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Take your time, my answer is way at the bottom. You design the 'after' facade and yard.
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Again, you are today's Garden Designer, what would you do, above, to the facade & yard?
Off topic, above/below, giving your resting brain more time to create the Garden Design, I'm a strong believer in using left/right brain. Furniture, below. I am a fiend for seeing out windows. Twin beds, below, I would turn footboards to the windows. Miss a moment laying in bed seeing stars, a lightening storm, quarters of the moon, snowfall, birds, fall foliage, tracery of winter tree branches, the moment before sunrise when all is chiaroscuro? Not 1 second would I miss. Window views are the most exciting part of interior design, and living in a house
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This is a great hint about how to design the front garden. Consider people first, better, consider your maximum selfishness in the richness available with this front yard.
Obvious from the 'before' picture these are good people, rescuing this home. Of course they are good people, look at their sweet dog, below.
What is your Garden Design solution for the front yard?
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Seriously, I want to know. Place it in comments, and thank you.
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Seeing the chimneys, in the 'before' pic, I knew this home was prior to 1890. Do you know how?
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Coal was common in the South 1890 to 1910. Chimney flues are narrower for coal, these chimneys are for wood burning fireplaces.
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Ready for my Garden Design answer?
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Remove front porch rails, remove foundation plantings, add granite stone steps to each end of the front porch and at each section where rails are removed, let Tara Turf nestle the home.
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Flow, no dead ends. Currently each end of the porch is a dead end, walking straight out each front door is a dead end. Historically, the more entry ways a garden has the better a garden is. Historically, the more axis a garden has the better the garden. Historically, the more double axis a garden has the better the garden. Creating more entries, creates more magic circles for people/pets to flow. These ideas are not Tara'tude, they are historical. Garden Design is science, and art.
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Don't forget, leave me your ideas.
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Garden & Be Well, XO T
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Pics, and fuller story, here.
Bwahahaha! I have all your books, follow you on social media and have read almost everything on your blog. And you know what? I knew what to do! Remove the rails and have steps across the front and ends. And ALWAYS Tara Turf. We've been doing that for ages - - - nature doesn't offend us at all!
ReplyDeleteI still have so, so much to learn - - - but am happy I'm on a great learning journey!
Thanks so much!
Readers - really - go buy her books. They are beautiful AND helpful! :)
I should not have read to the bottom and read your ideas, Tara, because after that I could clearly visualize your design for the porch and yard that there's no room in my mind for anything else. Now I can see people stepping off the porch at either end and the appropriateness of Tara turf.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing I noticed was 2 front doors, is it apartments? If not Why isn't the door in the middle? I agree about rail and also steps on both ends. If you did it
ReplyDeleteI am sure this old house would have an inviting entry..
yvonne
YOU NAILED IT!
ReplyDeleteTARA 'TUDE..........LOVE THAT!
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Please understand, I am experiencing one of my braver moments to comment. Here goes: remove the rails and foundation plantings. Use brick to form a landing, with graduated steps, in the shape of a semi-circle, so everything is not so square. This landing would begin in the center of the last window, closest to the swing; and end in the center of the last window on the right. Gravel could be placed next to the foundation on either side of the brick steps. The chimneys are on either end of the house for visual balance, the two doors are painted a coordinating color, and the brick steps add depth to the front porch as well as space. Over the years I have enjoyed hearing you as a speaker at special events, and am now enjoying your blog. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy WV family was heating with coal from about the first day they landed in what was then VA. Coal and wood, free then and, for those with access to a mine and woods, free now save for the work together and clear away ash.
ReplyDeleteI adore farmhouses in this style except for the double doors...have never been a fan of front double doors, would rather have double doors on the back, off kitchen and bedroom, leading onto a screen porch. The color scheme is nice...white with dark shutters and red/yellowish doors but the porch needs, perhaps, a small table and chair on the right side. A place to sit and read or ponder or just watch.
YES to placing beds FACING windows...it's so lovely to wake and immediately (well, after I put on glasses) the outside...what kind of day, weather, etc. To wake in the night, put on glasses, and watch heaven's display.
Or, beds in an L with a chair and small table to enjoy the view prior to bed, after getting up.
I do like the brick walkway but would like it a tad larger...big enough for 3, or more, to sit and chat, maybe wider again by half for potted plants.
It's a lovely house; kudos to them for tackling such an extensive project and succeeding!