Janine's ideas
This is what the view would look like if we added a tub
Like the overhead sconces in the mirror
Something about this resonates with me... perhaps the order but casual elegance of the climbing roses? There is also something about the undulation of the upper patio juxtaposing the formal straight lines of the pathway below. The colors hit the mark, the relative low maintenance appeals as well - would be great for someone like me if the trimmed boxwoods were replaced by a mini boxwood-like shrub that would remain small and require minimal trimming. I know the gray stone and wrought iron hit the mark.. that patio and stairs is only in my dreams... too extravagant for out budget, but I love it none the less.
I like the color of the stone of course and the symmetry of the plantings on either side while adding a variety in texture, color and height. Of course, I like the gate.... don't believe I have anywhere to place a gate, but I love them!! ;-)
I saved this idea in case a straight stairway down from the street is not practical.
not the fire place, but I like the concrete slabs, the color and little boarders that dress it up.
Here is a front on picture of the same welcoming patio... our home sits down from the street, so in our situation, the steps would come down the hill at this angle to the house and intersect/meet the center of the wall of the welcoming patio. I do believe we will need a wall in the same position as the one pictured because of the hillside into which part of the patio will be set.
This shows another wide walkway and welcoming patio in front of the steps to the home. I don't envision the walkway doglegging like the one in the picture, but the general concept its the mark.
something about this really resonates with me! a path from the direction of our driveway and welcome patio! the strength of the wall balancing the house and the deminsion and strength in the landscaping.
Have always loved a fountain, but believe that we probably need to be realistic and understand that this is out of our budget and we can use this money on something else. Our neighbors across the street have a pond and fountain that I can hear in the evening and enjoy!! ;-) We could do a smaller solar fountain that is much more budget friendly and more practical to take care of - the birds would enjoy it... I just want it to be of real iron or stone - not fake looking cast big box store.. unless it fits beautifully into the plant material and I can't really see the material.. Love the way the light plays off the water, of course...
ok, last picture of a joggling board!! Paul and I will eventually visit Charleston together and purchase one~
joggling board.... they are used on porches and in gardens alike!
Love Charleston!! And who can't pass up a joggling board!! ;-)
Like this for inspiration for the side of our home... around the path leading past the air conditioning. It is probably the most ignored part of our yard, a place we hardly walk through... it would just be nice if it was nice for our neighbor. The plant material would need to be mostly shrubs and easy care perennials .... the problem with this area is that while it is in shade most of the day, parts of it does receive the late hot afternoon sun.
love the symmetry and structure in winter.
love the pink dianthus - .... love the curve, like the pillar and lamp, but not the color of the brick.
I like the idea of a off the path, quiet place off to the side like this... and although I like the look of the roses, I hate to think about the bees....!! I know, but for me, this private quiet area with a plain porch swing on a trellis vice the bench under the floral covered trellis.
What I like about this photo is not necessarily the colors or specific planting, ... but the symmetrical sense of a first a path, then a gathering place, then the home.... In our home, the path would be steps down from the cul de sac, the gathering place would be the welcoming patio with benches (instead of the planting/fountain shown in the photo) ....
love the Astilbe (the pink) and the hydrangeas! oh my!! Love the black accents.... I love a black accents against dark green....
Nothing maybe in a future house, we could have a garden door like this in the back somewhere.... maybe in one house
reminds me of what the gardens at Chatham must of looked like at one time.... of to have the passion (or a gardener!) to tend a garden like this!
Always loved these fancy large sundials... also love the look of this quiet place - could be something in a later phase across from the driveway. I have always thought of a sculptured sitting area and knot type garden across the driveway.
So pretty and classic!
Love this... I have always loved an English knot garden and this has the same look to it.... plus I like the colors of the pink rose and blue foliage in the center of each.
Like the general fee of this patio and setting from the tone of the cooling color of the patio material, to the black metal fire pit/table to the four chairs placed around.
Like the color and large format of the floor stone.
Don't care for the colors, but like the steps... they have the stone that I like, but have a smooth, sturdy step that seems easy to traverse. This is where I really need a designer's help.... I know my likes can lean a little to rustic for the style I really want. I want the front of the house to be English garden with a little formality and organization and elegance. Dark and light greys in the hardscape with pinks, whites, purples, in the flowers. I love the stone that is already there... just need to neaten that color pallet up for the front steps and patio. Let the existing dry stacked stone in the edible garden be the "old" and the new walkway, welcome patio, and steps down from the cul de sac be the "new, fresh, traditional formality to it.
Just through this in for fun!! Way out of our budget... too high maintenance but my hubby would love it if we won the lottery!! ;-)
love this set of steps, urns and all.... including the gently sloping side wall area. I could see these steps coming off the driveway between the Sweet Bay and the existing lower wall. (well maybe without the sidewalls, although I like them!! :-) Again, the only thing I would worry about would be the evenness of the steps...
Don't mind steps like this because they look smooth and even, but wish they were darker grey.
While these steps are not practical, I love the strong old castle/stone cottage feel that these steps give.... something about the colors and larger stone.... there is organization, but a natural organization. I don't know what it is about this that I like, but there is something about it. The only thing I don't like as a 50year old is that the steps look uneven (of course, because of the vary nature that I like!) and therefore may be difficult to transverse for some folks.
Outdoor kitchen not in our budget, but I like the stone of the kitchen cabinet. It is large and chunky and reminds me of what a stone castle would have been built of. Again, the color is not usually what I would go for but ther is something about how it looks in these photos.
Love this stone style.... the stone is chunky and looks like something you would find on a castle wall. The color is not the usual dark grey but in this picture, it also does not cast brown..... with dark capstones, this may work. Again fireplace not in our budget.
I love the dimension of the stone on that fireplace!!! Who wouldn't? It looks rough and beautiful and the shadows the stones through create a wonderful story of history! In this photo the stones look to be shades of grey and I like that..... in the other pictures, they get a little brown. Of course, fireplace is not in our budget sure it would be a wish list item, but how often would we really use it?! But that stone on the fireplace!! I love it!
Like the color of the stone steps (that grey color) and like the way they are narrow at the top and widen at the bottom... that is interesting and I would never thought to do that. While I like the symmetry of the billers and side walls to the steps, I don't care for the manufactured stone in this color. Could these steps work without the sidewalls or is it better to have these when steps are coming down an embankment? Also I would worry that the steps would be slippery.
Love the type of stone... would change the color, if I could of the stone and capstone if I could. Love this type of dry stacked stone wall with top cap for sitting. Would like the stone better if it were darker grey rather than shades of brown.... and the capstone is too blue for me, I like a charcoal dark grey capstone.
Like these steps, the look of stacked stone, with what I believe to be the security of an even step like concrete would provide. My only concern would be the durability to a snow shovel and RIM icemelt as well as the slipperiness when wet.
Love the color of the stone
love this gate, love the color, the shape, the capstones, the black hardware. Very traditional and I would add a ball weight like they have in Williamsburg.
I like the idea of a nice sitting area defined by easy to care for plants, set against the wooded area, creating a nice transition to the woods.
Q