GARDEN BENCHES; so many choices..........

Let's explore how to narrow down the choices when presented with so many design styles

Vintage or

new?

hand crafted? 

simple or ornate?

what color?

where to begin?

In my garden design practice, it is always the same; begin with the architecture

live in a moated castle?

One that possesses a Loggia? This will do

The bench below is perfect, in white or black See the repeated design element? I would have two, on the pea gravel one in front of each end opening. At times the back of a bench can double as porch railing 

detroit garden works

Color choice;  aged teak

Design choice:  simple to not detract from the intriguing architecture

Color choice: white; stay with the pure stark aesthetic

Design choice; As wonderfully clean and "honest" as the homes design

Color Choice;  green painted crates, emphasizing the green of the front door

Design choice;  imagining this cottage on the English Norfolk coast, I would love to see a "get-away" behind a potting shed. The whimsical nature of these cottages can be emphasized in the crooked poles 

Color choice; We could go green but i would rather see those as 'stand-alones', keying in on the outdoor lamp, the burnished copper looks great

Design choice;  Lead by the sheer whimsey of this 'Rumplestilskin' roof and other elements makes for a classic pairing

Color choice; Not yet but given 6 months it will also look weather worn gray

Design choice;  Wild, contemporary, artistic, no average bench would do. This design can stand on it's own and has a nearly wind swept appearance already

Color choice;  natural and organic colorways as in the stone AND mortar

Design choice; Mid century simplicity of rectilinear design. Instead of playing up the straight lines with a straight sided bench.........at times throwing a "curve" is just what is needed

Color Choice; Natural teak, left to age will ideally match the shingles

Design choice; Classic......meet Classic........the Luytens bench designed by Sir Edwin Luyten (luch-ins) in the early 20th century. It's graceful curves are a perfect offset to a shingle styled home 

Color choice;  Often I will match an existing element and more often the trim, door or shutters. 

Design choice; This particular Victorian Gothic could host this swinging bench under it's porch perfectly. 

Color choice; White for pop

Design choice; A stately French manor home, masculine in flavor with an opposing feminine styled bench. The home possesses a roofline that is a strong top feature, the bench provides the same. 

Low, long roof = low long bench

Color choice and Design choice; With so much architectural interest the bench should be simple and blend in versus compete. 

Color choice; bring the white into the garden
Design choice; period appropriate, a repeat of the chippendale, and lastly see the panels under the windows, repeated on the bench's center......perfection 

  

Color choice;  neutral, the weathered wood is in keeping with the stone wall tones

Design choice;  the simplicity. The property is clean lined and not fussy

The color choice; stating the obvious. When a strong element is repeated, particularly at a distance, the entire property appears larger and co-hesive

Design choice; period and regionally appropriate 

For email subscribers; these two concrete benches are available for quick delivery with free freight

somerset bench; $2,395

74w x 24d x 40h 

wiltshire bench;  $2,119.

54w x 24d x 42h

NOTE:  these are very well made benches, all concrete with steel bar and steel plates, my favorites

                                      
                                          Join my 'TRAVEL by DESIGN' group to England!

Space is still available for my tour to rural England, Dorset in particular. Sept. 15 through Sept. 22nd.

Antiquing, gardens, shopping, private gardens, private homes. Learn about garden design, history of furniture and interior design

contact me for the details; debra@scentimentalgardens.com 

cheers!

                                                                              Debra
              

being sneaky

Well, well, it was Bev's birthday yesterday, so we wanted to sneak on here and wish her the happiest of birthdays!  Here's to a grand year ahead!  We also got our hands on this certificate awarded to Bev in 8th grade for being the "neatest dresser."  Looks like she has always been the most fashionable!

and, just for fun, another fabulous picture that fell into our hands...

Neatest dresser, indeed.

Happy, happy birthday, Bev!  We love you so much!

Lavender Honey Recipe - How to Make Lavender Honey

Lavender honey is one of my secret weapons. It's easy to make, as are all the flavored honey recipes I share, and it's a wonderful choice for holiday gift giving. You can whip up a batch in about an hour, and the resulting honey is delicious -- and something your friends won't find in stores. I make separate batches of rose, orange, lavender, vanilla and lemon balm honey to give away, and

You had me at the front door.......

Good morning! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Ours was actually quite nice, found some time to spend with good friends, got to take a long walk with Teddy, started reading a new book and of course there was plenty of "house biz" to contend with. Not to mention I was sitting on the edge of my seat with all this craziness happening in Washington! While there is so much I don't agree with, I am VERY relieved that an agreement was reached as the alternative in my eyes would have been catastrophic for our country. I am sure the markets will show their appreciation today! Now onto the fun part.......

What makes a more pronounced statement then your front door entrance? To me, it is the anchor of the house and one that can be enhanced by doing so many things. Everything from adding a pair of planters, to growing ivy on the facade, adding small amounts of statuary, a wreath, a beautiful knocker, placing a pair of stately outdoor sconces or a lantern at your entrance, etc....these all are the "jewelry" for a elegant front door entrance. Sometimes, less is more. If you have chosen as an example, a unique or bright colored door, that is making a statement by itself and If so, that might be enough. There is no perfect or one way to get it right.....there, like design, are countless formulas. Today, I take a look at many front doors I have collected over time, and while  some  are more my personal style then others they are all inspirational for one reason on another.

The possibilities are endless and in my old house I had a lot of fun constantly changing what went into my urns depending on the season and particularly loved dressing up my front entrance for Christmas and Halloween. So today is all about that first impression when you see a house and what does the front door/entrance tell you? Take a look and would love to know your thoughts and any secrets for decorating your front door that you might want to share!

This would have to be my dream front door, the ivy just makes it!

Something about the all white with fabulously detailed sidelights makes this so elegant and understated, Douglas Newby

This is so pretty! Love the ivy, pretty pediment and surround and appropriate sized lanterns for the single door

Something very pleasing about this bright yellow door, its very cheery and inviting

A beautiful pair of sconces flank this grand front door entrance, the pup is a nice accessory, not sure if I love the urns to the left, House Beautiful

Elegant, low key and classic, Goodwin and Tatum

A smaller understated entrance gets a pale aqua door and vintage looking planters, the ivy adds to the " quaint cottage feel" Hooked on Houses

I am assuming most of this plantation was added for the holidays, interesting front door, I like the black against the cool tones of the stone

This is formal yet so welcoming, Brooks and Falotico

This beautifully painted glossy red door gets a bold pair of brass numbers and hardware, elegant!

This is very elegant, love the glossy black door, the single lantern and ivy growing on the facade

This understated front door is encased with a limestone surround

This more casual front door seen in Coastal Living gets a fun color

The black was continued into the pretty planters planted with vivid flowering plants

I really the black door against the white house and the way the green really pops here

This is a pretty entrance, the pairs of planters very symmetrically placed, its pleasing to the eye

When less is more, understated and simply beautiful

This pretty stone entrance has a decorative limestone surround so it was kept simple as to not detract

Never met a black door I didn't love...so elegant!

Being very symmetrically minded, I love the way this looks...beautiful colors too!

Beautiful wood stained front door is so stately against the white crisply painted surround, Fogarty

Perfection in my book!

Beautifully done with planters overflowing with plantations, a nice contrast to all the stone, Bacco

How about this unique pink door? Certainly makes a statement!

Love this door, this entrance, everything about it.....

Everything here is very monochromatic, I feel the topiaries should be a smidgen taller

Love the lanterns, the planters are very pretty but not sure if they overpower here?

Classic and fabulous

A dramatic entrance featuring a limestone surround and black iron door

Some choose animal statuary to flank their front door, not my "thing" personally 

And just a little front door recap.......

Have a favorite? Would love to know which and if you have any suggestions or tips you like using to create a beautiful front door! Wishing you a wonderful day.....