It's Not Leather - It's Concrete!

Yes, that ottoman may look like leather but it's actually concrete! Mention this to anyone looking at it and they find themselves compelled to touch it before believing you. In some cases, they'll even knock on it before believing. Known for resurrecting the dying art form of high quality concrete faux bois, Richard Taylor of Flat Earth Designs has taken concrete to a whole other level with these pieces.
The zipper and button detail is incredible. I should also mention these pieces are suprisingly comfortable to sit on.
In addition to the ottoman, Richard creates a Barcelona chair in concrete. This one is in a light finish. Couldn't you see these in a chic hotel or backyard garden setting?
Another double-take; this is concrete not alligator.

Just one of the many faux bois planters available.
Eddie Ross chose these mushrooms for the Chicago WOW event - I'm also loving the beautiful console table they're featured on.

Another favorite of mine - the poppy bowl.
I forgot where I saw this but a designer had a placed a huge clamshell like this in a fireplace. Looked stunning.
Pennsylvania finial.
Hypertufa spheres in various sizes. I particularly like this large one on a pedestal.

The Richmond Planter. The finish on this piece, and the one below, is akin to marble.
Rams Swag Pot
Oak leaf urn
This is just one of a number of lions available.
Richard's work is sold wholesale to stores and garden centers throughout the U.S., including select pieces for Anthropologie. (*Although he does sell to the public at the Round Top Antique Shows)

The acorn mirror and frog on a pedestal, along with a number of other pieces, are available from Scentimental Gardens and SG Grand in the Chicago area. (Debra has a great eye and has been carrying Richard's work for a long time.)
Here in DC, I believe Notting Hill Gardens on 815 King Street, Alexandria, VA will be carrying some of Richard's collection in the near future. (no connection to me)

To see more of Richard's work - go here. If you're like me, you'll spend alot of time looking around!

My Friend Anne's Gorgeous Porch & Gardens

In our hot and muggy D.C. climate, you really need to have a place to escape the heat and my friend Anne's beautiful screened porch is just such an oasis. Directly off her family room, she's designed the space to accomodate lounging and dining, all with a view out to her gorgeous English inspired garden.
Joni of Cote de Texas recently posted about her love of gray wicker and the gray pieces Anne selected a couple of years ago are stylish and nap worthy!

The whole porch has a light and breezy feel. Beadboard ceilings are painted light blue while the floors are a pretty gray.

A vintage wicker piece full of lovely things to admire ties in with the dark wood occasional table.
A blue painted tag sale find serves as bar table. Love the turned wood handles.

An unexpected surprise - a little hedgehog tucked-in on the stairs leading down to the yard.

Anne designed and created her gardens as a labor of love. A stunning copper armillary is encircled by boxwoods and a low stacked, stone wall. After finding the armillary, a long search culminated in a perfectly scaled column to show it off.

An arbor wrapped in clematis and roses soften the landscape and add a romantic feel. I love the profussion of blooms at varying heights. More is more!

In this view, you can see the porch's three skylights which allow light into the family room and the double ceiling fans. The uncovered side porch accomodates the bbq grill. The porch addition was designed by architect Gretchen Ginnerty, AIA (if you recognize the last name it's because Gretchen is married to my cousin.) Anne is a partner and interior designer with Dwellings by Design, LLC. Two summers ago, I posted about her office here. ***On another note, my comments section has been changed to Open ID. So if you don't have a google account you can still leave a comment.

Hope you have a great weekend. Tomorrow, Dan and I will be celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary. How time flies!

Sneak Peek into an Extraordinary Home!

What happens when an extraordinary person whose creativity and tremendous joy for living is expressed in her home? Well, yesterday I had the pleasure of finding out when I of visited one of the most beautiful and unique homes I have ever seen! Here's just a sneak peak to start with.
Above, lions from Beacon Hill standing guard at this writing desk filled with mementos and treasures.
A pink glass ball, just so, setting off this gorgeous blue and cream striped sofa. I didn't notice it the first time I entered the room so it was unexpected fun to come across it the second time.

Hats on chairs remind the cats where to sit and where not to. Philippe Starck - yes, Queen Anne chair - no. Come back tomorrow for more of this whimsical and joyful home - there is so much more beauty to share. And, thank you to Wanda Crossley of Matthews House & Garden and to the wonderful homeowner for sharing it all with me! It was a privilege.

Thinking About Your Garden?

You may remember a post I did last summer about the garden consultation I had with Kerry Ann Mendez, whom my friend Anne and I had heard speak at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Kerry's business is dedicated to teaching gardeners how to create low-maintenance, ever-blooming perennial gardens and she recently let me know that she as a new book out! Kerry's lecture was chock-full of short cuts, insider tips and money-saving strategies and I'm sure her book will be too. Although looking at the gorgeous gardens she creates, you'd think they were coddled over daily. For more information on her book, go here.

Kerry also mentioned that the 7th Annual Great Garden and Landscaping Symposium is being held again this year at the The Equinox, a world class resort in Manchester VT April 23 - 24. For more info on the agenda and a full listing of all the nationally known speakers, go here.

For Virginia readers who can't make it to VT, the annual Historic Virginia Garden Week takes place April 17 - 25. The Arlington gardens on this year's tour are JUST up the street from my house but I have to work that day so I won't be able to attend.

(please note these are my personal recommendations and I receive no form of compensation for them.)

Makeover Winner & Something Very "More"

You may remember the generous giveaway Debra of 5th and State offered last month - an exterior makeover of your home. Debra invited myself, Lauren of Pure Style Home and Deborah of Boxwood Terrace to be the judges. Debra had narrowed down the choices to 10 and the winner is Gay of Michigan! At the time, Debra only shared the photos with us but here is a little more about Gay's story:
"We purchased this house in September 2009 after we found out my husband has leukemia. With the chemo we needed to simplify our lives. This 100+ year old Plain Jane does nothing for us on the outside. I would love to see a porch, plantings for birds, and an interesting landscape in winter..... Color? I am open. Personally I am drawn to an urban country style, more hip and updated."

As Debra began to work with Gay, more of her story unfolded. Here is the "more" in Debra's own words:

"But something else has developed that I did not expect, something profound that could be life changing. Her darling husband needs a bone marrow transplant and there are no matches in the data base, not even his children...A curse I possess..........well, maybe a curse.......is that I am a "fixer". Always wanting to jump in and help, to fix, to make-better. And you know what? Maybe I can and maybe YOU can too...As the blogging community we can spread the word and REALLY help...
Joining the National Bone Marrow Registry. Go here to look up and to sign up. I did and it took 10 minutes of my time. You can offer to donate or for free they will send you a test kit containing a swab to rub inside your cheek of which you return.
And...........imagine the magic if we found a match......the best "giveaway" ever. Are you in?
Blessings, Debra"

Giveaway - Exterior Makeover of Your Home!

Spring really is, despite all the recent snow storms, just around the corner. The timing couldn't be more perfect for the exciting giveaway Debra Phillips of 5th and State has going on through Feb 24th - a chance to win a customized plan for an exterior makeover of your home. This beautiful Cape Cod style home (above) used to look this (below) before Debra devised a plan to create a welcoming entry and balance the home with dormers and windows in keeping with the architecture and addition of a new wing.

Here is the before of Debra's own 1856 home that previous owners decided to "upgrade" with '70s aluminum siding (above)
and now, with new shingles, trim, landscaping and a completely transformed look and feel. Love this!!
Debra was very kind to include me, along with Lauren of Pure Style Home and Deborah of Boxwood Terrace, as judges for the giveaway. If she hadn't, I would certainly be entering this giveaway. So, don't delay and don't miss out on this chance!

Here are the basics for entering as noted on Debra's blog - go here for all the info:

•email one photo only of the front of your home - debra (at) scentimentalgardens (dot) com
•include a short description of your hopes and dreams
•You can live anywhere, worldwide
•This has a value of $600.00
•Michele, Deborah, Lauren and myself will choose one home to receive a makeover
•Once picked I will send you a five page questionnaire. Included will be email interviews, I will have a load of questions!
•Stephanie Fania, our in-house artist and I will begin the pen and ink rendering with the changes discussed.
•You will receive a completed drawing mailed to you with ornamentation and landscaping suggestions
•Color recommendations
•Included will be a list of sources
•Send your photo, the giveaway ends February 24th!

I'll be in Chicago this coming June and am looking forward to meeting Debra and visiting her Geneva, Il store in person. Here's Debra last June when she hosted a party for Eddie Ross and Jaithan Kochar at Scentimental Gardens.To check out more of her wonderful landscape work, go here.

A Reader's Renovated 175 yr old Church!

I've often admired people who have the foresight to repurpose a building from it's original use and turn it into something new and wonderful. I was very excited to receive an email from a reader who has renovated a 175 year old church in Upperville, VA - transforming it into a beautiful home furnishings & garden shop and interior design studio.

The proprietor, Wanda Crossley, previously owned English Manor Gardens & Interiors in Leesburg VA, which I posted about here. Her new venture is Matthews House and Garden - Isn't the setting spectacular? Love the formal gardens in what was a former churchyard.


The scale of this building with the charming white post fence is so pleasing to the eye.
The interiors are light filled and provide a perfect backdrop for these wonderful interior vignettes. Love the statuary urn on the pine pedestal and the rough hewn table set with china. Such a unique door - the oval inset at the top is a real stand out.
I can see from scanning this picture that I must put Matthews House and Garden on my must-visit list. Located at 9160 John Mosby Hwy in Upperville, VA (540.592.7147) the hours are Tue- Sat 10 to 5, closed on Sunday, and Monday by chance (love that!)
Notice the painting to the left - love the moody image. To me it's reminiscent of the English countryside.
Gorgeous selection of colorful pillows on this daybed.
Here are a few more interior pics. For some reason I had trouble enlarging these. I think the first picture proves that Sunburst mirrors will always be in - especially when placed in such a perfect position as this one.
The following pictures give you an idea of all the hard work and good judgment that went into redesigning this former church. Allelujah for the liberation from this dropped ceiling!

Wanda - thanks so much for reading this blog and for taking the time to send in these pictures. I hope to visit in person someday!!