Yep, it’s just about that time again for summer barbecues.  I can almost taste the watermelon.  Yum.  I love getting new accessories for the yard, especially when it comes to outdoor entertaining and summer parties.  Here are a few things I spotted this week.

1. Pillows. Crate&Barrel.  Love getting new pillows.  It’s an inexpensive way to feel like you are getting brand-new furniture.

2. Metal Tray. West Elm.

3. Drink Tub.  CB2.  I love these.  Nothing like a drink tub to make bottled water look classy.

4. Tablecloth.  Target.

5. Outdoor pouf. Crate&Barrel.  These are great to use as seats or sidetables.  Very fun.

6. Striped umbrella.  Ikea.

7. Lantern. Crate&Barrel.

Found any fun outdoor accessories you love this season?

1.  These planters are from Crate & Barrel.  I like the variety of heights here.

2.  Blue Star Agave.  I love agave.  It is very drought resistant and hardly ever needs to be watered.  The look, too, is impressive and dramatic.

3. Cactus Pencil Plant.  Another unique plant and also very pretty.

4. Sedum Blue Spruce.  Also a great drought resistant plant.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  It is nice to have plants that don’t need a lot of water in your planters, so you don’t have to worry about leaving on vacation for a week or standing out with your hose hours each day.

5. Agave Quadracolor.  This agave has beautiful stripes in bright greens and yellows.

6. Green Mountain Boxwood.  Another classic I like using in pots and planters.

We are putting these all together soon at a landscaping job we’re finishing up.  Excited to see the end result!

This first board is inspiration for the fire pit and entertaining area.  I love that this plan provides a lot of seating and an open area for guests to gather around.  Here, the fire pit will be positioned in the center with two chairs on either side and a sofa on the third side, making the whole formation a “U” shape.

1. This is the inspiration for the side table we are making.  There will be two of these and they will sit between the chairs on either side of the fire pit.  Photo from Room & Board.

2. Inspiration for the chairs.  Also from Room & Board.

3.  Solus Elevated Halo fire pit.  Just beautiful, right?  Even the name makes it sound cool.  This is the actual fire pit for the space.

4.  Some vases for the side table to add interest.  These are from Crate & Barrel.

5.  Throw pillows from Target.

6. Inspiration for the sofa.  Photo from Room & Board.

Adjacent to the fire pit and entertaining area will be the dining area.  Some really beautiful pieces here as well.

7. Two of these tables from our furniture line OpenAir.

8.  Accessories for the tables from Crate & Barrel.

9.  Fabric design for a table runner or tablecloth.

10. Chairs for the dining tables, also from OpenAir.

11. Basket for the tables, also from Crate & Barrel.

To finish things off, a lap pool and hot tub area extend the patio further.  It makes me want to go sit by the pool with a book right now.

12.  Baskets (Target) to hold towels and other pool accessories.

13. A few of these chaise lounges (CB2) in a couple different locations for some nice relaxation spots.

The entire set-up is really just breathtaking.  I love watching it all come together.

Supplies:

• 6″ Euphorbia tirucalli plant
• 6″ Terra Cotta pot
• 1 gallon of paint (color of your choice)
• 1 quart of shellac (clear)
• A handful of chartreuse reindeer moss

So, are you ready for the step by step in-depth, scientific process?  No?  Good because it’s actually very simple.  Take your terra cotta pot and dip it sideways in the paint.  Then let it dry.  I actually put my pots on a board with nails sticking out so the bottom of the pot doesn’t stick to the board.  While it’s drying sit on the couch with a magazine and eat a handful of chocolate chips.  It sounds irrelevant, but it’s actually a very crucial step.

After it’s dry (and you’ve finished your magazine), put a thin layer of shellac over the entire pot using a rag.  After the shellac dries, you are finally ready to transport the pencil plant in the terra cotta pot and cover the soil with reindeer moss.  Of course, you could substitute other plants in the pot as well.  I found this pairing looks nice and is easy to transport.

There you have it.  A nice, easy DIY that will look great resting on your kitchen table.

Like this one I have been working on for a client.

A design plan for a pergola.  The 3D Model is nice here because it has a more engaging design and much easier to see the proportions (like with my lovely virtual model standing here).  It also ensures that the client and I understand the intentions perfectly.

And another one for the same project:

You get the full effect here with raised planter boxes, pergola, arbor and fencing and various levels and heights of each.

Then, the inspiration photos for the project.  I like using these with the models because it adds life and personality.

Here, the raised planter boxes:

See the fence here:

And the arbor:

The whole thing fits together so nicely, and the models help with scale and proportion.  So fun to see it all come together.

Imagine these European Hornbeams over a chain link fence:

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Here are a few good options for hedges or living walls:

Peking Cotoneaster.  These make great hedges with a little bit of pruning.  They can have that nice, formal shape.

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Dogwoods are also nice:

Ivory Halo Dogwood

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Or Hedegrow Gold Dogwood

Here is the Hedegrow Gold bordering the property line of a landscaping job we did a few years ago.  It has filled in much more now.

Grass can also make a great hedge.  I like Miscanthus Sinensis.

Get the full effect here:

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Love this look.  Are you convinced yet?

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Love the simplicity.  This would be really easy to throw together.  And kids would love helping with the egg dyeing.

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Those colors are so soothing, aren’t they?

Love this take on an Easter bouquet.

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And I know this one is a few days late, but I couldn’t resist this.  Wouldn’t this be perfect for St. Patricks?  Love it.

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Any great decorating tips for the holidays?

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So pretty, right?  The great thing about succulents is they are as practical as they are pretty and an affordable way to add color and texture both inside and outside.

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Plus, they basically thrive on neglect and need very little care/water.  Always a bonus.  It seems everyone is looking for easy care when it comes to indoor/outdoor pots.

I have put some of these together for myself and clients:

I love the colors.  Nice to bring these rich greens inside.  Especially in the winter.  I used reindeer moss around the perimeter to fill in the pot a bit and add variety.

The wood tray and ceramic pots I purchased at Cactus & Tropicals last year.  Then painted the pots so I could get the right color.  I really like how they turned out.

With spring coming, and summer on its heels, I have been putting together inspiration boards and drawing up landscaping plans.  Lots of stuff coming in.  Exciting stuff!

With all that, I have been thinking about my favorites, favorite plants and trees (and favorite ice cream flavors, too but try not to get me started there).  Which lead me to Boston Ivy.

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Boston Ivy is a great vine.  It adds such charm and character to a home.  The foliage is beautiful in the spring and summer, but in the fall it turns a bold, rich red.  Just breathtaking.  And a nice variety to the usual green foliage of other plants.  It is also a fast-mover which is always a bonus.

With our cold (ok, freezing) winters, I usually encourage people to plant Boston Ivy on an east or north wall so it is a little more protected.

But it does have a nice effect, doesn’t it?

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