Tuesday Tablescape

potterybarn.com

Patio Plans

We have a lot of brainstorming to do for our new patio.

Goals:

-A Patio (preferably bluestone) spanning across back of house from chicken coop on right to garage on left

- Outdoor shower (behind garage?)

-Areas for dining and for sitting/living and a firepit

-Area for grill. Do we build it in to a sitting wall or is it free-standing?

Challenges:

-budget constraints. For example, adding a wall adds $$$...

-Large drop in elevation over on garage side

-Reconfigure stairs off kitchen

-Stairs off patio to playarea/swingset below

Here is a nice, simple patio design I found online. It is also a cape so I thought it was relevant to our project. It also incorporates the materials I would choose for ours.

Stay tuned...

Spring Landscaping Wish List

A River Runs Through It

I can't shake the image of this South Hampton guest house from the March issue of House Beautiful. I really, really love that they used river rocks to create the mosaic pattern on the floor.

Tom and I are planning an outdoor shower to be built off our patio (to be constructed this spring) and I have often thought about doing a river rock mosaic on the floor of the shower. I am now convinced.

Here is a shot of a bathroom floored with river rocks. One thing which is different about this is how they set the glass shower enclosure directly on the floor - no threshold necessary. This is a very "California" concept to me.

coastal living

I like this color palette from Home Depot for the outside shower...

Have any of you been reading Lulu deKwiatkowski's Blog, "Trail of Inspiration"?! It is very good, especially if you are a big LuluDK fan (like I am). Her recent post about her artist brother, Conrad, featured his work with stones. I gravitate to the colors in this one. Read her post here.

As with any good thing in life, sometimes people get carried away. Below we have an example of River Rock gone wild - and hideous. Use river rock sparingly, it will make a much stronger statement.

I have missed the blog lately. I plan to be back more consistently. Hope you are doing well.

xo Christina

More on Easter

Sorry spend so much time here on Easter. I am definitely not trying to be too religious or anything. It is just fun to fixate on the next holiday which to me symbolizes SPRING, FLOWERS, LIFE! Growing up Greek Orthodox, our eggs were always red and although we did the fun pastel eggs like other people - those eggs were always second class citizens to the ones we got to crack into others, the RED EGGS. If you are confused about this tradition, check here.

So anyway, I love Easter. I love the food. I love the candy. I love wearing a spring outfit when it is clearly not warm in the greater Boston area. Below are a few other fun finds I have stumbled upon lately.

pier 1

williams-sonoma

williams sonoma
pier1

pier1

williams-sonoma

I am totally kidding about this scary fuzzy outfit, but it is available at target....

Egg Wreath Part II

Sorry this image isn't bigger, but just look what my friend and neighbor picked up at a local store for probably more than half the price of the PB kids one. According to her the eggs are bigger and there are less twigs than the PB one.

GT, go girl, you have a great eye.

Find your alternative egg wreath at.... shhhhh.... cvs