Category: Garden
For this weekend..
We have two large garden parties in the diary to cater for – one in June, one in September. Just enough time to put the thinking cap on.
After weather, lighting has to be the key ingredient.
So I’ve ordered 2 metre fence poles from Ebay (cheap as chips) to concrete into tubs.
A few hooks and just imagine what we could create..
Laters, Kate x
The Garden x
This was the dream: Box hedging filled in with lavender, off set with a white climbing rose. Simple. Effective. And then the Box Moth caterpillar arrived en masse and started to do it’s worst.
I tried – I went round each plant, taking off the beasts and cutting back all the plants, then hosed them down with the pressure hose, all to no avail. The buggers came back. So drastic action was needed..all the box plants have gone. My flowerbeds are a wasteland with nothing more than a couple of brave shoots. I’m desperate to re-plant and nows the time to do it, but as you can see, the fence needs replacing (the neighbours have been building an extension) it will happen, and quite soon..but nothing can go back till it does or risk builders-boot-annihilation. I hope there will still be enough time to get some summer colour…
This is the plan..when the green light does shine I’m going for blousey minimalist (I think this could be a new ‘thing’)..filling the entire bed with lavender plants and one white climbing rose.
I keep telling myself dreaming is good.
Laters, Kate x
First Craft x
Monday madness, first day of the hols and the sun was shining…we spent it in the garden with lovely friends marbling everything we could find.
We used these marbling inks from Brian Clegg for £9.50, ordered from Ebay..
(Plus the metallic set of 10 for the same price…they added a certain sparkle)
They couldn’t have been easier to use – drop on to water, mix with a skewer if you fancy, lay paper on top then peel off and dry..
The results were impressive.
This could be the wallpaper for the downstairs toilet..
So easy, so joyful!
Laters, Kate x
Pod x
The quote is back for the garden office: this could actually be happening! The basic design is based on the shape above with the high point of the roof at the front, it’s a bit of an optical illusion that makes the rest of the roof disappear. As above, there will be one long bench desk across the window leaving the majority of the floor space clear for the kids to potentially camp out as and when. The entrance will be down the left side (just out of sight in the picture). Ours will be slightly bigger than this with a little add on room on the right where the roof dips down, to provide extra storage for gardening equipment etc to make use of our irregular shaped garden which only pretends to be a rectangle.
Inside will be a cunning mixture of plywood…
pallet wood….
And white.
Lights will either be black, adjustable wall light/s.
Or possibly, depending on height/position a lamp like this one from Ikea at £29 hung against the ceiling. Why not?
And of course there needs to be a bright splash of colour with a vintage desk lamp.
(All pics Pinterest)
Heating will be a stove in the corner.
Bliss. When can I move in?
Laters, Kate x
Pod luck..
This is more of a dream than a reality, but it’s something The Husband and I keep talking about..converting our slowly decaying shed into a state of the art office pod.
Given we live in London, it’s never going to be very big. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be well designed.
Nows the space to make a list of all the features that appeal, just in case the green light happens – like noting the slatted wall on the left for future reference.
Not practical for a garden, but the shelf-desk across the large window ticks the boxes.
As do these simple modular seating cushions.
(All pictures Pinterest. Somewhere!)
And black. It must be black..
Laters, Kate x
Exteriors..
As the internal painting on the house starts coming to an end (just the downstairs toilet and some radiator cabinets to go) all thoughts are turning to the outside. It’s a big decision and needs time to mull.
There’s so many options..dramatic and black?
I like it..but I think it might be better on the back of the house…(I just love the way it contrasts with green..)
So at the front..I’m thinking putty coloured windows and woodwork..but the front door? A darker putty shade? or that classic pale blue…
Or even a mallow pink?
Hmmmmmm. There’s no rush – we like the front looking crap as a burglar deterrent over the summer…but the picture needs to come into focus..
Laters, Kate x
Roses are red..
This post is to remind me to plant the white rambling rose that’s been languishing in it’s pot for the last two weeks…because if it’s all constrained, there’s no hope it will ever look like a half of one of these..and with Chelsea round the corner..there really is no excuse..
Sigh.
Laters, Kate x
Some dreams are made of this..
The temperature is rising, the bluebells are out! And like the instinct of an awakening hibernating beast, the brain is coming alive with illicit thoughts of cloudless skies and barmy evenings and how best to harness those precious summer months.
More and more I’m dreaming of hammocks and swing beds.
That primitive allure of quiet self-indulgence: Peace, tranquility, old soft cotton and a damn fine book.
If our garden was huuuuge I’d go for one of these…beds on top..potential den beneath…broken bones a given…but just think of the fun!
This is probably more realistic – and I like the pagoda style..a bit more secretive and tucked away. Maybe with a curtain to block out nosey neighbours…and with a back support – I hate reading completely flat. It would eat the space…but in a rather wonderful way. The truth is we have an urban life: Our garden will never be a football pitch…so why pretend?
Laters Kate x
Trial 1..
The inspiration..
The recipe.
The attempt.
That never progressed beyond this.
The aftermath.
The rain.
(Trial 2…soon….I will not be beaten. My garden might…)
Laters, Kate x
In England’s green and pleasant land..
We spent the Bank Holiday weekend with family in the light, clean air of the country, marvelling at the fresh greens and bright colours of early summer, whiling away happy hours reading papers that got read, drinking wine and watching dogs happily snoring in the sun.
Their’s is a garden that represents all that is good about England; It’s a place were time stands still yet life buzzes around.
It’s a joy just to walk around and breathe in.
And the children love the freedom of space..
(Taken just for Lauren..)
They have the most amazing tree..
Like something straight out of Doctor Seuss and The Lorax..
I loved it..made me giggle and sigh.
There was much playing of football with cousins and dogs till the sun went down. Gentle, simple..heavenly.
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 