Lantern Lights

Remember my post on Alys Beach from about a month ago? I said that I would find a picture of the lighting fixture above the fire pit. I found one....

It was one of the many images on The Photographers Life where they did a great post on Alys Beach.

Creative outdoor lighting can add so much to enhance your garden no matter what setting.

It can be simple.

Or more formal.

It always catches your eye.

And sets the mood for the area.

It is always worth the investment.

Images via The Photographers Life, Dargan Landscape Architect, Tracery Interiors, Designing Life In Miami, Abby Sharp Tumbler

Hollywood Style

In the most current issue of Garden Design magazine Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson opened up the garden gates of their home in Ojai, California.

Doesn't it remind you of Meryl Streep's house in It's Complicated?

It has the cottage feel with amazing garden rooms.

And so many perimeter spaces that make you want to live outside.

I love the vintage outdoor furniture.

There are so many more inspiring pictures so be sure to view the full article here.

Contemporary

A good friend of mine and previous Daily Classic contributor, BPQ TX, recently had some work featured on the Contemporist. The Austin, TX based landscape architect worked on all of the landscaping and hardscaping (including all of the walls, etc) of the house pictured below.

With such an amazing views of the city, it is such a refreshingly inspiring project.

Click here to view the full article, and see even more amazing photos.

White

White. My husband and I are still in the middle of a painting project where we are painting all the rooms in our house one color. White. Tennis Court White to be specific... it is really a little off white. I have been getting a lot of "really, white?" or "all the rooms the same color?" or "you are turning into your mother" (my parent's house is white too - and my sister's.) I love white.... it is so clean and fresh. We have a small house so I think it will be nice for all the rooms to be the same color and flow together, and then we can use different accent colors to make each room pop. I am thinking of painting the back of one door a bright color- inspired by the last picture - I may go with a kelly green. I cant wait for it to be complete!

Happy Spring!

We have seen the signs that it is coming...

We even caught a glimpse this past weekend...

Although the snow flurries outside are telling us otherwise...

It is "officially" spring!

Happy Friday!

Hope that you have a great weekend!

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, and we are heading to Thomasville to see the fam! Further south and even better weather... highs of 77 and 78! I cant wait!

How Cute Are These?

We have a client who lives on a river in Louisiana that wanted us to find a "pirate ship paddle boat" for their children's playground. Look what we found...

The pirate ship is cute, but the "African Queen Boat" (below) is even more precious, and is what they decided to go with.

Their two twin girls maybe the luckiest children in the world to have a river side play ground equipped with their own African Queen Boat!

Although not fitting of this site, I do love these pelican and swan paddle boats as well.

* pictures found here.

Happy St. Patty's Day

I forgot to wear green today, but I can still give you a little green with these images of West Green Garden in the UK.

The image above is of "the chicken house." This fanciful cage is where they house their "Pekin chickens." Pretty lucky chicks...

The last three images are pictures of the garden room named The Alice Garden. This whimsical garden is designed with checker boards and topiaries to give it an imaginary feel.

This reminds me how much I want to go see Alice and Wonderland... hopefully this weekend!

Check out the website for more information the West Green Gardens. There is so much more to see!

Easter Pines

Now that daylight savings has come, Easter will be here before we know it. I received an email the other day that claimed the Pine trees know when it is time for Easter.

This email explains that " The Pine trees start their new growth in the weeks before Easter-- if you look at the tops of the trees two weeks before Easter, you will see yellow shoots. As the days get closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross. By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the Pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest shoots."

I have no idea if this is true everywhere especially because of all the unusual weather this year.

But I am definitely going to keep my eyes pealed for it in the upcoming weeks.

* quoted story found here.

Celebrations

This weekend was full of celebrations.

I celebrated my birthday by going to Chicago to spend the weekend with two of my very best girl friends. It was my first time there, and we were able to accomplish just about everything you could possibly do in one weekend. We went to Second City, Millennium Park, The Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigleyville, Greek Town, ate deep dish pizza, and of course, shopped the magnificent mile.

We also celebrated St. Patrick's Day, Chicago style.... they are crazy about St. Patty's Day! If you don't believe me, just take a look at the river...

I had a wonderful time, and I am so thankful for my wonderful friends and family as I turn another year older!

Tomorrow, I have the dreaded Jury Duty, another first for me. I hope to be back at work on Tuesday.

*pictures found here and here.