Garden is Go!

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The landscapers have begun. 

Most of the structural work should be completed this week.  Then, next week, the topsoil will be added and the plants laid out in their correct positions.  And then the Husband and I are going to do all the planting ourselves, something we agreed to in an effort to cut costs. We must have been stark, staring mad. 

Here are some befores and a picture of where we are after day one. 

Garden before

I’ve been really enjoying the process of working with the designer.  After getting the brief he drew up some ideas and a preliminary list of plants and we’ve been batting ideas back and forth ever since. 

I doubt I’ve been the easiest client they’ve ever had. I’ve discovered that I’ve got very definite plant likes and dislikes, and I keep requesting obscure cultivars I’ve found on UK websites but Bryan has been patience personified and I’m really pleased with what we’ve ended up with. 

 
 
 

 

 

 

Garden at end of day 1

For those of you who might be interested here are the final plans. Bear in mind that the rendering of the patio area has a fence in front for entrapment of the Minx.  The original brief I gave the designer is here.

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Deck Chairs

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We’re absolutely thrilled with the Ronde chairs we bought for the deck, though it’s been bugging me why they seemed so familiar. 

I thought it was just because they’re used quite a lot in European cafes but something was still nagging away at the back of my mind.

And then today the Minx and I went for a walk in the Sculpture Park and well, duh!  Of course, they are the same as the Park’s much-loved chairs!  (Though the ones from the Sculpture Park have been cleverly commissioned in the exact same shade of red as Calder’s Eagle, one of the Park’s most popular sculptures.)  

I very nearly slapped my forehead.

Here are a couple of my favourite pictures of the Sculpture Park chairs

From Flickr

  

From Flickr

Somehow it feels rather appropriate that we have some iconic Seattle chairs on our deck, though I’m kicking myself for not working it out sooner. 

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Hardcore Real Estate Porn

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I bet that title increases my blog traffic…

Here’s a gratuitous pic of Coutney Cox-Arquette’s Malibu beach house which has apparently recently be sold for $33.5 million.  Picture fromThe Real Estalker.

One of the very nicest things about getting comments here is that I get introduced to commenters’ blogs and thence to fabulous gems like the Real Estalker where I have just been wasting an hour or so of the Minx’s precious nap time researching new house ideas.  Many thanks to Audrey for the new blog fix.

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One More Time

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More pics and picture credits HERE

Now that everyone’s videos are up on You Tube (how I love video camera phones), I’m just popping in to say that if you’re into electronic dance music and Daft Punk come anywhere within a thousand mile radius of your home, just sell your grandmother and go see them.

We saw them last Sunday at Seattle’s fabulous state-of-the-art WAMU Theater and had the most amazing time.  Just two robots, a mesmerising electronic pyramid, a kickass sound system, and the most insane and incredible light show ever (this review memorably calls it ‘a Vegas night show from space’ which sums it up perfectly).

I danced my knickers off and went home sweaty, exhausted but on an incredible high.  Why don’t they make workout videos like this?

We went to see The Killers about six weeks ago who were also pretty amazing. Seems like the WAMU is attracting a lot of top names to Seattle which is great news.

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Getting Personal

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Today’s lunch 

I know, I know.  You don’t care what I had for lunch*.  But this picture marks the start of a new regime round these parts.

I had my first session with a personal trainer today. 

I can no longer deny it, the pounds that have been piling on as a result of stress, miscarriages, depression following the Minx’s birth (though not the pregnancy itself, I actually lost weight as a result of eating incredibly healthily and exercising throughout) and cupcakes, have meant that I am now downright fat, and not just pleasingly plump as I have been fondly imagining.

Fortunately I am also feeling better about my body than I have for ages, since a course of chiropractic treatment with the wondrous Dr Ted has been working miracles to alleviate the chronic back and foot pain that I’ve been suffering from for years as a result of a yoga injury (see, exercise is bad for you) and ancient knee injury.  I already feel about ten years younger and am finding it so much easier to be active.  I’m just kicking myself that I didn’t do this sooner, why on earth isn’t chiropractic available on the NHS?

Anyway Heather was very lovely and didn’t ‘whup my ass’ as much as I feared, though maybe she was just saving it up for next time. We’ve set a year as a realistic timeframe for me to get back to the size I was when I got married ten years ago, through lots more activity, focused training sessions and portion control and I’m feeling more motivated than I have in forever.

*Just for the record, that is the remains of last night’s chicken and vegetable skewer with some pea and mint salad and some chopped tomatoes.  Served on a fabulous kids’ melamine plate from Not Neutral. And it managed to fill me up for oh, about two hours.

Must dash now as friends are coming to sit on the deck and I need to work on our menu of insalata caprese, beer can chicken (I’ve been wanting to try this for AGES) and cherry clafoutis.  And yes, I have noted the inherent contradictions in this blog post.

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Mari-deck-oh!

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With apologies to Lottie.

The deck is now finished. And accessorised mostly as I would like, with the exception of the loungers which I still do not love.

In the end, after being warned off the Eames wire chairs, even with their cute bikinis, we went for these Ronde chairs, which, yes, can be found in cafes all over Europe.  I like their lightness, in contrast to the heaviness of the dark wood all around, and the way their curves echo the curves of the seating, the Marimekko poppies and the curvy tealight-holder from Crate and Barrel which wraps nicely round the umbrella.

Apologies for contrasty pics.  It’s bright up there! I’ll try and take some better ones in the softer evening light.

The Marimekko cushions have also arrived, accompanied by Marimekko placemats and coasters.  Overkill quite possibly but they were all in the sale after all. If you’re in a Marimekko frame of mind check out Lottie’s lovely pics here.

And I’m almost most pleased with the deck box, from Amazon of all places, which is exactly the right colour and fits in perfectly.

The new umbrella over the table is white, since none of you guys could tell me where to get a lilac one.  I’d still like a lilac one if truth be told. And a hammock.

But mostly we are just loving it up here.

We eat up here every night and the Minx has the ultimate pool with a view, which she adores and which is proving to be a great place to entertain various mothers and toddlers.  The toddlers splash and eat cupcakes in the pool, the mothers drink mojitos and everything and everyone can be hosed down afterwards.  Making it entirely my idea of a good party.

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Design Chatter

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I am indebted to Becky for pointing out that Season 2 of Design Star was starting over on HGTV. 

Sadly, I didn’t have the pleasure of watching Season 1, but already I can tell that it’s the Paris Hilton of TV design shows, which of course means that I’m already completely hooked.

The prize is a contract to host a design show on HGTV, which means that interior design skills come second to ‘personality’.  Which is always a dangerous concept in America. 

I predict the winner will be one of this bunch

  • metro-hippy Josh – sweet, environmentally friendly, extremely easy on the eye and the only male contestant who wasn’t camper than a row of tents
  • queen of mean Neeraja (look how she’s already got the best chair in the middle of the group) – who didn’t remotely try to be sweet and nice for the viewers and thus earned my undying admiration
  • skunk-haired Lisa – who seemed grounded, funny and creative, but lost a lot of Paola points for her ‘wacky’ (yawn) hair.  Loved her homemade wedding dress though.
  • Eva Longori-alike Adriana – who can’t possibly be as sweet and nice as she seems
  • Bouncy Kim – mostly because I liked her wavy floor and her energy

Of course the people I think should win reality TV programmes never do. As for Josh Rhinestones – puhlease.  He’s at least ten years older than he says he is and the whole rhinestones and chandeliers schtick is as faux as his chinchilla.   

Holly has promised Becky that she will be hosting chats on Decor8.  Or else get a bottle of Bailey’s and try Becky’s drinking game.

 

If, on other hand, you’re on the lookout for a design discussion with some actual design content, get yourself over to Style Court where Courtney will be hosting an online discussion of The Secret and Extraordinary Lives of Florence Broadhurst.

I’ve been wanting to read this since it came out, so was jazzed to have an excuse to buy it.

 

  

Finally, my weekend was made by the news that the lovely Helen is going to be made an honest woman of at last.  It truly couldn’t have happened to nicer people.

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More Rug Insanity

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This house is blessed with several acres of wooden floors and not a single carpeted area.  Add the fact that we only possess one smallish and grotty old rug, which is currently in the Minx’s toy room,  and you will understand why I’m currently on a rug buying frenzy.

Thanks to Patrick- from-Emma-Gardner’s (actually I think he’s her husband) very generous discount, the Spray rug is now on order and should be with us in about 20 weeks.

And then he very kindly offered me an even better discount if I wanted to buy more rugs.  What girl could resist?

So, for the main room downstairs,

we’ve chosen this instead of the Angela Adams rug I blogged about previously. 

I’m hoping the Citron green will fit in with the mood board and the flowers and circles will have a modern feel, without being too bold and overwhelming the room. 

And yes, I know we will soon have to talk about the ugly but extremely comfortable nursing chair between the fireplace and the bookshelf.

 

 

 

picture courtesy of Emma Gardner

We’ve also chosen a runner for the upstairs landing.  

This is the design we’ve chosen but have asked for it in custom colours so that it will complement the Spray rug which will be visible in the bedroom.

I do actually like the colours shown here, but thought I should go  go a bit more neutral since we haven’t yet decided on the schemes for the kitchen and bathroom.

Here are the four design options I had to choose from.  I think I’ve made up my mind but am wondering which one you would have chosen.  Remember it’s to complement this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Which one would you choose?

Option 1                             Option 2                            Option 3

Create polls and vote for free. dPolls.com
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Sunjars – free sunshine!

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Finally I’ve photographed the Sunjars and they’re now in the shop. 

Sadly, I have a horrible feeling we’re not going to be selling many, unless the weather in the UK improves dramatically.

Which is a shame because they’re super cool and I’ve really been enjoying using our one up on the deck.

You’ve probably seen them all over the blogosphere, but, just in case you’ve been having a life instead of reading blogs, they’re basically solar-powered frosted Mason jars. 

Apart from the fact that they look great in both a traditional or contemporary setting, I like the fact that they are, by their very nature, both completely waterproof and very portable. And the frosted glass feels smooth and nice.

Anyway, come and get them at mirrormirror, or, if you’re too stingy, try out Megan Not Martha’s fabulous homemade Sunjar instructions.

Megan came to our Fourth of July party!  That’s right, the owner of one of TIME’s 50 Coolest Websites for 2006 has been on our deck.  Who says there are no celebrities in Seattle. Of course I hardly got to speak to her, or indeed any of our other guests, because I was hostessing a party . But she seemed very lovely, though sadly was not wearing her Hallowig.

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Ocean Point Inn

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Click to enlarge

One day, when the Minx is older and we’re not so dependent on the Microsoft shilling, I’ll buy a big house somewhere breathtaking, with a beautiful outbuilding to run mirrormirror, an office for the Husband and the space to create a number of gorgeously designed luxury guest suites or cottages, which will incorporate all the best ideas we’ve come across from groovy boutique hotels around the world.

Which is sort of what the two guys who run Ocean Point Inn on the north Oregon coast have done.  Their contemporary beachfront house incorporates a number of suites which they’ve designed and decorated themselves to reflect all the best ideas they’ve encountered on their travels. 

Design details we loved included

– Primary coloured furniture on the beach – a contemporary orange bench and brightly-coloured Adirondack chairs

– glassybabies to match the decor by the bed (the whole of the Pacific North West is glassybaby crazy it seems)

– black and white photos of the locality on canvas blocks on the walls

– a stylish and practical white leather convertible bed/sofa.  The Minx, who has hitherto been confined to her cot (keeps her out of trouble) loved her Big Girl Bed to bits. May have to make changes at home.

– cool, contemporary loungers – the sort I wanted to buy for the deck (though, to be truthful, not quite as comfortable as the ones we ended up with)

– a firepit overlooking the beach

Altogether one of the most thoughtfully-appointed rooms we’ve ever stayed in, which goes to prove that sometimes you just can’t beat the personal touch.

Despite a horrendous trip down (it was Friday 13th after all) featuring the death of the car’s power-steering, rushing round to hire a rental car, lost jewellery, unbelievably awful peak hour traffic, a traffic standstill due to a major accident and finally a speeding ticket, we had the most wonderful and relaxing weekend.  I just wished we’d booked for several weeks.

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