It was never my idea to blog about my own home, and certainly not by name.....but, when my friend the Editor in Chief was here and he said if he blogged he would most definitely post my backyard....I just had no choice!!! So here it is!!! The concept of my outdoor space is a giant flower garden...without the garden!!! I was not born with a green thumb and have never grown one...but, I do know how to recognize someone who does, divine flower maven, Paul Goetz. Paul and I discuss my feelings for color, design, placement, and shape every spring. He knows I want bright, hot colors, never white, except my very old white hydrangea trees that came with the property, and that I love sweet potato vines for color, as well as how they drape. The pots have hibiscus trees, matching by the patio and a different color, but still matching, by the pool!! I love, love, love hibiscus trees....for me, they are the ultimate hot and sultry summer flower. In addition, I have a small grass garden and huge, ancient trees that are wrapped in vines. I love all of the variations of green and the depth of color. For accent, even tho black pool liners are the rage, I stayed with the traditional blue.....I love a good shot of turquoise!!!!
Enough said about "the green & growing part"!!! For me, the best and most important part of the magic is the furniture and fabrics on the patio and by the pool. I adore mixing these chic, vintage Indian quilts for pillows and as upolstery, even tho they are not water resistant and have to be covered every night, with the antique wicker. I have been collecting wicker for years, and have painted it black, making it more contemporary and because I hate white in the garden...especially white wicker!!! The pool is surrounded on one side by "ancient" teak lounges that came with the house ten years ago. Every couple of years I add new forest green pads, same color every time, and recently, I have had bright colored Sunbrella pillows made for each chaise. The umbrellas on the patio are also forest green, of course the same color as the lounges!!! For accent, I have wrapped the stems of the umbrellas in strips of fabrics from old Lisa Corti table cloths!!! I am not drawn to crafts.....but having dressed several thousand store windows I know the value of the neon colored 8" cable ties from Gardner Bender.....they hold all the fabrics in place!!!! The final touch, no matter what the weather, is covering the dinning table with fabulous printed table cloths from Lisa Corti!!!
Okay...enough about my yard..what about your's??????
I love the Sunbrella pillows- so fun!
Wow - this is fabulous! you must really enjoy it!!!! your blog is adorable, btw. thank you for telling me about it!
Joni
Fine thanks I am ready for my gin and tonic, two limes please and can you tell the pool boy to bring over more nuts