Mini maze

Mini maze in the backyard garden – decorative space-filling and playful challenge

Fence coverings

When we move to a new house, it can happen that the fence of our neighbor is not aesthetical enough. Although our house and garden are neat, we cannot ignore what we see from the window or terrace. Since it is not our property, it can’t be changed, but there are other solutions.
The fence can be covered with panels made of rush/cane purchasable in rolls. We can choose among several heights and their price is quite good. They should be fixed to the fence with wires. Since it is a natural material, fits for most of the gardens.
The side of the fence towards us can be even painted. It will be probably a great complementary of the sight in a bright color, so the handicap could be turned into a benefit this way. Mostly choosing green color similar to the plants around can help a lot, this way we get an opposite effect, namely the fence will fade into the sight. More creative or playful people can paint a landscape or any other „painting” on it. The special mood is guaranteed.
Planting a hedge or higher shrubs in front of it is a simpler but more expensive solution (holly berry, thuja, cherry-laurel etc.). Large surface of the embarrassing fence can be covered with denser planting.
Also a „green” solution to fix a grid to the fence and let the plants grow up on it. The trellis can be shaped, this way a more complex sight can be reached when the plants grow over it. Always take notice of the features of the soil and the sunlight penetration when choosing and planting plants.
If we are looking for a less fixed solution, we can pop up the sight with potted plants and several decorating elements. For example, plants in color pots can be placed at the bottom of the fence. The surface of the fence can be decorated with picture frames in bright colors, mirrors (take care of reflecting the sunlight!), wall mounted flower holders or other objects we like and which bear the changing weather. Many decorative objects can be found for this from the bicycle wheel, through letters made of wood, to bird feeders. Using bright colors is not necessary if the style of the garden/house requires something else.
Ask for help of an interior designer for making the outdoor parts of the house esthetic.

Mini gardens 3.

Mar6

Mini landscape gardens – if there is no space for a real one

Backyard patio

Mar1

If we have space and opportunity to make a spectacular backyard patio

Outdoor Valentine’s Day decor

Feb8

DIY outdoor Valentine’s Day decoration ideas

Faux snow

Dec3

The winter decoration will be complete if snow covers everything outside. Unfortunately, the weather can’t be affected, snowing might frequently missing. There are more possibilities for faux snow decoration in our home. It’s true, this will be inside but it creates perfect mood for the festive decor.
Faux snow is available in shops. It looks like a pile of small plastic splinters. It is shiny, reflects light almost as a prism. Instant faux snow is a much better version than this. This is a dry material which rises hundredfold connecting with water but it isn’t wet to feel. Sometimes water has to be sprinkled on it keeping the faux snowy look. At the end of the season it just has to be dried and can be stored for the next year.
More natural materials can be used for the proper sight also. The simplest solution is the large grain salt and granulated sugar. Although it is not practical to disperse them on the floor but they look good in varied storages with decorations. They shouldn’t be connected with water.
The 1:1 mix of shaving foam and baking soda produces a well-formable and cool-to-touch material from which even a mini snowman can be built. It can be a great fun for kids.
Cotton wool and wad are frequently used as faux snow. If the weather is dry, they can be placed outdoor also. The patio can be covered with it, potted plants can be put around or „snowballs” can be formed from it as well.
Let’s put some torn white textile coffee filters or paper hand towels in the blender and cut them up. The result will be a medium long fibred, light and spreadable material. Maybe it’s a bit harder to clean it up after the feasts but it’s worth the look.
Real snow can be replaced with many more materials (e.g. bath salt, faux snow spray, tiny polystyrene balls, soap gratings). All of them look different, will have different effect on the decoration, but the winter mood can be achieved this way also.
Ask for help of an interior designer for seasonal decoration of your home.

Berried branches

Nov12

Berried branches are integral part of the autumn-winter decoration. Bright colors of crops look very good among dark green foliage and brown branches. Let’s get familiar with the most common ones.
Holly berry (Ilex aquifolium): evergreen shrub. Leaves are shiny, dark green, wavy edged and spiky. Berries are bold red, which are poisonous for humans.
Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus): deciduous bush. Leaves are oval, in different sizes. Its crops are in clusters. There are two seeds in every soft, white berry.
Privet (Ligustrum vulgare): this shrub decorates with its leaves. Longish leaves fall only in the middle of winter. Crops are shiny bluish black, they grow in clusters.
Mistletoe (Viscum album): half parasite evergreen living on trees. Leaves are greenish yellow, oval. White crops are fake-berries which are softly opaque and sticky.
Scarlet firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea): spiny evergreen shrub. Leaves are shiny, lanced, edges are intact. Crops are red (there are variations with orange and yellow berries) and grow in big bunches.
We can use several other berried brunches for decorating (Bodinier’s beautyberry, yew, rose-hips etc.). These get dry soon thanks to the warm air of rooms but still keep their color.
Ask for help of an interior designer for the season decoration of your home.