goadri's ideasnn
Add Interest to Walls Small decks surrounded by walls can feel boxed in, but you can reduce this feeling by enhancing the walls around the deck. With this enclosed terrace by Chicago Roof Deck & Garden in Chicago, brick walls have become a backdrop for an installation of pale birch trunks along one side and metal screens along another. Vines like clematis (Clematis spp.), Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) or Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) can be planted on outdoor walls to create a lush green backdrop.
Red berries typically provide a nice pop of color to garland and other mantle garnishes. But by wrapping berries with a simple string of white lights, and pairing them with pinecones and white candles, allows the berries to stand on their own as the mantle focal point. It’s attractive without being flashy. Example of a classic family room design in Toronto Love the warm glow here. Great idea for mantel or shelf! - julie_foran
Add some twinkle - Fairy lights don’t just have to be used outdoors or during the festive season – bring them inside, and in your living room. A simple string of lights can liven up an old book shelf or room, especially at night, and add a little twinkle during the daylight hours. The lights give a warming glow and can make a room feel lived in and loved.
Cafe lights. Nothing is quite as inviting as the twinkle of a few strands of overhead cafe lights. Set the mood for an outdoor party by stringing lights diagonally a few times across an outdoor terrace, deck or patio. Tip: It’s well worth the effort to track down industrial-quality cafe lights designed for being outdoors. Often used for restaurants, industrial-grade lights resist water, come in longer strands and last much longer than standard home store cafe lights.
But if an outdoor space is hard to come by in the city, try an outdoor space indoors. To get that one-of-a-kind amenity, the couple and Franz punched a hole in the roof to create a suspended glass-encased garden that hangs like a green oasis right in the loft interior, shown here. Industrial Staircase by Andrew Franz Architect PLLC Andrew Franz Architect PLLC SaveEmail Franz felt that his clients might not be inclined to use a rooftop garden if it remained unseen. By dropping a portion of the garden into the interior, the homeowners can enjoy the view and be encouraged to venture up and outdoors. “It’s like a micro courtyard,” he says. The drop-down garden also allowed light to flood into the unit “rather than cutting a million skylights in the roof,” he says.
Milk paint: This paint comes as a powder to be mixed with water, providing a whitewashed or distressed look, and some people are mixing it themselves with ingredients found at the hardware store. Search online for “milk paint recipe” to try mixing up a batch, or look for the beautiful range of colors available through several vendors. Milk paint has been described as stain-like in consistency, though it can be thicker depending on how much water is added. It leaves a chippy or flaking surface, particularly when applied on previously finished pieces. Waxes and water-based sealers can be applied after painting.
Pocket doors slide within the wall, while barn door hardware lets you slide a door along the outside of a wall. Sometimes you have wall space where you can slide a door, but there are pipes or electrical within the wall that would be hard to reroute. A barn door– style slider might then be a good option for you. Using a translucent material is a great way to allow extra light into the room and still provide privacy. It also is a great style statement in this home.
Urban wabi-sabi. For the feel of your own Zen retreat in the middle of the city, this look is all about stripped-down surfaces, natural textures and wide-open space. Pick from among these key elements to create your own take on the look: Low-slung platform bed or tatami mat Concrete walls or floors Raw reclaimed wood Pure linen bedding with lots of rustic texture Sleek modern lighting Cool palette of silvery gray, white and black Large-scale abstract art in black and white
Full draperies. Draperies are not essential to every room. In fact, there’s a certain modernist charm to leaving windows completely unadorned. But when used, draperies should be in sufficient fullness and height to look like a celebration rather than a functional afterthought. Three-foot-wide curtain panels may cover a window, but for designer fullness the material should be 2½ to three times wider than the window, and start at either the ceiling or a good 12 to 18 inches above the window line. I designed the room shown here. The window behind the draperies is actually rather small and off-center. With the wall-to-wall drapery, you’d never know it.
Texture. A rich variety of physical and visual textures takes a room from OK to truly engaging. Here, texture makes a simple color palette look beautiful. An easy way to add texture is to introduce a piece that includes wood, another that includes metal and another that includes glass. For a truly designer look, find places to include as many of these materials as you can: leather, paper (books or art), plush fabrics, mirrored surfaces, tufting, lacquer, basketweave, sheers, ceramics, concrete and textural patterns (like the nebulous rug shown here).
Radiant room divider. For those accustomed to snowy Decembers, admiring falling snowflakes from a well-lit vantage is a heartwarming winter tradition. As wonderful as thick drapery panels are for insulation during the cold-weather months, sometimes a bare window with nothing but holiday lights just feels right.
Modern cabin fever. Houzzers loved the careful balance of rustic and modern in well-designed bedrooms. In this room, a gray wood accent wall, playful cruelty-free trophies, wood platform beds, cozy neutral bedding and a hanging chair won it many fans.
I want every garden I see to blow my mind open, throw my senses into overdrive and transport my body to another level of being in a way that only nature can. The point of a garden is for it to be an artistic interpretation of the natural world — it’s art, it’s creative and it’s drawing outside the lines to create tension that induces a metaphysical response in those who walk or drive by the landscape. What am I saying? Let’s rethink how and where we’re planting, and what plants need to thrive.
Photography. The clever designers at DKOR Interiors Inc. had a photograph blown up, printed on canvas and then stretched across three canvas frames, creating a dynamic oversized triptych.
Here you can see how the kitchen, dining room and living room relate to one another. Price sunk the living room space down a few inches to create some definition for it.
At the top of the stairs, wide glass-paneled front doors welcome visitors.
The couple turned this green space into a quiet area for relaxing and decorated it with a wall of old gears.
This rustic, elegant kitchen includes a cooking fireplace.
The kitchen used to be accessed via the hall, but now double doors connect it to the living room. “It’s a better use of space, and you get more kitchen out of it,” Voûte says. “Light flows from the bay window at the front right through to the kitchen now.”
Voûte had a radiator cover built that now fulfills two functions. “It covers an ugly radiator,” she says, “but it also acts as a console table. I was going to put a console here, but in the end I just got a slightly deeper cover fitted. It’s [about 18 inches] wide, so it acts like a table, providing a place for lamps while concealing the radiator, too.”
Hot water. Again, this is another assumption we make, and yes, it’s fair to assume that any reasonable builder will include some kind of hot water heater. However, if you prefer to install an environmentally friendly solar hot water unit, you need to make that very clear, as the cost for one can be up to three times higher than for other systems.
Blend structures. For a more modern approach, you can make your fence work triple time by rounding and extending the top overhead. To soften the look, plant vines at the base that can wind their way up and over. Ipe wood surrounds this intimate Manhattan rooftop. The wood slats climb up a steel structure that offers shade and privacy from surrounding buildings.
Grow vines over a pergola. There’s nothing quite like the magic of vines growing overhead, whether your aesthetic is classic or contemporary. There are hundreds of vines to choose from, depending on your yard’s growing conditions. Evergreen clematis (Clematis armandii) has attractive, shiny, deep-green leaves throughout the year and fragrant, white, star-shaped flowers in spring. A deciduous vine, which loses its leaves in fall and winter, allows precious sunlight to stream in when you want it most.
Hang a shade sail. A shade sail, made of moisture-resistant fabric, is another great way to create temporary shade for your patio. A shade cloth can be easily attached and removed from a free-standing post set in concrete or metal hooks mounted to the side of a structure. Try overlapping multiple sails in different colors for a lively look. This sheltered patio sets the stage for hours of outdoor lounging.
Light your table. Inside, thoughtful lighting is crucial to the appearance and functionality of a space. If you plan to use your garden after the sun goes down, consider the lighting here, too. A mix works best, from softly shaded bulbs that provide background ambient light to twinkling candles and accent lighting positioned to pick out a beautiful tree or sculpture.
Stick to a single color. This compact terrace works as an extra room because it doesn’t try to do too much. There’s not enough space for big trees or complicated schemes, but flowers in a single color lift the mood, providing an easy setting for meals or drinks outside. Twin olive trees add variety.
Think along the same lines. This architectural area is sliced through with Crittall steel-framed glass, lending a Japanese feel. The planting scheme enhances the mood, with fronds and grasses in complementary black planters. Aside from creating a cohesive feel, the large glass panels also mean the sight lines through the addition remain unfettered.
There are numerous vines, shrubs and flowering perennials that can contribute flavors, fragrance and beauty to your iced tea garden. If you’re going to incorporate a pergola for shade, consider planting a climbing rose to grow over it, as both the petals and the hips can be used for tea. Jasmine is another fragrant vine to consider — the flowers will add a heady fragrance to your brew. Common jasmine (Jasminum officinale, zones 8 to 10) is the preferred species for that purpose.
Get creative with your house numbers. A friend of the homeowners designed this unique house number panel for them. The numbers were cut into bead-blasted stainless steel. They add a graphic architectural touch.
Treat your entry like a gallery. This sculpture makes a big statement next to the pivot door. Its scale is just right for the height of the overhang, and the white behind it provides the stark backdrop it calls for.
Add some punch to your pergola with a sheltering arch, then string it with lights for a veil of dappled illumination. (Outdoor string lights like these can be found for as little as $10 a strand.) Notice the floor lamp and the piece of art perched on the fireplace “mantel” — domesticating touches that make this a space you’d hate to leave.
A built-in bench hugs the inside of a wall, conserving space on this terrace and maximizing seating when there’s a crowd. Notice how the houndstooth on the pad is echoed in the throw pillows, and how the simple presence of an oval table (how often do you see those on a patio?) makes the space feel distinctive.
Walls — even if they’re made of canvas — can help frame views and shelter you from breezes. Plus, they give you a cozy and protected feeling when you’re out in nature. Lanterns, potted plants and antiques (such as the enamel stove in the corner) add to the cozy quotient here.
Clarity and greenery are key, according to Broad, and are the essence of this space. “An outdoor space to me should be simple in material and plant selection and absolutely draped in greenery. It should be responsive to the seasons and create a relaxed mood,” he says.
One of the most striking features of the garden is the Parthenocissus quinquefolia ‘Virginia creeper’ hanging from the pergola in the dining area. It provides a whimsical element and adds another veil of mystery, inviting the visitor to explore further.
One of the most striking features of the garden is the Parthenocissus quinquefolia ‘Virginia creeper’ hanging from the pergola in the dining area. It provides a whimsical element and adds another veil of mystery, inviting the visitor to explore further.
Maintenance requirements. Before you decide on your plants and planting palette, it’s worth considering how much time you want to spend maintaining your garden. Going on size alone, maintenance in an urban garden is not going to be very intensive. Over time there will always be a certain amount of pruning, dividing and replanting, as well as the run-of-the-mill tidying. By initially researching which plants are suitable for your planting scheme, you should be able to understand their maintenance needs and how they will fit in with your schedule.
Select plants that are hardy enough to grow in your garden, especially when you have limited space. Though your garden’s climate is set geographically, its design can influence the temperature. Small, enclosed gardens can create a microclimate with higher average temperatures that allow more tender plants to grow. But just as cold and wind can damage plants, strong sun and heat can be just as bad, especially in enclosed courtyard gardens, where reflected heat can be concentrated and retained.
What about containers? In a small space, planters in the same hue and cast of the same material will create the illusion of a larger space. People often choose containers that have no common thread in an effort to spice up their spaces. Doing this generally leaves the space feeling fragmented and searching for identity. This is not to say that each container needs to be the same. Consider mixing shapes and sizes while maintaining the common thread of color and material. Additionally, the use of similar containers can bring rhythm to the space. Rhythm pulls the eye through the garden and helps the brain process it in a favorable manner. Another common mistake is to choose containers that are too small. When in doubt, go a size or two larger. Your space will appear grander because of it, and your plants will thrive in the extra room.
Consider the run of your fencing, horizontal or vertical, because each brings a very different feeling to the space. Vertical fencing pulls the eye upward and can reduce perceived scale, making people feel smaller. Horizontal fencing creates a secure feeling of enclosure, rather like a hug. It also keeps the eye moving around the space, discovering new things.
If your garden walls cannot be changed, consider building one or more screens and painting them black to achieve the same look. Screens also cover a multitude of design sins, such as trash cans and HVAC units.
’m a big fan of black garden walls, especially in small spaces. Contrary to the popular opinion that dark walls make a space feel smaller, they can actually expand the space visually by fading into oblivion. If you are a doubter, look up at the night sky; you’ll see what I mean. Additionally, black walls can bring a crisp, sophisticated, contemporary or elegant vibe to your space. Dark green and chartreuse foliage, as well as white flowers, look their best against black walls.
Dress up candles with woodsy details. Curl a wide green leaf and drop it into a glass jar — then fill the jar with water and float a tea light on top. Or use lengths of birch bark (available at craft stores) to wrap the outside of a jar or candleholder, and fasten them with twine.
Create a vine-covered party pad. Make a lush, jungle oasis by training climbing vines over garden walls and stringing up rows of glowing lights. A long, low outdoor fireplace is the perfect spot for gathering around, while weatherproof modern chairs add a colorful touch.
A new lap pool anchors the back of the garden, and an arbor shades a particularly sunny part of the garden. A casual arrangement of patio furniture draws visitors back as another seating spot. “I really wanted to create a space with many destinations,” Hauser says.
On the other side of the garden, a secluded outdoor shower gives garden visitors a place to rinse off after a swim. The koi painting and hanging mirrors continue the garden’s aquatic, whimsical theme, and arching ferns grow inside the shower, gracefully closing in on the stall from their pots.
The clients’ request for indoor plants has been played out in the kitchen with a custom-made suspended pergola covered in vine. The combination of the spotted gum island countertop, stainless steel cooking counter and reconstituted stone sink works in harmony against the crisp white backdrop and green backsplash.
window treatment
love the look and feel of this room!
Q