Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Downspout Column: Color

The eye picks up a white downspout, below, as an architectural column.
Don't let this happen to you.
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Sherwin-Williams: Best Bronze.
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Garden & Be Well,    XO Tara
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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Color Confidence

Bold, simple, historic, elegant, confident.
 A sweet surprise on the ceiling.
All around the house, Tara Turf, color echos.
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Garden & Be Well,                XO Tara
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Le Jardin Blanc, in Douglasville, GA has a Green, Brown & White color theme.  When puffy clouds float overhead, or the moon appears,  it seems they've been requested.  For their color !
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Thru that door I've heard Mozart to, "....I like my women just a little on the trashy side...", Alabama to Edith Piaf, to.......

Monday, November 7, 2011

Diller -von Furstenberg Family Foundation Gift

Barry Diller & Diane von Furstenberg recently donated $20 million to the High Line Park in New York City.  They had already given $15 million.
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With perky disdain the New York Times article, here, takes a jab their money, "...went to a park rather than a cultural or educational institution."
 

Pic, above, by Benjamin Norman for the New York Times.
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Go Diane go !!!!  And, thank you.
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Garden & Be Well,   XO Tara
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Top pic from here.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Getting The Scale Right

Once or twice a year I work with a home that looks normal but the closer you get you realize its scale is much larger than 1st impression.
 This tiny area, above, is truly larger than it appears.
The lanterns are almost  3' tall.
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Anything smaller & it's Dinky Is Stinky territory.
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Garden & Be Well,    XO Tara
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Pic taken last week, lanterns sourced by Suzanne Hudson, Le Jardin Blanc.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Exterior Decorating

Zinnias were on the table last week, it was an early morning meeting about creating her Smoke House.
When she pulled cheese scones from the oven, & placed them on a tray with butter & jam, the zinnias were moved here, above.
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Exterior decorating leverages your efforts.  It's all about being easier, pretty, living with grace.
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Garden & Be Well,    XO Tara

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

How To Create Vanishing Threshold

Views outside flow inside, below.
 Draperies, a lamp turned on.
Before you enter the room, above, you know who she is.
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Furniture style, color choices, accessories, scale, flow, placement, comfort, simplicity.
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Garden & Be Well,     XO Tara
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Standing in front of your home, would I know who you are?
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Pics taken last week

Friday, October 28, 2011

How To Hide Air-Conditioner

A century old home, below.  Can you see the air-conditioners?  Dining room, living room, kitchen & garden all view the air-conditioners, below.
 Copying the siding of the house, above, we had a tight fit for window views & height of a/c units.
Siding panels are removable of course.  Did you notice the gravel, above?  Makes maintenance easier.
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Garden & Be Well,   XO Tara
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Pics taken yesterday at a client's home.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Pollinator Habitat

Maximum pollinator habitat intersects agriculture & ornamental horticulture.


More pollinators, more food production.
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It's not rocket science.
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Elements of pollinator habitat, above?
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Canopy, understory, walls, groundcovers, high density, low density & etc.
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Garden & Be Well,   XO Tara
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Pic taken in Hayesville, NC last weekend.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

How To Place Stones

A pair of stones is the minimum, below.
 One stone reaching for the sky, one representing earth.
When these ridges were made, above, continents hadn't split.  The Atlantic Ocean was in the future.
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Seeing the lichens knowing they have no vascular system.
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These stones were sited before my friend moved into her Hayesville, NC home.  The builder obviously a Stone Whisperer.
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Garden & Be Well,    XO Tara
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Monday, October 24, 2011

Cute: Curb Your Dog

About 7" tall, below.

Too cute.
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Remember, Cute Kills in a landscape design.
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There is an exception to every rule.
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Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

Friday, October 21, 2011

Sir Roy Strong & The Laskett

Sir Roy Strong's garden & home have been bequeathed to the nation.
 Sir Roy Strong lectured at the Atlanta History Center almost 2 decades ago.  His wife, the famous set designer Julia Trevelyan Oman came along too.
 Since that lecture I've been electrified by Sir Roy & his garden, The Laskett.
An incredible gift.  I cannot imagine his thoughts leading to his decision.
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Will be interesting to see how he has the legal papers written.
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Garden & Be Well,    XO Tara
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Laskett, below, my beloved.  A little proof of my adoration of Sir Roy Strong's garden.
Pics from article in the Daily Mail.