Lloyd Flander's Coastal Dining

Picture this you are in the mountains of North Carolina out on a beautiful stone covered terrace over looking the Blue Ridge mountains. Your rustic charmed home is filled with exposed beams, high ceilings, and warmth from your gorgeous stone fire place.The air is crisp, the leaves beautiful shades or gold and red. You just woke up grabbed your ipad and headed outside to sit on your terrace. You are listening to the nature wake up while reading the New York times enjoying your best fair trade blend. What are you sitting on?

This collection has been called Coastal by Lloyd Flanders but I see it as the perfect set for the lodge feel or lakehouse perhaps. I have a friend Kim who has a great lake cabin in Minnesota. I think I need to show her this set it’s perfect for her wood porch nestled outside of her large glass windows on her a frame home. That’s it I’m calling this collection Lake Cottage!  

Llyod Flander's Coastal Collection

Tommy Bahama Patio Furniture

This year Tommy Bahama outdoor furniture offered several items that I found filled a void in the industry. The first example of this is true coastal furniture for the traditionalist at heart. I like this line because the synthetic weave has the look of a twisted palm frond. This aluminum and wicker combination offers just the right combo to balance what may be present inside your coastal home. Although Lloyd Flander’s was showing a line that was called coastal I think they should called lodge or lake house and they would get more hits. I can see this collection on big wide open back patio maybe on the inter-coastal, bay, or even the wide open water. This style works beautifully with Carolina coastal all the way down to the Bahamas. Give me a tin roof, margarita, and this Tommy Bahama collection please!

Tommy Bahama Patio Furniture

 If your looking for these great coastal style finds. You will have to sit tight. The outdoor furniture line is in the processs of changing hands to Lexington.

My niece Abby has beleived in fairies since the age of 5. My sister used to type up letters on the computer from the fairies and reduce them down to a tiny size, roll them in a scroll like form, and neatly set them at the base of oak tree outside of their family home. That is where Abigail made a little fairy house for all of the wonderful, magically winged characters that would come visit her in the night. When I found these fairy gardens at the show I thought the dream could go on forever. Even if she found out that fairies weren’t for real the little gardens she could make, the tools, and the fairy furniture would be enough to keep the dream alive.

 At http://fairygardening.com you can learn where to buy, how to care for , and all about the magical ferries that can visit your home and make your little one smile.

Fairy Garden

Fairy Garden

Fat Boy Chandelier

I cannot wait for this little number to become available for sale. Fat Boy well known for it’s comfy exterior bean bags is entering the world of hanging exterior lighting in a most exciting and different way. I think this chandelier will work in many different styles although the red cord might be a bit limiting. Should I drop them a note and say please offer black too! I love this!

Fat Boy Exterior Chandelier

Kim’s 5 Top Christmas Picks For The Gardener 

What to buy the garden enthusiast? Check out my top 5!

Over the years I have been given many garden gadgets such as travel garden kits, cute little yard ornaments like spinning flowers, glass bulb humming bird feeders, etc…While I’m supremely happy to be thought of during the holiday season, I would like to let my family and friends that receiving garden art is like sometimes having to wear your grandmothers gifted alphabet sweater at age 15. I don’t want a purple windmill in the middle of my yard. Save your money or go cool! Buy something for your gardening loved one that they wouldn’t usually splurge on for themselves. This is what my list would look like for Santa…

1. Books, books, and more garden books. There is always room for one more garden book in a true entusiasts life.

Check out:

The Life and Love of Trees by Lewis Blackwell

2. The Bradley and Tanner Leather Apron in Pink. It also comes in brown and  green. (Currently $120.00 based on British Pound Conversion)

Check out the leather knee pads too!

(These will set you back about $470.00 plus shipping from Europe)

Country Garden Boots

4. Burgon and Ball  Anything Sophie Conran

Les Jardins Privacy Planter

Considering that I’m in the garden on a daily basis sculpting dreams for my clients I found refuge in a 1600SF condo in downtown Tampa. Lucky for me my balcony is recessed which gives me ample privacy or as much as living on top of someone can be. However, as time goes on it’s not just condo living that’s close but also many single family 2 and 3 story homes are being built just feet apart. In my neck of the woods it’s 10′ to be exact. One issue that clients ofetn face is how to get some privacy from their neighbor. While one of my favorite screens to build is dry bamboo boxed in I thought these planters from Les Jardins were feeling a niche need. Companies go out on limb sometimes developing these products and you won’t find many available. Stay tuned and I’ll show you how to mak that bamboo screen soon!

Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Waters

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Waters

Pathway to Falling Waters

When I was a small child my grandparents moved from Pittsburgh to Indian Lake Pennsylvania. I couldn’t wait for breaks from school so that my brother, sister , and I could go to Gram and Poppie’s house just 2 hours outside of Pittsburgh. Once off the turn pike it’s like we entered a new world. It was so peaceful and beautiful. The air was crisp, the sky without light pollution seemed to magically glisten, the trees tall and dense represented every shade of green imaginable. It was heaven on earth. I can see why the Kaufmann family loved this place to get away from it all. While there home was just  a 30 minute drive away from my grandparents, it was nestled in those same Pennsylvania mountains I like to call my home away from home. I can’t think of a better architect than Frank Lloyd Wright to capture the essence of the area. He was so gifted and sought to develop architecture to be harmonious with nature. I’m guessing, but I think that falling waters could be thing single most significant representation of that on this planet today. I was lucky enough to arrive on a rainy day.

Moss lined walls at Falling Waters

 The beautiful moss growing on the stone surrounding the house was postcard, the sound of the falling water emphasized like a symphony coming to crescendo, and the peaceful sound of the rain dripping through the trees made me feel one with Mr. Wright’s vision.

Falling Waters Sculptural Art

Falling Waters Sculptural Art

Falling Waters Sculpture

One of my favorite things about the garden areas surrounding the home were the stragegic placement of beautiful sculptural art. Everything had it’s place. If you are planning a visit go to www.fallingwater.org for more information.

Elaine Smith’s Pillow Fashion Sense…Inconceivably Outdoors!

Elaine Smith Exterior Pillows

Elaine Smith Exterior Pillow

I’m always looking for that next level when it comes to personalizing your outdoor living space. While I love to put pillows outside I have to admit I kept it simple. I may use beautiful fabrics, but I play it safe by using welts, cording, and the occasional exterior fringe to dress my pillows up. I’m sure you’ve heard the statement devil is in the details. How fun would it be to make sure you didn’t over look the fluffy pillows that you might lay your sweet head down on as you take a nap in the fresh air on your patio?  In combination Elaine Smith’s creative styles with beautiful fabrics take this exterior detail to the next level.

Elaine Smith Outdoor Pillows

 Check out this nautical style pillow…beautiful!

Elaine Smith Outdoor Pillow

Elaine Smith Exterior Pillow

Tommy Bahama Armoire for Exterior

I’m really glad that the new Tommy Bahama line has picked up what I’m putting down. The exterior is an outdoor living space not just words. Think of the furniture that works for the interior and reproduce the items for the exterior. I’m often building armoires to hold pool towels, kids water toys, sunscreens, etc…Although the style of the Tommy Bahama unit is not versatile enough to be used in every eclectic decor it’s a start. I like the Pride Family Brands credenza available in several different finishes. Neither of these pieces are sealed and weather can get in but I think the breath-ability is great for not developing mold. 

Tommy Bahama Outdoor Armoire

Watch The Green Eyed Gardner…that’s me…discover the world through it’s gardens.

http://www.exteriordecorating.com/blog/green-eyed-gardener/green-eyed-gardener