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Cultivating A Porch Garden
I am an architectural design writer who often focuses on how environment can affect behavior. Before consulting privately, I received my MA in writing and ran a design boutique in Los Angeles.
I am an architectural design writer who often focuses on how environment... More »
When Voltaire's Candide said "we must cultivate our own garden," he undoubtedly wasn't talking about simple porch spaces. But in this upcoming summer season, don't we all feel the urge to cultivate and experience the outdoors, no matter how elaborate or simple our landscape?
Take my dwelling, for instance. My husband and two children and I live in a little restored 1930s bungalow house with a modest front and back yard. Where a diving pool once existed in the fifties, an area of beautiful grass grows, flanked by lavender and rose bushes. But the space is small, the back "porch" a square patch of stone tiling. So how to turn a humble space like that into a classy summer spot worthy of any company? Here's what I'm attempting:
PLANT PLANTS ALL AROUND. This doesn't necessarily mean in the ground. In fact, if you're renting or living in an apartment, pots are the option. And potted plants can be just as gorgeous as those in the ground, they can be versatile, and they can be used as decorating equipment for any porch space. A few wonderful options are: setting an orange tree in the corner of the space, lining up a row large flat-leaf plants as a border (or to hide something unsightly), or line up organic herbs and tomato plants--which also benefits the kitchen.
GET THE FURNITURE RIGHT. You can improve any outdoor space by getting the seating right. Keep into consideration where the sun will hit (you don't want to be eating dinner squinting the whole time), and the flow (you want to get around easily). If your space is covered and rain isn't a consideration, make the space more like an outdoor living room with stacks of summer reading material and pillows thrown over the couches.
GET THE LIGHT RIGHT. This element can be a big bang for your buck. Whether you set about white candles, hang votives from wiring in canning jars, or string white twinklies around, the lighting is a no-brainer way to create ambience and up the class of the space.
PLAY WITH FIRE. Be it a built-in outdoor hearth or a simple fire pit, create warmth and even a place for fun camp-like cooking. The flames will be a strong draw for congregating for hours.
Take my dwelling, for instance. My husband and two children and I live in a little restored 1930s bungalow house with a modest front and back yard. Where a diving pool once existed in the fifties, an area of beautiful grass grows, flanked by lavender and rose bushes. But the space is small, the back "porch" a square patch of stone tiling. So how to turn a humble space like that into a classy summer spot worthy of any company? Here's what I'm attempting:
PLANT PLANTS ALL AROUND. This doesn't necessarily mean in the ground. In fact, if you're renting or living in an apartment, pots are the option. And potted plants can be just as gorgeous as those in the ground, they can be versatile, and they can be used as decorating equipment for any porch space. A few wonderful options are: setting an orange tree in the corner of the space, lining up a row large flat-leaf plants as a border (or to hide something unsightly), or line up organic herbs and tomato plants--which also benefits the kitchen.
GET THE FURNITURE RIGHT. You can improve any outdoor space by getting the seating right. Keep into consideration where the sun will hit (you don't want to be eating dinner squinting the whole time), and the flow (you want to get around easily). If your space is covered and rain isn't a consideration, make the space more like an outdoor living room with stacks of summer reading material and pillows thrown over the couches.
GET THE LIGHT RIGHT. This element can be a big bang for your buck. Whether you set about white candles, hang votives from wiring in canning jars, or string white twinklies around, the lighting is a no-brainer way to create ambience and up the class of the space.
PLAY WITH FIRE. Be it a built-in outdoor hearth or a simple fire pit, create warmth and even a place for fun camp-like cooking. The flames will be a strong draw for congregating for hours.
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This space epitomizes a porch garden space with its diverse furniture and its greenery throughout. The border of plants softens and balances the space, and ties into the variety of the other plants. The space is varied yet simple by keeping to plants rather than blooming flower pots.
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This moderate space is made into a deliberate and inviting lounge space with great furniture and conscious additions: the umbrella shading, coffee table, and candle lighting. The greenery spilling over the back is the perfect touch.
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by Niche Interiors
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| This Anthropologie-esque space is simple and cheap to set up. This just has to made those good summer novels even better. The space could be enhanced at night by the addition of a floor lamp, candles, and/or white lights. |
by nARCHITECTS
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The plethora of greenery makes this space, and all that is needed for great dining or outdoor working-from-home is this basic picnic table.
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This hearth changes this already pleasant space into a deliberate place to gather and warm up in the evening chill. It completely creates the ambience, taking the burden of the need to set up the space off of the host.
The hanging ferns and potted plants take this narrow porch from pleasant to heavenly Southern. Hanging plants go a long way to create such a space.
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But a concentrated cluster of potted plants also makes a space such as this. Such a summer scene, so bright, so colorful.
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This is a great example of how a pleasant space of any size can be made into a wonderful porch lounge area. I this porch was mine I would (spend all my evenings on it, take a great nap, pretend to be at some glamorous hotel, and) put a potted plant on or in place of the folding chair.
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Even one large pot of colorful blooms finishes the look of any space.
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The only enhancement to this spanning porch other than the circle of seating is the array of plants throughout--and it works.
The hearth makes this space--the lighting from the fire and candles and lantern and indoor glow all work together for a light overall glow.
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Open fire pit with torches and candles is a fun variety of fire.
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| This small space is deliberate and classy. What makes a space like this great is often not the money or time spent on it, but the forethought and planning. |
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| This space is covered from the elements, and has been created as a sort of outdoor living room--complete with rug space! What a great option especially for those with young children, wanting to be outdoors but not in direct sunlight. |
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| This space is so flanked by lush plants, the inner space needs no embellishment. The right potted plants can create the same effect on a porch with no adjoining landscape. |
by Sandra Howie
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Now this is using flowers to decorate a space.
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| A simple furniture setup around a classy fire pit--the grass and the circular shapes throughout do all the work. |
Comments
Roberta Philbrick I just love that painted red souther porch! Just finished updating our "Love Shack" patio and next up is to stain the concrete...I ordered an indoor/outdoor rug as well to make it feel like an intimate, cozy space. 
3 years ago · Like
Ideabook updated on June 11, 2010.
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