Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘walled acres’

The Doors of Paris

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 4, 2015| 4 Comments »

I have always had a love of architecture, and doors in particular.  They are the life-line to the space within, and as such have far more impact than we often give them credit for.  As I strolled through the extraordinarily beautiful streets of Paris, it was the seemingly infinite variety of portals – size, shape, color, embellishment – one right after the other.  Take a look:

IMG_4998

This beauty is along the boulevard St. Germaine on the Rive Gauche.  Extraordinary as it looks to us, this is a typical door along the beautiful Paris boulevards.

IMG_5001

Okay, so the red is a bit over-the-top.  But the almost Asian look of this one made it a stand out along the square in front of St. Sulpice.

Along the Rue du Cherche-Midi, a quiet street of

Along the Rue du Cherche-Midi, a quiet street of elegant shops.

IMG_5025

Just down the Rue Napoleon Bonaparte from Laudauré.  I just LOVED to be able to peak into the courtyards when the portals stood open.

Classic Parisian door. Note the Nuit et Jour sign. I LOVE those!! Some of them even lit up. I can think of sooo many times I could have used one!

Classic Parisian door. Note the Nuit et Jour sign. I LOVE those!! Some of them even lit up. I can think of sooo many times I could have used one!

IMG_0107

Looking into the courtyard of the Art Academy (yes, the one that wouldn’t accept Claude Monet and his friends).

IMG_5035

A peak through the doors into the Grand Salon of the Art Academy.  In a time before electricity, this glass ceiling was a critical innovation for clearly seeing art.

That’s just a taste of the delightful doors, and some of what’s behind them!  Hope you enjoy this little peak at Paris.

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

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.

DSC_0671

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.

DSC_0676

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 . . .

DSC_0817

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

Read Full Post »

A Bride’s Room a la Chartreuse & co

Posted in Inspiration, Uncategorized, tagged , , on February 15, 2012| 4 Comments »

I love decorating.  So when Kristen Tydings of Visitation Academy asked me to decorate a small suite of rooms for brides and their bridesmaids (Visitation provides a spectacular locale for weddings in it’s early 19th century building and gardens located on 5 walled acres in downtown Frederick) I was intrigued.

“Sure, I’ll throw some furniture in here.  Love the high ceilings, original casement windows, wood floors,” I responded.

But I struggle with doing things only half way.  So 3 trucks, and many measurements, drawings, and lists later, the empty rooms were reborn.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s all open to the public Sunday, February 19 from 1pm-4pm.  All of the items are available for sale, but not for pick up until the open house is over.   Plan to spend some time there, it’s 5 acres of beauty, and they’ll have music, food, flowers, the whole nine yards on Sunday.  Think of it as a wedding reception without the family drama!  Have fun.

Details about Visitation Academy Weddings is at www.facebook.com/VisitationAcademyWeddings.

Virginia

Read Full Post »