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Houzz Call: Show Us Your Garden Gnomes
These decorative little German characters are popular again. Share a photo of yours, and it might appear in a featured ideabook
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Gnomes have been inhabiting gardens for years, sitting on toadstools, pulling carts, sometimes even creating their own little villages. Gnomes were originally produced in Germany in 1847. They were used as decorative guards to keep thieves away from farms. Their popularity has never waned, and they've played roles in literature and movies from fairy tales to the Harry Potter series. One of my personal favorites is their role in The Full Monty, populating the lawn of a stiff manager and revealing his sensitive side.
Lately gnomes have taken on different roles. Ironically used along with their southern cousins, pink flamingos, they've been given contemporary cred by designers like Philippe Starck with his Napoleon and Attila gnome table stools. One roaming gnome serves as the spokesperson for Travelocity. A large group of gnomes star in Gnomeo and Juliet. They've even been declared "invasive" by one botanical expert in this funny short film.
Show us: Have any cheerful gnomes taken up residence in your garden or inside your home? If so, please post a picture in the Comments section. Your gnome could appear in a follow-up feature on our homepage.
Lately gnomes have taken on different roles. Ironically used along with their southern cousins, pink flamingos, they've been given contemporary cred by designers like Philippe Starck with his Napoleon and Attila gnome table stools. One roaming gnome serves as the spokesperson for Travelocity. A large group of gnomes star in Gnomeo and Juliet. They've even been declared "invasive" by one botanical expert in this funny short film.
Show us: Have any cheerful gnomes taken up residence in your garden or inside your home? If so, please post a picture in the Comments section. Your gnome could appear in a follow-up feature on our homepage.
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| I'll get started with my little gnome. He's a little worn out, what with holding up that pot for all this time. I guess he's waiting for me to plant something in it. |
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| I like to move him around. In this spot he's guarding my termite bait trap. |
by Whitney Lyons
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Send in the gnomes: To add your gnome photo, type a comment about it below, then click "Attach Images" and choose the photo on your desktop to share.
Tell us where you are and where you have your gnome(s)!
Tell us where you are and where you have your gnome(s)!
Ideabook updated on April 4, 2012.
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but here is a little peek.. I actually just got the vintage little gnome last week from a fellow photog.. so adorable!
Thanks so much everyone! Please keep them coming, I am really enjoying seeing your gnomes in action!
Our Gnome is a chain-saw sculpture from one of the oak trees.
Thank you all SO MUCH for sharing your gnomes. It was a blast to put the ideabook together!