Proving you just can't get too much of a good thing, I've got another great round of furniture that has that wonderful combination of powder coated steel and wood. This time it is coming at you from Los Angeles based firm Knibb Design. Founder Sean Knibb is one of those amazing guys that does a little of everything from landscape design to furniture design and he has an impressive portfolio to back it up.
When it comes to modern garden accessories (well, everything MINUS planters), it seems the pickings are pretty slim. So, I was pretty pleased to spot Terra Trellis, an offshoot of California-based TerraSculpture Studio. Their collection offers re-imagined, modern versions of classic garden structures, including trellises, arbors, and tuteurs. The hand-welded steel pieces are also available in 7 contemporary colors and finishes, from aubergine to oxide, white to kumquat orange. With such beautiful craftsmanship, I'd consider these less accessories and more pieces of functional art!
I found these photos of some Jack Merlot Design yards while I was browsing modern landscape posts over at Plastolux, and it got me thinking. Are there any landscape architects or landscapers that specialize in "modern" landscapes in Utah? It's funny, I know great local architects, contractors, furniture and cabinetry builders etc but I have never come across anyone who does modern landscapes.
If you have any leads for modern landscape architects in Utah please share in the comments!
Being cooped up all winter long inside has gotten me antsy to get outside and do some landscaping this year. If you are like me, and looking for some inspiration, make sure you check out UK based Modular. They have designed and installed some gorgeous modern gardens that make me swoon.
Spring is the season to get your green thumb on. While there are an endless number of great containers to put your plant in, I am really liking this idea of using a previously loved book and converting it to a new home for a plant. The details of exactly how to pull it off are a little vague, but I'm sure a few of our readers that are handy with a whole saw could pull it off. If you do, report back and let us know how it goes!
For whatever reason, I am fascinated with bird houses. And for an equally obscure reason, I am fascinated with the Hepper Roost Bird House designed by Jed Crystal. Blame it on the seductive angles or the rust-proof aluminum construction, but this particular bird house has my number. Available in four colors, the Hepper Roost Bird House seems a wonderful gift for your favorite avian friends. Luckily for you (and your wallet) it's currently on sale for $99. Nice!
Hepper Roost Bird House available from Design Public: regularly $125 on sale for $99
Here is some wonderful footage of the Miller House which was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1957. It was recently donated to the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA). The famous home is currently being prepared for public tours and should be ready in 2011.
I was browsing around, looking for modern landscaping inspiration (yes, that's pretty much all I think about these days) and my path led me to the goldmine that isDig Modern. I'd checked their site out before, but admittedly that was quite a while ago, and I had kind of forgotten about it. I am so glad I found it again! For those of you who don't already know about this totally rad site, Dig Modern gathers up all the best rare and vintage books and objects for people like you and me. A lot of these books are geared toward the DIY-er, with furniture plans, step-by-step instructions, detailed illustrations and photographs, and generally inspiring content. Prices vary wildly depending on the rarity and condition of the book.
A few books really caught my eye and inexplicably caused my cursor to hover over the "add to cart" button for seemingly endless periods of time. The tempting tomes included Practical Guide to Home Landscaping (1972), How to Build Decks for Outdoor Living (1963), and especially Home Landscape, The Art of Home Landscaping: Revised and Enlarged (1978). I must get my hands on a copy of these books! Unfortunately, that last one was going for $140 which is a little more than I'd like to spend. I'll just have to keep my eyes peeled. I'm sure there's a copy sitting in a donation box somewhere, just waiting for me to rescue it!
Do you own any of these, or similarly inspiring, books? How did you find them? Online, thrift store, dead relative, etc.? Share your gems and your sources! Please.
Vintage and rare books for the modernist from Dig Modern - $30 to $200.
Not all of us can have a green thumb, but luckily if you are the type that could even kill a cactus there is still hope. The Delta 20 planter by Lechuza is a self watering planter that is designed to keep your plants happy and green, even when you forget about them. Just fill it up and you are good to go for multiple weeks. To take the guess work out of it, the planter even includes a little reservoir that shows you when you need to refill. A winner of the red dot award, the Delta planters are available in several different sizes and colors, can be used indoors and outdoors and to top it all off, it's affordable with pricing starting at $29.
Available from Emmo Home starting at $29.
Grassroots Modern reader Crystal recently asked, "How can we make our backyard private while still abiding by HOA standards of no fencing?" I suggested creating a natural wall, or a 'privacy screen', from plants - bamboo or a hedgerow. A hedge can be created from a number of plants, growing up to six feet tall depending on what you plant. They can also be as formal or informal as you like. Here's a helpful link from About.com. Can anyone offer any other suggestions for Crystal? Types of plants, creative solutions, etc. Have any of you had a similar landscaping dilemma? How did you deal with it? As always, links and photos are helpful and appreciated!
I saw this on Blue Ant Studio the other day and instantly felt the sting of landscape-envy. I love it - the water feature, the simple plantings, the staggered geometric pathway - everything. It's perfect. I don't know anything else about it since there was no other information provided besides the name, but I keep going back and looking at it. Are there any homes (or aspects of them) that you've been this drawn to? Share links if you can, so we can all Oo and Ah together!
Since the official first day of Spring is tomorrow, I thought I'd celebrate with a collection of modern watering cans! Who knew such a basic gardening tool could be interpreted in so many ways. We all know and love the Ikea PS VÅLLÖ, but here are a few you may not have seen before. From "Dumbo" to "Pipe Dreams", there's quite a variety. If you know of any others that aren't here, please share!
1. Blomus AGUO $79 2. Zack PIANTO $90 3. Auerhahn BOCINA $120 4, Zack ARCO $98
5. Zack ROCCO $108 6. Hamm Watering Can $54 7. Rumford Gardener $20 8. Rosenthal DUMBO $94
9. Plastek $12 10. OXO Pour & Store $25 11. Pipe Dreams $90 12. Alessi Kiwi $50
Well, Spring is almost here and I have to admit that I'm a little unprepared for all those landscaping projects I wanted to do. There are so many different ideas floating around in my head, I'm having a hard time narrowing it down! Each time I think I know what I want, I see something else that just blows my mind, like the work of Amir Schlezinger, a garden designer from the UK. His portfolio is full of inspiration for smaller spaces, many of which feature a captivating combination of textures and materials. I am especially fond of his use of low maintenance plants as well as dramatic lighting. Check out his website for more inspiration!
About:
Amir Schlezinger studied Garden Design at Middlesex University and Capel Manor College in London and graduated with a BA (Hons) in 2000. He has designed and managed numerous projects since, cultivating a particular interest in roof gardens.
