I’ve designed, installed, and continue to manage two meadow lawns to date. Through these gardens, as well as my own study in nature and research in references, I’ve learned a lot about what makes an effective meadow garden over the last few years.
10.08.2024 - 04:38 / sunset.com
When your personal style or home address changes, it can feel like second nature to toss out your old furniture and decor and start fresh. Chances are, however, there are a few sentimental items you simply can’t imagine parting with. For Newport Beach-based interior decorator Julie Hovnanian, she’s held onto a pair of precast concrete poodles.
“Thirty years ago, I saw them in an antique store in LA, and I was completely obsessed with them,” she says. “Finally, after three or four months of driving by, I bit the bullet and they have been following me around every place I go.”
Julie Hovnanian
Hovnanian recently built her dream home, and the poodles that once stood at the entrance of her old house have taken up residence in her new outdoor patio. In her personal and professional experience, it’s all about collecting and displaying pieces that feel authentic to you and celebrate who you are and what you love.
“In your environment, you want to walk around and see things you love,” she says. “They should bring you joy to some degree, or just put a smile on your face.”
Everyone has their own poodle equivalent, and Hovnanian has solutions for anyone who wants to bring special furniture and decor into a new space. Read on for her three pieces of advice that encourage you to follow the mantra, “in with the old.”
Thomas J. Story
Whether you’re a world traveler or are a self-described ice cream aficionado (just me?), there are certain pieces that will just speak to you—and they tell a story that’ll engage your guests, too. So, it could be a one-of-a-kind lamp you found at a little antique shop in Paris or a Gray Malin ice cream cone print to showcase your food-forward style.
“There’s a story that goes along with it that engages people,”
I’ve designed, installed, and continue to manage two meadow lawns to date. Through these gardens, as well as my own study in nature and research in references, I’ve learned a lot about what makes an effective meadow garden over the last few years.
Annual plants are perfect for adding a boost of colour to the garden during the colder months, and look especially pretty when planted in pots. Here are some of our top tips for planting annual plants in plant pots:
With fall just around the corner, it's easy to forget about your garden you've been tending to all summer long. And while you may be thinking it's not even worth it to keep your garden thriving for the fall, it's actually easier than you may think!
Most of the problems balcony gardeners face are universal, so we’ve compiled basic and common problems with their answers, hoping that these tips and answers will help you create a wonderful balcony garden.
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Courtesy of Crate & Barrel
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If you’ve spent any time on design TikTok, then you’ve surely come across interior designer and TikTok creator Julie Jones.
Growing up in the Lowcountry, Drew English, High Hampton’s head gardener, was a hobbyist gardener well-versed in the plants that thrive in South Carolina's long and humid summers. But, as many hot weather residents do, English began to spend more time escaping to the cooler temperatures of the mountains.
For those of us who garden in small spaces, container gardening strikes an ideal balance between structure and flexibility. Potted plants can be rearranged as often as necessary, which makes it easy to accommodate new additions and to ensure that each plant gets the sunlight or shade it requires. Compared to traditional in-ground beds, container gardens also give us a bit more control over factors such as water, weeds, and pests. I’ve spent the past few decades creating designs for roof decks, balconies, courtyards, and patios in San Francisco. Through this work I have discovered that the key to container gardening success is always the same: finding a mix of appealing plants that are well suited to each garden’s specific climate and light conditions. Using my home garden as a testing ground, I’ve developed some strategies that anyone can use to create lush urban jungle and cohesive container displays that truly stand out from the crowd.
Several years ago while shopping at a big-box store, I spotted this tote in the household-cleaning section. In addition to carrying cleaning supplies, it can be used as a shower caddy, but I envisioned it as a garden-tool tote—balanced, sturdy, comfortable to carry, and with holes in each compartment for drainage. I’ve used it for a few years now, switching tools as needed so that I’m always ready for the current job. Cleaning the tote in spring or fall is as easy as removing the tools and spraying it out with a hose.
The plants recommended in this article are very heat tolerant, but even the best-adapted plants need a little extra care when extreme heat strikes. Since heat can stress plants, and stress can lead to further problems, reducing that stress is paramount. Here are some ways to keep plants thriving through very high temperatures.