January Update--awnings over the back doors

Hello Everybody,

I'm back from my extended Holiday Hiatus.

The Real Estate business is picking up here at the beginning of the year so I've been a little distracted from blogland.

I do want to fill you in on a few VERY BIG things that are going on around here:

We're working on the outside of our house. We had roofs built over the back doors--now I'll be under cover from the rain when I'm digging around in my purse for the door key. In this picture they haven't been stained or the house painted--it still hasn't been--please bear with us.

We don't exactly know what to call these things--are they roofs or awnings or something else entirely?

The carpenters reused some of the tin roof from the sorry excuse of a garage we have.  

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Next, the garage will be TORN DOWN!! Are those strains of the Hallelujah  Chorus I hear? 

And a new carport will be built in its place.

This is going to be the mother of all carports (well not really but to me it is).

 It's going to have a basement for storing the yard tools and lawn mower. Yippee!!!

And we're getting a terrace with a stone sitting wall around it.  Remember this dream terrace from the garden tour?

It's our inspiration.

We're using granite instead of flagstone,

and plain ole ce-ment. (You do know how that's pronounced?) for the flat area with a tasteful granite border.

AND a new DRIVEWAY!!!

Now, I realize that most people don't get very excited about a new driveway. But I know plenty of folks who do. Those of us who have really crumbly, cracked ancient relics that drain water into our basements get real excited about new driveways. I would show you a picture of our driveway now, but I'm too embarrassed.

So ladies and gents, stay tuned for some serious outdoor improvements.

Later, 

Patti

Perfect In-town Garden

Looking through Traditional Home online I came across this garden and thought it would be the perfect thing for a small in-town lot.  In fact, I'm pretty sure it's on a small in-town lot and I think it's in Washington state. (A little cyber sleuthing goes a long way)

First is the VANISHING THRESHOLD. 

Next the PERGOLA covered dining area.

Last the sunken seating area with GRAVEL flooring.

source for the photos above

Here are some more picts from David Pfeiffer's, the garden designer, website.

Do be sure to check out David Pfeiffer's other gardens.

Later,

Patti

Before and After "Bump-Ups"

We all enjoy a good "before and after."
Maybe it's like a lady I met once said, "I love to make old  houses pretty."
Here are a few ugly duckling houses that became swans. (photos courtesy of the Atlanta Journal Constitution)

All these homes had second story additions that added much needed living space--bedrooms, baths and closets. Space was added without turning them into McMansions.

This first house, in Morningside, is a good example of Painted Brick with Dark Trim. I blogged a few other homes with this paint scheme a while ago. See that post here.

AFTER

 Like I said before, "There is no special place in hell for people who paint brick."
The AJC article said the owners painted this home to make the addition blend with the original. Lots of people do that. Sometimes its almost impossible to make the new brick match the old.

A few things I like about this renovation:

• added trim to gables with Tudor "turkey track" detailing 
• arched roof on the portico over the front door
• shutters make the facade look finished
• they didn't paint the granite foundation

BEFORE

The next home got a HUGE facelift that includes a higher roofline, front dormer and gable- plus a front porch.
They raised the first floor ceiling height, too. I'll bet that makes it seem a lot roomier.
AFTER

BEFORE

Most of us wouldn't have looked twice at this house. It was sooo plain, tiny and downright ugly. It's located  in Loring Heights; a neighborhood built in the 1940s I believe.

BEFORE

AFTER, its quite a handsome fellow. It's hard to believe it's the same house.  They even added a swing on the porch. Wonder if they painted the ceiling "haint blue."

Next is my fav.  Don't you just love it?  I wish we had interior pictures--sigh.
This home is in Morningside, too, probably built in the 1930s.

AFTER

Why I like it:

• the color--ummm, ummm, ummm
• arched front door with gorgeous X window trim
• shed dormer with 4 windows is in proportion 
• screened porch on the front retains its curved roof line
• (this is just a good picture from a good angle--we know how important that is)

BEFORE-it was big from the beginning and got bigger but not big and tacky

BACKSIDE BEFORE--the walkout terrace was great even then

My thoughts:

• I'm not crazy about the angle of this picture. 
• The roof is probably flatter than I'd like, but the second story blends nicely.
• The short roof between the first and second floors is really important. It breaks up the flatness. 
• That copper roof and those gutters are quite nice (cha ching!)
• The short roof over the French door is good good
• The detail and window box at the middle window add interest, again breaking up the flatness
• They didn't paint the granite foundation

AFTER

If you want to read more about these renovations, scoot over to the AJC for the scoop on second story additions.

later,


Linking to:
Savvy Southern Style- Wow us Wednesday
beach cottage--Good Life Wednesday
The Shabby Creek Cottage--Transformation Thursday

House Colors: Painted Brick with Dark Trim

Lately on my neighborhood walks, I started noticing light painted houses with dark trim.

It all started with this one.  Remember it from My Sunday Walk?

It has personality.

This one does, too.

 I really like this house.

As you can see, all these house colors are a little different--as they should be--but the color plan is the same: light brick and dark trim.

I got a little carried away and started searching the MLS for examples. 

The photography is better than my phone.  What a surprise.

What about this one?

Nice porch--but that's another topic.

 Check out this evening pict.

The landscape lighting is soooo good.

This house must have been hard to photograph--I think its on a hill-- but this front door is wonderful. (except for the brass kick plate).

And the hits just keep on coming. This one has THREE trim colors. Very nice. I've found that it's hard to choose paint colors to go with yellow brick. The owners of this house did a fine job.

This little gem was renovated by a builder. It seems the brick was painted to help the new parts blend in with the old. Sometimes that's a great solution.  There is no special place in hell for people who paint brick.

Here's one that is really much prettier in "person."  I tried to take a pict of it in the evening, mine was no good.

The trim on the next one is a little light for me, but it shows another take on the plan.

I think I've figured out the attraction:
These house remind me of vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup, or maybe french vanilla and caramel.

Hey, get your paint inspiration from things you like.

You might remember this beauty from the post on terraces--readers loved it.

Remember? No? click here.

I think I need a snack.

Later,
Patti

2011 High Museum's Artful Garden Tour

Hello Everybody,

This time of year is Garden Tour Season in Atlanta and I'm almost "toured out"-- Maybe overstimulated is more the correct term.  Yesterday we went on the High Museum's Artful Garden Tour.  This tour is unique in that it features artist and art on display in the gardens.  Both large and intimate gardens are included--often these gardens are designed and maintained by the homeowners. Of course sometimes the homeowner is a garden designer which is even more interesting.

Enough chit chat--let's get started.

The first house is popularily known as "The Flower House." It's on Habersham Road in Buckhead, a somewhat busy street of Mansions.

This is the back of the house.  Why didn't I get a pict of the front?

The White Garden is one of many garden rooms in the two and a half acres.  You got that didn't you? Two and a half acres on Habersham Road in Buckhead.  I still liked it.

This garden has awesome bones. It's a rectangle with the fountain focal point in the center axis. Plantings are a little wild and spill out over their borders.  As I sat on the bench and really looked closely, I realized that the plants are very balanced and rhythmic but their growth habits soften the lines. This was so inspirational for me.

The White Garden would be enough for most of us, but wait, there's more.

Now on to the next stop--well not really, this is a very edited version of the tour. Please let me know if you'd like more photos--I have plenty eye candy to keep the diehards happy.

The next garden is over on Oakdale Road in Druid Hills.  It's small and intimate and a plant lovers dream.
An added plus: The garden comes with a very Pretty Old House.  Check out the tudor details in the gables and the original (I think) metal casement windows.  If you squint you can just make out the handles in the middle of the windows.

This is what I call curb appeal.



The gardener/homeowner does an excellent job of mixing color and texture with this Japanese maple, autumn ferns and delicate ground cover.

How's this for foundation plantings?  Look at the right corner--see the purple plant growing on the brick? That's loropetalum with creeping fig behind it.  A quick word about creeping fig--don't do it. That stuff grows like kudzu and sends out little aerial roots that help it stick to surfaces--it's a bear to get off the windows.  It might look quaint, but steer clear.

On the other side of the stoop...

The "Back Yard" with a pea gravel path...

After touring this garden I was waylaid by an Estate Sale down the street. More on that later.

The last garden in this post is in Ansley Park.  It featured my favorite piece of art.

And the pool wasn't too shabby either.

Behind the pool was a bit of inspiration for my back fence--if I ever get one that is.
A cryptomeria screen is planted along the fence line with a row of Annabelle hydrangeas and autumn ferns in a bed of lirope.  Real simple, real easy, real pretty.

 Well dear readers that's all for today's Artful Garden Tour.

THE END.

Patti