Fall containers and dry hands

It's that time again.....Fall containers! Summer plantings are tiring, time to enjoy a renewal and the rich colors of Autumn. Here are a few we planted for our clients

 Once again, it is all about the foliage. A good variety of shapes and colors add punch to any composition.
Plants; millet, rudbeckia, purple cabbage, orange celosia, cinnamon curls heuchera, yet to bloom mums, ornamental grass and faux red berries. The heuchera is a perennial. I love it for the foliage  impact and plant it in the ground before it freezes

 CABBAGE! Add Heuchera 'caramel' and angel vine. See the tufts of brown twiggy matter. This combination provides non-stop color while not dependent upon blooms, even staying fresh through November

 Giant Bor Kale.......Wowza!

 Mixed with more Heuchera 'caramel', ornamental grasses and pansies.

 A surround of small Heuchera 'Caramel' and every other plant, small purple cabbage, ringing yellow mums

Feathers, purple cabbage, celosia and pansies

 You will notice repetion in the plantings, it's what I ordered this year for color and texture. Some of the same with the addition of bittersweet vines and a few purple petunias

 That twisty brown twiggy bit is more angel vine. I chose this spot because I was seeing too much kale stem...stuck it in here and there for interest. A cardinal rule; never leave the stems showing, personally makes me crazy. Yep, does not take much!

 More of the same with artifical ornamental grass "feathers"

 All bittersweet, 20 bundles!

As the mini pumpkins arrive from the farmer they will be tucked in around the base of the cabbage

I did not do this but enjoyed it's creativity. A hydrangea paniculata, Black Pearl ornamental pepper and the yellow foliage of Dicentra (bleeding Heart)

Love blue in the garden? How about navy blue!? Took a couple of blue photographs in my garden. This is Carrion Berry vine. 

Blue Hydrangea and Black and Blue Salvia which in person is cobalt blue

Having a blog has it's perks and this one arrived in the mail after a day of planting containers. With bone dry hands, I cracked open the package to find this product. Amlactin Ultra  which claims to soften severe, dry, areas by exfoliation and boosting regeneration of new cells. Being a sucker for miracle products, I thought, well if this isn't the best test! After a day in the garden, my hands are toast for two days. The next morning, viola, baby soft hands.The manufacturer sent this product for my review and I gladly give it 5 stars!

Well, I am off to catch a plane.....outta here!

Debra

A garden surprise

Little 'gifts' arrive in the most unexpected way.

Today a potential client came into the shop, seeking interior help on the new home she just bought. When she pulled it up on Zillow, I was thrilled to say, "That is one of our landscapes!"

How rewarding to see a landscape not only at maturity but perfectly tended

Having chatted many times about the importance of matching the landscape to the architecture of your home, this image perfectly defines that thought process. My inspiration? The front door. See the Georgian styled scrolls? That was projected onto the ground with the sinuous boxwood lines

 Ahhhh, the rear garden is where her primary interest lied. The garden mirrored our clients personality; a touch formal and very feminine

 There are many details to absorb here....... awning, metal work on a blank wall, appropriately sized lanterns, and much more not discernable in this image. One of my favorite design elements is to mix hardscape materials, in this instance Old street bricks and limestone pavers, used as an area rug under the table and chairs.
Not visible were a pair of enormous, heavy, Victorian chandeliers stripped of their chains, sitting upright in a low bed of groundcover.

It's so important that your views are relevant from many vantage points, indoors and out.

Ever grateful for the opportunities, my soul is full.

Debra

HELLO?

Anyone still there?  Hellooooo?

Life interfered.....some good, some bad, like all of us really. Let's catch up.....

On the personal front, I have been helping a dear friend diagnosed with cancer, doesn't it seem like cancer is everywhere?

Then my beloved Cooper's health declined, rapidly, in all directions, he now has a dermatologist, optometrist, neurologist, and an oncologist

Yeah, this guy. Fourteen more chemo treatments and all will be well.

To entertain myself at the weekly visit to the vet/specialist/ money pit, I marvel at how many owners look like their dogs, then I looked down, color coordinated! (my right foot is permanently swollen from ankle surgery, ugggh)

On the business front......slammed! Supposed to be good, right? Well, it is a blessing, but YIKES! When landscapes collide with interiors, there is not an iota of time for mischief

Always great fun/hard work is my semi-annual jaunt to Atlanta for market and antiquing

 My favorite market find were these vinyl floor cloths, gasp! The manufacturers scoured old European patterns of tile and linoleum floors then replicated them, wear and all.

 Printed with plastic ink (who knew?) they will not wear from areas of heavy foot traffic, indoors or out. Nor will they slide with their foam backing. Clever!

My inner lighting freak, loved the design and craftsmanship in this baby. The high design elements in the lighting arena remain astounding, like art installments

The reflective glow from the hammered gold backing is mesmerizing.

Blessing beads, available in a multitude of colors, these make a great gift for newlyweds, new homeowners, grads, a friend in need.....For one of my interior clients, the manufacturer is creating a bead curtain to separate a room, ala 1960's

Mmmmm, everywhere was a relaxed European style of bed dressing in velvet, pure cotton, and linens. I found many sheets in linen, have you ever enjoyed such a sleep? This hard wearing organic fabric improves with repeated washings becoming smoother and more luxurious in texture

Then there is always that piece, actually more than that, way more until your eyes begin to bleed. Look at the size of this vase/statue/WHAT!?

Nothing beats the antiquing down south, here are just a few finds that came back to the shop

                                                                   SCORE!
This Louisphile had heart tremors, "please do not be sold, PLEASE", I said to myself. A custom side table from the estate of one of the Gimbel descendants, and her Louis trunk below

 Another vintage oil from a dealer friend that sources original art in Provence. And these beautiful clock faces

 Once again my favorite dealer and good friend Lisa finds the most interesting pieces on her European jaunts. If you have followed this blog her genius comes up again and again. But here we are a bit stumped, (theatre periodicals?!) but the look is oh so goooood!

 I bought all 40+ wooden books. Country of origin, Spain.

 Copper clad boxes/tables

 It goes without saying......I just had to have this duplicated!

 Landscaping........Here is a before, this back yard fronting a garage, has weeds 5' tall, this space will reemerge with stone walls, descending steps (yes there are huge grade changes in there), patio and plantings. Stay tuned.......

 And thoughts of Christmas are not far behind, yes Christmas! Here is a glimpse of the home we are decorating this year for the Geneva, Christmas house walk. A pre-civil war gem. This nook, oh to have such a nook; stone floors, stunning fireplace, vintage harvest table, COZY......The homeowner said many a winter dinners and conversations take place here

The predominant theme in holiday decor? Christmas at Tiffany's; garlands  of pearl, faux gems, rhinestones........I succumbed, so so beautiful

Amy Howard, of the Amy Howard Paint and Decorative Finish line, has a new book out. Targeted to the  creatives among us that dream of developing a business. Trust me it is doable and she maps out guidelines for success.

How about your summer? All you hoped for with some fun sprinkled in?

And yes, off to work one day with my client. Pinch, pinch!

Wishing you good health, and endless inspiration, 

Debra