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Posts Tagged ‘architecture’

Springing Forward

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 12, 2013 | 6 Comments »

Think about Spring and what comes to mind?  Warm sunshine on your face.  A breeze carrying that kiss of warmth and promise of summer.  And gardens bursting into their own.

This Spring is bringing me the most spectacular garden I’ve ever had.  And it’s been such a rewarding lesson in being faithful to a vision.

Here’s some befores, some durings, and you’ll just have to wait a little on the full-on afters:

Beginning the Monday after our February sale, Jared Herman and his team arrived and began the earth moving.

Beginning the Monday after our February sale, Jared Herman and his team from Old Towne Historic Landscapes arrived and began the earth moving.

As the footers were poured, I began to see Jared's 2-dimensional design come to life.

As the footers were poured, I began to see Jared’s 2-dimensional design come to life.

I had tried over the years to create a pretty little shade garden along this wall. The only thing that thrived was poison ivy. Solution? A water feature!

I had tried over the years to create a pretty little shade garden along this wall. The only thing that thrived was poison ivy. Solution? A water feature!

The brick paving throughout is artwork, but what I really can't wait to see is the water wheel that's going to be hinged on the iron frame built into the pond's coping.

The brick paving throughout is artwork, but what I really can’t wait to see is the water wheel that’s going to be hinged on the iron frame built into the pond’s coping.

Around here, you either Go Big, or Go Home. Jared totally got that one. This spetactular outdoor fireplace was built straight, on a hinged base. Once it was set, Jared and his crew lowered one side to create a convincing 'ruins'. It appears that the fireplace, over the years, has pulled away from the crumbling house walls. Amazing.

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The irrepressible crew, who worked through wind, rain, and snow to finish this huge job inside of a month.

The irrepressible crew, who worked through wind, rain, and snow to finish this huge job inside of a month.

The crumbling wall.

The crumbling wall.

From inside the planting beds, accented with 'windows'.

From inside the planting beds, accented with ‘windows’.

The crumbling walls on the north side of the entry.

The crumbling walls on the north side of the entry.

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The plants are coming in this week. Can't wait to see! I'll be shooting pictures all summer long . . .

The plants are coming in this week. Can’t wait to see! I’ll be shooting pictures all summer long . . .

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This one’s of Jared, the mastermind and creative genius who saw our barns and could see the gardens they needed.

So there you have it.  Our work in progress is becoming pretty spectacular.  Jared’s planting a beautiful wisteria in that picture of him.  He planted it and trained it’s branches over the ‘ruins’ and up the fireplace.  The other plant he’s featuring?  Hydrangeas.  I almost cried when he told me.  I absolutely LOVE them.  And dogwoods, and magnolias.  Historic, timeless plants to complete the vision.

But what do I love most about the whole construction?  The stone and brick used in the walls and fireplace is all salvaged from toppling farm buildings right here in Frederick County, Maryland.  So in our own little way, we’re preserving something of those other barns that couldn’t be saved.

Happy Spring!  Hope you’re inspired to go out and create something wonderful in your yard.

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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Last time I saw Paris . . .

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged , , , , on August 6, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

The last time I saw Paris, it was timelessly itself, very much like the first time I saw Paris over 20 years ago. But this consistency should not be mistaken for lifelessness. Paris, for me, has maintained its freshness, its beauty, and, yes I must say it, its chic in a way only Paris can.

And what made it extra special this time, was that I was seeing it all with my daughter, on her first visit.  Seeing it through her eyes helped me to see it in a fresh way.  It’s the details that shine.  The desire to make every thing they create beautiful sets the Parisians apart.

Here are some images of our visit:

An apartment building on the Isle de St. Louis, the smaller of the two islands in the Seine

 

I found myself fascinated by the variety, details, and beauty of the doors of Paris.



Katherine’s first real look at Paris, as we emerged from the Metro into the Tuilleries Gardens (the Louvre is in the background.).

 

The well-known face of Notre Dame cathedral. But this is not my favorite view of it.

 

The spectacular flying buttresses of Notre Dame, photographed in the delightfully quiet garden behind the cathedral. One of my favorite spots in the whole city.

If you go, look for the side streets and don’t forget to look up. Some of the most charming parts of the city are the quietly elegant quarters where tourists fear to tread. Also – don’t miss the fabulous ice cream shop on the Isle de St. Louis. It’s swoon-worthy.

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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Marietta, Ohio – vintage perfection

Posted in Inspiration, tagged , , , , , , on July 10, 2012 | 75 Comments »

I’ve just returned from Marietta, Ohio. You may not have heard of it, but it’s one of the most charming towns I’ve seen. I didn’t say city, for this is clearly no cosmopolitan place. It is a town, a truly all-American small town.  And as such, it’s just plain lovely.

And what may be most charming about it is that I don’t think Marietta realizes how charming and extraordinary it really is. That’s partly because it’s seen a population growth of nearly 0% over the past 20 years. Coming from a place that’s experienced nearly 100% growth over the same period, that sounds delightful!

But it’s not just this quiet consistency that make Marietta so inviting. It’s the downtown, full of stunning architecture, which boasts a thriving Front Street, facing on the Ohio River.

We go to visit friends, who we helped move from Maryland to Ohio nearly 25 years ago. As we’ve returned to visit them, we’ve watched the town evolve as their family grew. We’ve become charmed by it and return each time contemplating how pleasant it would be to live there.

After Mass on Sunday, I strolled back to my car and just had to snap these pictures to share with you the loveliness of it all. (Please excuse the quality of the photos, as I only had my iPhone with me.)

I had parked my car right in front of this porch and it’s garden.

Here’s the whole house. Note the amazing curved front.

A couple doors down was this lavender charmer.

The attention to details is part of what sets this town apart.

And this is the delightful front porch (which people actually use in this town!). Isn’t it decorated with such flair?  The leaded glass filling in the end of the porch, the mirror hung by the door, the inviting furniture arrangement all draw you to it. I would have loved to drop in and share a glass of lemonade with this creative decorator!

The view of the dome of St. Mary’s, across the street from these houses

Another view of the curved-front house. This image shows the extraordinary architecture more clearly.

St Mary’s front entrance. Not at all what you’d expect from a quiet little town in Ohio. And the interior is even better!

What’s tempting is that many of these houses have For Sale signs out front. This 1903 Cape Cod boasts twin french doors leading onto the porch, and a front garden just perfect for hydrangeas. (Yes, I’ve thought about it . . .)

Detail of the french doors.

Want something a little larger? This 1919 beauty is also for sale, and has a pretty bricked patio and finished basement (for $269,000!)

And they all have such lovely yards.

But this butter-yellow brick beauty is really my favorite. (and it already has hydrangeas!)

This is it’s front. Don’t you just want to move in?!  If this one were for sale, I’d probably have Chip packing us up already.

sigh . . .

And just look down the street!

It was 4th of July weekend, and all the flags were flying.

I think I need this wrought iron fence and gate.

And if you like something more formal . . .

And, oh the porches! This one is on an early 19thC white brick home. These porches gaze off into the ethereal town cemetery. Sounds creepy, but it’s absolutely lovely in a Midnight-in-the-Garden-of-Good-and-Evil kinda way.

The House of Seven Porches. Though only these four are apparent from the street, it does make one anxious to see the rest.

And did I mention that Marietta is a college town? To top it all off, Marietta has the vibrancy and engaging activities that come with having a thriving college located in the middle of town.

Bottom line – if you’re ever in Ohio (a haven for great vintage finds), drop in on Marietta. Take a stroll down front street, breath in the beauty of the scenic river view, and enjoy the shaded streets with their exceptional collection of fine architecture.

Do you know of an exceptionally charming, yet little-known town?  I’d love to hear about it.

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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