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Hardscaping 101: Wicker Furniture Care

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Does your outdoor wicker furniture require cleaning to get it in shape for the outdoor season? Here's everything you need to know to care for it:

Wicker is a word used to describe nearly any woven material. Generally outdoor wicker furniture falls into two categories: natural and man-made fibers. Wicker furniture is usually made from weaving flexible rattan, twigs or other thin branches, or manmade fibers (a nice way of saying plastic). Here's everything you need to know to care for and clean different kinds of wicker furniture:

Natural Fibers

Rattan hanging chair ; Gardenista

Above: Made of bent rattan, a Hanging Rattan Chair is $450 from Serena & Lily. For more like it, see 10 Easy Pieces: Hanging Chairs.

The most common natural fiber wicker furniture is made from rattan reeds or paper fiber rush. Some are left in their natural finish, while others are painted or treated with some type of clear coating.

Bloomingville rattan lounge chair ; Gardenista

Above: Denmark-based designer Bloomingville's woven high-backed Natural Rattan Chair is $424 from Amara. For more like it, see The Gardenista 100: Best Scandinavian Rattan Lounge Chairs.

IKEA-NIPPRIG-rattan-chair-gardenista

Above: Made in Vietnam of natural fibers, Ikea's Nipprig Chair is available in green or natural; $49. 

Best suited for covered outdoor locations or drier climes, natural wicker furniture should be brought indoors or covered in inclement weather. The weather elements will eventually rot the fibers, causing the furniture to decay after a period of time. The same goes for painted wicker; weather may cause the paint to get damaged and peel or flake off. 

atural-Bristle-Washout-bench-brushes-Gardenista  

Above: For our favorite bristle brushes, see 10 Easy Pieces: Potting Shed Brushes.

The main cleaning conundrum with wicker is its textured surface. The best way to keep wicker clean is to use a vacuum with the brush attachment or a hand held brush (a soft paint brush is a good choice) to remove surface dirt and dust.

Cleaning brush cloth mild oil detergent vinegar ; Gardenista

Above: For more, see DIY: 10 Natural Vinegar Cleaners.

Spills or stains can be washed with a cloth dampened with mild soap and water. If mildew has formed, wipe the wicker with a mixture of vinegar and water and then again with a cloth dampened with water. Untreated reed wicker can be rinsed with a hose and left in the sun to dry, but paper wicker should never be sprayed with water. Our recommendation is to avoid excess water as it can easily get trapped in the cracks and crevices and provide a home for mold and mildew.

Man-made Weatherproof Fibers

Wicker Chair on Patio, Gardenista

Above: A manmade fiberl wicker armchair painted white provides the perfect outdoor reading spot in front of this 186-Square-Foot Guest Cottage. Photograph by Nicole Franzen for Gardenista.

Wicker woven with resin fibers, like plastic furniture, can be left outside year-round and in any weather conditions as they are highly resistant to mildew, fading, staining, and cracking. Just be mindful of the dirt and debris settling in the textured surface; you may want to place a cover over the furniture during periods of non-use to reduce cleaning when you head back outdoors.

Metrovac Professional Hand Vacuum; Gardenista

Above: Sarah recommends the design worthy Metro Vac Professional Hand Vacuum; $71.99 from Amazon.

Like natural wicker you can vacuum or use a dry, clean brush to dust the furniture to keep it dirt and dust free. For deeper cleaning, spray with a hose and wipe dry with a soft cloth. As with any furniture, avoid letting water stand on the surface. 

We're taking spring cleaning season seriously. If you're getting your outdoor furniture in shape for the season, see:

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Currently Coveting: Ikea's New Wicker Collection for Summer

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After a successful bonding trip to Ikea last week, my friend Stephanie and I were putting our loot on the checkout belt when she happened to glance over at a nearby table with a messy pile of nondescript woven seagrass things.

"Wait," Stephanie said.

The conveyor belt stopped. The store clerk and I watched Stephanie zip over to the table, grab a woven thing, and unfold it to reveal a very large, beautifully proportioned, beach bag with handles. The price? $4.99.

I got one too.

The woven bag, it turned out, is part of a new Nipprig outdoor living collection—including furniture, plant baskets, and wall hooks—that arrived in stores this month. Here are our favorite pieces:

kea-nipprig-woven-furniture-chair-side-table-gardenista.

Above: A Nipprig Chair is available in three colors including black (shown) is $49. For more colors, see Hardscaping 101: Wicker Furniture Care. A Nipprig Side Table in black and natural is $39.99.

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Above: A Nipprig Hanging Rack with three hooks is available in three colors including natural and is $8.99.

kea-nipprig-woven-furniture-outdoor-lighting-gardenista.

Above: A Nipprig Bamboo Shade is available in two colors and two diameters, 22 inches and 22 inches, for $16.99 and $24.99 depending on size.

kea-nipprig-woven-furniture-basket-gardenista.

Above: Here's the woven bag that both Stephanie and I bought last week. Made of seagrass, a generously sized Nipprig Beach Bag is 31.5 inches long and 14.5 inches high; $4.99.

kea-nipprig-woven-furniture-chair-side-table-gardenista.

Above: The woven collection is made in partnership with craftsmen in Vietnam and Indonesia.

kea-nipprig-woven-furniture-planter-baskets-gardenista.

Above: Available in assorted colors and two sizes (9.5 inches and 12.5 inches), a Nipprig Plant Basket is $12.99 and $19.99 depending on size.

For more of the best of Ikea for 2015, see:

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Bringing Up Baby: A Bavarian Barn for Pygmy Goats

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Instead of erecting a prefab shed to shelter his herd of pygmy goats on a dry, grassy Bavarian slope in eastern Germany, architect Michael Kühnlein built a tiny wooden barn for less money, using off-the-shelf lumber from the hardware store.

The result, sited at the edge of the goats' grazing pasture, is an elegant wooden cube with a design borrowed from the flat-roofed local houses in eastern Bavaria:

Photography via Kühnlein Architects.

outbuilding-bavarian-pygmy-goat-barn-kuhnein-architecture-gardenista

Above: Kühnlein and a friend built the structure with narrow spruce planks, used to fashion walls, ceiling, and floor. The result is a stylish mini barn that cost less to build than a prefab shed.

outbuilding-bavarian-pygmy-goat-barn-kuhnein-architecture-gardenista

Above:The goats' doorway is elevated so it's at a height that's comfortable for them. Goat tenders and other humans enter through the full-height opening on the back of the barn.

outbuilding-bavarian-pygmy-goat-barn-kuhnein-architecture-gardenista

Above: Commercial grade spruce planks from the hardware store cover the facade. Inside the barn, a room divider keeps the goats from eating all the food stored inside.

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Above: Spruce boards overlap at the corners to create a woven effect where the walls meet. Empty spaces between boards provide ventilation and light for the goats.

outbuilding-bavarian-pygmy-goat-barn-kuhnein-architecture-gardenista

Above: Using the techniques of traditional block construction "even buildings for agriculture can be well integrated into the landscape," the architect says.

For more farm outbuildings, see:

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Magic Trick: How To Make Your Hydrangea Change Color

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I'm not saying blue hydrangeas are necessarily better than pink ones. It's just that the particular color is so rare—"hydrangea blue" is not a hue that belongs to any other plant or any other anything in the world—that how could you not want a splotch of it growing against your picket fence? 

And what if I said you could change your everyday-pink hydrangeas into moody blue ones—not overnight, of course, but with barely any more effort than you expended back in fourth grade on your science fair project? Let's do it:

pale blue hydrangeas on Nantucket via Gardenista

Above: Photograph by BBC American Girl via Flickr.

How exactly do you describe this particular shade of blue? It is somewhere between violet and blue, existing in that shimmery space where color collides with silver.


pink hydrangeas by Saipua via Gardenista

Above: Photograph via Saipua.

Not that there's anything wrong with pink. But come on:

pale blue hydrangeas growing through the fence via gardenista

Above: Photograph by Cate via Flickr. A Hydrangea  Macrophylla 'Nantucket Blue' in a 1-gallon pot is $24.95 from White Flower Farm.

Hydrangeas change color (except for the white ones) based on the pH level of your soil. The more alkaline the soil, the pinker the flowers. To make pink hydrangeas turn blue (or to keep your blue ones from turning pink), increase the acidity of your soil. To confirm your soil's pH level, let's test a sample:

homemade test for soil ph via Gardenista

Above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

First, get a handful of dirt. It only takes a small amount of soil to test the pH level. (Bonus points if you know what "pH level" refers to; I looked it up and learned that "pH" stands for "potential of hydrogen" or, in layman's terms, the concentration of hydrogen ions in soil. The higher the concentration, the more alkaline your soil. In retrospect, I'm not sure I needed to know this, but thanks anyway Internet.) 

Next, place the soil sample in a container. Pour distilled white vinegar over it. If the solution fizzes, the pH level is high and your soil is alkaline. (If it doesn't fizz, then the soil is neutral or acidic; you will not have to amend it as much to made your hydrangeas blue.)

change hydrangeas from pink to blue via Gardenista

Above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

Add organic materials to your soil to make it more acidic. Coffee grounds are good. So is ground-up citrus peel. Work the mixture into the soil around the base of your hydrangea plant, and then water it in.

How often should you do this? Save your peels and your grounds in a little bowl on the countertop and whenever the bowl is full, take it outdoors to feed the hydrangeas. 

The acidity of the of the soil will slowly increase; by next year, your hydrangeas should look a lot more blue.

change color from pink to blue via Gardenista

Above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

Crushed egg shells will also increase the acidity of the soil. Work them into the ground along with citrus peel and coffee grounds.

mix ingredients via Gardenista

Above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla.

As they decompose, the organic materials will add aluminum to the soil (making it more acidic). You can also add diluted Aluminum Sulfate to increase the acidity level, a 4-pound box is $13.16 from Amazon.

vivid blue hydrangeas against a chain link fence via Gardenista

Above: Photograph by Mvh via Flickr.

Can hydrangeas to turn too blue?  I suppose it's possible you'd prefer pink. If so, you can make your soil more alkaline by adding Garden Lime; a 6.75-pound bag is $9.95 from Gardener's Supply.

Are you wondering how to arrange hydrangeas to keep them from looking too prim? For suggestions, see Justine's Bouquet of the Week: Hydrangeas Gone Wild. For another DIY project with hydrangeas, see Dried Hydrangeas, Two Ways.

For more of our favorite DIYs, see:

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Trending on Remodelista: The Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor Kitchen

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The Remodelista editors joined us in the garden this week to see what all the fuss is about. They found a floor plan for the ultimate indoor-outdoor kitchen—and it looks like they got a little color in their cheeks:

Flora fauna wallpaper office nook ; Gardenista

Above: Izabella got an itch to wallpaper a room with birds and flowers. See the 13 Flora and Fauna Wallpapers on her wish list.

White Enamelware cutlery outdoor dining ; Gardenista

Above: We're stocking up on the Enamelware Cutlery that Margot found, perfect for outdoor dining.

Indoor outdoor kitchen London ; Gardenista

Above: The Kitchen of the Week offers the ultimate indoor outdoor living experience in London.

Monteverdi bathroom in Tuscany ; Gardenista

Above: Margot checks into a romantic restored villa in Tuscan village near Siena in Hotels & Lodging: Monteverdi Hotel in Italy.

Antonio-Arico-beach-kitchen-utensils-Remodelista

Above: A Milan-based product designer turned to his grandfather to create handcrafted Rustic Wooden Kitchen Utensils.

See the rest of Remodelista's adventures at The Indoor Outdoor Life.

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Current Obsessions: Welcome to Brooklyn, Hillary

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With Hillary Clinton renting space in Brooklyn (hipster headquarters for a presidential campaign?), Francesca naturally had some advice about how she should decorate it:

Francesca Connolly living room; Brooklyn

Above: Francesca's living room has a few more ideas to offer.

Here's a few more things we obsessed about this week:

Ojeda Architects | Gardenista

2015 Remodelista Market at Marin Country Mart | Gardenista

Mario Pollan's New York Garden | Gardenista

Instagram and Pinterest Pick of the Week

Instagram Pick of the Week: @dollyandoatmeal

  • Above: Our weekend brunch ideas flow from food blogger and Gardenista contributor Lindsey Love (@dollyandoatmeal). 

japanese-anemone-bee-gardenista

  • Above: Get an inside look at the Smithsonian Gardens in Washington D.C. by following the gardens on Pinterest. 

For more from this week, read our Spring Projects issue and head over to Remodelista to get a glimpse at The Indoor-Outdoor Life.

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The 7 Best Climbing Roses for Your Garden

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Standing tall in my back garden is a large crab apple tree that I disdain but for one attribute: it is the best climbing tree around. I'm not talking about for my children, rather for my gorgeous, fragrant climbing rose. I am probably committing some horrible gardening offense by letting the rose take over. I can't help but let the refined rose take on its wild side; that's what I love about climbing roses. Here are seven of our favorite varieties to consider.

My bias is for light-colored climbers—whites and light pinks. What's yours? Share your favorite varieties in the comments below.  

Climbing Roses on Wall, Gardenista

Above: Roses climb a wall at the amazing Italian Renaissance gardens at the Villa d'Este in Tivoli. Photograph via Flickr.

If you want a vigorous, scented pink climber, consider Eden; it's $12.95 from Brushwood Nursery.

New Dawn Climbing Rose, Gardenista

Above: The prolific pink grower in my garden is the New Dawn Climbing Rose. A fragrant climbing classic that is the forerunner of the modern climbing rose; $19.95 at David Austin Roses. Image via Flickr.

Renae Climbing Rose, Gardenista

Above: For a similar variety without the wicked thorns, consider the Renae Climbing Rose; $18.50 at Rose Sales Online.

Mme. Alfred Carriere Climbing Rose, Gardenista

Above: A tough climbing rose that can survive many climates (even the San Francisco fog), the Mme. Alfred Carriere Climbing Rose has very fragrant white informal-shaped blooms. Available for $21.95 from David Austin Roses.  Photograph by Janet Hall.

Climbing Rose Zephirine Drouhin, Gardenista

Above: The nearly thornless Zephirine Drouhin Climbing Rose is Michelle's favorite and offers fragrant old-fashioned blooms in a bright cerise pink; $16.95 at Edmund's Roses. Photograph via Suzy Bales' Garden.

Kew Rambler Climbing Rose, Gardenista

Above: The fragrant Kew Rambler offers single apple blossom-like blooms; $27.95 at David Austin. Photograph by Janet Hall.

Sombreuil Climbing Rose, Gardenista

Above: The romantic French Sombreuil Climbing Rose has an abundance of petals arranged in the form of flat, quartered rosettes; $21.95 at Dave Austin Roses. Photograph via the Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Ballerina Climbing Rose, Gardenista

Above: I love the delicate small foliage and blossoms of the Ballerina Climbing Rose. Good for hedging, it is available for $15.37 at Jackson and Perkins. Photograph by Janet Hall.

Climbing Roses Book, Gardenista

Above: A guidebook to climbing roses that thrive in North America (and tips to care for them), Climbing Roses by Stephen Scanniello and Tania Bayard is available used from $3.93 through Amazon.

For more of our favorite garden roses, see:

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Table of Contents: Oceania Outdoors

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Join us for a week of lounging in the relaxed informality of Australia's best gardens. We'll visit lush gardens that need barely any water, spruce up our patios with stylish handmade planters, and explain how to get the same unstudied look by stealing a few ideas from Down Under:

Table of Contents: Oceania Outdoors

Above: We're getting a lot of design ideas from Australia, including Mattress Springs As Patio Wall Art, Terracotta Vertical Gardens, and how to plant A Garden You Water Four Times a Year.

Monday

grounded-gardens-melbourne-australia-black-fence-front-gate-gardenista

Above: We peek behind a fence at a verdant patio garden irrigated by graywater in Melbourne in this week's Designer Visit.

Tuesday

sustainable-farming-matt-lentil-purbrick-australia-hammock-garden-gardenista

Above: Kendra goes Down Under to discover what gives Australian gardens their unmistakable personality and charm and returns home with this week's installments of 10 Garden Ideas to Steal.

Rretractable black garden hose bucket pail storage ; Gardenista

Above: We're converts to a new generation of incredible shrinking hoses (no kinks!). See our favorites in this week's 10 Easy Pieces.

Wednesday

ikea-hack-kardemumma-curb-appeal-gardenista

Above: This week's DIY is a clever Ikea Hack to create entryway drama for under $50. In the meantime, check out our Editors' Picks: 19 Favorite DIY Projects in Our Own Homes.

Thursday

hanging-planter-white-clay-crochet-gardenista

Above: We're currently coveting these clay hanging planters with crocheted cords...along with a few other White Hanging Planters that Izabella found.

Friday

wilderness-eco-lodge-tasmania-gardenista

Above: Meredith took our suggestion to get away from it all literally. In this week's Hotels & Lodging post, we'll catch up with her in an idyllic Tasmanian wilderness eco-lodge transformed from an obsolete hydro-electric pump house. 

For more of our favorite indoor outdoor gardens down under, see:

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Designer Visit: A Courtyard to Covet in a Modern Melbourne Garden

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A small garden in Melbourne suburb Toorak was a blank canvas the first time designers Cameron and Stephanie Paterson of Grounded Gardens saw the site. During a recent remodel, the existing garden had been removed—and the eco-conscious client had planned ahead by installing a graywater irrigation system to collect water from the washing matching and showers for use in a new garden.

Starting from scratch, Cameron Paterson designed a front courtyard as a focal point—with native plants, shade trees, and a mix of drought tolerant perennials and grasses to create year-round color. Let's take a look behind the fence:

Photography via Grounded Gardens.

grounded-gardens-melbourne-australia-black-fence-front-gate-gardenista

Above: The large house number on the garage is stencil-cut steel. Next to the driveway, a front path set with free-form bluestone pavers is lined by drought tolerant plants including Anigozanthos (commonly known as kangaroo paw), a silver bush of Leucophyta brownii, and Dieties Iridiodies (African iris).

grounded-gardens-melbourne-australia-black-fence-front-gate-gardenista

Above: Also planted alongside the front path are Correa Lawrenceana, Acacia Baileyana, Grevillia 'Superb', and Adenanthos Sericeus.

The graywater irrigation system filters waters from the homeowners' showers and washing machine through a sand system and then pumps it into the garden through a drip system.

grounded-gardens-courtyard-garden-Melbourne-gardenista

Above: Inside the front gate, a front courtyard doubles as an outdoor living room. Underfoot on the patio and path (which leads to the front door) are crazy paved slate and crushed granite.

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Above: Designer Stephanie Paterson (who also owns The Outdoor Stylist) helped the owners update their outdoor furniture with two Angelucci 20th Century Butterfly Chairs ($410 apiece) and and Jardan's Stanley Stool;(for more information and prices, see Jardan).

Growing against the facade of the house is a clump of variegated-leaf Sansevieria trifasciata.

grounded-gardens-courtyard-garden-gardenista  

Above: Grounded Gardens designed retaining walls to create raised planting beds along the fence line. Plants include (from L) Liriope Muscari, Acer Palmatum, Ranunculaceae, Limonium perezii, Arthrapodium cirratum, Santolini Chamaecyparissus, and Myoporaceae.

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Above: Growing next to the front door is an Acer Palmatum (Japanese maple tree).

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Above: A hidden path adjoining to the front path leads to a bedroom. Growing between the pavers is Dwarf Ophiogonon Japonicus.

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Above: In the backyard is a patio with crazy paved slate and an open-air pergola with suspended lighting. Designer Stephanie Paterson sourced the furniture, including a Tio Dining Table ($1,222 from A+R) and Tio Chairs ($325 apiece) from Stockholm-based designer Massproductions.

Plants at the edge of the patio include Phlomis Fruiticosa, Buddleja davidii, Sedum Autumn joy, Euphorbia Mellifera, Olea Europeae Limonium Perezii, and Perovskia Atriplicifolia.

grounded-gardens-courtyard-garden-gardenista

Above: The side of the house is planted with Berberus Vulgaris, Phlomis Fruiticosa, Sedum autumn joy, and Acer Palmatum.

For more of our favorite drought tolerant Australian garden designs, see:

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Shopper's Diary: Garden Objects in New Zealand

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We've long admired New Zealand-based designer Katie Lockhart's carefully curated home accessories shop Everyday Needs, so we were happy to hear that her brother Jared has launched Garden Objects, a new online garden wares store. "The focus of Garden Objects is to offer products that are designed well, have good functionality, and will stand the test of time," says Jared Lockhart. 

Here are a few of our favorites from his new shop:

timber-rake-garden-objects-gardenista

Above: A Timber Rake ($185 NZD) is handmade from four kinds of locally sourced wood in Oamaru, New Zealand: the handle is poplar, the bow is coppiced hazel, the head is ash, and the tines are heart Kowhai (a strong wood favored since the 19th century by New Zealand rake makers). 

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Above: Bamboo Cloches are available in three sizes, at prices ranging from $90 to $100 NZD.

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Above: Handwoven from split bamboo in Cambodia, the garden cloches protect seedlings from birds.

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Above: Handcrafted in Sweden, an Iris Hantverk Bench Broom is $40 NZD.

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Above: The brush has a solid birch handle and a mixture of synthetic and horsehair bristles.

Above: A Copper Hanging Planter from Brooklyn has a hand spun bowl; $250 NZD.

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Above: The planter has an antique chain and over time the copper will develop a green patina.

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Above: Made by Auckland-based artist Gidon Bing, a Ceramic Bird House is $135.

ceramic bird house crackled-1-garden-objects-gardenista

Above: The bird house has a crackle glaze and comes with a black hanging cord.

For more of our favorite outdoor accessories and furnishings, see:

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10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Australia

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Autumn in April is business as usual in Australia. Why have it any other way? As these gardens show, there is a liberation from being closer to the east than the north.

Here are 10 modern ideas to steal from a continent unhindered by centuries-old garden traditions:

Zero Waste

sustainable-farming-matt-lentil-purbrick-australia-hammock-garden-gardenista

Above: Farmers Matt and Lentil Purbrick of Grown and Gathered produce zero waste on what they call a "closed-loop farm" on the Tahbilk winery estate an hour's drive north of Melbourne. Photograph via Frankie.

"Sustainability means the end of waste," say the Purbricks. Their waste is so well-organized that they collect even more from elsewhere, using their neighbors' castoffs to feed their farm. Sustainability is about more than waste of course; water conservation and home-made energy are incorporated into the best designs across the continent. Offset by of tall trees and water, solar panels have never looked so good.

Water Conservation

Joost Bakker watering vertical garden Australia ; Gardenista

Above: Joost Bakker watering mint plants that cover the facade of Macquarie Bank. For more, see A Dutch Eco-Garden Genius in Australia.

When everything is recycled, including water, it can make sense to cover a restaurant or the facade of a house with terra cotta pots. Joost's buildings are made of steel-clad straw bales; the terra cotta softens their appearance but also cools the interiors in summer and insulates them in winter. The plants capture rain which otherwise would be running down the house.

Billabongs

Garden Billabong Melbourne Australia Sam Cox Design ; Gardenista

Above: A billabong, recreated as a garden idea in a suburb of Melbourne. Photograph via Sam Cox Landscape.

Known outside of Australia as an oxbow lake, a billabong is an area of water cut off from the river flow. Filling up every year, they also dry up rather quickly and a garden billabong can be an improved version. Surrounded by three stories of planting, a sense of enclosure is created.

Incorporating billabongs into a design approach is a useful way to capture water while creating a happy ecosystem. Frogs, insects, birds, and mammals will be instantly attracted.

Uninhibited Floristry

Katie Marx Butterland florist foraged wattle eucalyptus bouquet ; Gardenista  

Above: Florist Katie Marx makes a bouquet from foraged wattle and eucalyptus during a workshop at Butterland, a former dairy-turned-candle-factory that she and her furniture maker husband have transformed into a wedding venue. Photograph via Camellia Fiber Company.

Without the baggage of traditional horticulture, florists, flower decorators, and flower artists (call them what you will) have a freewheeling approach which is admired by people working in the same field, in places like England. Australian flower people also know how to exploit their own visual opportunities and camera talent is closely linked with floristry. See also @afloralfrenzy, @poppies_flowers, @jardinebotanic, all on Instagram.

Gardening on Rock

Phillip John rock garden Australian best in show chelsea 2013 ; Gardenista

Above: Garden designer Phillip Johnson's Best in Show garden at Chelsea in 2013. Photograph via Garden Drum.

A human landscape that blends into the natural one is a key concern, though the Australian garden at the Chelsea Flower Show did anything but. Monumental rocks, flowing water (recycled via solar panels), and tree ferns filled Phillip Johnson's creation, mimicking the symbiosis of his own garden Olinda. Built amid the steep hills east of Melbourne, Johnson's home garden relies on rocks to prevent soil erosion. Water is a constant element with Johnson, acting as a barrier against bush fires in this vertiginous and naturally dry terrain.

Recycle and Reuse

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Above: Melbourne-based designer Mariana Garcia-Katz at home, where her garden is designed around salvaged finds including panels of corrugated metal and discarded 44-gallon drums (reincarnated as raised beds). Photograph via The Planthunter.

The appeal of corrugated metal grows less mysterious when put in recycling context. Even better when you find old examples pre-painted in black. for more ideas, see Curb Appeal: 9 Facades with Corrugated Metal Siding.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees allee Australia ; Gardenista

Above: Photograph by Phunnyfotos via Flickr.

In an avenue leading up to the former home of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (mother of Rupert), in Victoria, lemon-scented eucalyptus lines the drive. Fondly known as gum trees, 700 species of eucalyptus provide the lofty canopy in Australian landscapes, as iconic as the middle-story tree fern.

No Plant Too Weird

Landsberg covered courtyard shade garden ; Gardenista  

Above: Spires of echiums pierce the foreground and background of this terrace by Landsberg Gardens.

With a prefered emphasis on native, local species in modern Australian gardens, things are bound to get a little unusual. Unlike the highly cosseted and not-always-convincing attempts at tropical planting in northern climes, the plant choice here is a natural partner to vitality and innovation. "We are really lucky in Australia," says Charlie Lawler of Loose Leaf florists in Victoria. "Everything from tropical plants to alpine scrub grows here."

Tropical Jungles

Wendy's Secret Garden Sydney Australia ; Gardenista

Above: Artist Wendy Whiteley rescued a rundown plot of railroad land in Sydney and turned it into a tropical paradise. For more, see Wendy's Secret Garden in Sydney.

Most of us can only dream of the huge variety of plants available to Australians, subtropical or otherwise. Here, Brachichyton acerifolius, (L), mingles with Elephant Ear or Colocasia and the spiky Sydney native Doryanthes excelsa. The summer humidity and mild winters of the subtropics are ideal conditions in which jungly plant communities can thrive.

ikebana Influence

looseleaf-florist-australia-ikebana-influence-gardenista.

Above: Loose Leaf Florists. Photograph via The Design Files.

It is clear that Australian horticulturalists take more from their closer neighbors in Japan than they do from their colonial ties with Great Britain. The art of ikebana (and its Korean relation kokozi) is characterized by a use of living plants in arrangements, with an exploration of negative space and asymmetry.

Loose Leaf Florista Melbourne Australia Ikebana influence ; Gardenista

Above: Photograph via Loose Leaf

"We love using big-leaved plants like Monstera," says Charlie Lawler. "It easily turns any space into a jungle." Lawler and his partner Wona Bae at Loose Leaf have turned these into Monstera "chandeliers," with the addition of fig leaf branches. Their shop and studio space in Collingwood, on the outskirts of Melbourne, is also a venue for workshops and for Wona's weaving. She uses living material on the grand scale, creating wreaths which she could fit into several times, and nests for imaginary giant birds (or humans for that matter). Some of their creations are very small; they are all exquisite.

For more garden inspiration from Australia, see:

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10 Easy Pieces: Retractable Garden Hoses

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My bias against As-Seen-On-TV miracle products kept me from paying much attention to a new generation of lightweight, kink-free garden hoses that stretch and shrink like rubber bands. Until I saw one in action in the garden at SF General Store. The demure black hose lives in a small bucket when it's not in use and has an elegant black skin that looks like fabric.

It's time to replace your heavy, hopelessly tangled hose. In addition to accordion hoses, there's a variety of other kink-free designs on the market, including self-coiling rubber hoses and wall-mounted retractable hoses that wind themselves up neatly when you don't need them. Here are 10 favorite garden hoses you won't dread dragging around:

Rretractable black garden hose bucket pail storage ; Gardenista

Above: For more of this garden, see Garden Visit: San Francisco's Foggiest Backyard.

Expandable Hoses

If you've seen them advertised on TV, you may think that expand-and-shrink hoses are as unlikely to find a spot in your home as a Ronco 20 piece cutlery set. But not only are they much more attractive in action than in their packaging, the hoses also have earned kudos from Consumer Reports, whose testers concluded: "None lost flow when folded, twisted, or knotted—a problem with the conventional hoses we bought for comparison." 

hose-pro-gardenista.

Above: Billing itself as "the original expanding hose," a 25-foot rubber X-Hose Pro is $21.95 from Amazon. (For bigger gardens, a 50-foot X-Hose Pro is $37 from Amazon.)

A cautionary note from Consumer Reports, after testing three brands:"If any part is damaged or the hose leaks, expandable hoses can't be repaired like conventional ones. Their manufacturers warn you to keep them out of the sun when you aren't using them....And because they shrink to their original size when the water is turned off, all three are poor choices for use with sprinklers."

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Above: Available in green, a Jhose Expandable Water Hose comes in lengths from 25 to 75 feet and with either brass or plastic connectors. Depending on the configuration, prices range from $13.16 to $46.59 at Amazon.

expandable accordion garden hose ; Gardenista

Above: A 75-foot Pocket Hose with brass fittings is $39.99 from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Retractable Hoses

A wall-mounted retractable hose is a kink-free, flexible option if you want a hose that disappears when it's not in use. Look for a model that has a durable reel and make sure that mounting hardware is included.

retractable-garden-hose-mitroon-30-gardenista

Above: A retractable hose that extends nearly 100 feet and rolls back neatly to live inside a plastic case that attaches to a facade, a Mitroon 30 Garden Hose is the Rolls-Royce of garden hoses; $335 from Lumens.

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Above: From Flo Master, a 65-foot Retractable Hose Reel has a swivel mount and is $107 from Amazon.

Hozelock auto reel garden hose wall mounted ; Gardenista

Above: A Hozelock Wall Mounted Auto Reel comes with a 40-meter length of retractable hose; £142.99 from Two Wests.

Coiled Hoses

Another flexible hose designed to get out of your way when it's not in use is the self-coiling hose. A tried-and-tested design that's been in production for nearly two decades, it's available in a wide variety of lengths and colors.

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Above: Oregon-based garden supplies entrepreneur Jeff Thomas invented the self-coiling garden hose in 1997. Today his polyurethane garden hoses are available in a variety of colors and lengths. Distributed by many retailers, a 75-foot Water Right Professional Coil Hose also is available in red for $69.95 from Water Right.

retractable-coiled-garden-hoses-gardenista

Above: Available in three colors including olive and espresso (shown), a 50-foot Coiled Garden Hose is currently on sale marked down from $59 to $47.20 at Rejuvenation.

Coil retractable featherweight garden hoses ; Gardenista

Above: A Featherweight Coil Hose weighs 4.1 pounds, stretches to a length of 75 feet and is available in three colors; $69.95 from Gardener's Supply.

Gardena Professional spiral garden hose set ; Gardenista

Above: A Gardena Professional Spiral Rose Set and comes with a wall mount, a pulse spray gun, tap connectors, and hose connectors. It is £35.60 from Two Wests.

Above: For more irrigation options, see:

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Ikea Hack: DIY Midcentury Planters on a Budget

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In Austin, Texas homeowners Heather and Mike Banks had been searching "for a long time for tall-ish planters for our front door entry," said Heather. But every option they liked "cost more than we were able to spend." Solution? Ikea hack.

By gluing together inexpensive Ikea pots, they created tall, slim planters with a mid-century silhouette—and a price tag of $40 per planter. The couple, who own Retrospective Vintage furniture rental shop, planted hardy succulents in the pots to complete the look.

For a materials list and step-by-step instructions, see Brady Bunch Remodel

Photography via Brady Bunch Remodel.

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Above: Mike and Heather Banks glued together six white Ikea ceramic pots, base to base.

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Above: Ikea's white Kardemumma Plant Pots come in three sizes and have various patterns. For their project, the Bankses bought six 12-inch pots with vertical stripes; $19.99 per pot.

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Above: Before gluing, Mike Banks matched the patterns on the pots to create continuous vertical stripes.

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Above: After the glue dried, Heather planted succulents in the pots and covered the surface of the soil with a layer of dark gray river rocks.

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Above: Lined up along the edge of the front path, the planters "highlight the entrance to the house and keep the kids from accidentally stepping off our entry walk," said Heather.

For more Ikea inspiration, see:

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At Home with Eco Garden Entrepreneur Joost Bakker

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Born in the Netherlands and transplanted to Australia at age 9, Joost Bakker—the son and grandson of tulip farmers—earns a living as a florist, delivering and arranging flowers he grows on his own land to clients in Melbourne.

But at heart the high-school dropout is an eco-entrepreneur who designs zero-waste restaurants, composting toilets, freestanding vertical garden walls, and houses built of straw. He lives in one of them,with his wife and business partner, Jennie, and their three children.

While Bakker is busy capturing rainwater to wash dishes, milling his own oats, using cast-off bones to make broth, giving TED talks, and folding his clients' organic waste into his compost pile, let's take a look around his house in the Yarra Valley, a few miles east of Melbourne.

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Above: Photograph via NYT.

Built in 2006, Bakker's 6,500-square-foot home (including living quarters, garage, and workshop) is covered with a steel mesh commonly used to reinforce concrete; the metal scaffolding holds 11,000 terra cotta pots of strawberries grown from seed his uncle sent from Europe.

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Above: Photograph via Antarctica Architects.

Beneath the metal mesh screen, the walls of the house are insulated with bales of straw behind a facade of corrugated, galvanized iron. "Our house stays beautifully warm in winter and cool in summer," says Bakker.

Bakker, who has gone on to design other homes for clients, remains an enthusiastic support of straw bale construction.

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Above: A Bakker-designed house in Kinglake about a half hour's drive north of Melbourne has 700 straw bales in the walls and ceilings. Photograph via Joost Bakker.

"Most people don't realize that straw is the world's most abundant waste product with over 1 billion farmers producing it," says Bakker. "It's basically the stalk that's left over after the heads of rice, wheat, barley, and other grains are harvested."

Joost Bakker watering vertical garden Australia ; Gardenista

Above: Bakker creates vertical gardens for clients; here he waters mint plants growing on the facade of Macquarie Bank. Photograph via The Australian.

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Above: Photograph via The Design Files.

On the six-acre site, a former cherry orchard, Bakker's house overlooks verdant hillsides.

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Above: Photograph via Antarctica Architects.

"In some ways, Joost's landscaping is even more extraordinary than the house," says architect Brendan Jones of Antarctica Architects, who worked with Bakker on the project. "It's beautifully composed with different trees and shrubs lined up at an angle to the dwelling.

Joost Bakker house Australia driveway ; Gardenista

Above: Photograph via The Design Files.

Bakker built the house on a recycled concrete slab foundation and sided the walls in the entry courtyard with 150-year-old wood planks previously used on the Woolloomooloo wharves in Sydney.

Joost Bakker Australia sculpture ; Gardenista

Above: Photograph via The Design Files.

A window in the study looks out onto the driveway—and a fanciful spherical sculpture Bakker created.

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Above: Photograph via NYT.

Bakker raises plants for his clients' floral arrangements on several acres of his property. 

For more inspiration from Australia's gardens, see:

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Steal This Look: Mattress Springs as DIY Wall Art

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We immediately decided to recycle in style after we spotted a unique garden feature—rusted bedsprings attached to a brick wall—in the suburban Melbourne garden of designer Andrew Plymin. 

As Plymin explained on the public-access program Gardening Australia: 
"This garden's very much a personal space, and I just fill it with things that I like. I don't really care if they're fashionable or if they actually all go together.” 

As for his sourcing secrets, he said: "There's lots of rusty things...I just find them on the junk piles and stick them in the back of the car when I'm driving past and drag them home and they all start to work together as a group."

Steal This Look, Garden with Vintage Box Spring in Australia | Gardenista

Above: Our inspiration, from the garden portfolio of Australian photographer Simon Griffiths

Antique Bed Box Spring | Gardenista

Above: After some sleuthing, we realized that vintage box springs and mattresses are surprisingly hard to find. Our recommendation would be to call your local salvage yard and say you're on the lookout for a rusted box spring. An online option: An Antique Metal Bed Coil Box Spring is available for a $250 on eBay (if you click "Buy It Now"), or you can make an offer. 

preserved teak dining table ; Gardenista

Above: We like the mix of wood and metal textures in Plymin's garden. For a luxe version of his table, a 94.5-inch-long Preserved Teak Dining Table is $2,998 from Terrain. A budget-friendly option is Ikea's Sunderö outdoor table, made of wood and finished in a gray stain; $219 for an 86-inch-long table. For more of our favorites, see The Gardenista 100: Best Teak Dining Tables.

Colorful Tolix Tabouret Stools | Gardenista

Above: Tolix Short Stackable Tabouret Stools are available in several shades of blue. Contact Antiquaire for pricing. (In the UK, Cult Furniture sells a Tolix copy called the Xavier Pauchard Stool in powder coated blue for £49.)

Terra Cotta Low Bowl | Gardenista

Above: This terra cotta Italian Low Bowl is available in six sizes starting at $7 from Arizona Pottery. To recreate the look above, we'd recommend an 18-inch-wide bowl; $37. 

Vintage Bed Springs | Gardenista

Above: To create a rusted wire crown atop the bowl of succulents, By Light of Moon on Etsy sells a set of 12 Vintage Coil Bed Springs for $27. 

Vintage Rusted Coil | Gardenista

Above: As an alternative, Etsy seller Streetcar Junction offers two coils of 14-Gauge Rusty Wire for $7.89. 

Hawthornia Succulents | Gardenista

Above: Fill with any mix of succulents; haworthia is shown here. Photograph by Erin Boyle from DIY: How to Stop Killing Your Indoor Succulents.

A six-plant selection of 45 Succulents is $65.25 from Succulent Source via Etsy. Need more plants? A 16-plant Sedum Collection (in 2.5-inch pots) is $46.95 from Mountain Crest Gardens.

Steal more looks: try Water Troughs as Raised Garden Beds, A Mod LA Patio with Twinkly String Lights, and An Open-Air Concrete Bath.  

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DIY: The Flowerpot Pendant Light

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We have a fondness for the earthy warmth of terracotta lighting—see 10 Favorites: Terra Cotta Pendant Lights. But it wasn't until we spotted Australian garden designer Joost Bakker's DIY approach that owning a clay pendant seemed too easy to pass up.

Bakker is a master at elevating the terra cotta flowerpot: He designs stand-alone iron planters and large vertical gardens full of them. And for his own family home in Monbulk, Australia, just east of Melbourne, Bakker devised dozens of unusual lighting options. Our favorite is the upside-down flowerpot lampshade that hangs in the main bedroom. I'm no electrician, but I sleuthed the parts and easily copied the look. Here's a step-by-step tutorial.

The Inspiration

Above: Joost Bakker's weathered terracotta flower pot works well with a wood sideboard and brick wall. Photograph by Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Materials

  • A terra cotta flower pot, about 6 inches in diameter at its widest point
  • Pendant cord set, such as the Nylon Cord Set in white from West Elm, $29, or Ikea's Hemma Cord Set, $5
  • Clear Globe Light; $.69 from Amazon or your local hardware store
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • 3mm Hex L Key (needed for use with the West Elm cord set, but not necessarily all cord sets); $.33 from MSC Industrial Supply
  • Wall bracket (optional)
  • Baking soda, water, and paintbrush (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: To make the light, begin by dismantling the cord from the bulb socket. This is a fairly simple process, but directions may vary slightly depending on the pendant cord you choose. Using the West Elm Nylon Cord Set, I first unscrewed the bolt holding the cord to the socket casing with the hex key. (If you use Ikea's Hemma Cord Set, read the dismantling instructions from Instructables.)

Step 2: With a Phillips head screwdriver, unscrew the light socket from the metal housing. Then unscrew the wires, remembering the placement of each for later, when you will reattach the parts.

Step 3: In the cord kit that I used, I found three electrical wires (green, white, and black). The white and black wires connected to the socket itself and were easily unscrewed. The green wire screwed into a fitting inside the metal housing, so I used a pair of needle nose pliers to remove it. Cords and sockets can be wired a number of ways, so consider looking up tutorials online for specific instructions on how to dismantle yours.

Step 4: After you disconnect the cord from the metal housing, string the flower pot through the cord (the standard hole in the bottom of pots is perfect for this). Then retrace your steps to reassemble the cord to the socket.

Step 5: You can either hardwire the pendant cord according to a manufacturer's instructions, or, using a shelf bracket, wrap the cord around the bracket to hang the light.

Above: The finished results. I opted to leave the terra cotta untreated, but for a rougher look, you can add a patina to the pot by brushing on a solution of baking soda and water. (Note that this creates an indoor-only finish—it washes off when wet.)

See some of our favorite handmade terra cotta pendants in: Terra Cotta Pendant Lights by Thomas Housden.

For more do-it-yourself lighting projects, visit:

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Low-Cost Luxe: 9 Pea Gravel Patio Ideas to Steal

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At a cost of about $5 a square foot, a pea gravel patio is easy on the budget (especially if you open the 50-pound bags and rake the gravel yourself)—and can be a surprisingly elegant hardscape element in the garden. 

Small, rounded stone pebbles feel good underfoot—and crunch satisfyingly when you walk on the forgiving surface. We've rounded up everything you need to know about pea gravel in Hardscaping 101: Pea Gravel.

If you're considering a pea gravel patio, here are nine of our favorite design ideas to steal:

Checkerboard Effect

pea-gravel-patio-Kathleen-Whitaker-Echo-Park-Garden-Seating-Area-Gardenista

Above: Garden Visit: At Home with Jeweler Kathleen Whitaker in LA.

Match pea gravel's color with larger pavers and mix them to make a pattern. Treat the pea gravel like grout and lay the pavers equidistant from each other on a grid to create a checkerboard effect.

Patio Annex

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Above: Behind a Brooklyn townhouse, a simple pea gravel court extends the footprint of a small stone patio. Price tag? The garden rehab project cost under $50,000. For more, see Steal This Look: Midcentury Mod Townhouse Garden in Brooklyn.

Give a stone patio an irregular shape and allow pea gravel to bleed in to the edges to create an optical illusion that makes the seating area feel larger.

Widen Your Horizons

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Above: Steal This Look: Modern Brooklyn Backyard on a Budget.

Make a long, narrow space feel wider by unifying all the elements with a pea gravel border.

Apply Circular Thinking

pea-gravel-patio-rehab-diary-eugene-oregon-aerial-view-path

Above: Rehab Diary: A Garden Makeover for a Ranch-Style House.

Pea gravel's small size and shape makes it the ideal hardscaping material to create a non-linear patio. You can echo the shape of a central fountain or round pool by rimming it with a pea gravel patio.

A Magic Carpet

pea-gravel-patio-patrick-dempsey-malibu-garden-outdoor-dining-gardenista

Above: Before and After: A Malibu Garden for Grey's Anatomy Star Patrick Dempsey.

Carpet an outdoor room in a luxurious layer of wall-to-wall pea gravel.

Weed Repellent

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Above: Beneath a pea gravel patio in Northern California is a weed barrier. For more, see Every Garden Needs a Teepee.

Lay a layer of landscape cloth underneath pea gravel to prevent weeds from growing underfoot.

Take the Heat

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Above: After retiring from Hermès, former hat designer Nicole de Vésian moved to Provence to embark on her most ambitious design project: a strange and hauntingly beautiful garden. For more, see Paradise in Provence: A Parisian Stylist at Home.

In a hot, sunny spot stick with light colored gravel to reflect the heat (darker colors will absorb heat).

Define a Destination

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Above: For more, see Architect Visit: Barbara Chambers at Home in Mill Valley.

In a far corner of the garden, lay out a spot for a bench or lounge area, cover it with pea gravel, and surround it with a low hedge of evergreen shrubs to create a sense of greater depth even in a small space.

Rein in Rainwater

pea-gravel-patio-stone-pavers-feldman-architecture-california-coast-gardenista

Above: Sited on a steep slope in an oak forest in California, a pea gravel patio by Feldman Architecture aids drainage and prevents runoff. For more, see Garden Envy: 10 Dramatic Drainage Ideas to Steal.

If runoff is a problem, lay a permeable pea gravel patio to filter rainwater.

For more patio design ideas, see:

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Hardscaping 101: Outdoor Fabric Care

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Often referred to as high-performance fabric, outdoor fabric is the textile equivalent of a race car. Finely tuned to stand up to the elements without fading, mildewing, staining, or deteriorating, your outdoor fabric deserves special handling. 

As you spruce up your outdoor furniture to get it ready for sun season, pay a little extra attention to your outdoor fabrics to extend their lifespan. Here's how to choose, clean, and care for outdoor fabrics:

Choosing Outdoor Fabric

Rose Tarlow Melrose House outdoor fabric stripes ; Gardenista

Above: Designer Rose Tarlow's Melrose House for Perennials line of outdoor fabrics.

There are two kinds of outdoor fabric: solution dyed and printed. Solution-dyed fabrics will resist fading because the dye permeates the fibers of the fabric. With printed fabrics, only the fiber surface is colored. One way to tell the difference is to flip a swatch over; if the color and pattern on the backside is identical to the front, it's a solution-dyed fabric.

Like carpet, outdoor fabrics may be coated to resist moisture and to repel stains. Polyesters, acrylics, synthetic mesh, and olefin fiber fabrics are the likeliest candidates for coating. Fabric protectors will make liquids bead on a surface and will speed drying. on the other hand, the ingredients used in the chemical treatments may give you pause. If you don't like the idea of sitting on acrylic- or vinyl-coated surfaces, consider purchasing canvas fabric instead.

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Above: I make inexpensive outdoor slipcovers and cushion covers from cotton canvas drop cloths. (If you follow suit, make sure to wash and dry the fabric to soften it before starting a project.) A 12-by-15-Foot Canvas Drop Cloth is made from 100 percent cotton; $38.99 from Amazon.

True canvas is woven of natural fibers of cotton or linen. Look at the label to make sure the fabric isn't a polyester, acrylic, or blend.

outdoor-fabric-by-the-yard-sunbrella-perennials-gardenista

Above: Restoration Hardware sells a selection of Sunbrella And Perennials Outdoor Fabrics by the yard for prices ranging from $45 to $50 per yard.

Routine Care and Cleaning

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Above: Photograph by Dvortygirl.

Cleaning outdoor fabric is relatively simple and, as with your clothing, starts with checking labels for specific laundry instructions. Whether your outdoor cushions, slings, and seat covers are cotton canvas or a synthetic such as acrylic (Sunbrella), hand washing using lukewarm water with a mild liquid soap should do the trick.

Malibu Sling Chair James Perse | Gardenista

Above: The Malibu Sling Chair from James Perse has a teak frame and is upholstered in all-weather fabric. For more, see The Gardenista 100: The 5 Best Folding Canvas Deck Chairs

If the fabric is removable you can put in a washing machine set to a gentle cycle, but never use a dryer. Avoid detergents and bleach-based soap that can remove the water-repellent finishes of some fabrics.

Stains and Mildew

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For tough stains or mildew, try cleaning with a brush using water with some oxygen bleach (always test in an inconspicuous area). And, like other fabrics, try to clean spills immediately to reduce staining.

As for ongoing maintenance, check cushions periodically for mold or mildew and clean or replace if needed. New cushions can be filled with high-density, all-weather foam or fiber filling. A simple preventative measure is to tip cushions upright so water will run off (and in cases of a severe rain, opening the zippers of fabric covers facilitates quicker drying).

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Above: A Sundial Side Chair has an outdoor-grade birch frame and a Sunbrella slipcover; $950 from Serena & Lily.

Pro Tips

Fabrics with a water-repellent finish can lose effectiveness over time. To restore repellency, clean and dry the material, and then apply a fabric protector, such as 303 High Tech Fabric Guard ($12.99 for 16 ounces from Amazon; note it does not work on vinyl) as recommended by Sunbrella.

h55-teak-lounge-chair ; Gardenista

Above: The H55 Teak Lounger designed in 1955 by Bjorn Hulton is available in black, navy blue, or white Sunbrella or natural canvas; $900 from Horne. For more, see 10 Easy Pieces: Folding Deck Chairs.

When washing deck chair slings consider reinstalling while the fabric is damp so it stretches to fit.

For more outdoor furniture care (and fabrics), see:

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Etsy Find: Hanging Cloud Planter from Australia

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You know that mild dizziness you feel when you lie on the grass, watching the clouds glide by in the sky? 

Australia-based designer Margie Rahmann and her husband, Justin, make and glaze their shallow clay hanging planters to order, so each white cloud is a slightly different size and shape. Just like in the sky: 

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Above: A hanging Cloud Planter is $67.79 from My Very Own Eye Goggles via Etsy.

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Above: Each stoneware glazed planter is idiosyncratic. Handmade and glazed in white, its dimensions will vary.

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Above: The crocheted hanger is white cotton.

For more of our favorite hanging planters, see:

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Escape to Tasmania: An Obsolete Pump House Turned Eco Lodge

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Pumphouse Point was originally just what it sounds like: a hydroelectric power station, perched over Tasmania's Lake St. Clair. Decommissioned in 1990, today it finally sees action: as an eco-lodge set against the dramatic scenery of mountains, forests, and Australia's deepest lake.

The facades of the old Art Deco pump house and shore house buildings are nearly unchanged from the old days. Indoors, developer Simon Currant and Hobart-based architects Cumulus Studio reconfigured the space to create the lodge's 18 rooms—with the 12 in the former pump house at the end of a very long walkway.

By choice or no, Pumphouse Point will always be wild—the weather here is extreme. Be warned: one day during construction, a snowfall took all 24 workers by surprise and swiftly buried their tools.—which makes for dramatic tourism but should keep the faintest-hearted away. Pumphouse Point is in a World Heritage Area; attention was paid to environmental stewardship with sustainable materials, low-impact operations, and minimal land disturbance. 

One thing we appreciate: though it's sited in a remote location, exclusivity is not the goal. Including bed, breakfast, and outdoor activities, rates are a nicely mid-priced $240 to $480 per night. For more, contact Pumphouse Point

Photography by Adam Gibson except where noted.

Pumphouse Point Eco Lodge Tasmania ; Gardenista

Above: An aerial view shows the dramatic 250-meter flume (water channel, now a walkway) between the Shorehouse and the Pumphouse that together comprise Pumphouse Point. Photograph via Cumulus Studio.

Pumphouse Point eco lodge Tasmania sign ; Gardenista

Above: The entrance to Pumphouse Point. For such a remote location, the budget was a relatively modest $5 million. The architects and builders minimized customization and used simple construction techniques and standard fittings wherever possible.

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: The Shorehouse building at the edge of the lake once housed offices and maintenance quarters for the turbines. 

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: The Shorehouse building entrance. Minimal work was done to the buildings' exteriors, both to retain a sense of history and to highlight the contrast between the new interiors and the old exteriors. Developer Simon Currant gave a clear order to architects Cumulus Studio before design began: "Don't muck up the exterior architecture; it's the inside we're converting."

Still, the overhaul required hard work, including asbestos removal, new roofs, and new window glass in both buildings. 

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: A room in the Shorehouse has views of the Pumphouse at the end of the dock.

Pumphouse Point exo lodge Tasmania ; Gardenista

Above: Sunrises and sunsets are dramatic over the lake.

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: A guest room in the Pumphouse. Simple palettes in private spaces are made more elegant with finishes such as Tasmanian wood veneer paneling, minimal light fixtures, and bathroom plumbing of bent copper pipe.

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: Pumphouse rooms sit over the water. Here, a chair and pillow in a Pumphouse suite flaunts its proximity to window's (and water's) edge.

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: In the Pumphouse, guest suites run the length of the building on the outer wings, leaving the center as communal space. Full-height windows at building's edge mean the line of sight that starts down the concrete flume continues straight through the Pumphouse and over the lake.

Note the carpeted floors and cushioned furniture: because the Pumphouse was a hollow-core concrete building, the architects paid careful attention to acoustics and made design choices to absorb sound.

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: In contrast to the private spaces, in communal spaces the architects used industrial materials like rough-hewn hardwood, exposed ductwork, and industrial lighting. Here, an amply stocked honor bar in the Shorehouse building.

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: Even this Shorehouse bathroom has an outdoor view, through a narrow full-height window. 

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: The hotel knows its customers want an adventure, albeit a comfortable one. Onsite activities include fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking; guests may choose to arrive by seaplane.

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: There's plenty to explore around the hotel, and at check-in guests receive iPads loaded with walking maps and information on activities, history, and wildlife. (You also can use the iPad to charge yourself for honor bar drinks in the communal lounge.)

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: The Pumphouse Point development plans prompted debate over whether tourism and development should be allowed at all in world heritage sites. But developer Simon Currant had his eye on the Pumphouse site for nearly 20 years, and it appears to be a debate he's won. 

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: Lake St. Clair was first visited by Europeans in 1832, and European explorers, artists, and adventurers soon began to settle down. Here, a group hiking on a bush track in Tasmania circa 1881. Photograph via Pumphouse Point. 

Pumphouse Point Hotel in Tasmania, Australia | Gardenista

Above: The Tasmanian government planned the five-story pumphouse in 1930; the project was finished in 1940. But the station was never fully used and the pumphouse was decommissioned around 1990. Photograph via Pumphouse Point. 

Plan your next vacation or travel by armchair: 

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