In Wilmington, NC, the summer solstice officially arrived this morning at 6:01 AM. Of course, you know that the day of the summer solstice is the longest day of the year and “heralds the beginning of summer.” Right? Well, now you know for sure. So enjoy every minute of it! The Old Farmer’s Almanac has other interesting facts about the summer solstice, as well as some tips on things to do to celebrate it–from lighting a bonfire (in a safe outdoor place, of course) to going fishing to cooking outdoors and a host of other activities.
I for one will celebrate by working! Boohoo. (I say this with a laughing smile on my face.) When not doing that, I’ll have lunch on my porch and enjoy the summer breeze, a chilled glass of wine and perhaps do a little memory jaunting. One of my favorite memories goes back to being a little girl, walking into the house and watching white sheer curtains ruffling from soft summer breezes. Do you sometimes wonder why such pleasant momentary memories remain with us seemingly forever? My other favorite memory is a summer filled with the same popular song that had seemed to be playing everywhere I went. Even now I hum it on particularly beautiful, breezy summer days.
The song? Summer Breeze , The Isley Brothers 1974 version. (Okay, so I’m older than . . . .) To this day, the guitar still rips through my music soul and I dance through the house in sheer joy! I invite you to hear it for the first or the 100 millionth time! Click HERE or on the image. (This is on YouTube.)
What’s your favorite Summer Solstice celebration? Did you by any chance join the 36,000 revelers to watch and celebrate the sun rise on Salisbury Plain, England at Stonehenge? Just kidding!!
Caution: Yellow is a happy color. It can make you so happy that if you paint your bedroom yellow, you can toss and turn so much that you won’t be able to sleep. (a little sarcasm here) I know because I did this once. The yellow was just too intense! After four days of little sleep, I placed an emergency call to my painter, sobbing over the phone that I couldn’t wait another week for him to repaint. What a doll! He came later that day with a bucket of paint containing very soft, light beige paint. Beige has an undertone of yellow. And he didn’t even charge me for an emergency service. I still love yellow . . . in some else’s home!
Notice the soft yellows in this example are punctuated with my golden yellow dupioni silk pillow, gold accessories and chandelier, and the strong red in the side table:
This is a great example of creating a deep yellow palette–and in a small space. I think the art-wall gallery, side chairs and other accent help to balance yellow.
Image from Shoebox Decor. Design by Brockschmidt and Coleman
Some other deep yellow decors:
From Lushome.comFrom Varrell.com which collected in a post 55+ Yellow Futuristic Spaces Design Ideas
I have to stop here and confess. I love yellow, it’s a great color on me. BUT when I even look at so much deep yellow in a room, I feel like it’s screaming at me and I just want to run far, far away! Hope I haven’t offended anyone. Now, yellow as an accent color is simply outstanding.
White yellow is prominent in this room and commands attention, the deep sea foam green, white, pinks and beige colors literally straddles the yellow, keeping it under control.
Also on Varrell.com. What a lucky child to have such a beautiful bedroom!
This is yellow so bright and fresh, made so by it’s stark contrast with the stark white.
Last one from Varrell.comFrom House to Home.com.UKFound on House Beautiful
I have a friend who painted her garden condo walls a very soft buttery yellow. To my surprise, I loved it. If you too find the strong yellows a bit more than your vision and disposition can handle but can’t free yourself from the idea of a yellow wall, the softer tone may suite you, such these examples:
From MaisonDecorAs you can see, found this on House Beautiful
There’s lots of interesting reads about color, especially the psychology of color. From her website, Empower-Yourself-With-Color-Psychology, Judy Scott-Kemmis, writes
“This color relates to acquired knowledge. It is the color which resonates with the left or logic side of the brain stimulating our mental faculties and creating mental agility and perception.
Being the lightest hue of the spectrum, the color psychology of yellow is uplifting and illuminating, offering hope, happiness, cheerfulness and fun.”
Perhaps, just by adding the color yellow to a decor we can improve and uplift our general disposition, maybe even our outlook on life. In any case, it is a lovely color.
Is yellow your favorite color?Oh please, do tell! Would love to hear from you.
One of my favorite Pinterest boards is what I call “Wall Drama.” There are only 36 pins because I sat the bar really high for that collection. Some of the walls were created with wall paper (can you believe it!), others are paintings from abstract to spectacular scenes. These are not your ordinary faux painted walls. I’ve done my share of the tame and timid painted walls from antique lace bordering to tone-on-tone striped paintings to sponging. I even had one entry faux painted with castle-like boulders, topped with an eastern red bud tree.
I’m talking real wall drama! Here are just a few:
Pinterest for sweethomestyle.tumblr.com. Could this be a blown up photo!Keltainen talo rannalla blogspotFound on Pinterest
Not an artist? Can’t afford one to paint your walls? Well, there are other solutions, such as wall paper recreated through a copy print of art pieces. There are several companies that will do this. Check out this one called PixerSize.com for wall murals. I found one of their wall pieces on Pinterest.
On Pinterest from PixersSize.com
This is not a Pixers creation, not sure of how it was done. But I think it’s beautiful, serene blues warmed with golden yellow and oranges and red. You get the picture.
Wabi Sabi Blogspot
How exciting . . . and it’ll wake up any non-coffee or coffee drinker.
On Pinterest from PlentyOfColor.comPinterest from service en brocante.blogspot
Okay . . . just one more. It reminds me of zindangle which is so much fun to produce.
Found on Pinterest from Pretty.little.world.fashion.blogspot
Why am I so interested in wall drama? The outside of my studio is complete with the exception of muddying and sanding. My art neighbors keep asking what color will I paint it. The problem is that I change my mind from week to week, especially when I see images of wall drama. The pressure is on, and I need inspiration!!
Help yourself to make a suggestion . . . would love to hear from you!
Decorating with pattern on pattern or what is more often called mixing patterns is exciting. I so admire interior designers who do this so well and have often wondered how. By now, you may know I’m a strong proponent for looking to clothes in the closet for inspiration. Yesterday, I discovered this fabulous dress (no, not in my poor miserable closet!) from Net-A-Porter.com and used it as the palette and pattern play for this design:
Personally, I would never have had the guts to even think of such a complex design so rich in color and patterns had it not been for the dress. What I found to be important was selecting a focal color (the orange family in this case); keeping colors in the same value; and keeping patterns in similar size and shape. To give the eye a place to rest from so much busy-ness, I added solid colors found in the chairs, the ottoman and the chests. Second step to creating such a decor: Be Bold. (I wrote about this in an earlier post.) Mixing patterns is not for the screamish! Let’s look at some real examples of mixing patterns.
On Pinterest from Beach Bungalow8 BlogspotFound on Pinterest from Houzz.com
Did you notice the color value, size of the different patterns and solid colors to rest the eyes. Here are some more:
From The Pink Chandelier, design by Corea Sotropa Interior DesignFound on Pinterest
If you really want to be daring in mixing patterns but are a little timid, visit the blog of Keltainen talo rannalla, interior designer. It is a must see blog for inspiration and getting that “get moving feeling.” Here’s one of her examples I found on Pinterest.
Check out these fabulous mixed pattern rooms:
Found on PinterestFrom Apartment Therapy on A Victorian Rowhouse In TorontoOn Pinterest from HGTV, A Cape Cod Inspired Living room
If you find yourself liking, even loving mixing patterns in a decor but it’s a little too busy for you, remember you can always just add it to a vignette or the corner of a room.
Already have something in this style or something in mind? I would love to hear about it!
I say don’t waste this valuable real estate space of your rented apartment. Do create a garden room however small or big it may be. Do you have a lousy view? A garden room on your balcony will focus your attention to something more pleasant. Have a spectacular view? Enhance it with the framing of a garden room.
Haybert.com On “Small Balcony Garden Scandinavian ApartmentHome My Design.com
Mind you, if you search the internet for balcony garden apartments, many of the images and suggestions focus on maintaining flowers, foliage, vegetables and herb gardens. Here, I focus on decorated garden rooms, particularly those with furnishings and dining arrangements but also have floral and foliage plants.
Critical concerns before beginning:
What are apartment building rules governing what you can have on the balcony.
Location of your closet neighbor, above or below. Let’s face it, if you want to plant a sunflower on your garden, the neighbor may not care for the it’s attraction of bees. He or she may even have allergic reactions to bee stings.
Is your flooring wood planks with space in between and where dirt, water or debris from your plants can fall through cracks.
Do you have full sun, partial sun, shade or partial shade.
Last but certainly not the least, how much space do you have: sufficient for a comfortable seating and breakfast or dining area.
Where to begin:
Now that you have answers to the critical concerns, the fun really starts. Remember, I’m talking balcony or porch garden rooms. So furniture first. From the above photo example, you can see that seating was resolved with minimal furnishings due to space limitation. But piled rugs (first image) and lots of floor pillows (second image) manages the space very well. (See my post on Floor Pillows for more ideas.)
Elements that make these small spaces work are soft furnishings created with decorative pillows and floor cushions of different shapes and sizes; a mixture of colors and patterns. The wall garden of plants is a marvelous idea for gaining and utilizing space.
Let’s look at a some more examples of small balconies with garden rooms. See if you can pick out what or why it works:
Blog Fennel & FernBlog Coco Lapin Designblog Solebich
Here’s another tiny space made even more private by a bank of plantings:
On Pinterest 10 Inspiring Small Space Balcony Gardens from Apartment TherapyPinterest
Did you notice the use of a small tree in the example image above? Great use of a small space in this last examples, as do all of the others. But what about the plants? While this post is more about creating the room with a garden, here are some tips on plants.
Plant considerations for a balcony garden:
Choice of plants will depend upon your taste but don’t be intimidated by the plants requirement. As long as you can meet the needs of the plant, you can most likely include it in your garden. If you have house plants, they would probably love to spend some time outdoors. Just acclimate them in the spring, and again in the fall when you return them to the indoors. And don’t be afraid to add a tree, even a shrub. There are so many of them that do well in pots, just buy them when they are small. I love maples for this reason.
What is your micro-climate? Sun and wind, sun and shade, shade, windy, buildings nearby, city dwelling or in a coastal area, etc. How much protection can you give the plant?
Type of pot will be critical. Clay pot and wooden pots are porous and so will dry out faster. Clay pots with glazing on the outside and plastic pots will retain water better but can also increase soil temperature. Setting pots on a tray of stones with water will also help to provide moisture. See Related article:
Soil care. Using a good potting mix with porous elements will provide sufficient aeration for the plants, and of course don’t forget to “feed” the plants. Note that over a period of time, salt builds up in the soil. Generally, you would hose down the soil to wash out that collected salt you see on the top. This would be very difficult when you live in an apartment, unless you are willing to mess up your bath tub. I suggest just replacing the upper soil surface.
Bug control. Don’t let those little “homesteaders” take over your garden! Pick them off with your fingers, use a mild soapy insecticide or if it becomes all out war, use a stronger insecticide purchased at a home garden center.
Gardening is one my favorite subjects. I’ve done it for years and have been a master gardener in three different states. This is to say, I’d better bring this post to an end because I love to talk garden. I will say, I now have a very large screened-in porch to my apartment with a studio. And I’ll be following much of my suggestions and the examples shown above as I start decorating and gardening on my porch.
Thinking a neutral color scheme but not sure where or how to start? Afraid it will look lifeless and boring? A successfully decorated room in neutral colors can be achieved by using various textures; contrasting light and dark shades; and incorporating a variety of shapes and sizes. (For an ultra modern look, see how these elements are paired down in the third image below.) If desired, however, a warm color can be added to give the room just a little pop. Let’s see how decorating with neutral colors works.
I started here with a black and off-white zebra pillow as a “color-spiration” for a city apartment:
Obviously, black and gray are the primary neutral colors. But note the statement piece, a divider screen with enlarged photo print of New York City. Shapes and texture play a major role in making the room interesting: the faux fur pillow vs the smoothness of the black chair fabric and the pile-textured rug vs the smooth silver metal chair legs. The gold bowl and the wood base of the lamp add a touch of warm natural colors, along with the green-leaf candle holder. The silver pouf is a lovely, feminine touch. (Learn more about using poufs in Spice It Up With a Pouf, April 23, 2014)
In stark contrast to the black as the primary neutral color above, here is one in white:
Discovered on Pinterest
White is very calming and can easily be “taken up a notch” with dashes of colors, such as the black pots contrasted with the beautiful pink hydrangeas and the magenta color small bowls on the table. The warm color is repeated in smaller and larger amounts in the background room. Again, texture and shapes play a key role in making the room interesting. Here’s another white room but it’s truly stark, very modern. But notice how the long linear lines are iterated to give it interest like repetitive notes heard in lovely song or music:
Another find on Pinterest
I love the room above but if it’s too stark for your taste, here’s another one of my favorite decorated with a neutral color scheme. It’s bold and dramatic, and it has “pops” of color in the rug to warm it up.
Do take the tour, found on Apartment Therapy, of this very modern DC Home.
The next one makes fabulous use of neutral as a monotone color scheme. Here again shapes are repeated but pattern and contrast give the vignette drama.
From Pinterest
You’re thinking the martini warms up the room in this design board below? You may be right! (Writer smiles.) Along with the martini, texture, pattern, variation in shapes and neutral colors renders the scheme interesting and a space to want to be in.
The rooms in the images below work very well in the neutral scheme. Any idea why?
From the blog A Plateful Of LoveFound on Pinterest (pinned by pinner)On Pinterest from the blog This Is Glamorous.
There is always something romantic about an all white room that I find so very inviting.
From Pinterest
So what exactly are neutral colors? Ask.com describes it like this:
“Neutral colors include hues like beige, black, gray, ivory, taupe and white. Neutral usually means without color, but these hues sometimes have faint undertones of blue, gold, peach, pink, tan and yellow.
Neutral colors do not show up on the color wheel. People in fashion, decorating and other professions that use colors prominently refer to neutral colors as earth tones. These colors have a flexibility and visual balance that works in a number of settings. They also have a classic, subtle feel in rooms, clothing and furniture that also make use of bolder and more vibrant colors in their designs.”
It’s important to remember that neutral colors do have undertones and thus should be carefully selected, particularly when adding other colors to the decorating scheme. And don’t forget, lighting source will very definitely bring out or mute these undertones.
Considering a neutral color scheme for a decorating project? I’d love to hear from you!
Oh my goodness, I’m in love with these shoes: Stiletto Heels. The designs fascinate me, they’re stunning and wild and sometimes utterly ridiculous! A flood gate of designs has been unleashed. Do I wear them? NOooo!!! I’m not crazy, I just love how they look. I applaud women gutsy enough to wear them.
You may be asking what on earth does Stiletto heels have to do with home decorating or making pillows or even artists: COLOR, sweetie. DESIGN, IMAGINATION. Often I even find old designs reinterpreted, just as one takes a home old color scheme, freshen it up with a new interpretation. We never tire of blue and white or blue and yellow color schemes. We just reinterpret them in ways that give them a contemporary look.
Here are some of my favorite color combinations in Stiletto heels. Others are fascinating just by sheer design. While some, well . . . they’re just dangerous.
Soft color palettes not only fun for the city but wonderful for simple, beach and cottage life styles:
Discovered on Pinterest
Love the color blocks on these Stilettos, contemporary and classic color schemes. Great Design.
Found on from Tory Burch.com
Classic black and white color scheme with a splash of color: yellow.
Also on Pinterest from Tracey Marshal
These wonderful, strong colors and classic patterns reminds us to just be bold!
On Pinterest from marimekko.com
How lovely this floral ceiling references the blue and green hue of floral Stiletto!
Decor aside, I simply love these Stilettos for their colors, design or just plain fun:
Alexander Birman for Saks Fifth AvenueDesign by Tom Ford at Lookover.comDesign by Giuseppe ZamottiThese are just so sexy. They’re by Giuseppe Zamotti.Now what could be more daring than Hot Pink Stiletto from Dior?They’re just sweet and so down to “country” earth!
I must include the following two Stilettos. They’re examples of platforms which I view as dangerous and should be sold with accident insurance.
Far from being a comprehensive show of the many wonderful designs, I could only give a few examples of Stilettos I find fascinating. And again, no I don’t own or wear them. Been there, done that during my very youthful years. Still, I love the look of them, marvel at the women who wear them, and like that they can be inspirations for home decorating. Or perhaps it’s the other way around?
You are of course free to let me know how you feel about them–or don’t feel about them!
I have a chaise lounge. I love it. Ten years later from when I bought it, I continue to love it. Recently, while sipping a caramel leche and chatting with a new neighbor, we discovered that we both have a chaise lounge. But she said that not many people buy them. That got me to wondering if this is true; and if so, why don’t people buy them. I can certainly make a case for adding one to a decor.
Here is mine when I first bought it for a dining nook off a kitchen, including the garden.
I had placed the chaise lounge next to a bank of windows and a door to the patio and garden.
Chaise lounge in the dining nook
The dining nook was the perfect spot for relaxing, gazing out into the garden and watching squirrels try to outsmart my Yankee bird feeder. Winter months gave me stunning views of snowy days into the garden and the woods beyond, especially when a thick blanket of snow covered the garden then lit by the sun. It was a very relaxing spot and a great place for reading.
I once had two guests who sat for hours on the chaise having a tête-à-tête while the rest of us enjoyed a patio tea. I still sometimes wonder what on earth they were talking about!
My Northern Virginia gardenWinter scene of my Northern Virginia garden
That was in Northern Virginia. I have since moved to a lovely coastal town in Wilmington, NC. My chaise sits in storage to which I can’t stand it much longer and will set it up in my home studio. Hope I’ll be able to get work done in my home studio with a chaise lounge in it!
Two-arm chaise lounge on Pinterest
For this post, off to the internet I went to do some research (the Wiki of course) and I stopped by Pinterest for great images on contemporary styles for the chaise. This is what I discovered. The “lounge” in chaise lounge is really misspelled. It should be chaise “longue,” the French spelling and meaning for long chair.
You can use that tidbit of info in your next trivia game. It’s historical use actually is believed to have originated with the Egyptians. This lounging chair was also enjoyed by the modern Greeks “as early as the 8th century BC,” the Romans, the Etruscan and then of course down through to our modern times.
The design evolved through many different shapes: a back with one arm or no arms; a back and two arms; the broken chair style; the back and foot support style; the foot rolled down to the floor; and the sleek modern look that I so adore.
Prices range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, and I mean thousands of dollars. Here are just a few examples:
Chaise Lounge image Found on PinterestChaise Lounge with downward foot roll, found on Splendid SASS BlogspotDesigned by Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Pierre Jeanneret, produced by Cassina and found on Design Within Reach
Since my above chaise lounge images are neutral in color (my favorite), I’ve added these just to show that chaises do come in colors, striking colors–limited only by the imagination and fabric availability.
From PinterestI thought this a fabulous chaise for the Man Cave! It’s a Zero ™ chaise lounge that can be found on Pinterest for PROJECT DÉCOR.
So how is a chaise used in contemporary decors? One thing is for sure, the chaise is not just for the boudoir! Now that’s something I would say most of us don’t have. A chaise lounge is truly designed for comfort. Almost any room and corner of a room reserved for just comfort are ideal: family rooms, library rooms, dining nooks, even dining rooms, media rooms, her space, his space–all great places. Most often you will find chaise lounges parked around swimming pool areas and on patios. Not all of us have such a wonderful luxury. And so I focus on the use of it in indoor rooms.
You can even get one for your beloved pet:
From Dot & Bo (Found on Pinterest)
A chaise lounge adds variety to your furniture ensemble. In fact, it takes the ordinariness out of a room. It gives more surface to bring in more colors, patterns and textures into the decor. Have you guessed what I’m about to say next? No? Well, alright, it’s a great place to add decorative pillows! (You do know I make them, don’t you?) The Romans did it. Oh, excuse me, we know what happened to them. But it was not from all that sitting around, dining in reclined positions on piles of pillows on a chaise lounge! So there, it’s okay to have piles of pillows on a chaise lounge.
Are people buying chaise lounges? I believe so. There are so many different styles available in furniture stores. When looking to add an specially interesting seating, the chaise is definitely a good choice. Why not go for being “You-nique”, check out and add a chaise lounge to your decor.
Already have a chase lounge? I’d love to know. Tell me about it!
Need some extra seating by the coffee table but don’t have space for a bulky chair? How about considering the use of a pouf?
Houzz.com
Poufs are becoming quite a trend but some of us don’t really see what the use of a pouf would be. In reality, a pouf, which is really a floor pillow, may also seem uncomfortable for some. But with the right pouf, it can provide additional storage, seating and much more, so don’t miss out on pouf madness!
First, let’s talk about how to find the right pouf. Like a sofa or mattress, it’s always a great idea to try one out first. Certain heights and cushions will make it easy to sit comfortably for a long time. Once you’ve done the comfort test, think about why you’d like to purchase one: is it for adding color or pattern? Adding seating? Adding storage? Or adding another option for comfort?
Poufs come in all shapes, patterns and colors, so have some fun by challenging yourself to pick something different. Let’s say you have a modern setting and would like to add some color. Choosing a pouf could provide just that. If you have furniture that is really square and serious, a good way to lighten up the atmosphere is to pick a soft and fun shape to complement the space. Imagine having friends over and they see an unconventional pouf surrounding a table. The first thing they think about is if they should sit on it; and yes, it will be tempting.
Houzz.com
Afraid of pattern? Choosing a pouf with your favorite pattern that goes with the existing scheme will break your pattern fear. Just think about it; poufs are sort of like pillows in a sense that they can accent a space and make it interesting.
Houzz.com
Need other reasons to use a pouf? Well, if you have a favorite side chair that is just begging for some kind of ottoman, using a unique poufs instead would be a great alternative. They are also less expensive than a bulky ottoman. Another good thing is that if you have more than one favorite side chair, carry your pouf around worry free. Instead of purchasing a side table, poufs also make great “tables”. Just place a decorative tray on top and arrange on top. It’s about thinking outside the box after all! Free up space if you live in a small home by tucking poufs under a table. They make great space savers since most can be tucked under a console table and pull them out when you have those big parties.
So when it comes down to it, poufs are so versatile that they could be used in any space and it is a unique way to solve a lot of functional decorative issues.
Would you consider getting a pouf and for what reason?
About The Author
Valarie Baser graduated from the Chaminade University of Honolulu and studied at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where her peers included design contemporaries Nina Garcia (Project Runway), Toni Chi (International Restaurant Designer) and Matthew Patrick Smith (Interior Designer). Prior to founding her interior design firm, she worked as a Design Assistant for an interior design firm and on a number of theater set projects in Hawaii.
Valarie is a guest contributor and a fabulous find for Annsliee’s blog. Each month, she will be sharing more of her decorating wisdom with you. Can’t wait? Try her services with a 10% discount. Just enter coupon code “VMDECOR10” at herEtsyshop.
Winter melding into spring . . . well, it is in the northern hemisphere; that is, some north eastern parts of the U.S. Not convinced? Here in Wilmington, NC, the daffodils are up; eastern red-bud trees are in full bloom; and the dogwood buds are on their way. About 5 hours north, in Washington, D.C. the cherry blossoms are budding and predicted to peak bloom April 8-12. It’s a gorgeous flowering show to experience!
April 2, 2014 Tidal Basin in Washington D.C.
We can hardly contain ourselves. Our long wait through a winter that seemingly wouldn’t go away now fills us with anticipation of spring and summer days and nights: ball games, cycling, more running, swimming, beaching, fishing and a host of other activities that ends only with the imagination. We caress ourselves in the warmth and heat of the sun, blue skies and cumulus clouds. Then we cool ourselves with water, simple or exotic named drinks accompanied with copious salads of every kind and light meals packed with rich flavors. At the end of the day, we often fold, sometimes collapse into an evening on a patio, a deck, a porch or a balcony.
One Kings Lane: Alfresco Living Room creating intimate conversation groups.
So may I recommend making your outdoor space a garden room, your special place. It would be wonderful to have a budget that will allow you to build an elaborately, comfortable garden room. But you really don’t need a large space or budget. Some key elements to creating a comfortable, alluring garden room are an enclosed space (or the sense of enclosure) and soft and hard furnishing. If your space is exposed to overhead weather and sun, be sure to select outdoor fabric for your soft furnishings, such as pillows and seat cushions. Of course, you will need a garden. But gardening and garden spaces are pretty big topics. I love both and so will try to give you some ideas in more than just one post.
Small backyards are definitely great places for adding small structures that mark a garden space. There are all sorts of structures easily made into garden spaces, from the DIY example below to sheds to garages to just a space under a tree. Other areas include patios just off the backdoor and structures added to the house.
Fabulous DIY project found on Just LiveOne Kings LaneFrom Andrea Baker Home
The backyard of a townhouse gives you the benefits of having less space to maintain and yet it offers all the wonderful advantages of outdoor space living. I love these classy examples below. They are two different home locations but image it in the same town home backyard location. On one side the dining area is accented with an outdoor mirror which would make it appear larger. On the other end would be the sitting area. Placing the mirror to avoid the bright reflective light of the sun is the only serious caveat I can see.
I found this on In Your Back Pocket blog who found it on Elle Decor. Don’t you just love the internet! London Garden Blog
I don’t know how permanent this glamorous tent outdoor room would be. But it so sexy and romantic, does the how long it last really matter?
Discovered on Colin Cowie
In this example, just a little space off a back porch is enough to provide a cozy lounging area. Here, it looks like an old day bed with posts has been adorned with colorful cushions and pillows, then draped in lots and lots of neutral drapes on sides and top. Lovely setting.
Found on Pinterest
This is a perfect example of using bright spring and summer colors in your soft furnishings that can be added to any size space for comfort and presence. The wicker furniture can often be purchased at garage sales and second life stores, then painted. Or of course, furniture can be purchased new. Don’t you just love that rug and the mix of patterns!
Discovered on Pinterest where there are hundreds of fine examples for creating garden rooms. I can only give you a taste and a bit of a push to get started.
In a small space, starting with where you want to locate your garden room will most likely be determined for you. Still, you’ll need something to give it a feeling of enclosure and a boundary, such as a wall, a fence, hedges or even a bench and this is true even for a balcony or deck. You’ll need a floor. Add color and comfort to the floor of your patio, deck or balcony with an outdoor rug. There are many of them on the market designed especially for outdoor use. They’re durable and color fast. If your location is out in the garden, then a lush turf, gravel, mulch, and pine needles allows for easy maintenance. You’ll also need a ceiling. Some examples of materials are shade trees, a pergola or a roof over the patio or deck.
If you only have an apartment porch, balcony or just a window with good light or view, even these spaces can be transformed to a garden room. Once you have your basic structural space defined and furnishings placed, the fun really starts with shopping and adding the garden and accessories. But let’s talk about apartment balconies and accessorizing later in another post.
annsliees 