When we talk about blending home and garden this is a perfect example.
Drawing on California's Spanish Colonial architectural heritage, the garden works to enhance the architecture of the home. The plants, common to the Mediterranean, are both colorful and drought tolerant. The use of wrought iron is a tradition directly from the Old World. It is timeless, durable and looks like jewelry.
When we moved into our home in the Fall of 2008, we did not even know we inherited grape vines until my dad, visiting from the US, pointed them out to us. They looked like they were on their "last leg." When Spring 2009 rolled around, I started giving the vines the "TLC" I knew they needed. By the Spring of 2010 I knew exactly what I wanted, a grape arbour, the family could sit for meals, play card games, relax and entertain friends. I built it with my own two hands. I used lattice for the top, so the grapes hang through, plus during the winter the snow is less likely to build up on the top. I used dark brown concrete stain to colour the floor, hang a mirror which I bought at a garage sale and repainted in a light blue. The tables and chairs we bought used off line. I painted the table white and used fabric samples to upholster seat cushions for the chairs. The hanging lamp I picked up at Ikea's As Is Department for a buck. I also used bamboo the clad the front posts.
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This area in our yard began with a ready-made building created by local Amish. The arbor/potting shed was built by a builder friend and the inside was co-created by a decorator friend and myself.
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UPDATE: Well, we finally finished our bathroom and are now moving on... This past weekend we installed a new sliding glass door removing a large old pane window. We also installed our back screen door off of our bathroom. We have now decided to build a "summer porch" onto the back of our home - there is a deck we already built and we are making it into the "summer porch" which will be partially screened in so we can sleep out there on cool nights. So this is our new project and we hope to have it finished by winter, which is just around the corner ! ! We'll see..... we also would like to add onto the deck where we just installed our new sliding glass door, but I doubt that all of this will get competed. Another "work in progress" - will post pics.
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Our new stone patio fence and arbor that we built this spring. Since we have no deck we really needed a spot for outdoor living. Although our home is decorated inside in a primitive style the outside has a cottage feel. We are loving our new "room!
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This small, sloped lot of land was useless before. I designed it & my husband built it! It's made with composite wood (I'm all for saving a tree!. The deck is 2 levels & has built in benches.
My dad built the arbor that is shown. My husband & I got married under that arbor in my parent's backyard.
We left the concrete slab that was in the yard when we moved in & stained it a warm color to match the brown brick of the house.
I welcome creative ideas on how to fill the over 500 sq. ft!
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This yard had nothing in it three years ago when we bought the place, we put lots of love here to make it look like a warm and inviting garden, I hope that generations after me enjoy the selection I have planted, I know the hummingbirds will!
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This is my husband's dream backyard. It includes an outdoor bar & cooking area, BBQ, fire pit, & mini vineyard. One day we will have patio furniture and chairs by the fire pit, but one thing at a time!
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