Use our creative summer decorating ideas and pictures for your front porch, yard, and home to create a curb appealing, relaxing, watch-the-world-go-by-oasis. Decorating for summer means combining beautiful colors and light breezy touches to your porch. You need not spend oodles on your summer decorations - look first at home, then flea markets or thrift shops. Even the dollar store.
Decorating the backyard in the first phase refers to the planning and design. For some people, creating the perfect backyard is instinctive: they know
Porch foundations are essential to the overall structure of your porch. A solid porch foundation will provide both safety and longevity of your structure.
To design a porch sunroom that will be defined to your taste, you should realize how much space you have and what kind of activities you want.
Whitney.Clemson University Alum. I'm just a southern belle who likes to raise a little hell.
Let’s look at some porch roof ideas and how you can boost the looks of the house front – even if you have a small porch.
These screened in porch plans may be used as-is or modified to fit your requirements. See a variety of screen porch plans to fit your outdoor project.
Let’s look at some porch roof ideas and how you can boost the looks of the house front – even if you have a small porch.
A sleeping porch is a fantastic way to feel connected to the outdoors while creating a camp-like atmosphere protected from the elements.
You'll be inspired after viewing these gorgeous photos of outdoor fall decorating ideas!
A porch remodel can expand your outdoor living space and totally transform the look of your home. These before-and-after photos, including small porch makeovers and total exterior remodels, demonstrate how adding or refreshing a porch can boost curb appeal and complement your home's style. Check out these exterior transformations to see the incredible results of a front porch remodel.
Det händer inte mycket på inredningsfronten här hemma, i alla fall inte inomhus. Jag pysslar mest i växthus, pergola och trädgård. Jag håller just nu på att bygga ett slagbord till uteplatsen. Jättero
Turn your outdoors into a sanctuary with these very creative pergola designs. Whether free standing or attached, these designs are a great way to improve landscape.
Japanese gardens are miniature worlds of abstract shapes–rocks, gravel, and cloud pruning–that represent the larger landscape of nature. 10 ideas to steal:
We've found front porch ideas to for your outdoor space. A couch on porch adds seating, airy curtains bring privacy, while color adds pop and fun.
This is a small side return extension to a Victorian terraced house in the heart of Camden Town. With space at a premium, we designed an inside-out lightweight exposed timber frame construction that creates a working wall incorporating services, shelving and recesses between the structure in the...
Welcome to YardSurfer.com. We share ideas and inspiration for gardens, backyards, patios, projects, pools and more.
Whether your porch is large or small, use these porch ceiling ideas as inspiration for creating a space that matches your sense of style.
Early spring is a great time to start thinking about garden planning ideas for your home. Add a cutting garden or add curb appeal to the front yard.
Plexiglass, a transparent hard plastic which is usually used in sheet form as a shatter-resistant replacement of regular glass, has been in constant loggerheads with frosted glass over its primary roles.
It's time to replace my mom's deck... and she wants a solarium. What are the pros, cons and tips we should be know before we get started?
Best home decor ideas to inspire you to tackle a home improvement project. These ideas range from simple decorating accents to complete kitchen make overs
We featured Tim Vojt's garden in Columbus, Ohio, for a full 3 days in January, and it was a hit! (Refresh your memory HERE, HERE, and HERE) Last week Tim decided to send in some photos of whats...
Pergolas are a fascinating hybrid of open and enclosed space. They can be either freestanding or attached to existing buildings; in some cases they are used to affect a transition between a home and yard, patio or pool.
Add value to your home with updates that are attractive and functional front yard landscaping ideas.
Explore these pergola ideas to help you find the best design for your backyard. They're a great way to add beauty and function to your landscaping.
Cottage style gardens are wildly popular today and tend to be lower maintenance than their formal counterparts. See how easy it is to add cottage style.
TOH readers took on another batch of rundown abodes and remade them into cheery and beautiful houses
Prevalent in the Southeastern coastal communities, the screened porch is a fabulous addition for any southern style home for relaxation.
Learn how to create your ideal outdoor living space with help from the experts. Discover 12 tips for creating a backyard barbecue area, covered patio and more.
This series is for everyone, if you are creating a new patio, adding another ,or accessorizing what you have. As in constructing a house we are creating from the ground up. This post will address the outdoor floor. Like the above image, most of our spaces are attached to the house But you might opt to add an additional space, for intimate conversation, reading and for being in the garden versus only having one space from which all activity and viewing occurs. Let's explore a few of the options GRASS. The least expensive option. The only downside is having to move the furniture in order to mow With brick and limestone Adore these checkerboard patterns. If the stones are set properly, you can mow over everything, including the stones CONCRETE. Fairly standard, but with such creativity as above, concrete can become interesting. It can also be stained to blend with your exterior colors DECKING. Adaptable and versatile. See what I mean? Combined with blue stone it is stunning! Mixed with stone and stained in a weathered gray When crafted with tight joinery, it enables you to paint patterns. How classic is harlequin? Degree of difficulty? HIGH! Stained in high gloss raises decking to another level FLAGSTONE/LIMESTONE. Loosely spaced allows planting between the stones with 'steppables', low growing plants that can tolerate foot traffic, particularly popular areherbs that release their scent once stepped on A "random" pattern, irregularly shaped stones Mortared joints. Notice the color change? Depending on where you live the stones can take on different shades. "Thermal" cut on all sides, including top and bottom, providing a very smooth surface MANUFACTURED STONE. As in the thermal stone, these are flat and smooth Manufactured stone with cobbles sunk in the ground and mortared. Love the softness of the plantings between the squares In the vein of the above, manufactured brick. For the record, this is my least favorite. Looks well, manufactured. Preferring natural elements for the textural contrasts and individual color ways. PEA GRAVEL. In the right setting this is my favorite; organic, inexpensive and interactive......the crunch underfoot With brick BRICK. Classic, diverse, terrific color ways. Some girls collect handbags, I collect brick, yes, I even have a brick broker! He scours the country seeking my love......rescued antique street bricks Are you fond of a particular pattern? A herringbone pattern with bluestone BLUESTONE. YES!!! Thermal cut, 'blue select' A section near our pool. This is called 'full range' bluestone, not as blue, not as expensive TILE. Live in a warm climate? Tile is an interesting choice If you have been following this series, we are creating a new outdoor space for Keri of the lovely, well written blog, http://www.ivyclad.com/ Issues; -existing concrete is cracked -cannot tolerate the manufactured brick edging.....YES! -must remain the same size to not loose any lawn space -the steps coming from her home are oddly configured. removing those steps and forming a rectilinear step pad that fills the entire insert and constructed of the same stone for the patio Keri wrote a great post on her inspiration images, her preferences, hopes and dreams......... The above image resonated with her and it does me too. It is the perfect look of limestone and works well with the color of her siding. Now, I pride myself on listening to clients, really listening. However, I ask Keri to consider replacing the manufactured border with limestone, with a planting bed between the wall and the patio, providing a lovely softening effect. Keri, weigh in! My hope is that you too found inspiration here. The next phase is the "ceiling"; trellises, sailcloth, patio umbrella's..........see you then Debra
Are you bored with your outdoor space? If so, now is a good idea to cast a critical eye over your space to see if there is anything you can do to improve it. Even if you have a relatively small budget, we have some great ideas for you.
If you want maximal coziness for your patio, choose the rustic style. These rustic patio ideas will turn any backyard into warming and inviting outdoor space.
If any one designer epitomizes the look of Cote de Texas, it would be Ginny Magher from Atlanta, Georgia. Ginny became well known when her two houses, one in Provence and one in Atlanta, were both featured in Veranda, Southern Accents and numerous other magazines starting in the late 1990s. Her Provence house was so popular is was recently included in The Houses of Veranda by Lisa Newsom. Remember this cover – showing a guest bedroom at Ginny’s gorgeous Provence farmhouse?? It had the oversized Manuel Canovas toile in black and white, mixed with blue! How many bedrooms did this cover inspire? And notice the station clock, years and years before it became so trendy. A few years after the Provence house was published – this cover story featured Ginny’s Atlanta house – designed to resemble a “Hotel Particulier” one might see in Paris. Just look at those Versailles patterned parquet floors and the French boiserie painted a soft celadon green. Magher’s two houses are all over pinterest, but still, I tried to find the prettiest and biggest pictures in my magazines and on the internet to show here – in one place – to celebrate the designer who epitomizes Country French décor. PROVENCE – Mas de Baraquet: BEFORE: How to you turn a ruin like this into a spectacular country vacation house? You hire the best in the restoration business in France, for one thing: Bruno LaFourcade, a self-taught architect, who, along with his wife and son, can transform the most rundown pile of stones into a magical place. Here you can see two dovecotes on each side of the property, along with 4 plane trees that stand in front of the old farmhouse. (a special thank you to blogger Trouvais for some of these scans!) And After: Named Mas de Baraquet, the house looks out onto the front terrace shaded by four centuries-old plane trees. I love the gate at the end of the graveled terrace. And on the far right – notice the stone fountain? A close up of the stone fountain. The restored dovecote is seen at the right. How many people today use stone trough’s for fountains inspired by Ginny’s? The terrace with its box and gravel – so French. And another view of the front façade. How many people were influenced with this house since it was first published 13 years ago? The stucco, the blue shutters, the French pots filled with simple box balls, the lanterns, the iron balconies – so many elements that are found in upscale neighborhoods today. Dining on the front terrace. Notice the tall steel window/door – at what was once probably an entrance to the animal stalls and is now the orangery. The terrace set up for an afternoon meal under the large plane trees. Ginny has her studio in the dovecote. And looking the other direction – out towards the dovecote on the right. The front terrace, overlooking the farm land and mountain range. And later, the same field with lavender. Other times the field is ablaze with sunflowers. One of the dovecotes as it looks today. BEFORE: To the side of the mas is the beginnings of the pergola and the swimming pool. AFTER: The pergola covered in vines and roses. Off the side of the pergola is the swimming pool. Larger view. The landscaping around the mas is so beautiful with all the clipped box and stone steps. A birthday party thrown for Ginny’s husband included dinner on the terrace. So pretty! Close up of the candles in limes and pink roses. Ginny’s husband Craig’s placesetting – with the specialized place card. Ginny says: "In the summer at our home, Mas de Baraquet, in Provence, we love to entertain on the terrace under our beautiful plantain trees. It is magic to be there looking out on the fields of wheat and sunflowers. When I dream of Provence, I dream of this setting. This particular evening, we were having a dinner party for my husband's 70th birthday. Friends came from all over the world to celebrate with us. With the help of my friend and florist, Sebastien from Celia Flor in Arles, our chef who prepares the most wonderful Provencal dishes, a local Jazz band from St. Remy and great wines from the region, it was a very magical evening indeed!!!" Inside the mas, the entry hall with the stone staircase. Notice the painting above the desk and the sconces flanking it!! Soooo beautiful. A close up of the French desk and sconces. It looks like a cartoon – a drawing made before a tapestry is created - above the desk. The house is an enfilade – all rooms flow off each other in a row. Here in the entry hall is the front door, then the study and further, the main salon with the red curtains and barometer. And, off the foyer is the powder room, behind arched glass French doors. The sink is marble from the 18th century. The lantern and trumeau are sooo pretty!! The dining room with a crystal chandelier. I love the fancy chandelier next to the rough beams on the ceiling. Notice the bar through the arched door. Ginny framed pieces of wallpaper to hang on the walls. The former barn, with its steel doors, was transformed into an orangery. Fabric by Le Manach. The orangery is where breakfast is served, overlooking the front terrace. In the orangery – a set of framed dried herbs line the wall. The kitchen with the eat in breakfast room has ceiling beams painted white. And another picture of the kitchen with its blue and white tiles and French antique tables and chairs. The styling is Veranda 12 years ago. Today, stylists are much less heavy handed. In another photoshoot, the table is covered with a white cloth. Paintings and accessories are changed in this photo. At the opposite end of the kitchen is a sitting area with wicker chairs around a large fireplace. In the study is a marble fireplace with a beautiful antique French chair. c At the end of the enfilade is the salon filled with French chairs and benches. I love the way she painted the trim a dark gray. Beautiful mirror. And at the other side of the room is the large stone fireplace with an antique barometer and a corner cabinet. This sitting room on the first floor is filled with traditional red checked fabrics and a French bench. Upstairs is a bright yellow and red tiled bathroom. This bedroom has a beautiful blue and white toile draped iron bed and antique screen. Blue and white tiles in this bathroom and an antique chaise. This gorgeous bedroom has twin beds set in an alcove. Notice the darling urns on the wall. Another antique screen sits above a French bench. Just gorgeous!!! The charming bathroom is decorated in matching fabrics. Notice the monogrammed towel: Mas de Baraquet. Ginny says this antique French bed is too short for an adult! Draped in Le Manach fabric, its window overlooks the terrace. And the famous Manuel Canovas toile draped bed. Love the chairs and ottoman in the stripe. So many cute bedrooms! ATLANTA: Ginny’s former Atlanta house was featured in a cover story in Veranda. While the house is French inspired, it was built to resemble a Parisian townhouse instead of a Provence farmhouse. Why copy a French farmhouse when you have the real thing? The Magher’s sold the house to another couple, who then also sold it a few years later. This picture was taken from that real estate brochure. Here, a stone staircase, just like at Mas de Baraquet. The stairs wrap around the front door. Unfortunately, I only have a few pictures of the living room – as furnished by Ginny. Note: In the corner is her antique sedan chair. It is beyond fabulous!!! Above the paintings is a French barometer. And across the room is this picture of the French sofa. Here’s a closeup of the wall behind the sofa, filled with gilt framed paintings, dishes, gorgeous sconces, intaglios, and a carving. Each piece is so beautiful! The dining room with the gorgeous Versailles patterned parquet floors. The paneling is to die for!!! So beautiful!!! So is her chandelier. And her curtains are like ball gowns. Another view shows the marble fireplace with a trumeau above it. The trumeau was built into the paneling – it came with the house and the new owner has it now! Lucky!! Here is the library under Ginny – warm and masculine, perfection! It’s interesting to see the library under the new owners – it looks like they bought some of the furniture – so the room should look just as good, right? The tole chandelier remained, as did the sofas and chairs, but without the pillows – the sofa looks flat. And the shelves, again, notice how fabulous Ginny’s shelves look. These don’t have near the pizzazz. Notice the vignette in the hallway – Ginny’s is eye catching with the portrait and the bright white dishes, the new owner’s vignette seems dull by comparison. The rug too makes a big difference – as does the coffee table. Mostly though, it’s the shelves, the portrait and the pillows that are missing and missed. Study Ginny’s shelves – the white gives it all a pop and draws the eye there. Same with the vignette and the pillows. This is the new owner’s décor, but I wanted you to see the family room, how lovely the room and its fireplace is. Love the armoire doors made into a built in cabinet. Great idea! Bad scan – but this is how Ginny decorated the room. Lavender walls mix with mustard fabrics and lavender checks and toiles. And the opposite side of the family room, the kitchen. Notice Ginny used the same terracotta tiles she has in Provence. I love how Ginny separated the two refrigerators and notice the stained door leading to the butler’s pantry. Ginny didn’t use chandeliers, these were added by the new owners. I had to show you the bar that Ginny designed with armoire styled doors and paneling. I wish I had all the pictures from the Veranda spread, but I saved the tearsheets and now I can’t find them!!! Urrrggh. Ginny’s bedroom is beyond dreamy. One fabric covers everything! Beautiful trumeau and French chairs. And the Leontine linens are gorgeous, as always. The Lit Polonaise bed is certainly a show stopper. It makes the room more cozy and filled out. A close up of the bed. Stunning! The new owners were left with half a bedroom. The curtains remained and it looks like the bench and settee was sold with the house, along with the trumeau. But the rug is really not right at all, and the bed, well – I so miss Ginny’s Lit Polonaise. I do love the nude above the bed. I have to say, the bedroom under Ginny was so fabulous!! Isn’t the architecture of the room stunning? The door leads out to the backyard. And look how Ginny decorated her master bathroom. Gorgeous chandelier, mixed with a checked settee – blue painted trumeau and blue shades mixed with blue and white porcelains. Beautiful vanity. So pretty!!! The basement is so large – look at this wine cellar that leads off the staircase. This really does look like Provence with the tiled floors! The back of the house – is interesting in there is no pool, just a pond. On the wing at the right is the master bedroom. Even without a pool, there is a pool house with a stone fireplace. Beautiful fireplace and notice the doors and the trumeaus over them. I love how it’s painted gray with blue on the ceilings. There is even a pergola, just like the one in Provence! To see more of Ginny’s designs, check out her facebook page HERE. AND BE SURE TO VISIT ONE KING’S LANE starting on November 4: On November 4th at 8am, the Ginny Magher Interiors Tastemaker Sale will begin on One Kings Lane. The sale will feature an exquisite personal collection of French Antiques, including one of a kind items such as a Toiletries Case belonging to the 20th century art collector and decorator Charlie de Beistegui and an 18th century restored carriage that belonged to the Duchesse d'Orleans. Here is the carriage being photographed for the One King’s Lane sale!!! Wow!!! How cool is that? It would make a cute place for a telephone, like an old fashioned booth. Remember this carriage was in the corner of her living room at her former house! And here is Ginny Magher herself – sitting in her restored carriage. I love the fabric she used inside it! To purchase The Houses of Veranda which features Ginny’s Provence farmhouse, just click below: I hope you’ve enjoyed this look at Ginny Magher’s designs as much as I did! Until next time….
Under helgen som gick pysslade jag ute i orangeriet för att skapa julstämning, band kransar, planterade hyacinter, tände ljus och klädde en liten gran. Nu doftar det helt underbart därute! Är så otrol
I can’t believe that it is already February!!! Time just seems to be flying by! I hope you all have had a wonderful week. I wish you a restful weekend. Here are few of my
I'm prepping for my trip to New Orleans this weekend and continue to be inspired by charming Southern Porches that act as an extension of the home inside.
Explore enchanting outdoor Tuscan patio ideas to transform your outdoor space into a Mediterranean-inspired oasis of relaxation and beauty.
Are you a fan of contemporary style? Then, you've come to the right place. The house designed by Ouriço Arquitetura is located in Araras, a city situated i
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted a “greenhouse.” I loved the idea of being able to walk into a room in my home anytime that felt like summer. {conservatory by Vale Garden Houses } Being surrounded by lush ferns, moss, citrus trees and true green goodness everywhere honestly wakes something up […]
A sleeping porch is a fantastic way to feel connected to the outdoors while creating a camp-like atmosphere protected from the elements.
