by Leeza Designs
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Here is another example of how to alter an outdoor space to create the kind of peacefulness you might experience if you went to a zen garden. You don't even have to change the landscaping here; simply add some Asian-inspired outdoor furniture to your patio and get ready to get back in touch with your inner self.
2. Capture vistas and vignettes. Modern lines, materials and plantings abut this semiwild, meadow-inspired grass hillside. This scene offers a beautiful, inwardly focused point of view. Yet the distant landscape is equally powerful, a living work of art that is ever changing.
For anyone who sits here, the vista is as much a part of the design scheme as the deck, the bench and the raised planters. It is a set piece composed with intention — a gift to those who come seeking the healing power of nature.
For anyone who sits here, the vista is as much a part of the design scheme as the deck, the bench and the raised planters. It is a set piece composed with intention — a gift to those who come seeking the healing power of nature.
3. Create a beautiful approach. I love the partially hidden aspect of this beachy seating area. Lots of gardens have two strategically placed Adirondack chairs, but rarely has this familiar pairing been so alluring. An opening in the tall grasses offers a glimpse of the seating area — a safe promontory at the edge of the sea.
Sense of place is amplified by the crunchy pebbled pathway, the soft mounds of grasses and ground covers that encroach on either side, and the pleasing knowledge that one will soon gaze upon the water at the end of this journey.
Sense of place is amplified by the crunchy pebbled pathway, the soft mounds of grasses and ground covers that encroach on either side, and the pleasing knowledge that one will soon gaze upon the water at the end of this journey.
6. Luxe it up with layers. You may think this scene is the last one that I'd describe as luxe, but even though this outdoor dining space is modest and decorated with simple lengths of fabric, it has a true personality — creating a sense of place for those who come here.
Why it works:
• Draped canopy: Panels of fabric (possibly several repurposed drapes, shower curtains or sheets) were stitched together and suspended to create a casbah-like roof overhead.
• Fanciful flooring: Outdoor area rugs soften the floor and add a jolt of color.
• Table talk: The small café table is the center of attention here, its patterned cloth echoing the blues and reds used elsewhere.
• Pillows, pillows, pillows: The ordinary bench became a chaise with some comfy cushions tossed on.
Why it works:
• Draped canopy: Panels of fabric (possibly several repurposed drapes, shower curtains or sheets) were stitched together and suspended to create a casbah-like roof overhead.
• Fanciful flooring: Outdoor area rugs soften the floor and add a jolt of color.
• Table talk: The small café table is the center of attention here, its patterned cloth echoing the blues and reds used elsewhere.
• Pillows, pillows, pillows: The ordinary bench became a chaise with some comfy cushions tossed on.
by Secret Gardens
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8. Less is often much, much more. The word "uncluttered" comes to mind for this grassy nook. One Ali Baba–scale urn plus one simple, striped awning chair, and all of a sudden the space has a point of view.
The urn feels permanent, anchoring the base of a tree trunk. The chair is less so, but that's part of its charm. Plunked down here for a moment, the chair turns a lush, tropical setting into a room — something to be visited and occupied, rather than just observed. (Imagine an outdoor dining table plus six chairs instead and you'll see what I mean. They would dominate the space, making it impossible to view the plantings). I like to imagine having this space all to myself, thank you very much!
The urn feels permanent, anchoring the base of a tree trunk. The chair is less so, but that's part of its charm. Plunked down here for a moment, the chair turns a lush, tropical setting into a room — something to be visited and occupied, rather than just observed. (Imagine an outdoor dining table plus six chairs instead and you'll see what I mean. They would dominate the space, making it impossible to view the plantings). I like to imagine having this space all to myself, thank you very much!
by Adrienne DeRosa
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“My idea of gardening is having someone else do it," jokes Shapiro. He hired Pittsburgh event planner and botanical decorator Thommy Conroy to create a seasonal potted garden that stretches around the brick perimeter. Shapiro says, “Thommy transformed it into an urban oasis.”
Built over the existing concrete slab, the terrace flooring was a DIY project. The parquet pattern is made up of acacia tiles from Ikea.
Built over the existing concrete slab, the terrace flooring was a DIY project. The parquet pattern is made up of acacia tiles from Ikea.
Design a Moroccan-inspired outdoor terrace. In addition to having inner courtyards, Moroccans spend time al fresco on rooftop terraces outfitted for lounging and eating. Make your outdoor area a comfortable place to spend hours reading or connecting with loved ones by setting up a Moroccan salon. Create shade by installing a canvas tent or a rattan roof. Drama is added with a wicker lamp.
Tip: Line hurricane lanterns or votives along a surface to serve as decoration during the day. At night, lit lanterns provide a romantic glow.
Tip: Line hurricane lanterns or votives along a surface to serve as decoration during the day. At night, lit lanterns provide a romantic glow.
Style Secret: Water Features
Japanese style emphasizes strong connections with nature, and water — from bubbling fountains to rushing streams — helps to create a tranquil atmosphere. Whether they're in an interior room or an exterior living space, water features also bring a subtly dramatic note that can't help but capture attention.
East meets West: A fountain isn't the only way to bring flowing water indoors. Try a freestanding or built-in water wall, a trough that recirculates water or an indoor-outdoor rain shower. Or get creative and choose artwork that depicts streaming water or waves — it's the next best thing to the actual wet stuff.
Japanese style emphasizes strong connections with nature, and water — from bubbling fountains to rushing streams — helps to create a tranquil atmosphere. Whether they're in an interior room or an exterior living space, water features also bring a subtly dramatic note that can't help but capture attention.
East meets West: A fountain isn't the only way to bring flowing water indoors. Try a freestanding or built-in water wall, a trough that recirculates water or an indoor-outdoor rain shower. Or get creative and choose artwork that depicts streaming water or waves — it's the next best thing to the actual wet stuff.
Pla softened the covered patio with a heavy sprinkling of throws and cushions, leaving the client the option to use the space for naps on a lazy afternoon.
Bench and daybed: custom by Vuong Interior Design; banana-fiber low stools: Alseda, Ikea
Bench and daybed: custom by Vuong Interior Design; banana-fiber low stools: Alseda, Ikea
Potted trees and plants and a view of the sky bring nature into a space surrounded by high walls and with no street-view windows. Furnishings and textiles from Indonesia and other parts of Eastern Asia add a global touch to the eclectic-contemporary home.
by Wendy K. Leigh
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Sunrooms are scattered throughout the home, connecting outdoors to indoors, many with views of the beach and water.
by Wendy K. Leigh
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Kudapah stone flooring from Kerala adorns outdoor spaces, with natural cultivated bamboo overlooking a stone water container.
by Wendy K. Leigh
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A traditional outdoor bowl of floating fresh flower petals offers "namaste," an expression of warmth and welcome.
Another brick wall on the project arranges the material in a herringbone pattern. Even though the wall is flat compared with the ridges in the previous photos, the pattern gives the wall an apparent texture, as well as rhythm accentuated by the uplights.
