writers than myself but I have fun doing what I do (deciding on topics that interest me) and am thankful for the few regular readers that are following my ramblings.

It’s an amazing world this blogging business. I have heard from one of the designers I happen to love, and had posted about, (Randy Boyd, HERE) and the daughter of a well-known architect I featured (HERE) and (HERE). *My good friend moved into his former family beach house in Emerald Bay, California. There are a few bloggers that I feel a kinship to and when they have commented on my site I am always giddy with happiness. (Hubby has walked by my desk and commented, “what are you smiling about” and it’s usually a comment from someone that triggers that smile!

Thanks to each and everyone of you who take the time to read my ramblings, I truly appreciate you!

{Garden}Kooboo chairs and other backyard delights

27 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Gardening, Gardens, Outdoor living

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

backyard, Kooboo chairs

Please note…I inadvertently published this story when it was not complete. Please excuse the missing pictures from the post on Friday. It’s intended publish date was Monday, complete with pictures. Sorry.

I first read about the Kooboo chair at one of my ‘must read’ blogs, Cote de Texas. Joni had written about them after making her purchase of the more expensive sister chair from Pottery Barn and then buying the Kooboo from Cost Plus World Market. HERE is her latest post about the chairs.

Isn’t this a wonderful outdoor dining space? These are the lovely Kooboo chairs (above). Love the stone pillars and stone table. A lantern over the table is so pretty!

I had mentioned the “need” for new patio dining chairs HERE and HERE and it wasn’t until this year we could actually afford to buy all 6.

The furniture has grayed nicely…the wood chairs look innocent don’t they, well cue the “Jaws” music and be ready to be swallowed by them if you attempted to scoot your chair up to the table!

As you probably know, if you do one thing to your home or yard, sometimes it creates the need for more projects in a given space. Such is the case with our back yard. Here are some of the improvements I’ve made this spring with more to come later.

Ta-da! These are the new chairs. I will eventually have the cushions recovered in a Sunbrella fabric. But for now the white cushions that came with the chairs work just fine and they are comfortable. We used them Saturday night and I’m happy to say that all agreed the chairs were comfortable.

The good news is that the “Jaws” chairs work well in a couple of other locations around the yard. No need to move these when they are acting as seating independent of a table (they are actually very comfortable). I love it when I can re-purpose something instead of eliminating it altogether.

I wanted to plant a bank of hydrangea in what I call my secret garden. I managed to get 3 good sized bushes planted. One is an Endless Summer hydrangea and seems to be putting the other two to shame. I’m hopeful that after a year of acclimating to their new home the 2 ‘homely pink sisters’ will begin to perform and I’ll have a wall of hydrangea growing by next spring.

Because we replaced the killer patio chairs with the Kooboo, we decided to get rid of a pair of Adirondack chairs (along with the foot stool and small table) on Craigslist. The Adirondack chairs were purchased for Hubby’s patio when he had a work assignment in Oakland and while they looked cute on his patio, they have never been very well suited to the corner of the yard we relegated them to. The killer patio chairs look much better don’t you think? I want to add some stone and pea gravel to enhance the area…soon.

Sold on Craigslist Sold on Craigslist

New to the garden…

We will ultimately add pea gravel and there will be a stone border. These “jaws” chairs are comfortable as long as you do not have to scoot them on concrete.

We had the trees in the back yard trimmed, professionally, and what a difference. There was an area of the yard that never saw sun due to the thick foliage. We now have dappled light and everything seems happier (or maybe that is just me!)

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the trees trimmed/sun shinning through to the ground after moving the “jaws” chairs to that location.

I’m trying my hand at growing clematis this year for the first time, wish me luck!

The side yard has been a challenge. I planted some camellia a few years back and they were on a snail’s pace as far as putting on height, which is what the wall needed. Well, while enjoying a birthday breakfast at my good friend Debbie’s house I noticed she had a bank of ‘ligustrum’ privets growing along her wall and they reached the top of the wall in a relatively short time. Being the compulsive person that I am I requested that my gardener duplicate this look for me. It will be a year or more before they reach the top but I believe they look better than what we had there before.

These will grown tall and cover the wall in green. So much better than a blank, white wall, don’t you think?

Burgandy ‘iceberg’ rose grows in the side yard and seems very happy.

There are still jobs to be done but hubby and I are pleased with the overall look so far and we’re especially thrilled that none of our dinner guests will end up with a broken limb due to the ridiculously heavy, killer chairs.

Meanwhile, we continue to work on parts of the garden that could use some attention…under the watchful eye of Madison…

We look forward to lots of dining outdoors, if the weather warms just a bit. *I sound like we live in Alaska, seriously, this spring and summer are some of the coolest I can recall and I’m a native born California gal! We’re still enjoying summer and truth be told, I prefer cooler weathers.

How is your garden growing? Do you entertain outdoors much? I’d love to hear from you.

The naturalist…continued

20 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by Karen B. in Decorating, Designer, Gardens

≈ 2 Comments

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natural elements

I was wandering around the web this morning in search of inspiration…no surprise, I get some of my best ideas from blog/web sites that share an image or a theory on design. That often triggers an idea and gets my creative juices flowing.

Sea glass colored jars and starfish, a natural for summer. I love the old wood shelf.

A few weeks ago I blogged {HERE} about designers that bring a “naturalist” flavor to their room designs. Rose Tarlow and Tricia Foley are favorites of mine.

The net covered glass buoys are collectibles and so pretty on display with coral and pencil starfish.

So it was with some delight and surprise when I visited the Better Homes and Gardens Decorating site that arrives in my email box a few times a month and discovered their feature on the very topic of decorating with natural elements. Coincidence? No doubt. Still, I found images, courtesy of BHG, that might inspire you to use some of the abundant natural elements in and around your yard to create a wonderful summer mood for your home.

Natural items can be simple plant cuttings. Think outside the box, sometimes seed pods and branches with little foliage make for an interesting and attractive display.

You don’t have to have a house on the beach to appreciate the beauty of natural sea grass (which has been framed here) and when coupled with a book open to a page on starfish, the vignette is complete and wonderful.

This is truly natural…a piece of a tree trunk for the vanity top and what would appear to be the remains of a vine growing on the wall of the bathroom. Perfect for the lodge or cabin. The vine remnants remind me of Rose Tarlow’s room in my previous blog.

I really like the simplicity of a single stem of greenery in an assortment of bottles…various shapes, colors and sizes make this a study in still life. I’ve seen this used on tables set for dinner and it always looks so lovely and has a very calming effect. I believe that is what appeals to me.

Placement of a couple of smooth river stones and a small vase of fern, how simple and still so artistic. The little tray on the larger try appears to have a shell and maybe a baby pine cone. It makes me wonder what the story behind these little finds might be. A nature walk with someone, a discovery while on vacation. It’s personal touches that make our homes interesting and enjoyable.

A grouping of pressed plant material can be impressive and in this neutral palate, the lime green colored plant stands out.

The stone fireplace, natural wood vase and branches and a sisal rug are a trinity of natural beauty.

I love the pendant lights, the Windsor chairs and the antique pitch fork on the wall…very country, very pretty.

This display made me think of a summer project with a child…collecting and placing items in interesting jars could be fun.

Put a birds nest on any table or hutch and instantly I think of spring/summer.

I’m thrilled to see the re-emergence of the antique cloche and various table top green house displays I’m seeing in so many of the design books and blogs.