Happy Firday

image via landscape designer Michael Mansvelt

A modern take on the traditional. Boxwood forms enclose both the lily pool as well as the Iceberg roses. Simple Elegance 

A Winning Comination

image clive nichols photograhpy

What could be better than the photography of Clive Nichols Garden Photography and the landscape design of Dominique Lafourcade. I simply adore the circular staircase up to the tree viewing platform. It adds such a a whimsical, human touch to the whole design

Classic Contemporary

A garden dominated by classic lines, Luciano Giubbilei work is a modern take on the more formal Renaissance design concepts. Traditional elements, green rooms framed with hedges, neatly clipped trees, order, geometry, repetition, flowing water, reflecting pools and sculpture. A blend of the classic with the contemporary and architecture with nature create this strong yet serene and tranquil garden

Happy Friday

image via designs by allison

Love everything about this group of urns. The moss only enhances what is already a stunning collection.

Ancient Art of Stone

Artists, partners and husband and wife, Vancouver Island's Andreas Kunert & Naomi Zettl  , have chosen stone as a medium for not only murals but stone walls, fireplaces, and garden sculpture. 

        A great option for a front entry retaining wall ..........minus the tree

   More than a unique way to design an entry, although I think I would have liked to see one type of plant repeated rather than the mix of cedars chosen.

                This team creates not only indoor, but complete outdoor kitchen and fireplace designs.

 A nice application of the two different stone techniques, creating almost a mural effect on the corner of this residence....again not loving the plant material, as I think it takes away from the magnificent wall art.

Could this stone portal and yellow ochre door be anymore inviting?

 Working with nature and the environment their stone designs bring a unique art form to the garden. For more of this talented teams work, you can go to theancientartofstone.com or their Facebook page to see how these pieces are actually created.

Twig Ball

Browsing the web.............. on yet another snowy day..........I came across this wonderful idea and instructions from Design Megillah. Obsessed as I am with Twig Balls right now I just needed to share this with you. Please visit Rita's web site below for details.
........and now to go find a few twigs.

Design Megillah: Twig Ball:

Gimme Me Shelter

Now that the over all rear yard design is complete and approved, I am just about to put pencil to paper and begin details on what will be a pool house with some sort of covered, open air area attached. With the hot muggy summers we most times get here on the North Shore of Long Island, I am hoping for a closed roof so that ceiling fans can be incorporated. Not only do they cool and move the air, they also seem to  help with moving the summer insect population along. 

When designing pool houses, cabanas, and any other accessory structure that might be included in your design, my one suggestion is to try to mimic the existing architecture you already have. Taking bits and pieces of the details already established helps to bring the whole look together as one coherent thought rather than someone's after thought.

I have always felt that admiring  the entire property as a whole makes for a better over all design.

                                             

all above images Pinterest

                                                     Part of the conceptual drawing ready for details.