Uncle Bob's Garden

Welcome to Uncle Bob's garden. When I was younger, there was a pool where you see the brick and fountain, and we played "goofy" in the water, then munched on Parmesan Goldfish as we dried off. I had a birthday party here the year I turned 8. (One of three that year, I believe. I can make an iced mocha last for hours and a birthday last all month.) As a teenager, my sister and our friends and I would spend more time laying on the bluestone patio talking about Josh Harnett and our fledgling tans than actually swimming. It was a beautiful spot for a pool, and we all had so many summers with our cousins and friends enjoying it because Uncle Bob was gracious and let pretty much everyone he knew, and even people he didn't, use it. He was in his seventies when it started getting to be too much for him and he had the pool filled in and designed this garden in its place.

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There used to be a big bed of annuals above the stone wall, off the side of the house, but we didn't put any in this year. I'd like to add a few perennials every year starting this fall, but there are a lot of things on the To Do list and I'm not sure that we'll get to it this year.

I love the way the light hits the pergola in the evening:

Now that we live here, I have been asked several times this summer if we wished that Uncle Bob hadn't had the pool filled in. I usually look at them like they have two heads...I failed the swim test at summer camp and couldn't go past the buoys with my sister, I have a fear of my children drowning, I love having fresh flowers in the house, and this place is like a fairytale for my girls. Apparently most people would prefer a pool, but I'd take the garden any day! Maybe when the girls are sixteen and I let them swim without floaties I'll change my mind...

They love the garden, and believe it or not, they both actually like to help their Daddy pull weeds- which is good, because they grow like...ohhh, that's why they say that! (I actually kind of like the way the low-lying ones look in between the bricks but someone else would prefer they were all gone.) :) We love this garden and never in a million years would have been able to create something like this ourselves. We are so thankful that we get to raise our girls here at this house and on this property that our uncle so lovingly and carefully cultivated.

Have a wonderful day! - Jamie

Porch and Patio Makeover with Joss and Main

We are so excited to be joining nine other bloggers as part of the "10 days 10 patios" tour sponsored by Joss & Main and featured on Country Living's website!

We have shared our porch and patio area several times before so we thought it would be fun to work on a new space - our sister Jamie's new house! They moved in this winter and set some of their existing furniture out here but hadn't started playing around with any of it yet. Jamie had already done the tedious part of painting the walls and some of the trim when we found out we were going to be doing this project so here is the before shot of what it looked like after she had painted but before starting the fun part!

And here is what it looks like now:

And here is the patio area before:

And here it is now:

The original plan was to get everything put together while I was up visiting in April but due to a couple of hiccups (including snow, yes we actually got fresh snow, in April!) although we were able to pretty much get everything figured out we couldn't add the finishing touches or photograph the spaces thanks to the weather. Because of that we waited a couple more weeks and then Jamie worked like crazy to add all the finishing touches and get everything photographed. 

They already had a table that they have had for several years out here but needed some chairs. We loved these Annabelle Side Chairs in the Galvanized Finish. They are the perfect chairs for a family - they wipe down so easily which is great for their two little girls! 

This wall seemed like a great place to add this Gwen Sideboard to help with the functionality out here. It works wonderfully both as a great place to set items for regular summer evening dinners and for special occasions to set up a beautiful display like Jamie did for her daughter's first birthday last month! It's such a beautiful and functional piece.  And we love the height this Garden Sphere adds to the sideboard.

The boat on the table is one of my absolute favorite finds from Joss and Main several years ago.

This beverage dispenser is a great addition to any outdoor space.

We love the way the pattern and color of these Anita Napkins looks at each place setting. 

Over in this corner we love the addition of this reading lamp and how nicely it looks with the chaise.

And if you step through the doors behind the chaise you will be out onto the patio:

I love the way the navy color flows from the porch out onto the patio and gives the two spaces a cohesive feel. These pillows were the perfect addition to the chairs they already owned. 

And you can't beat a fire in a firepit and string lights hanging from above on a beautiful summer evening. (Although clearly it's not summer quite yet in New England - ha!)

And we love this slate tray which makes it easy to transport food back and forth from the kitchen to the porch and patio. 

And here's what it looks like as evening starts to fall...

Although it wasn't worth taking any shots of the view right now here are a couple of photos we took last summer . Needless to say it's a pretty amazing view from the porch and patio! 

Here is a detailed source list for each of the spaces:

SUNROOM:
Chairs - Joss and Main
Sideboard - Joss and Main
Garden Sphere - Joss and Main
Beverage Dispenser - Joss and Main
Napkins - Joss and Main
Reading Lamp - Joss and Main
Slate Tray - Joss and Main
Large mirror above sideboard - from  a consignment store and painted Blue Note by Benjamin Moore
Blue pedestal with wire cloche and white metal bucket on sideboard  - White Home Collections
Blue and white pot holding plant - Passed down from family
Runner - fabric from Jo-Ann Fabrics
Plates - Passed down from our great uncle
End chairs - Pier 1
Table - Ballard designs
Side table - Target
Gold bird  - Target
Small wicker-covered vase on side table - White Home Collections
Chaise lounge - Ballard Design
Burlap pillow - White Home Collections
Damask print pillow - Pier 1
Navy printed throw - Target
Plant in corner - Ikea
Basket containing plant - Target
Boat - Joss and Main
Clock - Joss and Main (similar one can be found here) 


PATIO:
Firepit - Joss and Main
Damask Pillows on Chairs - Joss and Main
String Lights - Joss and Main
Lantern, wire basket, wicker-covered vase - White Home Collections
Footed Pitcher - Pottery Barn 
Glasses - Libbey glasses from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Blue and white vase - Passed down from family
Gold bird - Target
Printed throw - Target
Striped lumbar pillow - Home Goods


And if you missed yesterday’s beautiful reveal by Jenna Sue, make sure to go back and check it out. She did an amazing job on her parent's space!  And tomorrow is the final day with one of my favorite bloggers,  Kindred Vintage & Co! I cannot wait to see what she's done!

And here are links to all of these bloggers amazing makeovers:

Ella Claire 
 French Country Cottage 
Love Grows Wild 
Rooms FOR Rent
 My Sweet Savannah
Craftberry Bush
City Farmhouse 
Jenna Sue Design 
Dear Lillie 
Kindred Vintage & Co.

I hope you all have an amazing Tuesday!