Dream - Outdoor Spaces for Cat Naps, 5

"Perfect Porches" by Paula Wallace via Constant Gatherer Blog

Dream - Outdoor Spaces for Cat Naps, 4

Blasen Landscape Architecture

Dream - Outdoor Spaces for Cat Naps, 3

Chad Oppenheim, Architect

Dream - Outdoor Spaces for Daydreaming, 3

Tom Stuart-Smith, Landscape Architect

Inspiration Board - Rugs

Rugs and pillows are the two accessories that I believe can change the look and feel of a space in the snap of a finger and without breaking the bank.  Rugs ground an outdoor space and add softness to your hardscape but they can add real drama to an outdoor space as well. One well thought out rug in a punchy color or pattern is enough to make a space sing or make a real statement with layers of rugs in a variety of colors and patterns.  All this week we will be talking about this versatile accessory - the rug.  To get the week started some inspiring uses of rugs in outdoor spaces.

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Design 101 - How to Light a Space

Beautiful Living Style

Like any room in your house your outdoor space will have similar lighting requirements for maximum enjoyment after dark.

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Designer Profile - Masters of Lighting Drama

Topher Delaney/Seam Studio

There are two types of outdoor lighting, landscape and accessory.  Landscape lighting is hardwired and built-in to your outdoor space design and accessory lighting is free standing and repositional - think table lamps.  This week we are dealing mostly with accessory lighting but an inspiring starting point is to look at a couple of designers who are masters of creating high drama in outdoor spaces using landscape lighting.  In the case of designers Topher Delaney and Jeffrey Gordon Smith their far out lighting designs can, in many cases, be replicated using new accessory lighting products on the market.

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Get The Look - Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting can extend the amount of time you spend in your outdoor space after dark but like indoor lighting it can also set the mood and make a statement.  This week we are going to talk about, what we think is, a grossly overlooked aspect of outdoor living - lighting.  To kick off the week, outdoor lighting that makes a statement.

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Get The Look - Showcase Your Planters

Photo Inspiration - Art Luna Garden

Art Luna captured the essence of the Southern California Mediterranean style beautifully in this outdoor space.  The restrained use of a few attention grabbing planter designs puts them at center stage in the space.  Art's choice of show-stopper succulents makes it near impossible to ignore the planters.

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Design 101 - Restraint when Designing with Planters

Blasen Landscape Architecture

There is a gift to minimal decorating.  Not well planned or balanced, minimal decorating will make a space look barren and under decorated.  When done right however, the few chosen accessories used in a space are like little sparkling jewels.  Given the right circumstances I love clusters of planters but a smattering of well placed planters in an outdoor space really speaks to my organizational tendencies.  Blasen Landscape Architecture has a knack for the well placed singular or pair of planters.

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