design: Carrie Preston (Studio TOOP) and Jasper Helmantel (Cruydt Hoeck), 2011 location: Appeltern, NL status: built in 2012 by Appeltern Model Garden Complex photos: Jolanthe Lalkens, June 2013 Designed as assignment from both the Dutch gardening magazine Groei & Bloei and the television and radio nature program Vara's Vroege Vogels, this garden serves as a model of how homeowners can incorporate lots of plant life and wildlife into the design but without sacrificing practicality or aesthetics. The garden is deliberately contemporary in its style to emphasize that nature-rich gardens need not look a certain way - insects and birds don't care if the lines are straight or curved. At the same time the garden makes use of affordable, simple, no-nonsense materials. The 40x60 cm paving stones are one of the most common and affordable paving options in the Netherlands, available en masse for free on the Internet. Conceptually we imagined a garden completely paved with the tiles (as to many gardens are) and what would happen if took out some of these stones, used them to build benches and structure and added plants where the tiles had been. In the construction of the benches we include other materials such as bamboo sticks and insulation bricks that create habitat for insects such as solitary bees. The plant palette is based on a selection of native and host plants in combination with the 26 plants plan set up by Groei & Boei -- a list of plants aimed at making the use of more plants in gardens accessible and less intimidating. The choice for the number 26 corresponds with the number of letters in the alphabet in line with the famous Dutch garden designer Mien Ruy's comment that if we only need 26 letters to create a whole language, we should be able to combine and mix 26 plants to express far more than we think.

E.R.Miller
Example of a small transitional boy light wood floor nursery design in Boston

Modern Nursery with bold saturated colors, playful patterns mid century modern furniture + vintage toys. Photo Credit: Megan Weaver
Inspiration for a mid-sized 1960s boy carpeted nursery remodel in Dallas with gray walls

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Eclectic home office photo in New York

Modern Nursery with bold saturated colors, playful patterns mid century modern furniture + vintage toys. Photo Credit: Megan Weaver
Mid-sized minimalist boy carpeted nursery photo in Dallas with gray walls

Photo: Jordana Nicholson © 2016 Houzz
Cottage kids' room photo in Kansas City

HIP URBAN PAD Super stylish condo at Zinc Condominiums in the heart of the NW Alphabet District. Great open layout, with lots of natural light - this top floor high efficiency corner unit is nicely appointed with modern finishes, bamboo floors, a private 5x17 balcony and storage unit. Walk-score of 91 in one of Portland's best neighborhoods! Contact us for more information about this building and current availability via email at info@danagriggs.com or by visiting our website at www.DanaGriggs.com

Inspiration for a bedroom and small transitional gender-neutral light wood floor kids' bedroom remodel in Minneapolis with gray walls

Example of a large classic gender-neutral carpeted playroom design in Denver with gray walls

We created a serving station quite simply with this french cafe table. Once piled high with vintage dishes and glasses, it is ready to serve its function beautifully. Photo by Thomas Kuoh

HIP URBAN PAD Super stylish condo at Zinc Condominiums in the heart of the NW Alphabet District. Great open layout, with lots of natural light - this top floor high efficiency corner unit is nicely appointed with modern finishes, bamboo floors, a private 5x17 balcony and storage unit. Walk-score of 91 in one of Portland's best neighborhoods! Contact us for more information about this building and current availability via email at info@danagriggs.com or by visiting our website at www.DanaGriggs.com

Living room - mid-sized contemporary formal and open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room idea in Seattle with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Perfectly embedded on an acre of land overlooking a pond, in the heart of Willow Bend of Plano, this dated, traditional home got more than a complete facelift. The wife is a “farmer’s daughter” and could have never imagined having a home like this to call her own one day. Finding a 15’ dining table was a tall task… especially for a family of four. Using a local craftsman, the most gorgeous white oak table was created to host everyone in the neighborhood! The clients told a lot of stories about their past and children. The designer realized that the stories were actually treasures as she incorporated their memories and symbols in every room. She brought these memories to life in a custom artwork collage above the family room mantel. From a tractor representing the grandfather, to the Russian alphabet portraying the roots of their adopted sons and some Cambodian script, there were meanings behind each piece. In order to bring nature indoors, the designer decided to demo the exterior wall to the patio to add a large folding door and blew out the wall dividing the formal dining room and breakfast room so there would be a clear sight through to the outdoors. Throughout the home, each family member was thought of. The fabrics and finishes had to withstand small boys, who were extremely active. The use of outdoor fabrics and beautiful scratch proof finishes were incorporated in every space – bring on the hotwheels.

HIP URBAN PAD Super stylish condo at Zinc Condominiums in the heart of the NW Alphabet District. Great open layout, with lots of natural light - this top floor high efficiency corner unit is nicely appointed with modern finishes, bamboo floors, a private 5x17 balcony and storage unit. Walk-score of 91 in one of Portland's best neighborhoods! Contact us for more information about this building and current availability via email at info@danagriggs.com or by visiting our website at www.DanaGriggs.com

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary formal and open concept dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Seattle with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

HIP URBAN PAD Super stylish condo at Zinc Condominiums in the heart of the NW Alphabet District. Great open layout, with lots of natural light - this top floor high efficiency corner unit is nicely appointed with modern finishes, bamboo floors, a private 5x17 balcony and storage unit. Walk-score of 91 in one of Portland's best neighborhoods! Contact us for more information about this building and current availability via email at info@danagriggs.com or by visiting our website at www.DanaGriggs.com

Bedroom trendy boy kids' bedroom photo with blue walls

design by christina britt lewis, photography by angela statzer
Eclectic bedroom photo in Charlotte

HIP URBAN PAD Super stylish condo at Zinc Condominiums in the heart of the NW Alphabet District. Great open layout, with lots of natural light - this top floor high efficiency corner unit is nicely appointed with modern finishes, bamboo floors, a private 5x17 balcony and storage unit. Walk-score of 91 in one of Portland's best neighborhoods! Contact us for more information about this building and current availability via email at info@danagriggs.com or by visiting our website at www.DanaGriggs.com