I’m back and ready to pick up where I left off.  Some of you read my post about (and were so supportive of) my hiatus from blogging [read: writers block].  Its surprising what a little mindless relaxation and rest from a hobby will do for you.  I was so touched by all of your kindness and encouragement. Thank you!  ♥ Karen

The Real Work

by Wendell Berry

It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work,

and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey.

The mind that is not baffled is not employed.

The impeded stream is the one that sings.

 

Thank you, Anita of Castles, Crowns and Cottages, for the introduction to the above quote.  It truly made me feel better about writing and the ideas required to feel creative.

My vacation gave me time to ponder what I want the blog to be about and I’ve decided I really do enjoy writing about home interests.  Nothing all that deep, I’m more about the fluff of it all.   I tried imagining me writing about other topics but it always came back to the uncomplicated fact that when asked, “what interests you?” the answer was elementary.  Gardens (both working in and learning new things about);  my home (making the occasional improvements and tweaking, always tweaking, this and that);  and entertaining friends and family therein.  These are what brings me the most pleasure.  Simple, right?

So…for a new post after a long vacation I decided to share some inspiring garden rooms, as I refer to them.  Summer is near its end but here in Southern California we will suffer experience heat through September.

When I was growing up I don’t recall there being the vast array of options for creating rooms outdoors the way they exist today.  Did we have a patio?  Absolutely.  Did we have a table and seating for outdoor dining?  Yes, indeed.  My dad grilled all through the summer months.  But would you have looked at this space and imagined some of the additional comforts and decorative bits and pieces we now include in our ‘outdoor dining rooms’?  NO.

{T&G}

So, these are a few of my favorite dining spaces and a few outdoor living spaces as well.  I’ve included an image of my current patio and the newer pea gravel space under the cooling shade of two very large Ficus Benjamina trees.  (Are roots an issue? Yes they are.  My gardener takes great pains annually to cut off the roots that creep out from about a 5′ radius of the trees base and that seems to stem their destructive ways).  He also strongly recommends that we prune the 2 trees often, this gives them a reason to put new growth at the top, not at the roots.

So, without further ado…here are some wonderful outdoor spaces that can give us one last relaxing sigh as summer heads out and fall comes into focus.

{BHG}

{Libbey Ranch, Ojai}

{Enchanted Home}

{Emily Followill Photography}

{Providence Design}

{Enchanted Home}

{unknown}

Finally, truth be told, I wouldn’t mind this outdoor experience as well.  I know I’m being naive, I’ve never lived where it snows and I’ve been told by some with experience in such weather conditions, that it would only take one brutal winter in the east to cure me of the romantic notions I have about snow!

Do you have outdoor room(s) you enjoy during the warmer months of the year?

 

What better way to relax a home and the soul than to welcome the outdoors in? In a world that seems to move faster every day, fostering a strong indoor-outdoor connection is one way to take a deep breath.  Living inside and out in an antidote to stress. (Country French/Fall Winter 2012 – Meredith Specials Magazine)

In Southern California it’s pretty easy, most of the year, to transition between outdoors and in with outdoor patio/porch space, courtyard, or atrium.  Weather makes it not only desirable but doable as well.

I believe the trend toward making the outdoor space around our houses resemble and live like a room that you could expect to see inside a home, has hit the nation over the past 10 or 15 years, so it’s easy to get the materials and furnishings that make outdoor living a luxury most can afford.

I know spring has probably arrived for all of us by now (she was a little reluctant coming to the dance this year)!  So, I am offering some outdoor living spaces where we can entertain friends, wind down after a long work week, sip something…

{5th and State}

Our backyard area under the trees (above)—we created this space because the trees offer shade pretty much all day long and it’s the coolest spot to sit on a hot day, besides, the grass needed more sun to thrive in this spot, the pea gravel never complains.  We used pea gravel in place of concrete, it’s very comfortable to walk on and was a lot less money than concrete.

If money were no object…

{Andrew Skurman Associates, architect)

My friend Cayley has one of the best courtyards.  It’s protected from wind on all sides and they have a beautiful fireplace and fountain to provide extra comfort and a relaxing vibe…

This is our atrium (below) taken this spring.

{source}

{source}

{source}

{Kevin (son #2) and Sarah (DIL) bought a house that had this space (above) in place when they moved in, there are a couple of large Alder trees that provide shade and it’s always relaxing to sit there and visit.  Sarah always has a bouquet of fresh flowers on the table, added ambiance and charm!

{Mark D. Sikes}

I love the star pendant lights on this porch (below).

{unknown}

This barely qualifies as outdoors.  Still, I love the fireplace and the high, beamed ceiling.  It would be fun to sit in this outdoor room rain or shine.

{Amelia Handegan via Southern Accents (some years ago)…thanks, Kelly}

My favorite outdoor room, the porch that Meryl Streep sat on in the movie Out of Africa.  I don’t think this porch was actually in Africa, but it’s beautiful with its bead board ceiling and the ceiling fan and shutters.

{Hooked on Houses}

As the British would say (if you’re still waiting for Spring’s arrival), stiff upper lip old girl, it will show up eventually.

♥

Linking to:  Savvy Southern Style & StoneGable & Art @ Home