These Dreamy Garden Rooms Are a Soul-Soothing Feast for the Eyes

This article explores various design strategies to seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living spaces, catering to the growing desire for open-plan interiors that embrace nature. It highlights the British tendency to long for such spaces at the first hint of sunshine, emphasizing the appeal of dining in a sun-drenched kitchen-cum-living-cum-dining area with the scent of a freshly cut lawn wafting in through bi-fold doors. The first idea presented is converting an outbuilding into a hybrid indoor/outdoor living room, complete with a fireplace and a mix of traditional country seating with modern upholstery, offering an ideal way to enjoy the garden. The second suggestion focuses on blurring boundaries with plants, such as a creeping vine trained over a terrace, transforming an ordinary outdoor space into a genteel garden room. Regular trimming and choosing fragrant plants like clematis or jasmine are recommended to enhance the experience. For south-facing gardens or sunny patios, the article proposes creating an outdoor living room with bench seating, piped seat cushions, and scatter cushions for a Mediterranean feel. Adding a low table for casual dining and sail curtain panels as windbreaks can further enhance this ambiance. The fourth design concept involves removing a wall in the kitchen to open up the space entirely to the garden using floor-to-ceiling doors, effectively making the boundary between indoors and outdoors disappear. Keeping the interior white with high-sheen finishes is suggested for spaces lacking a lantern roof or skylight. Enclosing a courtyard with glass walls and accessing it through regular hinged doors is another method to create an indoor-outdoor feel, treating the courtyard as an extension of the internal rooms. Decking that resembles exposed floorboards and oversized potted plants can contribute to a garden room aesthetic for exotics. The sixth idea emphasizes framing a view, using architectural elements like timber beams to direct the eye from the interior to the landscape beyond, while maintaining a simple decorating scheme with white, black, and red accents that do not detract from the vista. Splitting seating across an exterior wall, positioning dining and lounging areas on either side of an opened-up space, provides flexibility for family life and entertaining, offering the benefits of both indoors and outdoors. Cheating with an outdoor decorating theme is also discussed, using elements like branching metal beds, climbing ivy garlands, and foliage-print fabrics to create a woodland-inspired bedroom without actual trees. The ninth suggestion involves maximizing light levels with a fully glazed roof, creating a country kitchen with the character of a large conservatory, where the view of exterior walls from within the space enhances the outdoor feel. Finally, the article suggests glazing three walls and the ceiling of a living room to achieve high light levels comparable to those of a garden, allowing breezes and fragrances to permeate the space. The last idea is to transform an outdoor space into a room using garden furniture that mimics indoor pieces, along with stone flooring and mood lighting, creating a sophisticated outdoor dining area reminiscent of a luxurious hotel. #IndoorOutdoorLiving #HomeDesign #GardenRooms #OutdoorLiving #InteriorExteriorBlend #ArchitecturalDesign #RenovationIdeas #SpaceTransformation #BiFoldDoors

The book "Work From Shed" by Hoxton Mini Press showcases a diverse collection of garden studios, garages, and sheds from various international locations, offering insights into their architectural possibilities as home workspaces. The book's creation was influenced by the increased adoption of working from home due to the coronavirus pandemic, leading to a new fluidity in work environments. Martin Usborne, creative director at Hoxton Mini Press, highlights the personal nature of working from home, which fosters greater expression in the design of workspaces, encouraging surprising, playful, and beautiful structures that are also varied and adaptable. This compilation features ten distinct home studios, each demonstrating unique design approaches and functionalities. One featured design is the Remisen-Pavilion in Germany by Wirth Architekten, a brick garden office that serves multiple purposes, including a parking space and dining room. Its design incorporates large oak wood doors and perforated brickwork for natural ventilation and lighting. In Scotland, WT Architecture designed a Writer's Studio for two writers, featuring a low brick base combined with an exposed timber and steel structure. This studio is intended to be visually simple, reminiscent of a dilapidated greenhouse that previously occupied the site. The LA Pottery Studio in the USA, a collaboration between ceramist Raina Lee and architect Mark Watanabe, is a stilted shed nestled among trees and accessed by a wooden bridge. This structure functions as both a studio and a display space for Lee's ceramics, utilizing salvaged shipping crates for shelving and incorporating natural elements like tree branches. Carmody Groarke's Two Pavilions in England include an artist studio built within the brick walls of an 18th-century ruined farmhouse, extended with weathered-steel panels that define large windows and create a sheltered outdoor area. FT Architects designed the Light Shed in Japan, an open-plan photography studio with a timber framework supporting corrugated plastic walls. The roof's unique shape maximizes open space and minimizes structural interference for photography. Studio Ben Allen's A Room in the Garden in England draws inspiration from an artichoke, featuring green shingles and constructed from a flat-pack kit of CNC-cut timber elements, allowing for easy dismantling and relocation. The Enchanted Shed in Austria by Franz&Sue; is a converted 1930s outhouse near Vienna, now serving as a light-filled writing studio on its upper level, complete with a glazed gable end and upholstered seating, capable of functioning as a guestroom or playspace. In England, TDO designed the Forest Pond House, a studio suspended over a body of water in a family garden. Its curved plywood shell and glazed end wall aim to immerse occupants in nature, promoting relaxation and focus. A31 Architecture's Art Warehouse in Greece, enclosed by a curved concrete shell, is an art studio designed for an artist to accommodate large sculptures, featuring a spacious open-plan interior and a mezzanine storage level accessible via floating steps. Lastly, Tini by Delavegacanolasso in Spain is a prototype of a prefabricated wooden office, designed for online ordering and truck delivery, constructed from galvanized steel, oriented strand boards (OSB), and local pine wood, and was craned into its garden site to prevent disruption. #GardenStudios #HomeWorkspaces #ArchitecturalDesign #SustainableArchitecture #PrefabricatedBuildings #ArtStudio #WriterStudio #PhotographyStudio #CompactLiving

This article highlights three distinct backyard retreats, described as sophisticated 'chic sheds,' that elevate the concept of a garden house. Each retreat serves as a multi-functional space, blending greenhouse elements with creative studios or workshops, and all are constructed primarily from salvaged windows and architectural pieces. The designs reflect the owners' personal passions and incorporate unique antique finds. The article begins by introducing these sunlit spaces, emphasizing their construction from over 200 salvaged windows and other reclaimed materials, and how they are adorned with meaningful collections. The first featured retreat is 'The Backyard Studio,' a 480-square-foot space in Alabama owned by Barbara Adkins of Black Sheep Antiques. This studio offers panoramic views of the owner's property, including a barn, gardens, pastures, and house. It utilizes 48 salvaged windows, hinged at the top to allow for cross-breeze. Notable elements include blue front doors with their original paint and vintage rattan furniture, creating a casual living room setting. The studio also functions as an art space, featuring an antique dining table repurposed as a desk and a music stand as an easel. Adkins uses the space for painting and hosting dinner parties. Adjacent to the main studio is a potting shed displaying her extensive terra-cotta pot collection, where she nurtures plants like jonquils, oxeye daisies, Lady Banks roses, and garden phlox. The second retreat, 'The Hobby House,' is a compact 61-square-foot workshop in Indiana belonging to Donna Jenkins, a stylist and owner of The Tinkerhouse Trading Company. Designed with inspiration from a Colonial saltbox, this structure incorporates 34 salvaged windows. A cherished item in this space is a pair of green Adirondack chairs crafted by her son. Jenkins is particularly proud of her ability to propagate boxwoods from scratch. The Hobby House is used for various messy projects that cannot be done indoors, such as spray-painting and flower pressing, and also hosts flower-arranging workshops. The potting bench features running water for convenience. Many components of this 'tinker' house, including its mismatched door hardware, were sourced from the renovation of Jenkins' family's fifth-generation farmhouse. The exterior is painted in Valspar's Sparkling Lake, and an outdoor seating area is enhanced by hinged salvaged French doors. The magic hour in this retreat is noted as 3 p.m. in the summer, when the front windows sparkle, making it an ideal spot to enjoy sun tea. The third retreat is 'The Garden Retreat,' a 600-square-foot glass-encased potting shed in Georgia owned by garden designer Susanne Hudson. This structure features 139 salvaged windows and five French doors, which Hudson collected over three years and meticulously arranged. Hudson expresses her fondness for the green trim, which she carefully selected to both stand out and blend with the natural surroundings, specifically Tarrytown Green by Benjamin Moore. Her passion for gardening extends to limelight hydrangeas. The retreat serves as a central hub for all gardening activities—planning, potting, and pruning. It also provides a tranquil space for reading antique gardening books on rainy days. A practical design feature is an extra-wide side entrance with a sliding barn door, allowing easy access for a wheelbarrow. In the evenings, the space transforms into a 'jewel box' when lit by hanging lanterns and oil lamps, making it perfect for entertaining with white wine or for focused work with a glass of water. Unique decorative elements include an antique door repurposed into a French trumeau-style mirror and a collection of vintage flower frogs displayed as sculptural art on a zinc-topped table. Hudson's design inspiration is described as "Country French all the way." #BackyardRetreats #GardenSheds #SalvagedWindows #DIYProjects #HomeDesign #CreativeSpaces #AntiqueFinds #GardeningIdeas #CountryLiving

Vertical gardens, also known as living walls, represent an innovative approach to integrating nature into indoor spaces. These installations are gaining popularity as they transform mundane interiors into vibrant, green environments. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, living walls offer practical benefits, including improving indoor air quality and fostering a sense of well-being. This trend is being embraced globally by landscape architects and plant installation experts who are adept at creating these lush, vertical landscapes. One prominent example is a massive vertical garden located in an atrium in Elche, Spain. This installation, designed and implemented by Urbanarbolism in collaboration with Paisajismo Urbano, extends all the way to the ceiling and is considered the largest vertical garden in Spain. It showcases how large-scale living walls can be integrated into architectural spaces. Another notable project is Drexel University’s Biowall, installed by Parker Urban Greenscapes in the fall of 2011. This impressive 80-foot-tall BioWall, featuring over 1,500 plants, is an integral component of the Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building’s air handling system. Its primary function is to naturally purify the indoor air, highlighting the environmental benefits of vertical gardens in academic and institutional settings. In a commercial context, Vertical Garden Design enhanced the window displays of Barcelona’s Replay store with two vertical gardens. These green installations serve as appealing backdrops for merchandise and draw customers inside, offering a refreshing and unique retail experience. The Yoyogi Village in Tokyo features an awe-inspiring urban retreat that combines shipping container architecture with a beautiful interior living wall. Designed by Wonderwall and landscape designer Seijun Nishinata, this verdant vertical garden contributes to the site's attractiveness, demonstrating the versatility of living walls in urban development. Stelmat Teleinformática’s headquarters in Brazil exemplifies a commitment to sustainable design, incorporating both a green roof and a tropical living wall at its entrance. Designed by ABOUT:BLANK, these features make a bold architectural statement while showcasing the company's dedication to sustainable technologies and living installations. Finally, the offices of OpenPlans in New York City boast a living replica of Central Park, positioned as the focal point of the workspace. This playful installation, crafted by Parker Interior Plantscapes and LTL Architects, played a crucial role in the office achieving LEED Gold certification, underscoring the potential of vertical gardens to contribute to green building standards and create engaging work environments. #VerticalGardens #LivingWalls #IndoorPlants #GreenDesign #SustainableArchitecture #InteriorDesign #AirQuality #UrbanGreenscapes #BiophilicDesign

Vertical gardens offer a practical solution for individuals with limited backyard space or those seeking an ergonomic gardening experience. These space-saving units allow for the cultivation of various plants, from herbs and succulents to strawberries, without the need for extensive bending or kneeling. They are particularly well-suited for small porches, balconies, and patios, with many models also suitable for indoor use, depending on lighting conditions and plant type. The selection of a vertical garden involves considering several key factors, including materials, size, and design. Materials commonly used include wood, metal, and plastic, or combinations thereof. Wooden vertical gardens often impart a rustic aesthetic and are generally robust. Metal gardens are known for their durability, lighter frames, and often feature powder coatings to prevent rust and corrosion. Plastic options are typically the most economical, offering versatility and sturdiness, though with less aesthetic charm than wood or metal. Size is another critical consideration, as vertical gardens vary significantly. Some designs maintain a small footprint by stacking planters directly upwards, while others feature planters that extend wider than the base for a more expansive display. Users should consider both the overall height and the height of individual planters, especially for indoor placement or for individuals who prefer not to bend excessively. The article highlights that the selected vertical gardens are top-rated, cover various styles and materials, and cater to different price points, with an emphasis on stability and durability based on past Popular Mechanics reports. The article then details several top recommendations, each with unique features. The Lettuce Grow Farmstand Hydroponic Vertical Garden is highlighted as a sustainable option, made from ocean-bound plastic and using 95% less water than traditional gardening. It's a self-fertilizing system that comes with essential nutrients and a pH testing kit, offering a high-end experience suitable for a range of plant types and featuring various add-ons like grow lights and heaters. For those seeking a visually appealing option for a wall, the Leisure Season Wood Vertical Garden is presented as a stylish, multi-tier cedar structure that can also support climbing plants. It includes drainage holes and plastic liners, and is weather-resistant for both indoor and outdoor use. The Amazing Creation Stackable Vertical Garden Planter is noted for its affordability and versatility, ideal for small plants like strawberries and herbs. Its stackable design allows for adjustable height, and each tier includes a soil separator to prevent leakage. For metal options, the Outland Living Four-Tier Vertical Garden is recommended for its food-grade plastic bins set within a curved, rust-resistant metal frame, suitable for taller spaces. Similarly, the Giantex Vertical Garden offers a stylish wooden design with independently usable, tilted planters for optimal sunlight exposure. The Outland Living Five-Tier Vertical Garden provides a mid-sized metal option with an ergonomic tiered design and powder-coated steel frame. For space-saving wall-mounted solutions, the HilarityMax 36-Pocket Vertical Garden, made of reinforced felt with rust-resistant eyelets, offers an inexpensive way to create a living wall. The Cyan Design Vertical Garden stands out as a stylish indoor option with a cascading design and removable, deep buckets. The Arlmont & Co. Vertical Garden offers a compact, five-tiered plastic design with an independent drainage system, suitable for smaller outdoor areas. Lastly, the Algreen Vertical Living Wall Planter is presented as a durable, weather-resistant wall-mounted option with adjustable planter boxes, while the YardCraft Cedar Vertical Garden is a double-sided cedar model, ideal for accommodating plants with varying sunlight needs, though it requires sealing for outdoor use. #VerticalGardens #HomeGardening #SpaceSaving #IndoorGardening #OutdoorGardening #Hydroponics #GardeningTools #PlantingSolutions #HomeImprovement

This article details a multi-level garden makeover project undertaken by a homeowner who transformed a neglected courtyard into a functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor space. The project began with a wild courtyard filled with overgrown ivy and accumulated leaves and dirt near the house. The homeowner aimed to preserve existing trees and shrubs and the old brick walls while introducing different zones and levels to the garden. A primary goal was to create a comfortable seating area. The homeowner's husband constructed bespoke wooden bench seats for the terrace, overcoming budget constraints for pre-made outdoor sofas. Initial issues with ivy dropping wet leaves and discolouring the wood led to switching from outdoor furniture oil to deck oil for better protection. The lower level, previously just a paved area, was subsequently developed into an 'outdoor room,' complete with custom seat pads, cushions, and an upcycled coffee table. Creative upcycling extended to other areas of the garden. An old window frame was repurposed into an outdoor mirror, which was installed on a brick wall after removing the ivy, effectively opening up and enhancing the space. An existing garden table and chairs from the homeowner's previous residence were incorporated to establish a dining zone at the far end of the garden. For the area near the back door, decorative touches were added, including shelving made from a salvaged wooden ladder, adorned with vases, pots, and accessories. A small wooden trolley, originally used at the couple's wedding, was repurposed to hold plants and accessories, creating a charming workstation. The planting scheme focused on creating a cottage garden aesthetic, attracting birds, butterflies, and bees. The homeowner prioritized retaining mature shrubs and an old apple tree and successfully rescued a pink climbing rose from the ivy. Despite a lack of prior gardening knowledge, the homeowner researched online to understand plant care, leading to successful relocations of a hydrangea and a fig tree to more suitable spots. The transformation successfully made the garden feel larger, facilitating more outdoor time for meals and entertaining. Evening use is enhanced by solar lights in the trees and a patio heater. The family also enjoys outdoor film nights using a projector and a white sheet. Jam-jar lights with solar-powered fairy lights were added for ambiance. The biggest challenge was the split-level layout and the overgrown ivy on the old brick walls. The homeowner introduced self-seeding annuals like Verbena, Bonariensis, Asters, Cornflowers, and Snapdragons to provide continuous color and allow plants to spill over borders, softening the landscaping lines. The result is a vibrant, multi-functional space that has gained the approval of the family cat. #GardenMakeover #CourtyardGarden #OutdoorLiving #DIYGarden #Upcycling #GardenDesign #BanquetteSeating #PlantingIdeas #HomeImprovement

This article showcases six distinct homes across the United States, each characterized by its unique architectural style and meticulously landscaped gardens. The first property, located in Santa Rosa, California, is an 8-acre Mediterranean villa featuring a 26-foot octagonal tower that offers views of the surrounding forests and hills. The three-bedroom house includes marble floors, beamed ceilings, three fireplaces, a chef's kitchen, a breakfast room, a library, a wine cellar, and a sunroom. Its exterior boasts flagstone pathways connecting various patios, a courtyard, a wooded picnic area, a greenhouse, and diverse gardens, notably a rock garden. The second featured home is a five-bedroom modern Colonial in Harding Township, New Jersey. This residence opens with French doors onto a lawn adorned with two French-inspired stone patios. Inside, it presents an open kitchen-living room area with beamed ceilings and a central stone fireplace, a paneled study with coffered ceilings, a dining room, a media room, and a gym. The 3-acre property is extensively landscaped with shrubs and trees, further enhanced by a fountain, a small woods, and a turf putting green complete with two sand traps. Next is a four-bedroom Tidewater-style home in Weems, Virginia, whose formal gardens provide a scenic view of the Corrotoman River. The house is distinguished by heart-of-pine floors, custom cabinetry, crown moldings, multiple decks, and a chef's kitchen that seamlessly connects to a butler's pantry and the living room. The outdoor area features well-maintained lawns, vibrant flowers, shrubs, a fountain, oyster-shell walkways, and an arbor. Additional amenities include a screened porch with a pool and spa, and a deepwater dock equipped with boat lifts. A four-bedroom home in Minneapolis occupies a 0.23-acre lot, which is thoughtfully planted with flowers, vines, mature trees, and boxwoods. This updated 1926 house maintains its original French windows, interior arches, and glass-paned double doors, while also incorporating a modern open kitchen, a paneled study, and a master bedroom with a private porch. The exterior includes a small front patio overlooking Lake of the Isles, along with brick and stone garden patios in the back, one under an arbor, and a picnic patio with a grill. The fifth property, Bogardus Hall in Amenia, New York, is a six-bedroom Georgian house built in 1781 and expanded in 1871. It is set amidst wide lawns, mature trees, and extensive perennial beds. The house preserves historical details such as original fireplaces and a spiral staircase adorned with murals depicting life along the Hudson River. It also features a library-study, a full kitchen wing, a brick great room, and a wine cellar. The expansive 132-acre property encompasses woods, a trout creek, a two-bedroom guesthouse, and a three-car garage with an office, full bath, and car wash. Finally, a 1929 Normandy-style château in Mansfield, Ohio, stands on nearly 2 acres of landscaped grounds. This five-bedroom house has been modernized with a contemporary kitchen, wet bar, and security system, yet it retains its original central turret with a curved staircase, a steep slate roof, a Juliet balcony, frescoes, wormy chestnut-beamed ceilings, and a cellar room that once served as a speakeasy. The exterior boasts a sweeping front drive, a porch, garden beds, and a backyard with mature trees, a lawn, a patio, and carved-limestone elements, including a fountain. Each of these homes offers a blend of architectural charm and exceptional outdoor spaces, appealing to those who appreciate both refined interiors and extensive, beautiful gardens. #LuxuryHomes #LushGardens #ArchitecturalStyles #RealEstate #HomeDesign #LandscapeDesign #PropertyShowcase #OutdoorLiving #GardenHomes

This blog explores innovative home designs that integrate indoor gardens, showcasing how properties can achieve lush green spaces even without traditional backyards. The concept of indoor-outdoor living is redefined through examples from various architectural projects worldwide. One featured home is the Wall House in Biên Hòa, Vietnam, designed by Creative Architects CTA. Situated near the Đồng Nai River, the house was conceived to 'breathe' and preserve the existing garden on the land. It comprises eight distinct living spaces surrounded by unfinished walls that allow for air circulation, crucial for Vietnam's tropical climate. Three 'breathing walls,' constructed from hollow bricks, facilitate natural light and ventilation while filtering out pollution and maintaining privacy. An indoor garden serves as a visual extension of the outdoor greenery and mitigates environmental impact on the living space. The communal areas are on the ground floor, with bedrooms and a shared study upstairs, the latter opening to a void connected to the garden below. In Glamorganshire, UK, a sustainable rural home designed by LOYN+CO Architects is built into a hillside. This energy-efficient residence, completed in December 2020, replaced an older dwelling to maximize views of the Welsh countryside. The homeowners, keen gardeners, requested a practical home that could bring the outside in. The entrance leads to a soaring atrium featuring a three-storey indoor garden, supported by an irrigation system and requiring 20 tonnes of soil. This indoor jungle, planted by the homeowners, provides a central focal point and allows for year-round gardening, including plants that would not survive outdoors in the UK. The staircase is flanked by cork and preserved moss walls, which absorb noise, insulate, and purify the air. Christos Pavlou Architecture's 'The Garden House' in Nicosia, Cyprus, emphasizes urban gardening's potential to improve city living conditions and mitigate global warming. The house features two rectangular cubes separated by a green courtyard, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. A 79-foot-long glazed sliding door allows the house to open up to the courtyard. The main garden is also connected to a public green space, benefiting the neighborhood. The garden is central to the home's design, with every room offering garden views, and a planted area under the stairs maximizes space. 60% of the ground floor is planted to attract bees, and a first-floor terrace boasts a living roof, providing additional green space and views. Vertical Oasis in Singapore, by HYLA Architects, addresses the challenge of building on a busy road while ensuring privacy. The main spaces are built around a courtyard garden, featuring a double-height living room and dining area that open to a stunning courtyard with two pools, a koi pond, and a towering tree. A glass roof and anodized aluminum trellis protect the interior from rain and sun, provide shade, ensure privacy, and promote ventilation. The master bathroom also includes a planted area, creating a rainforest-like showering experience. Wall House in Khaldiya, Kuwait, by AGi Architects, initially appears fortress-like but reveals a vibrant interior. Designed from the inside out, it replaces traditional walls with glass and greenery. The ultra-modern property features a protective outer shell that encloses a series of atrium gardens. The ground floor's open-plan living area is surrounded by lush greenery, with trees extending to an open-air terrace. Many bedrooms also have private oases. Upper-floor common rooms extend to discreet balconies, ideal for entertaining. Perforated screens provide shade, and the greenery grows across different levels of the home. 66MRN-House in Singapore, designed by ONG&ONG;, is a Zen-inspired home that maximizes nature views and blends interior and exterior spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass and abundant greenery. The house is divided into two sections, with the focal point being an open-air atrium featuring a reflective pool and delicate trees. This 10-foot-wide void extends from the ground to the third floor, ensuring cross-ventilation and natural light. Glass picture windows on the first floor offer courtyard glimpses, and numerous terraces with artificial grass further blur indoor and outdoor boundaries, including a rooftop deck with planted trees. Casa MCNY in Sao Paulo, Brazil, by MF+ Arquitectos, is designed for Brazil's tropical climate, featuring an open-plan living space with retractable, perforated doors for an indoor-outdoor experience. The house integrates with its environment and includes an open-plan lounge, dining area, kitchen, and four bedrooms, all connected to the outdoors. A highlight is the indoor garden spanning the living room, behind sliding glass doors, filled with tropical foliage complementing the wood, natural stone, concrete, and Corten steel materials. The kitchen transforms into a gourmet balcony, and a second terrace leads to a swimming pool. Finally, the Three Gardens House in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Kuwait, also by AGi Architects, addresses the arid desert climate by creating outside spaces usable year-round. It features three distinct gardens on different floors: the Wet Garden on the ground floor with native plants, a pool, and fountains, surrounded by social spaces; the Summer Garden 13 feet below street level with a large pool for evapotranspiration and air circulation; and the Winter Garden on the roof, covered by a "perforated skin" of anodized aluminum for shade and privacy. These gardens are connected by exterior staircases, with the aluminum screen extending to some exterior walls, allowing sunlight and providing shelter for indoor vegetation. #IndoorGardens #SustainableArchitecture #BiophilicDesign #ModernHomes #GreenLiving #ArchitecturalInnovation #TropicalArchitecture #EcoFriendlyDesign

Garden rooms offer a unique way to extend living space outdoors, creating a sanctuary that combines indoor styling with the benefits of a green environment. These structures are often a significant investment, making it crucial to have a clear purpose in mind for their design. Whether for mindfulness, yoga, workouts, entertaining, or a dedicated workspace, a well-planned garden room can significantly enhance a home's functionality and aesthetic appeal. One approach is to design a multi-purpose space, such as a garden room that incorporates a living area, a work-from-home office, a bathroom, and integrated storage. Such a design, rooted in simplicity and sustainability, can mirror the main home's architecture, using materials like charred timber cladding, a sedum roof, and bifold doors to foster a connection with nature. Sustainable building practices, like zero-concrete raft foundations, ensure rapid installation and minimal environmental impact, aligning with modern ecological sensibilities. Another key consideration is achieving harmony with nature. A garden room should seamlessly integrate into its surroundings, perhaps by being nestled within naturalistic planting overlooking a pond. Thoughtful landscaping, including ornamental grasses and dark-toned shrubs, can soften the structure's lines. The use of sustainable cladding that matches other exterior elements of the house helps create a cohesive and timeless look. For those working remotely, a garden room can serve as an ideal work-from-home office, offering a dedicated space free from household distractions. These compact offices can be linked to the main house via decorative patios, surrounded by low-maintenance planting to provide year-round scent and color. This setup transforms remote work into a more enjoyable and productive experience. Innovative designs extend to social and recreational uses, such as a Scandi-style grill lodge or 'Kota.' This concept, originating from Scandinavia, provides a warm and inviting space for year-round cooking and socializing, especially when integrated into a lush garden setting. Such lodges, nestled among established trees, create opportunities for gathering around an open fire, extending the outdoor entertaining season. Wellness-focused garden rooms are also gaining popularity, with yoga sanctuaries being a prime example. These spaces are designed as emotional refuges, incorporating soft tones, natural wood, organic textures, and large windows to invite light and nature. They offer a tranquil environment for meditation, stretching, or journaling, away from digital distractions. For larger outdoor areas, a games room can provide a perfect venue for relaxation and entertainment with friends and family. These sizeable structures require strong lines and visual drama, with dark composite exteriors and multi-tonal cedar battens for a solid yet simple aesthetic. Careful landscaping, such as sweeping curves of lawn and planted borders, helps anchor the room within the garden. Home gyms are another highly sought-after garden room application, adding value to properties and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These private, purpose-built spaces make fitness an accessible part of daily life, eliminating barriers like travel and crowded gyms. Designs often feature distinctive cladding and modern fascias for a timeless appeal. Whimsical options like treehouses can also function as unique garden rooms, suspended in trees and built with rustic, reclaimed materials to evoke a weathered, time-worn feel. Fully insulated and waterproof, these structures can be used year-round, showcasing how creative design and sustainable materials can transform new ideas into charming, character-filled spaces. Furthermore, garden rooms can be designed as lifestyle spaces to immerse oneself in plants, serving as greenhouses large enough for relaxing or dining amidst growing flora. This multi-purpose use allows for enjoyment of the outdoors even in inclement weather. The trend towards larger structures that combine growing and living spaces reflects a desire for deeper connection with nature. A reading room designed to seemingly float above a wild pond, with glass on three sides, offers a place of calm and reflection. Such a design maximizes light and views, with the water mirroring the surrounding trees and sky. A central log burner ensures year-round comfort and appeal. Finally, garden rooms can be converted into guest houses, providing a welcoming space for family and friends, complete with living areas and kitchens, or transformed into pool houses for unwinding by the poolside, offering shade and a dedicated entertainment zone. Generally, garden rooms do not require planning permission if they meet specific height and usage restrictions, such as not including sleeping accommodation. However, checking with local planning authorities is always advisable. While prefabricated options might be cheaper, a tailored build ensures that the space is refined and encourages long-term relaxation and quality of use. #GardenRoomIdeas #OutdoorLiving #HomeOffice #SustainableDesign #WellnessSpace #GrillLodge #GamesRoom #HomeGym #TreehouseDesign #ReadingNook #GuestHouse #PoolHouse #InteriorDesign #LandscapeDesign

This article presents 32 distinct green room ideas, emphasizing the color's natural vitality, effervescence, and versatility in home décor. It highlights how green can be reimagined across various rooms and styles, from soft, personal zones to bold, elegant spaces. The examples provided showcase a range of green hues and applications, demonstrating the color's adaptability. The first idea, "Hunter Walls," features a Bedford, New York country home where exposed beams and raw-wood doors are contrasted with rich hunter green walls and a stairway. Following this, "All Artichoke" describes a sunroom in the same upstate escape, designed with a soft artichoke tone, wicker accents, and natural light to create a serene atmosphere. "Tonal Turquoise" introduces a Chicago apartment bathroom with walls painted in Farrow & Ball's Teresa’s Green and high-gloss turquoise trim, lending a moody, aquatic feel. The article then explores "Upstairs/Downstairs Wallpaper" in Ken Fulk's Sonoma lake house, where both a double-height salon and a mezzanine are adorned with a green floral wallcovering by Schumacher, creating a cohesive and expansive effect. "Crayon Green Closet" showcases a vibrant grassy green accent in David Kaoihoi's New York City apartment, utilizing Fine Paints of Europe’s Bottle Green in a coat closet for a fun yet polished touch. "Accented Jade" illustrates a San Francisco bachelor pad with walls, radiators, ceiling, and trim painted in Benjamin Moore's "Very Green," offering a cohesive and soothing look with black accents. "Olive Leather" details a TriBeCa loft where a leathered olive accent wall is complemented by a Benjamin Moore Bison Brown ceiling, providing a sharp backdrop for warm-toned art and accessories. In "Shades of Green Kitchen," Sophia Amoruso's Los Angeles kitchen features citron open shelving, pistachio stools, and a forest green entry wall, demonstrating how different green tones can harmonize. "Tropical Wallpaper" highlights Christina Juarez's New York apartment master bath, which uses Cole & Son palm leaf wallpaper, while "Green Lacquer" describes Andy Cohen's New York apartment living room doors painted in a custom green lacquer, paired with vintage French club chairs. "Green Accents" details a Central Park apartment's guest room with elegant green touches, including fabrics from Soie de Lune and Toyine Sellers, and a bedside table by HH Ruseau. "Olive Chic Walls" in a Left Bank pied-à-terre show olive walls with hand-painted wall-covering, featuring 19th-century Italian and 18th-century French furniture. "Green and Black Mixture" in designer Garance Aufaure's French home presents a 19th-century wood trellis painted in a mix of green and black from Tollens. "Bright Green" features Holly Peterson's Hamptons home with a custom bright green sofa and walls painted in Benjamin Moore Regal in Bright Lime. "Green Geometric Wallpaper" in a Tuxedo Park, New York home uses wallpaper, paint, and linens in green, with China Seas cotton and Shyam Ahuja carpet. "Green Backdrop" describes a master bedroom in a Hudson Valley country house with a deep green backdrop, designed by Gil Schafer and Miles Redd. "Floral Green Wallpaper" in the same house features an Edelman leather armchair and de Gournay wall covering. "A Splash Of Green" in Erika Bearman's Southhampton getaway uses Benjamin Moore Impervo in Very Green for living room walls. "Electric Green" highlights Todd Alexander Romano's Manhattan townhouse entryway. Finally, "Seafoam Green" showcases Penny Morrison's Welsh country house library with Farrow & Ball's Arsenic walls. #GreenRoomIdeas #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #GreenPaint #ColorSchemes #RoomDecoration #WallpaperTrends #FurnitureDesign

Terremoto, a landscape architecture firm founded by David Godshall and Alain Peauroi in 2014, has been making significant waves in the gardening world with its progressive and ecologically conscious design philosophy. Operating from offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the firm employs 24 staff members and completes approximately 25 residential and commercial projects annually. Terremoto has been recognized twice in the AD 100 list of top interior and garden designers and handles a diverse range of projects, from residential gardens for the creative working class to high-profile celebrity landscapes for clients such as Kirsten Dunst and Adam Horovitz of the Beastie Boys, as well as corporate projects for companies like Dropbox and prestige developments like the Sea Ranch Lodge. The firm's approach is rooted in principles that prioritize climate, fair labor, water conservation, and the use of regionally appropriate native or climate-adapted low-water plants. This results in gardens that are tranquil, yet incorporate a slightly unkempt aesthetic that benefits biodiversity. Terremoto provides potential clients with a 'syllabus' outlining its work philosophy, which includes sections on 'Climate Change and Ecology,' 'Land and Labor,' and 'Community, Context, and History.' This document emphasizes that gardens are reflections of societal forces and that 'gardenmaking' is an inherently political act, aiming to create less human-supremacist spaces that welcome wildlife. Godshall and Peauroi initially met while working at another landscape architecture firm in San Francisco, where they began discussing how to approach landscape architecture differently. Their core principle is to 'listen to the land' and allow it to guide the project, moving beyond human-centric design to consider the garden's usefulness to non-human species. They acknowledge that even a beloved garden is only occupied by humans for a fraction of its life, highlighting the importance of native plants for co-evolved wildlife. Terremoto is in a unique position to be selective with clients due to high demand. While they aim to navigate their principles with kindness, they are upfront about their environmental commitments. For instance, if a client requests a new swimming pool, Terremoto might suggest environmentally conscious alternatives like a cedar soaking tub or a natural pool, and if the client's vision doesn't align with their values, they respectfully decline the project. This firm also makes a conscious effort to take on smaller projects in addition to high-profile ones, including what they term 'Radical Gardens of Love and Interconnectedness,' such as Sara Kramer's terraced hillside garden, which incorporates native plants, fruit trees, and reclaimed concrete for irrigation efficiency. Beyond private residences, Terremoto is involved in community projects, exemplified by 'Test Plot,' an initiative to re-wild Elysian Park in Los Angeles. This project, conducted in collaboration with the parks department and community volunteers, involves planting native species to restore the park to its pre-colonial ecological state, demonstrating what local parks can be: aesthetically pleasing, restorative, and supportive of wildlife and biodiversity. Terremoto's philosophy stresses that the process of creating these gardens is often messy but that 'trying is always better than not trying,' leading to inspiring and impactful results. #LandscapeArchitecture #SustainableGardening #NativePlants #DroughtTolerant #EcologicalDesign #CaliforniaLandscaping #Terremoto

This article explores a variety of garden room ideas, emphasizing their versatility beyond traditional sheds. It highlights how these structures can be transformed into functional and enjoyable spaces for various activities, from home offices and gyms to games rooms and creative studios. The article categorizes these ideas into 21 distinct concepts, offering practical advice and inspiration for homeowners looking to maximize their outdoor space. One key idea is to maximize natural light and panoramic views by incorporating large windows. This design choice creates a serene environment, suitable for activities like art or yoga studios, or simply enjoying the garden from indoors. Another suggestion involves integrating the garden room seamlessly with the surrounding landscape by decorating with climbing plants on a trellis. However, it advises caution regarding direct growth on the building to prevent damage, recommending trellises and regular pruning. The article also touches upon aesthetic considerations, recommending wood-finish exteriors for a natural look that complements various garden design schemes. Practicality is addressed through smart storage solutions, suggesting built-in units or hidden compartments within benches to maintain an organized space, especially in smaller garden rooms. Several ideas focus on entertainment and leisure, such as transforming the garden room into a games room with amenities like pool tables and jukeboxes, ensuring a good Wi-Fi connection, and appropriate lighting and heating. For those who enjoy entertaining, creating a dedicated home bar within the garden room is suggested, complete with seating and drink storage. Musical enthusiasts are encouraged to set up a music room to practice instruments without disturbing others. For creative pursuits, the article proposes dedicated art studios or craft rooms, suggesting bold design choices to personalize these spaces. Wellness-focused ideas include creating a meditation space with calming elements like houseplants and water features, or setting up a home gym to avoid membership fees and encourage family fitness. Literary enthusiasts can design a cozy reading nook with comfortable seating and ample book storage. The article also covers practical additions like a lean-to for a sunny dining spot, suggesting it as a more affordable extension option that often doesn’t require extensive planning permission. Environmental considerations are met with the idea of a green roof, which supports local wildlife and provides insulation benefits. For entertainment, a garden cinema is proposed for immersive movie nights, complete with comfortable seating and projection setups. Unique and personalized ideas include creating a glamorous “she shed” for an idyllic retreat, often featuring vibrant interior decor, and a hidden garden pod that blends into the landscape, offering a cozy and secluded seating area. Finally, the article introduces the concept of a portable shepherd’s hut, a wheeled structure that offers flexibility for future relocation and typically avoids planning permission issues for personal use. The article concludes with essential FAQs regarding garden room installation, emphasizing the importance of airflow to prevent dampness and the necessity of strong foundations. It also provides crucial information on planning permission requirements, advising homeowners to check local council regulations to ensure compliance, especially for commercial use or properties in conservation areas. Overall, it serves as a comprehensive guide for designing and utilizing garden rooms effectively. #GardenRooms #OutdoorLiving #HomeOffice #GamesRoom #CreativeSpace #GardenDesign #HomeGym #MeditationSpace #PlanningPermission #SustainableDesign

The 2020 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens, which opened on July 11 and ran until August 9, 2020, showcased a historic Colonial-style estate designed by Frost & Granger in 1906 and later remodeled by Stanley Anderson in 1926. This biennial event benefits the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, an organization providing healthcare to medically underserved communities for over a century. The estate features 23 light-filled rooms with architectural details, serving as a canvas for over 30 interior and landscape designers. Each space incorporates a mix of antique and vintage items, along with innovative uses of color, texture, and pattern. The outdoor areas include gardens by Scott Byron & Co. and Mariani Landscape Architecture, featuring lush purple and green plantings and original Japanese lilac trees. Inside, the foyer by Konstant Home combines traditional architectural elements and Zuber scenic wallpaper with French Modernist furniture by Charlotte Perriand and Jean Royère, accented by sculptural art and vintage finds. Kelly Hurliman Design's living room emphasizes luxurious textures with Italian velvet sofas, vintage alpaca chairs, a marble cocktail table, and a shagreen cabinet, all within a palette of apricot, rust, and chalky white. Paloma Contreras Design’s dining room is enveloped in an Iksel chinoiserie wallpaper, reflecting a classic-meets-contemporary style, complemented by Schumacher fabrics on window shades and a settee. The powder room by Sarah Vaile Design features de Gournay wallpaper depicting an exotic jungle, highlighted by hot pink lacquered trim and a geometric black and white floor. The sunroom by M + M Interior Design showcases patterned textiles and natural textures, with emerald walls covered in a hand-painted silk wallpaper from a collaboration between Erdem Moralioglu and de Gournay. Shelley Johnstone Design's sun porch and adjacent terrace integrate the outdoors with a custom Gracie wallpaper, a celadon lacquered ceiling, and Janus et Cie furniture, offering views of the gardens. The kitchen, a collaboration between the ABL Group and Dovetails Custom Cabinetry, blends historical design with modern functionality. It features brass hardware, Cambria and Artistic tile surfaces, and custom cabinetry painted in Sherwin Williams’ Sleepy Hollow and Inkwell. Stephanie Kaslow Interiors created a cozy reading room with rustic wood, dusty blue trim and ceiling, and a mix of modern and antique furniture, lighting, and art. Cynthia McCullough Interiors designed a cheerful guest bedroom with a vintage-inspired floral wallpaper by Cole and Son, blue upholstered beds, yellow mohair armchairs, vintage pieces, and seagrass flooring. Wendy Labrum Interiors' sitting room emphasizes its high ceilings with earthy plaster walls, complemented by a Jean Royère sofa, Pierre Jeanneret chairs, vintage lighting, and a custom marble table. Finally, James Thomas's potting room draws inspiration from English manor houses, featuring limed oak, green trim, and off-black plaster walls, filled with baskets, pots, and topiaries. The showhouse offers a range of design ideas across its varied spaces. #LakeForestShowhouse #InteriorDesign #ColonialEstate #LuxuryDecor #GardenDesign #ChinoiserieWallpaper #VintageFurniture #ModernDesign #Showhouse2020

Cultivating plants indoors offers a way to incorporate natural elements into living spaces, particularly for individuals with limited area or natural light. This guide outlines eight creative approaches to indoor gardening, each offering distinct advantages and considerations. Hanging gardens are an effective solution for space-constrained environments. These can be created using various containers like baskets, pots, or repurposed bottles, filled with potting soil and selected plants. Proper drainage is crucial, and placing these gardens near a window ensures adequate natural light; otherwise, artificial lighting can supplement. Aquarium gardens provide a unique and low-maintenance option for integrating greenery. These setups can enhance air quality and offer a natural food source for fish. Key considerations include selecting a location with ample sunlight, choosing suitable aquatic plants such as water sprite or Java fern, and preparing the tank with fresh water and a substrate like gravel or sand, ensuring sufficient spacing for plant growth. Terrariums are self-contained ecosystems, simple to maintain and customizable in size and shape. The construction involves layering gravel or sand for drainage, activated charcoal for cleanliness, and potting soil before adding plants. Ferns, spider plants, and even Venus flytraps are suitable options, each with specific humidity and light requirements. Wall-mounted gardens offer versatility, allowing customization for various spaces, from small balconies to large patios. These gardens can host a diverse range of plants, including herbs like basil and rosemary, flowers such as sunflowers and petunias, and vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Pallet gardens present an economical method for vertical gardening, ideal for limited floor space. This involves preparing a sturdy pallet by sanding and optionally painting it, then affixing it to a wall and filling each slat with soil for planting. While pallets promote recycling, challenges include sourcing suitable pallets and being mindful of potential chemical leaching from treated wood. Hydroponics offers a soilless gardening method where plant roots are suspended in nutrient-enriched water. This technique conserves water and space, and reduces pest and disease risks. It is particularly well-suited for urban environments. However, it requires careful monitoring of oxygen supply to the roots and nutrient levels in the water. Utilizing recycled materials is an eco-friendly and budget-conscious approach to indoor gardening. Old tires, boxes, barrels, or even shoes can be repurposed as planters, provided they have drainage holes. Vertical gardening can be achieved with old bookshelves, while plastic bottles can serve as mini-greenhouses. Eggshells and coffee grounds can be integrated into potting soil as natural fertilizers. Finally, cultivating herbs on a windowsill provides an accessible way to introduce greenery and fresh ingredients into the home. Basil, chives, cilantro, parsley, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme are suitable choices. These require a sunny spot and well-draining soil, with consistent watering and allowing the soil to dry between applications. Indoor gardening encourages creativity and experimentation, offering numerous possibilities to enhance living spaces with plant life. #IndoorGardening #GreenLiving #SustainableHome #DIYGarden #ContainerGardening #VerticalGarden #Hydroponics #RecycledMaterials #HomeDecor

This article showcases 36 diverse and inspiring outdoor room designs, offering creative ideas for transforming outdoor spaces into comfortable and stylish areas for relaxation and entertaining. The featured designs range from vaulted terraces and rustic verandas to sophisticated loggias and bohemian-inspired patios, demonstrating a wide array of aesthetic preferences and functional considerations. Each example highlights key design elements such as comfortable seating, vibrant patterns, abundant greenery, and specialized lighting, all contributing to the creation of chic outdoor oases. The article begins by presenting a vaulted terrace in fashion designer Johanna Ortiz's South American vacation home, characterized by a Spanish Colonial dining table and silk ikat slipcovered chairs. Following this, an outdoor loggia crafted by designer Janice Barta for a 1930s Spanish-style home in Los Angeles is detailed, featuring white and warm gray hues, a trellis, reclaimed roof tiles, built-in seating, and custom lighting. Another example, a rustic veranda in Garzón, Uruguay, incorporates Brazilian wood furniture and rustic accents like pendant lights. A Marrakech courtyard is also featured, with cream and teal patterned tiles, potted plants, a flea market love seat, and custom burlap sofas. The concept of a 'living room without walls' is explored through M. Elle Design's airy space, emphasizing an inviting open design. A terrace with drapes by Meredith Ellis Design showcases how drapery adds luxury and privacy. Martin Brudnizki’s quaint terrace, with white-washed wood railings and a floral-patterned sofa, illustrates rustic flair. Kathryn Ireland's bohemian-inspired Santa Monica home features a built-in stucco sectional and a wicker pendant. Jamie Durie’s Los Angeles home highlights a stylish outdoor dining area used for dining, lounging, and entertaining. A serene white roof deck on the Greek island of Antiparos boasts a wraparound banquette with white pillows and cushions. Further inspirations include a backyard tablescape on Martha's Vineyard with bistro chairs and a reclaimed-wood table, and an airy rooftop terrace with white birch trees shading a Sutherland sofa and love seat covered in Perennials fabrics. A Massachusetts home features a white and neutral-toned patio with Munder-Skiles furniture and Perennials fabric cushions. A simple brown garden pavilion in upstate New York utilizes a tropical-root table, Restoration Hardware dining chairs and pendant light, and a West Elm rug. A transparent greenhouse and garden shed in Finland, owned by product designer Linda Bergroth's family, serves for outdoor sleeping and parties, with glass ceiling shutters for temperature control. The article also presents a stone and wood pergola in an Italian home by designer Flavio Albanese, equipped with built-in benches and a Tokyo Pop lounge chair. A Balinese-style pavilion in a Malibu home by Martyn Lawrence Bullard features a woven sea grass roof, daybeds with vintage suzanis, and lanterns from Design Mix Furniture. An all-white entertaining room in a Saint-Tropez vacation home, designed with Dutch architect Jan des Bouvrie, provides an alfresco dining and entertaining space for Asian-art dealers. Lastly, a sophisticated open terrace in a Pacific Palisades, California home showcases a 1950s light fixture above Link Outdoor sofas and cocktail table, and an all-white wooden getaway in Salento, Italy, designed by architect Toti Semerano, features a private garden with a wooden structure, daybed, and a roof made from iron scraps. #OutdoorRooms #SummerEntertaining #PatioIdeas #TerraceDesign #GardenPavilion #LuxuryOutdoor #HomeDecor #DesignInspiration #InteriorDesign