During my stint living in London, I developed a crush. On wrought iron fences. Stately, strong, and secure, what's not to like? But although it's considered the king of fence materials, wrought iron comes with trade offs. The expense and style may not be for everyone. 

Read on for everything you need to know about wrought iron fences to decide if they're right for you:

Above: Traditional ornamental wrought iron fencing and decorative lamp posts front a townhouse. Photograph via Howard Design Studio Landscape Architects.

What is wrought iron?

Technically wrought iron is a very low carbon iron alloy (as compared to higher carbon, and more "fragile," cast iron) that is very strong and malleable, historically making it the iron of choice for shaping. Due to production advancements and cost concerns, wrought iron is no longer produced en masse. The term wrought iron now generally applies to any iron (most typically mild steel) that is hammered, twisted, or bent into shape—or looks as if it has. 

Above: Salvage yards can be a good source of antique true wrought iron fence work and gates, including the ornate fencing shown above from Charlie's Antiques. 

True wrought iron is a commodity today. Since wrought ironwork is forged by hand, small irregularities (and hammer marks) are usually apparent and valued as evidence of the smith’s craft. While there may be small iron smiths that still craft solid wrought iron work, it is hard to find and hard to finance. 

What are the benefits of wrought iron fencing?

• Long Lasting:Wrought iron is an extremely durable material that will last for many years. Unlike wood, it won't dry out, rot, warp, or deteriorate quickly.
• Strong:Wrought iron fencing is much stronger than other common fencing materials. Because wrought iron is so hard to break, it is better than many other fences for security purposes.

Above: Wrought iron's strength and durability enable it to support plants (a built-in trellis), such as this Japanese anenome, without wavering or rotting. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

• Good Visibility:Wrought iron fencing designs have rails spaced apart for a thin profile that allows the backdrop to be the focus.

Above: A house in New Orleans by Brian Gille Architects has a low wrought iron fence that offers a physical, but not visual, barrier. 

• Elegant, Classic Style:Arguably the most elegant fencing material available, wrought iron can be customized to be as simple or ornate as you like.

Above: Wrought iron looks great paired with plants of any size, shape, or color. Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

Above: Not just for traditionalists, wrought iron fencing is available in modern streamlined silhouettes. Photograph via Mid South Iron. 

• Pest Resistant:Wrought iron is invulnerable to the burrowing rodents and other damaging pests that can plague wood.

Are there wrought iron lookalikes worth considering?

Buyer beware: imitations exist. Even if fencing is called wrought iron, it may have no iron content at all. This isn't necessarily bad, as some materials with a wrought iron look are worth considering: namely, aluminum. Ornamental aluminum resembles wrought iron but at a much lower price point. It is lighter and easier to install, while offering durability and weather resistance. What do substitutes lack? The durability (can dent), the strength, and the patina of wrought iron.

Above: Hoover Fence offers a range of makes and styles of ornamental aluminum fencing with the look of wrought iron. 

How much do wrought iron fences cost?

Top-of-the-line wrought iron is one of the most expensive fencing materials. Thanks to its longevity, the expense can be cost-effective over time. Because classification of wrought iron fencing is so varied, so is pricing. For manufactured off-the-shelf iron fencing, estimates range from $30 to $40 per foot (about twice the price of wood). Custom work can push the figure up tenfold (to $300 per foot). And, don't forget installation. Wrought iron is heavy and requires solid footing and careful installation to make it last. The process can be labor intensive. Variables in cost include your geographical location, soil conditions, and customization required. And, as with any fence, remember to get underground utility lines marked to avoid undue complications.

What about maintenance?

The good news is that with a little care, this durable and heavy fencing material will stand up to a lot of wear and tear for many years. Wrought iron will develop rust spots after some time, especially in damp or harsh environments. Usually from chips or scratches in the paint, these rust spots are easily managed and fixed by using sandpaper to remove rust and applying a protective layer of paint. An annual inspection and maintenance is recommended. And it is likely that you will need to fully re-paint every 10 to 15 years. If rust has formed, there is no need for concern. The thickness of the steel would require many years of being left unattended to structurally weaken the material (and, honestly, some like the look of the rust patina). 

Above: To keep rust from forming, painting wrought iron is required. Paint will keep the tiny pits that can form in the metal from collecting substances that may cause them to corrode. For colors beyond the standard black, read our UK correspondent's feature on Paint Colors for Iron Gates and Fences. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

Wrought iron fencing recap:

Pros:

• Durable and long lasting
• Offers good visibility
• Strong
• Elegant and decorative
• Good for security (hard to climb, knock down, or break)
• Available in a range of styles
• Easily customizable

Cons:

• Expensive
• Open rail design doesn't afford much privacy
• Requires maintenance for rust and corrosion
• Installation can be labor intensive

Above: A wrought iron fence painted with a shade known as ‘lead color’ that is found on many 18th century railings. Photograph by Patrick Baty.

For more fencing ideas, see our earlier features:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Instant Fencing
• Hardscaping 101: Picket Fences
• Hardscaping 101: Gabion Walls
• Hardscaping 101: Hedges
• Hardscaping 101: Hog Wire

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• Shed Story: 10 Stylish Sanctuaries for Gardeners
• Steal This Look: A Stylish Stoop for a Nantucket Saltbox
• 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Holiday String Lights

On a tip that the grilled octopus, or pulpo a las brasas, was worth the trek, Mimi Giboin (a contributing photographer for Gardenista and Remodelista) ventured to Romita, in the Colonia Roma district of Mexico City. And there she found a gem for architect and garden enthusiasts.

Housed in a historical building in the grand Porfiriano style, Romita's design is inspired by the Art Deco and Art Nouveau periods. Greenery covers walls and rafters, and a glass roof opens to starlight. It's now officially on our bucket list. 

Photography by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.

Above: The postcard feature worth writing home about is a 26-square-foot glass roof with a retractable awning that lets in natural light for happy plants and diners.

Above: The kitchen serves artisanal Mexican cuisine, made with local produce: fresh avocado, cucumbers, chiles, and a variety of seafood. Tile on the back wall and checkered floors are masterfully paired, without clashing, and fit the scale of the 984-square-foot restaurant. The patterns provide a background for the simply designed wood stools, pendant lamps, and hanging ferns. 

Above: A large window swings open for a breeze on warm days, which are most days. 

Above: "My favorite place is upstairs," says one of the restaurant's partners, Rodrigo Espinosa. "You get closer to the roof to see the stars, and you feel far from the city, even if you are in the middle of it."

Above: The bar will pour you a delicious margarita; the house's specialty, however, is a menu of tea-based cocktails.

Above: Intertwining ivy softens the chain of an industrial pendant lamp. 

Above: Greenery is everywhere you look: on the walls, hanging from the rafters, potted in vintage kegs. A pipe was installed along the rafters to irrigate the ceiling plants. 

Above: A lounge area, with a modern fireplace, greets visitors, and is a chill spot to listen to guest DJs.

Above: A sculptural staghorn fern provides a modern accent above a denim banquette.

Above: The restaurant's facade. The building is protected by the Instituta Nacional de Bellas Artes, and is in the Porfiriano style, an architectural style named after mayor Porfirio Díaz, who loved Art Deco, Baroque, and Art Nouveau periods, and combined the design languages to build Mexico City's landmark, the Palace of Fine Arts.

For more restaurants where food and decor are equally exquisite, peruse our Restaurant Visits.

If a holiday in Mexico is in your near future, see our other favorite spots:

• Hotels & Lodging: Hotel Condesa DF in Mexico
• Just Open: A Hidden Beach Hotel in Oaxaca
• Cactus as Glamorous Privacy Fencing

More Stories from Gardenista

• Shopper's Diary: Vintage and Modern Meet at A New Leaf in Chicago
• Restaurant Visit: Roy Choi's Commissary, Inside a Greenhouse in LA
• Designer Visit: At Home with Miley Cyrus' Favorite Florist

For years, I've been on the hunt for the perfect star to top my holiday tree. Most, I've found, are either too big, too plastic, or too costly. So this year I decided to make my own. With nothing more than some foraged larch boughs and glittery string, I crafted a simple, natural star that looks much more at home atop my Scandinavian tree.

Photography by Justine Hand for Gardenista.

Above: One of my favorite things about this project is the minimal time and materials it requires. Likely you have these things right on hand in your craft drawer and yard.

Materials:

• Straight branches from any tree or bush. I used larch, then also experimented with evergreens and rose hips.
• Festive holiday string or twine. My gold Baker's Twine is from Anthropologie; $36 for large spool.
• Scissors, shears, and wire

Step 1:

Above: Cut four straight branches the same length, depending on how big you want your star to be. I used 9-inch sticks for my 9 foot tree.

Step 2:

Above: If you are using larch or something with needles or buds, remove these from the center 2 inches of each branch.

Step 3:

Above: Lay two branches across each other to form a plus sign. Then place the remaining two branches diagonally across these to form a star with equidistant spokes.

Step 4:

Above: To secure the branches, I resurrected an old skill from my camp days: God's eyes. Though this double cross version looks more complex than the standard with two crossed sticks, the technique is the same. In fact, after I got started I couldn't believe how easily my fingers settled into the rhythm of the task. Like riding a bike, I guess.

First, tie a bit of string to one of the branches. Then lay it across the star and wrap twice around the whole base. Then move to the next "V" and repeat until you have wrapped each section in a star pattern.

Step 5:

Above: To begin your God's eye, wrap the twine across the front and around one branch.

Above: Come across the front to the next branch. Wrap around and then move across to the next. Repeat until you have built up the middle of your God's eye. After you achieve the thickness you want, flip you star over and tie off the loose end.

Above: Here's what your star should look like after this step.

Step 6:

Above: The second layer of your star is made using a standard four-point God's eye. This time, tie your string farther up the branch. Wrap around, but instead of going to the next immediate branch, skip one. Repeat three times and tie off the end. 

Step 7: 

Above: To fashion the third layer, repeat as above, but start on one of the branches that you skipped before to create two standard God's eyes at an angle to each other. 

Above: Voilà! If you wish, you can trim the alternate ends of your star. Then attach the star to your tree with a bit of wire.

Above: I also experimented with other materials such as evergreens and rose hips. Hung together, they look like falling snow flakes.

N.B. Want more DIY holiday decor? Michelle offers a tutorial on Snowballs for the Christmas Tree, while Sarah teaches us how to make a Cardoon Swag.

More Stories from Gardenista

• DIY: Gilded Holiday Decor
• Coming Saturday to SF: DIY Holiday Workshop
• Required Reading: The Wreath Recipe Book

In the coastal town of Herfell, Norway, about an hour and a half's drive south from Oslo, architects Reiulf Ramstad designed a "micro cluster" of three tiny holiday cabins for a family that likes to vacation together while still maintaining privacy.

Photography via Reiulf Ramstad.

Above: The three separate cabins are built around a central outdoor space where several generations of family members can congregate. The clients are a couple with two grown sons (both of whom were expecting babies).

Above: The compound also includes a small wood shed. The peaked timber structures, clad in untreated wood sourced locally, have windows that face a bucolic view of rolling, forested land.

Above: The cluster includes two separate bedroom cabins as well as a communal dining and living space. Inside a small cabin, a sleeping loft creates additional living space.

Above: "Each of the buildings is defined as a clarified geometric volume, organized around the outdoor area that binds them together as one unit," the architects say.

Above: The cabins, sited at the base of a stony hillside, are in an isolated spot where the natural surroundings are the nearest neighbors.

For more of our favorite Norwegian architects' outbuildings, see:

• A Norwegian "Love Shack"
• A Tiny Open-Air Theater in Norway
• Norwegian Wood: Garden Sheds with Retractable Roofs

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• Hardscaping 101: Wrought Iron Fencing
• Shed Story: 10 Stylish Sanctuaries for Gardeners
• Steal This Look: A Stylish Stoop for a Nantucket Saltbox

Since I was a child, my Nana would make a 1-2-3-4 bundt cake (1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, 3 cups flour, 4 eggs). She added lemon zest, toasted nuts, and fruit according to the season—strawberries in the spring, cranberries in the winter.  

It was simple and delicious, whether she fancied it up with sugary icing or chocolate ganache, or served it plain-Jane with a puff of powdered sugar. And you never know what kind of goodies Nana hid inside. Nuts? Chocolate chips? Cinnamon swirls? Here's a holiday version that's irresistible:

Read on for an ingredients list and step-by-step instructions for Holiday Bundt Cake with Cranberries:

Photography by Lindsey Love for Gardenista.

Above: The bundt cake I highlight here has the cheerfulness of holiday fruitcake, but replaces overly sweet fruits with fresh fruit. Warm spices are still honored here, as well as some toasty chopped almonds.  

Above: This is a moist and giving cake (the secret is squash purée), and because it's not overly sweet, it's refreshing to serve after a long meal. 

Holiday Bundt Cake with Crushed Cranberries and Apple

Inspired by Baking With Dorie 

(N.B. The recipe utilizes gluten-free flours; however, if baking gluten-free is not a requirement, simply replace all three flours with unbleached all-purpose flour, and omit the arrowroot starch.)

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup oat flour
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger 
• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 cup natural cane sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil 
• 3 free-range eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup butternut squash purée
• 1 cup cranberries, crushed in a food processor
• 1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
• 3/4 cup chopped almonds, toasted (optional)  
• Powdered sugar, to top (optional)

Above: No raisins or dried fruits here. This recipe calls for apples and cranberries.

Above: Two generously sized bowls, prepared for mixing.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and oil an 8- or 9-inch bundt pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flours, arrowroot powder, salt, baking powder, and spices.  

In another large bowl, beat the oil with sugar for one minute; beat the eggs in one at a time and add the vanilla.

Fold in squash purée, crushed cranberries, apple chunks, and nuts. A little at a time, mix the dry ingredients into the wet until no lumps remain; evenly distribute batter into bundt pan.

Bake in the center of your oven for from 50 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. (If you notice the top is getting brown, cover with aluminum foil until the center is cooked through.)  

Allow cake to cool for 20 minutes, then invert onto serving platter and allow to cool completely.  After it's cool, top with powdered sugar; slice and serve.

Above: Decorate with a few sifts of powdered sugar and loose cranberries.

Above: A simple end to a meal.

For more of Lindsey's recipes, visit her blog Dolly and Oatmeal and see the Weeknight Holiday Party Menu she created for us last week.

Planning a holiday meal?  Browse all our festive dishes in Garden-to-Table Recipes. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Required Reading: Shrubs, An Old-Fashioned Drink for Modern Times
• DIY Poinsettia: A Common Christmas Plant Goes Luxe
• 5 Easy Pieces: A Weeknight Holiday Party Menu

We've put together a considered list of seeds, plants, and tools, as beautiful as they are practical. For experts, hobbyists, and everyone in between, it's everything they'll love—and nothing over $50. 

Above: The Fall Forager kit ($35) comes with an eight-pack of non-GMO heirloom vegetable seed. Included is a year-round planner for all regions in the US, to set you up for garden-to-table success.

Above: An Olive Tree ($39.95 from Sur La Table) is patio decor that will earn its keep with a lemon-evergreen fragrance and the production of delicious bar nibbles. 

Above: Kitted with two kinds of moss, the Terrarium Bottle Moss, ($38) will create a lush tablescape. 

Above: The Gourd Bird House ($40) is made by an Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It will attract pest-eating birds, as well as lovers of minimalist design. 

Above: Start a fashion trend in your front yard, with these Leather and Felt Knee Pads, cut from a single piece of saddle leather. They're $48, and made in California.

Above: The Trook Broom is hand-whittled from fallen trees outside of designer Geoffrey Fisher's Buckinghamshire studio. The bristle brush is ($36), and with the coordinating dustpan, it is $49.

Above: Surprise slugs and your favorite gardener with Slug and Snail Tape ($7.42 for 15 feet). In copper, it's a festive sight peeking out of a stocking.   

Above: A Set of 3 Terrarium Tools is $29, and forged to order by Virginia-based blacksmith Matt Seiber. 

Above: The Handy Utility Finger Knife, ($9.90 for a pack of 2 at Kaufmann Mercantile), is wearable tech, of the late 1800s, when it was invented by a clerk, to cut twine, netting, and smal-gauge wire. 

Above: You can never own enough pairs of scissors. Shadow Scissors are $12.50 from Moorea Seal, and are stainless steel with a matte black finish.

Above: Leather Rose Gloves, $36 from New York florist Emily Thompson, takes the ouch (and cursing) out of arranging a lovely vase.  

Still looking for that perfect gift? Shop all our picks in our Holiday Gift Guide. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Coming to SF Tomorrow: Remodelista Holiday Market
• Trending on Remodelista: Lessons in Luxe
• Table of Contents: Utilitarian Glamour

This week, Julie and team turned the mundane and practical into the luxurious. See how they sprinkled fairy dust on a grim guest bath, a tight budget, and a gritty alley—with fabulous results. 

Above: Meredith checks in with kitchen design company Arjan Lodder Keukens and finds Sober Luxury by way of concrete floors, stainless steel surfaces, and floor-to-ceiling cabinets. For another hard-working, high-design kitchen, see Janet's Calm in the Kitchen: The Amican Zen Multifunction Oven. 

Above: One well-chosen light bulb, (Julie says no Edisons, please) is all you need to add romance to a space. See her 10 Easy Pieces, Festive Lightbulbs, to warm up "grim guest baths" and a "boxy living room." 

Above: Margot's pilgrimage to Philip Johnson's iconic Glass House was not just another gambol through Connecticut. It also yielded 14 Lessons on Minimalism. Rule 13 resonates "Plants make good roommates.":

Above: Those joyful extras, stocking stuffers, get put to work this week. Meredith finds 10 Practical, But Pretty Ones that have staying power. And, most are under $20. 

Above: Amid this week's utilitarian practicality, Christine still manages a night out, at new Brisbane bar, the Super What Not. The formerly gritty alley was transformed to a lounge and bar, using reclaimed and raw materials for "a cost-conscious lesson in using what you've got." 

For more Utilitarian Glamour, peruse the entire week's posts here. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Coming to SF Tomorrow: Remodelista Holiday Market
• Gift Guide: Our Top Picks Under $50 for the Gardener
• Table of Contents: Utilitarian Glamour

Bay Area locals, we'll see you tomorrow! We're back at Heath Ceramics' San Francisco headquarters for our annual Holiday Market from 10 am to 5 pm. This year's lineup is our biggest and best yet: We'll be featuring more than 40 local makers and indie shops, including a dedicated Gardenista section. We hope you can join us.

Expect to see familiar faces plus plenty of new talent, including architect Silvia Song with her hand-turned wooden bowls, cult store Anaïse, LA lighting designer Brendan Ravenhill, new online shop The Citizenry, and LA jeweler Kathleen Whitaker. 

Del Popolo, our favorite mobile pizzeria, will be back too, and Blue Bottle coffee will be providing the brew. Come join us!

When: Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m. to 5p.m.

Where: Heath Ceramics, 2900 18th St., San Francisco.

Admission is free, and there's plenty of street parking.

Fancy a signed copy of the Remodelista book? The event is open to all, but if you RSVP ahead of time, we'll enter you in a drawing to win one of four prizes: 

• A signed copy of the Remodelista book.
• A $500 gift certificate from Big Daddy’s Antiques, in LA.
• A Seasonal Bud Vase Set from Heath.
• A gift certificate from Terrain.

For more details and to RSVP, visit our Remodelista Market page. 

Our vendor list: Airplantman, Alice Tacheny, Ambatalia, Anaise, Block Shop, Brendan Ravenhill, The Citizenry, De Jong & Co., Erica Tanov, Flint, Haute Bohemian Groupe, Heritage Culinary Artifacts, Homestead Apothecary, Huddleson, Imperfect Publishing, In Fiore, Jess Brown, Julia Turner, June Taylor Jams, Kathleen Whitaker, Len Carella, Les Petits Carreaux, Little Apple Granola, Maria Schoettler, Million and Clark, Ola Wearable Verse,  Petel Design, Pope Valley Pottery, Quitokeeto, Richard Carter Studio, Rough Linen, Sara Mc Design, Sarah Kersten, Scout Regalia, SHED, Silvia Song, Small Trade Company, Soup, Studiopatro, TW Workshop, VanderMolen Ceramics, Voices of Industry, Whim & Caprice. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Trending on Remodelista: Lessons in Luxe
• Gift Guide: Our Top Picks Under $50 for the Gardener
• Table of Contents: Utilitarian Glamour

Find us today at the San Francisco Remodelista Market; 10 am—5pm at Heath Ceramics. Then, take a look at few things we've had on our radar this week:

• Above: Looking for an alternative to eggnog? Try Cinnamon Rose Milk Punch. Photograph by Beth Kirby. 
• With the recent discovery of psychedelic mushrooms in the gardens at Buckingham Palace, here are a few facts to know about fungi. 

• Above: We're obsessed with courtyards and the Riverview House in Sydney is no exception. Photograph by Peter Bennetts. 
• New paint, brick, and siding gave a 1910 bungalow some serious curb appeal.

• Above: When it comes to mantel decor, the simpler, the better. 
• How to create a winter arrangement with materials found in your backyard. 

• Above: On our wish list: a basil-scented candle for the kitchen.
• Poinsettias 101

Instagram and Pinterest Pick of the Week

• Above: We can't get enough of the winter whites in Christine Flynn's (@lovethedesign) Instagram feed. 
• Just started decorating for the holidays? Have a look at Bridget Park's Noel board.

In our Utilitarian Glamour issue, we explored gardens and products that are as useful as they are beautiful. Don't miss Remodelista's week of Utilitarian Glamour, too.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Current Obsessions: Season's Greetings
• Current Obsessions: The DIY Gift
• Current Obsessions: Giving and Gathering

Start the celebration. This week, we'll have suggestions on how to design outdoor holiday lights, corral guests' winter coats, and force bulbs to bloom on cue. Join us:

Above: Photograph by Erin Boyle, from DIY, a Holiday Fire Escape.

Monday

Above: Something about this white-tiled London garden, featured in this week's Architect Visit, reminds us of snow.

Tuesday

Above: Come in from the cold. We have some ideas about what to do with guests' coats, thanks to this week's Steal This Look.

Wednesday

Above: Wreath, meet door. Meredith offers tips on stylish front door design in this week's Curb Appeal.

Thursday

Above: In this week's Required Reading, Cheryl goes off the grid and gets lost in a new book about cabins.

Above: Left to our own devices, we would light up everything. Janet, our voice of reason, has safety-first tips on outdoor string lighting in this week's Hardscaping 101.

Friday

Above: The mall is not the only place to get holiday bark, says Lindsay. She'll show us how to make the once-a-season treat three ways, in this week's Holiday Recipes.

Julie and the editors at Remodelista are also getting into the holiday spirit. Follow them this week as they Deck the Halls. 

More Stories from Gardenista

• Coming to SF Tomorrow: Remodelista Holiday Market
• Trending on Remodelista: Lessons in Luxe
• Gift Guide: Our Top Picks Under $50 for the Gardener

London-based architect David Mikhail of Mikhail Riches added a two-story "glass box" with a sunken kitchen and dining room to the back of a 19th century East London house to connect indoor living spaces to the garden. White brickwork, used both indoors and out, further blurs the distinction.

We discovered the project via Dezeen, where the architect described how he used white brick as a hardscape detail to " wrap right from the inside to the outside; the garden really feels like it is just an extension of this kitchen dining room." 

Photography via Mikhail Riches.

Above: Unusually wide, the circa 1830s house stretches the width of three typical row houses. In the glass box addition, walls of glass are framed with larch wood and overlook tiered garden beds.

Above: Retaining walls of white brick define separate spaces—for dining, lounging, and planting beds—in the backyard.

Above: The view from the dining room. Garden designer Jane Brockbank planted wildflowers and perennial grasses for a loose, natural look.

Above: Prior to renovation,, the house had been subdivided into three units, with limited access to the large garden (which could be reached only by a spiral staircase from one unit). 

Above: White brick in the open kitchen-dining room area matches the hardscape detail outdoors.

Above: An aerial view of the garden.

Above: At night, down lights on the white walls create dramatic shadows.

For more garden renovations to historic London homes, see:

• The Vegetarian Cottage in East London
• A Cabin Hideaway in Central London
• A Tiny Summerhouse in South London

More Stories from Gardenista

• Required Reading: Marella Agnelli, The Last Swan
• Garden Designer Visit: Jinny Blom in Primrose Hill
• Designer Visit: Grow Outdoor Design's Drought Tolerant Garden in Bel Air

Holiday decorations may require tweaking. This year, I started off by going big. I envisioned garlands with multiple layers of fruit and greens and berries draping from the sleeping loft. The staircase to the loft would be swathed in more of the same.

It would be wintry fairyland or bust. I trekked to the New York City Flower Market, returning home with a Kraft paper torch filled with chartreuse and lime colored evergreens. For fruit, I bought a bundle of kumquat branches. For brightness, I chose something that I normally would call cedar, until Lindsey taught me it's more likely Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Special Variegated.' I also had branches dark green pine with cones attached (similar to ones I recently used for DIY Fire Starters). 

But then. I set to work on garlands and quickly discovered that I didn't have materials enough to create the look I'd intended. So instead I made swags. Then I strung up lights. (At least I had sense enough to use tiny lights instead of the string of inch-long beacons that last year had nearly blinded the entire block of neighbors.)

As I finally finished and surveyed the effect—robust swags of a scale perhaps better suited to a castle than a studio apartment—my husband came home and smiled. "A little claustrophobic in here, don't you think?" James asked.

So I started over. With a tiny plan: 

Photography by Erin Boyle.  

Above: The remains of my well-intentioned, but entirely too large swags.

Above: I dismantled one and made iteration No. 2: tiny wreaths that also proved too much in such a small apartment. Try, try again.

Above: The reckoning. I laid out my materials to take account of what I had to work with and what I could make. Among the loot: washi tape in two shades of green (mine were Vibrant Solid Color Washi Tapes, $4 apiece from Cute Tape); Gold Foil Tape ($2.99 from Ranger Ink); 24-gauge Gold Floral Wire ($2.55 from Mardi Gras Outlet), and all of my greens.

Above: And then I started taping. Taping and snipping and generally trying to make a little something out of entirely too much.

Above: I settled on a making a kind of two-dimensional wreath, a variation on last year's design in a whole new color scheme.

Above: On the table below, a tiny Christmas tree and tapers because this time of year calls for both.

Above: Over the mirror that hangs above the couch, a simple garland and a view of the wreath wall in the "distance."

Above: If I look down from the top of the stairs, the wreath looks festive, but doesn't make me want to retreat.

Above: On the ledge, I compromised with a much more delicate garland made only of pine and tiny lights. I used 22-Gauge Copper Wire ($5.29 at Home Depot) to fashion makeshift hooks to hold the garland and lights in place. (I used a 15-foot string of Starry String Lights; $27.99 from Restoration Hardware.) 

Above: And there you have it, the finished piece and a reminder that bigger is sometimes not at all better.

Think small with Tiny Trees: Window Boxes to Last All Winter and DIY: Holiday Decor for Small Spaces.

N.B.: This is an update of a post published December 12, 2013.

More Stories from Gardenista

• A Star is Born: DIY Foraged Christmas Tree Topper
• DIY: Gilded Holiday Decor
• Coming Saturday to SF: DIY Holiday Workshop

Paperwhite; Narcissus papyraceus: "The Nicest Narcissist"

In Latin, the paperwhite is called Narcissus papyraceus, named after the Greek myth of Narcissus, a vain fellowwho fell in love with his own reflection and wasted away staring into a pool's mirror surface until the gods took pity and turned him into a flower. We think his fate could’ve been worse. The paperwhite is a petite, cream-colored narcissus native to Mediterranean riverbanks. Its stamen is bright yellow tipped with orange, at the center of a cup of petals shaped something like the daffodil. If we looked this precious, we might fall in love with ourselves, too.

Above: Photograph by Shining Egg.

Cheat Sheet

• Paperwhites grown indoors tend to produce large flowers that are too heavy for the stems. For support, loosely tie the paperwhite stems together with some natural-looking twine, or invest in some metal or bamboo stakes.
• Fragrant; easily forced to grow indoors.
• Winter hardy outdoors, as well.

Above: Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Keep It Alive

• Partial or filtered sun.
• Water thoroughly during growth periods.
• If planting outdoors in autumn, place bulbs a few inches apart; if forcing bulbs indoors, try a five-inch pot.

Above: Paperwhites growing outdoors. Photograph by Kendra Wilson.

Paperwhites are not your garden-variety narcissists. In fact, they are a little bit shy (maybe Narcissus was also, and just gets a bad rap?).

Above: Photograph by Dreamy Whites.

Paperwhites are slow to germinate, but it can be a pleasing process. Place bulbs on top of water jugs with their roots submerged and allow them to grow in a sunny spot. Soon they’ll be ready for fall planting. Or just keep them inside. Try a glass pot or vase so the roots are exposed. Paperwhites can thrive without soil, so consider potting them in marbles, pretty stones, shells, or water for a visually interesting effect.

Above: Photograph by Dreamy Whites.

Like some shyer folks, it takes a little, er, effort to convince the paperwhite to come out of its shell. Paperwhite growers have found that the flowers have a taste for the drink. While alcohol stunts the growth of most plants, in paperwhites, it only stunts the stems, and makes the blossoms bloom larger. Mix a little gin, vodka, whiskey, rum or tequila—the paperwhite is an equal-opportunity drinker—into its water and watch its petals spread. That is our kind of self-love.

Are you trying forcing paperwhite bulbs indoors? For more inspiration, see:

• Narcissus: 5 Favorite Bulbs to Plant Indoors or Out
• DIY: Bottle-Fed Paperwhites
• DIY: Get Your Paperwhites Drunk

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• A White Christmas, with Potted Cyclamen

"One is never really 'done' with a garden, just as one is never 'done' with life," says Marella Agnelli in the book she has co-authored with her neice, Marella Agnelli: The Last Swan. And what a life (so far). One of the most glamorous figures of the twentieth century, she married Fiat boss Gianni Agnelli in 1953 and used their wealth to express her creativity in a way which was both domestic and global.

Multi-talented does not describe this aristocratic Italian whose beauty and ambition took her to New York in 1950, where she worked in fashion and photography. After her marriage she became queen of the remodel, since there were homes to be built and renovated. She was also an accomplished photographer, writer, textile designer, and lest we forget, gardener.

Above: Villa Frescot in Turin, the Agnelli family headquarters. "Some people like to look at gardens. I like to live them," says Marella Agnelli.  In The Last Swan ("swan" being a nickname from Richard Avedon), Agnelli's niece and namesake Marella Caracciolo Chia brings together the collage while Agnelli, who is also a good story teller, reflects. Marella senior's passion for the fabric of life, both indoors and out, is a running theme in this book. Photograph by Oberto Gili.

Above: Marella in the 1970s at Villa Bona near Turin, built to house an ever-increasing art collection. Modernist and relatively simple in style, it was a respite from the grandiosity of the other Agnelli houses in the area around the Fiat headquarters. Photograph by Mugo Ulas.

Something one can't help noticing when scanning this book is Agnelli's dominance of life. Though broken up into decades, every decade was her era, from the 1950s on. Hers is a wonderfully positive and energetic outlook. Agnelli's view of New York in the late '70s and early '80s overlooks the potholes and power cuts and focuses on creativity. "New Yorkers had made a significant cultural choice: art, literature and filmmaking were deemed of vital importance."

Above: A parterre designed by Russell Page at Villa Perosa, photographed by Marella Agnelli. Though the young Marella was charmed by the "lapses in taste" at the Agnelli summer retreat, which she first visited as a wedding guest, Page was commissioned soon after Marella arrived as mistress to rearrange the gardens. He was unimpressed by its moribund style, unchanged since the 19th century.

Page's approach chimed with Agnelli's feelings about gardens and his ideas continue to inspire gardeners today. After restoring some balance and harmony and removing "redundancies," Page would look at the bigger picture; the garden within its surroundings. "We extended and blurred the confines of the garden so that the surrounding wilderness became an integral part of it."

Above: Abundant roses at Villar Perosa. In the preface to her 1987 book Gardens of the Italian Villas, Agnelli writes of the importance of childhood gardens and how this "paradise lost" informs our ideas about gardening later on. Her mother, an American heiress who married an Italian aristocrat, was a passionate gardener and loved the romance and tumbling grandeur of the English-Italian style. The family gardener preferred to concentrate his energies on the kitchen garden. Marella's aesthetic was informed by both approaches: beauty and utility. Photograph by François Halard.

Above: Before her marriage, Marella went to live in New York and soon began modeling for the maverick fashion photographer Erwin Blumenfeld. He noticed that she was more interested in the technical side of things and suggested that she become his assistant. Just as she was later to learn how to garden from Russell Page, the 23-year-old had a photography apprenticeship from one of the great masters. These lessons were not wasted on the industrious Marella. Portrait of Marella Agnelli by Erwin Blumenfeld, New York 1951.

Above: In the 1970s Gianni Agnelli surprised his wife with an old convent in Corsica to add to their collection of houses. The Mediterranean island conditions were perfect for sailing, Gianni's great pastime and by the 1970s the Cote d'Azure "was over—out-of-date—and overcrowded."

A great advocate of garden furniture indoors, this room has wicker chairs from Milan and the walls, curtains, and furniture are covered with Marella's own floral fabric design. Photograph by François Halard.

Above: Marella Agnelli is still going strong. After the deaths of her husband and son in 2000 she built a new garden in Marrakech. She was keen for the challenge of building a garden from scratch in an unfamiliar territory.

Marella Agnelli: The Last Swan, $65, Rizzoli New York, 2014. (Photographed by Henry Clarke for Vogue).

For another 20th century tastemaker (whose photographs of Marella Agnelli also appear in this book) see: A Garden Remembered: Cecil Beaton at Reddish House.

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• Garden Designer Visit: Jinny Blom in Primrose Hill
• Designer Visit: Grow Outdoor Design's Drought Tolerant Garden in Bel Air

While you're festooning the house with garlands, don't forget the mudroom. Here's a small spot to hang guests' coats (just a few hooks and a bench) with holiday cheer.

The narrow quarters, which we spied in a back issue of Kinfolk, manage to feel expansive with a few simple furnishings of the right proportions. Here's how to recreate the welcoming look in a tight spot by a front door or on a porch:

Above: Photograph by Parker Fitzgerald.

To create a spot to welcome guests from the cold, all you need are hooks for coats and a comfortable spot to sit while taking off boots. Adding a stack of towels to dry off the dog is optional.

Above: Push a narrow bench against a wall to avoid creating a traffic jam. Measure the width of your entryway; in an ideal world you'll allot 30 inches of open space for struggling out of outerwear. You can order an Andover Bench "by the inch" in custom depths and lengths and heights, and in five finishes (including Maple, as shown). A 15-inch deep Andover Bench that's 45 inches long and 18 inches high, for example, is $749 from Room & Board.

Above: Proportions matter. A peg rail for coats that's roughly the same length as the bench will make the space feel thought out and pulled together. A handmade Vintage Style Pine Coat Rack is available in custom lengths ranging from 9 to 36 inches, at prices from $24.10 to $64.30 from Captains Craftworks via Etsy. 

Above: For white walls, pick a paint color from our list of favorites. See 10 Easy Pieces: Architects' White Exterior Paint Picks. 

Above: Measure and cut a bough to hang above the bench. Michigan-based Wilson Evergreens delivers via Fed Ex ground shipping three varieties of freshly cut garlands from the state's northern forests. Each garland of Cedar Pine ($46.95), White Pine ($38), or Balsam ($36) is 18 feet long.

Above:  Add artwork to make a small space feel like a distinct destination. Frame a vintage family photo or a print inexpensively with a store-bought frame in a standard size. A Walnut 5x7 Box Frame is $49.95 from CB2, and comes with a mat in off-white engineered wood.   

Above: Hint at the roaring fire inside, with a firewood log carrier. A Canvas & Leather Log Carrier from Steele Canvas is on sale for $100 at Rejuvenation. For more options, see 10 Easy Pieces: Firewood Log Carriers. 

Above: A Boot Box, like this Zinc Boot Tray with Liner, $39.95 from Crate and Barrel, will fit neatly under the bench. 

For more ways to add style to a small entry, see:

• 10 Favorites: Entryway Storage Ideas
• 10 Easy Pieces: Sturdy Mudroom Hooks
• DIY: Rolling Boot Tray for a Mini Mudroom
  

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• Outbuilding of the Week: Tiny Cabins in a Norwegian Wood
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Maybe you do it for the scent of piney, aromatic evergreens. Or because you want to create a winter woodland indoors. Your motive is your business.

We agree with the impulse. There's nothing more festive in December than draping greenery across a mantel, over a doorway, or down the center of the holiday table. Here are 10 sources for freshly cut garlands and boughs:

Above: Fresh pine roping. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Above: Michigan-based Wilson Evergreens delivers via Fed Ex ground shipping three varieties of freshly cut garlands from the state's northern forests. Each garland of Cedar Pine ($46.95), White Pine ($38), or Balsam ($36) is 18 feet long.

Above: A 50-foot length of Fresh Balsam Fir Roping is $98 from Terrain.

Above: Alexa made a moody holiday garland using boughs of fresh privet with dark berries (which she found at the corner florist). You can use her technique with any kind of bough that's available from the florist; for step-by-step instructions, see DIY Privet Garland.

Above: Recreate the look of Martha Stewart's Birch Bough Door Garland (for step-by-step insructions, see Martha Stewart) with a mixture of fresh Evergreen Boughs. Each 3-pound bundle contains three pounds of north woods balsam and pine varieties; $20 from Blue Skies Forever via Etsy.

Above: Designed by The FloraCultural Society in Oakland, CA, a 42-inch-long Garland with pistachio leaves, privet, and herbs will stay fresh longer if you mist it once a day; $42.99 from Good Eggs.

Above: Woven with wire to make it easy to drape over mantels or around railings, an aromatic Bay Leaf Garland comes in two lengths, 6 and 12 feet. As the garland's leaves dry, you can use them in cooking; $59.95 or $99.95, depending on length, from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: Bloggers Mary and Tim Vidra of 17 Apart created an evergreen Christmas table runner with holly boughs cut from the garden. To recreate the look, a 24-inch box of fresh Christmas Holly is $19.99 from Mistletoe.

Above: With rounded, glossy leaves, a 4-foot-long swag of Boxwood Garland looks velvety on a mantel; $59.95 Jackson & Perkins.

Above: A 5-pound shipment of aromatic, freshly cut Evergreen Boughs to lay across a mantel is $23.95 from Vermont Evergreens.

Above: A 10-foot-long Fresh Seeded Magnolia And Berry Garland is made of a mix of Southern magnolia, eucalyptus seeds, and toyon berries and is $128 from Terrain.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Field Guide: Paperwhites
• Field Guide: Mistletoe
• A White Christmas, with Potted Cyclamen

Newport, Rhode Island is no stranger to glitz and glamor. Home to gilded mansions with breathtaking ocean views and meticulously groomed gardens, this is a town that knows how to put on a show.

Tucked away on a quiet residential street, not far from the throngs on the main tourist drag, Cottage and Garden brings the glamor, but with a light hand and an eye for simplicity.  During the holiday season, the shop comes alive with twinkling lights and glittering vignettes.

Photography by Christine Chitnis for Gardenista.

Above: Topiaries spy on passersby. It's hard to believe that the shop was formerly an auto repair garage. (Cottage and Garden has called this location home for 15 years.)

Above: In the front of the shop is a collection of terra cotta pots, vintage watering cans, and potted evergreens. Hawthorn trees, with their bright red berries, lend holiday cheer. 

Above: Elegant pots and stamped terra cotta plant markers sit in front of evergreens wearing twinkle lights.

Vintage and antique finds, such as this wire harvest basket, are part of the shop's eclectic offerings.

Above: A collection of topiaries sits next to a vintage wire rack decorated with a simple boxwood leaf wreath.

Above: Moss and boxwood balls would look nice on anybody's mantel.

Above: Throughout the shop new and vintage items come together to form charming vignettes.  The stylist and buyer, Michael, finds interesting pieces during his travels throughout New England and abroad, including his annual pilgrimage to the Brimfield Antique Show.

Above: Shopping for the beekeeper on your holiday list? 

Above: A glass Hunter wellie ornament for the gardener in your life. If you're curious about the history of European Glass Christmas Tree Ornaments, Megan offers an Object Lesson to explain all.

Above: Cottage and Garden is at 9 Bridge St. in Newport, R.I. For hours and directions, see Cottage and Garden.

Are you visiting Rhode Island over the holidays? For more of our favorite spots, see:

• The Dean Hotel: Providence's Answer to the Ace
• Shopper's Diary: Cluck! Urban Farm Supply
• No Ordinary Kitchen Shop: Stock Culinary Goods in Providence

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• Beyond Fruitcake: Cranberry Bundt Cake Recipe
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• DIY Poinsettia: A Common Christmas Plant Goes Luxe

There really is something special about giving a handmade gift. Yes, you have to choose a recipient wisely—someone who will appreciate the effort (while overlooking any flaws)—but when you make the right match, there's nothing better.

When it's time to make something special, I sew. (I learned to sew as a young girl, at the side of my grandmother who was a master seamstress. I followed in Grama’s footsteps to Parsons School of Design and now have my own line of Sarah Waldo Organics children's clothing.)

I think a Roll-up Garden Tool Apron will make the perfect gift for a dear friend who spends her evenings in her plot at our local community garden. So I developed an easy sewing pattern for a tool apron that acts like an extra hand in the garden. It has a pocket for everything and rolls up with everything inside when it's time to put it away. Mine holds seed packets, notebooks, trowels and clippers. 

See below for a materials list and step-by-step instructions:

Photography by Sarah Waldo Jagger for Gardenista.

Materials

• ½ yard Cotton Canvas Duck ($12.98 per yard from Fabric)
• 4 yards 1-inch Cotton Webbing (93 cents per yard at Online Fabric Store)
• Jeans-weight sewing machine needle
• Topstitching Thread to match webbing ($1.48 per spool at Fabric)
• Ruler
• Sewing pins (a packet of Dritz Glasshead Pins is $3.99 from Joann Fabrics)
• Scissors

Step 1: With a hot iron, press your cotton canvas and cut to measure 19.5 inches by 24 inches. Fold the bottom (24 inches wide) edge up 7.25 inches. Press. (Your piece now has the overall dimensions of 24 inches wide by 12.25 inches tall.)

Step 2: Fold the width of the cotton webbing in half and press along the whole length. Take the folded webbing, and sandwich the top edge. Pin the webbing in place along this edge. Topstitch the webbing onto the canvas using a jeans-weight sewing needle and heavyweight thread. Trim the webbing off flush with the sides of the  canvas.

Step 3: You are now going to measure and mark for the pockets. For my apron, I marked at 5.5 inches, 9.5 inches, 15.5 inches and 19.5 inches from the left side. At each of these measurements, make a pencil dot at the top, middle and bottom of what will be the pocket. Draw straight lines vertically to connect the dots. Starting at the bottom edge, sew along these pencil marks right to the edge of your cotton webbing trim; this will make the pockets of the apron. Don’t forget to backstitch at the start and stop of your sewing.

Step 4: To make a loop to hold a tool, cut a 6-inch-long piece of webbing. Iron it flat. Turn each edge under ½ inch and press. Pin in place just above the pockets, at least 1 inch in from either side. Sew to tack in place (you can do a simple back and forth zig-zag or sew a rectangle just shy of the ½ inch that was folded under to tack it all down). 

Step 5: To finish the sides of the apron, fold ½ inch of the webbing edge into itself and press. Line up this clean edge with the bottom of your apron, and then sandwich one side of the apron and pocket into the webbing. Pin in place and topstitch. Trim webbing off flush with the top edge of the apron.

Step 6: Take the remainder of your cotton webbing (at least 78 inches) and find the center. Make sure your webbing is pressed in half for at least 12 inches on each side of center. Find the center of your apron and starting with the middle of the webbing piece, sandwich the top edge of the apron into the webbing. Work out towards both sides from center, pinning the webbing into place. Topstitch the webbing to the apron body. The webbing will open to 1 inch on either side of the apron for the ties.

Step 7: Fill the pockets with your favorite gardening tools and tidbits.

Above: To roll for gift giving or storage, fold the top bit of the apron down toward the pockets. Starting at one end, roll the apron into itself. Use the ties to wind around the bundle and tie.

Are you making handmade gifts this holiday season? For more inspiration, see:

• DIY: Eco-Friendly Firestarters
• Current Obsessions: The DIY Gift
• Gift Guide: DIY Herbal Sachets

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Supplied with fresh garlands and white lights, we brought holiday cheer to a fire escape in Manhattan's East Village. And we have a few ideas for your fire escape too:

Photography by Erin Boyle.

Above: We headed to Home Depot in Brooklyn to stock up on lights, garlands, and other supplies. Then we headed across the bridge to Manhattan.

Above: Among the supplies: Fresh Boxwood-Pine Holiday Garland, 25 feet for $64.99 (available for in store purchase only), white Christmas lights, juniper berries, and white pine.

Above: In addition to the boxwood-pine garland, used a 25-foot garland of Fresh White Pine ($64.99 for purchase in stores only) and a 20-foot garland of red cedar.

Above: We used 11-Inch Black Double-Locking Cable Ties ($9.99 per pack) to tie the garland to the top railing of the metal fire escape.

Above: We're partial to the vintage-looking extra large lights. A 25-Light Clear Light Set is $8.98.

Above: To power the lights, we used a heavy-duty 15-foot Husky 3-Outlet Extension Cord; $13.97.

Above: After lights and garlands were secure, we trimmed the ends of the cable ties. Gloves were an essential part of this very chilly process: Firm Grip Grain Pigskin Gloves ($9.98). 

Above: A view out the window.

Above: At the base of the railing we added another layer of greenery and lights.

Above: On the lower level we used a strand of tiny clear lights.

Above: For good measure, we also made tiny juniper swags.

Above: We tied Natural Sisal Twine ($2.57), around the ends of the juniper bunches to hang from the fire escape.

Above: The juniper berry swags all strung up.

Above: When we were finally finished, we speedily drank a cup of hot cocoa on the very chilly fire escape to celebrate all of our hard work.

Above: The view from the street.

Looking for more tips to design an outdoor holiday lighting display? See DIY: A Starry Night Holiday Light Display and 10 Easy Pieces: Outdoor Holiday String Lights.

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This is the time of year when you most want your front door to say welcome. Here are 10 ways to add holiday curb appeal with a wreath.

Above: Two soft pine wreaths on a pair of stern wood doors. Photograph via Peony and Bee. 

Above: An oversized wreath on a black door in Brooklyn, featured in The Wreaths of Brooklyn: A Neighborhood Tour. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Above: A dark but festive entryway to the Norwegian cabin of blogger Anita of My Home. 

Above: A boxwood wreath on a black door with bronze hardware featured in The Wreaths of Brooklyn: A Neighborhood Tour. Photograph by Nicole Franzen. 

Above: The smaller side door of a grand Brooklyn house sports a simple wreath with pine cones. See more in The Wreaths of Brooklyn: A Neighborhood Tour. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

Above: A fresh wreath on the backyard greenhouse of the General Store in San Francisco. For the rest of the garden, see Gray Gardens: A Visit to San Francisco's Foggiest Backyard. Photograph by Cindy Loughridge Photography. 

Above: A New England rental house from blog In The Fields, with door painted in Sherwin-Williams Evergreens. 

Above: A chartreuse wreath on a navy door at the Fraser Gallery in St. Andrews, Scotland. Photograph by Chris Ferguson via Flickr. 

Above: We're charmed by this casual-but-bedecked wreath in Bristol, England—ornaments and bow included. Photograph by Will Miners via Flickr. 

Above: Dried seeds and a touch of pine on a bold blue door in York, England. Photograph by David Hulme via Flickr. 

More holiday decorating ideas for indoors and out:

• A Beautiful Mess: Effortless String Lights
• DIY: Botanical Ice Lanterns
• How to Pick Your Perfect Christmas Tree
• This Year's Easiest DIY Holiday Decor

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• Required Reading: Marella Agnelli, The Last Swan
• Architect Visit: A White Brick Garden in East London
• Garden Designer Visit: Jinny Blom in Primrose Hill