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gotelin · 3 years

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Where To Stay In Ladakh

15 Gorgeous hotels in Ladakh

1. Hotel Omasila

One of the oldest hotels of Leh, Omasila has long been the favourite of repeat Ladakh visitors, with a dedicated fan following that only grows each season. The wooden floors, old-world Ladakhi decor, and a phenomenal terrace with an abundance of flowers overlooking the mountain view is what folks love most about it. It’s also one of the few hotels that stays open through the stark Ladakhi winter and is a great option for those there for the unique ice hockey matches, the Chadar trek.

2. Zeepata Guesthouse

Tucked in a maze in Upper Changspa, Zeepata guesthouse is a little tricky to find if you’re headed there the first time. It is worth the search though, for Leh is brimming with plenty of budget spots but few have the right mix of quietude, local hospitality, global interaction and privacy. The rooms are cosy and some also have shared bathrooms, but are spotless.

3. The Grand Dragon Ladakh

Added bonus of the Grand Dragon: they have hot water even in the winter

One of Leh’s fanciest hotels, the Grand Dragon is great for those who want to travel to Ladakh without roughing it out. If you’re looking for hotels in Ladakh that are equipped with every possible comfort—including central heating and a 24-hour coffee shop—Grand Dragon is great even for those who want to splurge for a night or two at the end of a tough hike or a rugged adventure. This hotel in Ladakh is one of the few that is open through the winter, along with hot water showers. For more offers visit to https://www.gotel.in/hotel-listing/grand-dragon-leh

4. Woody Vu Stok House

The Khasrdungla Suite at Woody Vu

A beautifully renovated 100-year old Ladakhi house in Stok, Woody Vu has all the architectural elements of a traditional house but is equipped with modern amenities to make your stay fabulous. The former home of the Lhoskya family, the guesthouse has been renovated keeping in mind the original character of the structure, complete with a huge Ladakhi kitchen at the heart of the house that also doubles as a lounge for travellers.

5. Lotus Hotel

Laze under willow and apple trees in the day at Lotus Hotel

Another old favourite of those familiar with hotels in Ladakh, Lotus is a centrally located old hotel with a traditional Ladakhi-style design and a splendid view of Stok Kangri in the distance. The centrally-heated hotel also has some lovely books in its reading areas and is a great option for those who want to laze under willow and apple trees in the day, and go for a long walks in the evenings, including a beautiful one up to Shanti Stupa. (doubles from Rs 8000 for a suite with meals).

6. Skitsal Hotel

A cosy homestay run by a lovely Ladakhi lady who welcomes guests with her singsong voice, Skitsal is in the quiet part of Leh in Karzoo. The cozy wooden house gives access to the kitchen and a larder filled with jams and other spreads, and is surrounded by quaint kitchen gardens dotted with flowers and vegetables. Ask for a room upstairs as it comes with a little sit out and commands a lovely view of the surrounding area.

7. Desert Himalaya Resort

Desert Himalaya Resort

A ride on Bactrian camels in Nubra’s cold desert is on every first timer’s list and Desert Himalaya only adds to this experience. The campsite accommodation is a comfortable one, with decent dining options and snug tents that come with private bathrooms. The tents can get a tad warm in the day during the summer, but evenings are chilly with a slight nip in the air. The place is a good option not just to visit the Diskit Monastery close by, but also to break the journey to Turtuk on the border.

8. Dragon Hotel & Guesthouse

Run by Tashi Skyabu and his family, the Dragon hotel in Lamayuru is ideally located to explore the ‘moon land’ of Ladakh. Home to the famed monastery of the same name, the village has a natural landscape that is similar to the surface of the moon, and makes for a dramatic setting. The hotel is a comfortable and clean stay with basic amenities, much like a lot of other accommodations scattered across remote regions of Ladakh. Opt for Ladakhi meals as the family grows their own ingredients in their kitchen garden.

9. Chamba Camp

Check in to Chamba to camp in style.

Looking for places to stay in Ladakh to camp? The Ultimate Travelling Camp’s Chamba Camp at Thiksey offers a superb glamping option. The seasonal campsite offers of luxury, creating a royal experience complete with watching polo matches and rafting down the Indus. The biggest luxury however, is sitting in close proximity to the beautiful Thiksey monastery—believed to be a miniature version of the original Potala palace.

10. Sonam & Padma’s Guest House

If you’re in Ladakh but want to get away from the tourist circuit, Hanle is the destination for you. A small village— about a 72kms detour en route Pangong Ts—Hanle is known for its observatory that houses the Chandra telescope from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Sonam Dorje’s extremely simple guesthouse is comfortable and clean with colourful interiors, and has a mix of attached and shared bathrooms, including a Ladakhi style bio toilet. Food served is simple, cooked fresh and delicious.

11. Ule Ethnic Resort

Sample the apricorts from Ule’s orchards.

Not on the list of usual suspects, the village of Ule Tokpo is increasingly becoming a favourite for those visiting Sham Valley. The plush Ule Ethnic resort is situated in a beautiful setting on the banks of the Indus and is nestled amongst apple and apricot orchards, the latter being the star yield of the valley. The family-run establishment uses micro-hydro plants and solar water heaters, and offers a barefoot luxury experience.

12. Himalayan Homestays

Shikha stayed at this Himalayan Homestay at Saspochey village. Note the chortens in the foreground! Photo: Shikha Tripathi

A network of rural homestays across the mountains, Himalayan Homestays is an initiative to provide tourism to far-flung destinations, and to provide accommodation to trekkers who travel through remote areas of Ladakh. The homes are basic—be it the simple meals or the Ladakhi-style floor seating. One of the novel experiences is the bio-toilets or the dry pit local Ladakhi toilets that take some getting used to, but are superb for the environment. Nothing beats the authentic experience of living with Ladakhi families that Himalayan Homestays provide. It’s a great alternative to camping in areas such as Markha valley, Hemis National Park or the Sham valley, the lakes Pangong and Tso Moriri, and other areas popular with hikers and campers.

13. Nubra Organic Retreat

Book a walk with the Nubra owner Nordan for a heritage walk through the area.

Started by award-winning farmers, the Nubra Organic Retreat is a delight for those who love farm-fresh food. Situated in Hunder in the Nubra Valley, the retreat has a mix of luxury and simple tents, all aimed towards providing a holistic high-altitude farm experience. The greenery of the farm makes for a stark contrast to the stunning desert vistas all around. A unique experience is a heritage walk with owner Nordan Otzer who grew up in the region. Book the walk in advance.

14. Gyab Thago Heritage Homestay

Gyab Thago’s traditional home in Stok is a notch above the regular homestays around with its traditional décor, high levels of cleanliness and delectable meals. Across the valley from the palace and gompa, the homestay is a favourite with trekkers on their way to Stok Kangri. The clean and cheerful rooms have a shared bathroom that is well maintained. The highlight of the homestay is its food—folks from Leh take day trips just to sample it! Meals are served in the beautiful Ladakhi dining room, and a special spread is available for a premium. Book in advance.

15. Stok Palace Heritage Hotel

A room at Stok Palace Heritage Hotel, Ladakh.

Home of the Namgyal dynasty since it was built in 1820, the Stok Palace was converted into a heritage hotel in 2008 and is a great place to get a glimpse into Ladakhi royal living of yore. It was opened to the public in 1980 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has since seen visitors from all across the world. The plush craftwork is elaborate and ornate, befitting a royal palace that has stood for nearly 200 years. Creature comforts are taken care of here—the breathtaking beauty of the Stok valley is just an added bonus. The palace is not only a reflection of the lifestyle of the kings and queens of this remote kingdom, but a piece of history itself.

#gotel.in granddragonlehladakh hotelsofladakh

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maevefiction · 5 years

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Your Light in the Mist - Chapter 50

Luke and Simon finished up their move on November 30th, and we closed on the penthouse December 2nd. I’d been busy getting things sorted at the office, and though Tom had begun packing there was still much more to do before the company we’d hired to relocate all our worldly belongings showed up on December 15th. We figured that would give us just enough time to settle in before Christmas, which Diana would again be hosting this year. There were boxes everywhere, and at nearly seven months pregnant my ability to navigate tight spaces seemed to diminish a little more with each passing day. Since we’d been back there’d been intermittent discussions regarding what to name Prog, but everything we came up with just didn’t seem to fit. Roland had always been my first choice, but that fucker Simon had beaten me to it, and while I could technically still use it, I harbored zero desire to have to listen to him calling me a copycat for the rest of my natural life so it was officially off the table. Tom’s first choice was William, but almost immediately after mentioning it he recalled that was my ex-husband’s name and into the ‘nope’ pile it went. By the weekend of the 10th we’d gotten to the point wherein we were wrapping and packing our collectibles, AKA the socially acceptable term for adult-owned toys, at least in our case, anyway. Tom had donned his Indiana Jones fedora after finding it in the spare room and was humming the theme on and off while wielding a tape gun as if it were a weapon. I’d flopped down on the bed, at which point he’d decided to see if he could land the hat on my belly. One toss was all it took, which wasn’t surprising because an easier target would have been a challenge to establish, and I just let it remain there because removing it would have required entirely too much effort on my part. Prog decided to give it a kick, and with that, just as I’d know he was a boy, I knew his name. I sat up, hat in my hand, eyes wide. Tom stared at me, concerned.

“Everything all right?”

Nodding, I waved the fedora at him. “This is it. The name. His name.”

Tom’s left eyebrow rose as his head tilted to the right. “Fedora?”

I rolled my eyes. “Really? No. Not fedora.”

He pursed his lips, one hand rising to stroke his jaw. “Surely you don’t mean to call him Indiana. Though, that is rather cool, if I’m honest…but it sounds awful in conjunction with Hiddleston, doesn’t it?”

I sighed heavily in exasperation at his lack of comprehension, be it genuine or a ruse, as to where I was going with this, shaking my head as I lowered my chin to my chest briefly, then turned my gaze back to him.

“No, Tom. Not Indiana. His name is Henry. Henry Thomas Hiddleston.”

His hand shifted from his jaw to cover his mouth, nearly concealing a gasp of surprise. He walked around the bed to kneel in front of me, fingers grazing my belly as he leaned forward. “Oh. Oh my. That’s it, you’re spot on. Henry. Hello Henry. Wow. Okay.” He looked up so his eyes met mine, a huge smile spreading across his face. “Guess we’ll call the dog Indiana, then.”

“Cat. We can call the cat Indiana.”

He pouted. “A house isn’t a home without a dog, Maude.”

“You know what? You’re right…a house isn’t a home without a dog. A hot dog. Which is what I want, like, right now. Help a girl up so she can go grab one out of the fridge, m’kay? All cold and salty…mmm…”

He obliged, taking my hands and providing a gentle boost. “I’d be more than happy to cook for you, you know…”

“Thank you, but…nope. Cold hot dog. Maybe two. Or three.” He stuck his tongue out, shaking his head in mock disgust. I shrugged. “Can’t be helped. What Henry wants, Henry gets, you know?”

He kissed the top of my head. “Oh, I know. What ‘Henry’ wants, is it?”

As we entered the hallway, I punched him in the arm. “Listen, I’m going to milk this whole pregnancy thing as much as possible. It’s the first time in my life I’ve had a legitimate reason to behave like a diva on a regular basis.”

“You’re no diva, love. You’re a goddess…my goddess, thank the stars…and should be treated accordingly.”

“Well, I can’t argue with that.”

He smirked. “Well, I feel as if I’ve achieved what I’d always thought was an impossible victory.”

“Whatever. Hush up and fix me my hot dog.”

“Hmmm, I thought Henry was the one who…”

“Is that how we treat the goddess, Tom? Is it?”

Bowing deeply, he took my hand and brought it to his lips as he gazed up at me. “No. No it is not. Shall I make it up to you by delivering your meal to the couch so you can sit back and elevate your legs?”

I patted him on the head as he rose. “That’s more like it. Also, yes please. And thank you.”

“C’est mon plaisir, Maude.”

“Oh god, not the French.” I’d developed a bit of a kink for it over the past month, which he’d graciously accommodated. Rear entry was really the only position that worked well for us of late, and my libido had tanked considerably. Him talking dirty always got me in the mood, though, and when he spoke in French it was like my stupid maternity pants just fell right off. Once he’d discovered that saying literally anything in that particular language got me fired up, even if I had no idea what the fuck it meant, he began making a habit of interjecting it into our conversations when I least expected it.

“Votre chaud chien vous attend.”

I recognized a good bit of that, especially the words for ‘hot’ and ‘dog’. “Pretty sure hot dog in French is just…hot-dog, Tom.”

“That’s not nearly as erotic as chaud chien, is it?”

I groaned. “No. No it’s not. You suck.”

He grinned. “We’ll see.”

****************************************

Once all our stuff was in place and put away, it became apparent that the penthouse was downright vast as far as space was concerned. The sofa and chairs blended in nicely with the modern design, and the tree of life rug looked perfect in front of the built-in white shelf that ran the length of the closed stair railing, but they seemed so much…smaller. Even the dining table was dwarfed by the openness, though it was, at least in part, sort of freeing…less cluttered living. The bar-style island required the purchase of new chairs so we could eat there when we felt like it, and I insisted upon the kind with backs as opposed to bar stools because I knew I’d end up ass over teakettle otherwise. Admittedly, there was an awful lot of white cabinetry throughout, but the floor to ceiling windows let in so much light it seemed much more New York flat-ish as opposed to New Orleans house-ish. The entry point was on the lower floor, within the rectangular portion of the building. Just inside the main door and to the left was a guest half-bath, with a hall door that led to two large bedrooms with full en suites. In the entryway, next to the door to the bedrooms, was a hall closet. Directly across the entryway from the closet was the double-door entrance to the circular portion of the building. Straight ahead through the doors and on the right-hand side of the circle there was a staircase to the second level, and to the left was a door to another small hallway that led to two more en suites, one average-sized rectangular bedroom and a a second three-sided bedroom comprised of two traditional walls and one curved measuring twenty-seven by eleven feet overall. Down past the staircase and on the left was the entrance to the twenty by eighteen-foot master suite, with a full quarter-circle glass wall on one side overlooking a forty by nine-foot terrace. The bath was also quarter-circle in shape, and the dressing room rectangular. We sacrificed some of the dressing room square footage in order to put in a door to the other semi-circular bedroom, figuring it would be an ideal location for Henry’s nursery. The upstairs footprint was identical to that of the lower level, though wide open except for the small wall that served to support the kitchen cabinetry. There was another half bath just off the kitchen in the squared-off dining room area, as well as sliders to the large private outdoor deck that overlooked Regent’s Park. Where to display our book collection was our biggest conundrum…the only section of appropriate public wall space was in the living room opposite the television and stairs, but the couch was backed against it so they’d have to be above and behind us, which would make it impractical to peruse them easily since they’d be difficult to reach. There was space for shelving downstairs just before the staircase, but not enough room for everything. The entry area was also an option, but still, not enough room. We decided to store them in the smallest bedroom until we’d grown accustomed to day-to-day living in the penthouse and had a better feel for the flow, especially since there were more pressing issues that required our attention at the moment. Issues like ‘holy fuck, what actually, like, goes in a nursery anyway and where do we buy this shit’.

The answer to ‘where do we buy this shit’ was simple…the internets, thank you very much. As it turned out what goes in a nursery was also answered simply and included a.) place for the baby to sleep, b.) place to dress the baby and conduct baby-waste removal and related clean-up activities, c.) place to store the things required for item b and finally d.) a rocking glider which was sold under the pretense of baby feeding and baby rocking but was more than likely a spot for the parental units to collapse because they were too exhausted to walk another fifteen feet to their bed after completing all of the aforementioned tasks. Things got complicated when the morons with minimal baby experience attempted to choose the design style for the nursery components while trying very, very hard to be mindful of the form over function rule but wound up falling down the ‘oh, we might need this too’ rabbit hole. There was the Baby Bay, a white three-quarter crib that attached underneath a mattress so there could be co-sleeping without the danger of rolling over and suffocating the infant, which seemed like a great idea since I’d decided I’d give breast feeding a go. Next was a tripod bassinet for upstairs that came complete with a curtain to block out light in case Henry needed to crash out while we were doing Adult Things. It looked like a teepee, and I questioned its stability but Simon said it was perfectly fine and that he’d ordered them for their old place above the office, which would function as a family-friendly home-away-from-home for him and Luke going forward. For when Henry was awake, a baby lounger was evidently required, and I chose a 3-in-1 bouncy-recliner model with a light wood base and a micro-fiber seat, finding myself left bitterly disappointed that such things, if available, were not easy to find in an adult size. All of the furniture was either white or grey, or white and grey, other than the clear acrylic rolling bookshelf, which looked like it was straight out of Magneto’s prison cell. The crib railings were white and the sides grey, and the nightstands and dresser/changer combo mimicked the same design, both sporting grey sides and white drawers. The glider was oversized...really oversized, and I was pretty sure Tom and I would be able to squeeze into it together when I was no longer a sci-fi movie sized dinosaur egg with appendages. It was grey mock-tweed, as was the ottoman, both with brushed chrome bases. We’d found a Mima Xari aluminum and black stroller that screamed ‘Maude! Shiny! For baby!’ but was priced at a ludicrous $1700…after watching several videos and evaluating the cost of the individual components we’d still need to purchase if we went with a different model, I gave in, reassuring myself that this was one of those rare instances wherein function and form melded perfectly. We copied Luke and Simon’s car seat and baby wrap choices since they’d been researching prior to the actual conception of the girls, and other than incidentals like diapers, clothing and bedding, Tom and I felt we were prepared for Henry’s arrival. Or at least we felt as such until we thought of yet another ‘oh, right, that’, which, for me, was a significant indicator that no one is ever fully prepared for such a momentous event and that parenting would probably be like everything else in life…a total ‘fake-it-‘til-you-make-it’ scenario. Shit happens, you deal with it. Which just happened to be my specialty.

Christmas at Diana’s was peaceful, joyful and chock full of hilarity. No painful family secrets to be revealed, no anger, no resentment…a simple gathering of people who’d endured a great deal of ups and downs over the past twelve months and were feeling incredibly blessed to be in each other’s company while not-at-all politely competing for the title of Scrabble Champion. I knew that trying to keep the fact that I was carrying a boy under wraps would likely be an epic fail, so once we’d settled in on Christmas Eve Tom mentioned that we’d learned the gender and since we might slip up we’d prefer to tell everyone prior to such an occurrence. James wept at the news, beaming with pride as he strode toward me. I could feel myself bristling initially, but when he kissed his right palm and then placed it on my belly and said ‘first a granddaughter and now a grandson…how fortunate a man am I to see this come to pass’ I realized I’d read his reaction entirely incorrectly and felt like a huge jerk until I was distracted by a plate of scones being circulated among us.

As part of her gift to us Diana asked if we’d allow her to paint a mural in the nursery, which was a fantastic idea, but drew attention to the fact that we’d yet to choose a theme. This was unacceptable in parenting circles, apparently. Worse, even, than not having a birthing plan that laid out every detail right down to the specific piece of music you wished to play as your baby emerged from your womb. Every theme we’d considered left us feeling ‘meh’ at best…they were either too gendered, too boring, too busy, or just plain fugly. Dr. Seuss had been a viable option for a day or two, but the more I stared at the bedding the less interesting it became and boom…suddenly, meh. On Christmas morning, after all our other gifts had been opened, Diana left the room briefly and returned with a large box wrapped in red foil and set it on the floor in front of the sofa Tom and I were lounging on. From her expression I discerned that she was both excited and nervous about us seeing the contents inside. She smiled sheepishly.

“Now if you don’t have use for any of this, please don’t think I’ll be offended. And please don’t you be offended by my presumptuousness…it’s just that Tom was always very fond of…well, I’d best let you open it before I spoil things, shouldn’t I?”

Inside was a plastic tub, which Tom lifted out and placed beside the gift box, jaw dropping as he removed the lid.

“Mum, my god…is this what I think it is?”

She nodded. “I saved all of your layettes and other special items from when you were babies, both because I love to look at them from time to time and because I thought you might want them for your own babies someday…” She trailed off, sniffling.

Tom began removing onesies, rompers, footed pajamas, tiny t-shirts, shorts, and overalls…all of them bearing at least one character from the Winnie the Pooh series. I watched them pile up on his thighs until one in particular caught my eye. I reached for it, surprised by the fact that it was in such beautiful condition all these years later. It was a jumpsuit, the sleeves, collar and and ankle cuffs a cream-colored cotton, the rest a green, brown, yellow and cream plaid flannel with four white decorative buttons down the front. To the right and towards the bottom was an embroidered Pooh raking leaves, and to the left and near the shoulder was an embroidered Tigger appearing to be leaping out of the jumpsuit pocket while tossing leaves into the air. I couldn’t stop staring at it, Diana’s voice when she spoke sounding as if it was emanating from another room.

“I’d always loved Winnie the Pooh, and so did Tom, right from the start. He’d get so excited when I’d sing him the theme song, even when he still fit in those clothes, his legs and arms flailing about…”

Sarah snorted. “That’s still how he dances, to this day.”

I smiled because she sure as shit wasn’t wrong, but could also feel myself tearing up as my fingers traced over Pooh and Tigger and the softness of the flannel, picturing Diana singing to Tom while he was wearing it, then imagining myself singing to Henry while he was wearing the very same garment. The tears began to flow, running down my cheeks in spite of my best efforts to not cry. I looked up at Diana and found her frowning, concern in her eyes.

“Oh goodness, I’m so sorry, I didn’t…”

I smiled through my tears. “No, no…please don’t be sorry. This…these…all beautiful…I just…I don’t have any of this sort of stuff and I’m so grateful that you do and that you’ve chosen to share it with me. With us. It means more than I can ever properly express. Thank you, Diana. So much. I don’t suppose that mural can be a scene from the Hundred Acre Wood, could it?”

She gasped, her own tears glimmering with flashing colors, reflecting the tree lights. “Really? Well what an unexpected and perfect gift for me…yes, yes. I have one in mind already, actually…”

Tom leaned in to wipe my tears with his thumbs and kiss my cheek, grinning. “That’s our theme problem solved then, eh?”

I nodded, snuggling into his side. “Yep. Only one thing left on our list, really.”

He draped his arm around my shoulders. “And what’s that?”

I patted my belly. “Convincing Henry to exit the premises as scheduled.” He laughed, and I pointed my left index finger in his direction. “It’s a legitimate concern.”

“It’s not uncommon to go past the due date, is it?”

I shook my head. “No. But I’m crossing my fingers that l he’ll take after me as opposed to you in regard to timeliness.”

As he began to speak Diana interrupted him. “Maude, perhaps it will ease your mind a bit to know that Tom was the only child I bore that wasn’t late. All downhill after that though, as far as being prompt goes, I’m afraid.”

Tom attempted to speak again, only to be interrupted by me this time around. “So there IS hope after all…even if it’s fleeting, I’ll take it.”

****************************************

Tom opened and held the Bull & Last’s heavy wooden entry door for me so I could waddle my way inside. Though I was now officially five days beyond my due date, we were out and about on a Friday night to meet Luke and Simon for a Tom’s day-late birthday and early Valentine’s Day celebration dinner. It was their first time out of the house together sans children since Persephone and Esmerelda had arrived on December 28th, and probably Tom’s and my last for a while. I’d covered the Prosper office from that point until Luke had returned on February 1st and I’d wanted to keep working, but Tom very gently suggested that perhaps I should take some time off to relax before Henry joined us. An argument ensued and I may or may not have called him a sexist asshole prior to discussing the matter via phone with Dr. Phillips who agreed that it was probably best to take it easy since I’d begun experiencing some edema, which he’d mentioned a week earlier but I’d decided to ignore. I considered calling him a sexist asshole as well, but Tom had clicked the end call button before I had a chance to properly evaluate the situation. After he retrieved a bag of truffles from the kitchen for me we’d had a little chat wherein we attempted to establish why I might be feeling the need to keep working, during which I stared him straight in the eye and said very matter-of-factly that there was a human growing inside me and it was going to come OUT of me and there was nothing I could do about it but maybe if I just kept going things would stay just as they were forever. AKA, I was scared shitless about the entire process, I felt powerless, I didn’t like feeling powerless, so I did something that made me feel powerful as a distraction so I wouldn’t have to face reality. Classic Maude, Impending Motherhood Edition. The fear had remained until three days ago when Henry did a somersault that nearly knocked me off the couch and I began having to pee every forty minutes or so. A few hours into that fuckery I was willing to try anything to get labor going, but when I’d gotten up this morning I’d found myself in a state of quiet acceptance. I’d gotten my wish…I was going to be pregnant FOR-EV-ER.

We spotted the free birds at the corner window table, all the way at the back of the main room to the left of the fireplace. My black leather boots, which Tom had kindly put on for me since my feet and I hadn’t seen each other in four weeks or so, clunked as we made our way across the wooden floor. As we drew closer Simon stood and clapped.

“Oh honey, I love that dress…” His clapping ceased as he tiled his head from one side to the other. “Maude. You’re waddling. Which you weren’t doing when I saw you Tuesday. Wowza.”

“Yes. The waddling. I’m aware. Also, I can’t wear pants anymore and this is the only dress I could squeeze into that was suitable for public consumption but, you know, yay that you love it, I guess.” It was a tea-length black mock-turtleneck sweater dress, the merino wool blend making it possible to go without a coat, which was necessary since none of those fucking fit me any longer, either. I sighed as Tom pulled out the chair nearest the fireplace for me, then lowered myself down like a sloth. There was no need for him to push me in because my belly was already mere centimeters from the table. Simon was directly across from me, and he walked around the table and squatted next to me, tapping on my stomach gently.

“Henry, I’m sure it’s cozy in there, but you really need to come out and play with us. Your friends Seph and Ez can’t wait to meet you.” The girls were, not surprisingly, gorgeous…both blonde, Seph with Luke’s brown eyes and Ez’s eyes a shade lighter than Simon’s grey ones. I’d held them both, separately, which was terrifying enough, thank you very much, but every time it was Ez’s turn Henry became far more active than normal. I’d even made a point of testing the theory, and it totally panned out. Seph, nothing. Ez, kicks and shifting aplenty. I had not a clue what the deal was, but it was fascinating nonetheless.

I patted the top of Simon’s head. “I appreciate your efforts, kind sir. But I think he’s just a tiny bit…dare I say…stubborn. And I have no idea where he gets that from. Certainly not from me.”

Tom sat, pulling his chair forward. “Not from me either. It’s an unsolvable riddle, in my opinion.”

We all laughed as Simon returned to his seat, took a sip of his wine, planted a kiss on Luke’s cheek, then lifted his glass high. “Cheers, dear friends. To laughter, love and life.”

Tom and I raised our water glasses and Luke lifted his very full beer mug carefully, all of us clinking in the middle. The waiter arrived with menus, and I stared at mine for entirely too long trying to find something that appealed to me. All of the entrees were a no, so I ordered sides – a bread basket, Buttermilk Chicken & Aioli, and Triple Cooked Chips. Tom opted for the Chargrilled Onglet, Simon the Chargrilled Aged Cote de Boeuf, and Luke the Beer Battered Haddock. Halfway through dinner I reached across to snag a piece of beef from Simon’s plate and felt a pop, then a rush of warm liquid between my thighs. I froze, and my expression was presumedly cause for concern because, in unison, the three of them asked if I was all right. I took a deep breath as I put down my fork and leaned back into my seat.

“Well, I’m pretty sure my water just broke, so…I mean, I don’t know?”

Tom whipped his phone out of the back pocket of his black dress pants, and I heard him greeting Dr. Phillips as I pondered my predicament. On one hand, I was thrilled, and on the other, frightened. Weren’t there supposed to be contractions first? Because I’d yet to have any, so did that mean something was wrong? I’d read about labor over and over but my ability to retain information had declined considerably throughout my pregnancy, which was a common occurrence. I shook my head.

“But yet I remember that relatively unimportant fact in a rather ironic fashion.”

Tom told Dr. Phillips that he didn’t recall me mentioning anything about it, then passed me the phone. He was white as a sheet, and I could tell he was trying very, very hard to not freak out. I took it from his shaking hand and held it up to my left ear, Dr. Phillips’s tempered Scottish accent causing me to envision Sean Connery, as per usual. He resembled him, really, though shorter and much rounder. Grey hair, bald on top with a closely cropped beard and piercing dark brown eyes. Kind of like a cross between Santa Claus and James Bond, in the business of delivering presents and a being a huge hit with the ladies.

“Maude! Finally some news, eh?”

“Uh-huh. I felt a pop, then a sploosh…but I haven’t had any contractions…is that normal? I know I knew the answer to that but I just…don’t anymore. Oy.”

He chuckled. “Hormones wreak unexpected havoc, don’t they? Yes, it’s normal. But, you should head to the Portland tonight to check in. Labor usually begins within twenty-four hours after the amniotic sac starts leaking, and being in hospital reduces the risk of infection. Which is quite minimal, mind you. So, Tom said he couldn’t recall you mentioning any pain. Be that as it may, I’ll ask you in any case…have you experienced any pain?”

“Other than my lower back screaming at me, no. And that’s nothing new. I mean, it does seem worse today than usual but…oh, shit. Back labor. Is this back labor, do you think? Also, as I do for all medical professionals forced to interact with me while I’m experiencing any sort of pain, I’m going to go ahead and apologize now not just for this singular instance of the use of profanity but for the hundreds of others you’ll likely be hearing until this whole birth thing is done and over with. So, sorry. Anyway…back labor?”

“At what point did the intensity of the pain increase, Maude? A general timeframe is what I’m after here, so precision isn’t essential.”

Throughout the entire duration of baby-harboring I’d kept as active as possible, doing yoga, walking outdoors and on the treadmill in our new gym, dancing when the spirit moved me…and I’d only gained twenty pounds. Up until four weeks prior I hadn’t felt constrained in any way, really, but by then I’d gotten so large that yoga was no longer possible and once the routine stretching ceased the muscles in my lower back became stiff and sore. It was most noticeable when I was standing for long periods and eased when I resumed a sitting position. When Tom and I had gone grocery shopping last night the pain had definitely been more pronounced, and it had continued even when I was in a horizontal position, trying to get some sleep between bathroom trips. I hadn’t thought anything of it because, frankly, I expected random physical components to begin failing the longer I continued to schlepp Henry’s estimated nine-plus pounds around. I squeezed my eyes shut as I answered the question, embarrassed by my ignorance.

“Um, almost twenty-four hours ago.”

There was a long pause, followed by Dr. Phillips first inhaling, then exhaling deeply. “All right then. As I said, next step is getting you to the Portland. May I speak with Tom again, please, Maude?”

I laughed. “You’re going to tell him that I’ve probably been in labor for a whole day and we need to bust a move so I don’t give birth right here or something, aren’t you? Sure, you can talk to him…but I’m going to put you on speaker, okay?” I tapped the button, then handed the phone back to Tom, who wasn’t quite as white but still far paler than normal. He cleared his throat, then spoke.

“I’m here, Dr. Phillips. We’re about fifteen minutes away from the hospital. Will that do?”

“Get there just as soon as you can. Maude, if you begin to experience contractions, be sure either you or Tom track the time between. I’ll make sure everything is ready by the time you arrive. If things escalate quickly, call emergency services first, then me. All right?”

Tom nodded, then remembered Dr. Phillips couldn’t see him. “Yes. Thank you. We’ll be leaving immediately.”

Dr. Phillips assured us that everything would be fine, wished us luck, then hung up. Simon, who’d remained refreshingly subdued during the exchange, began babbling as Luke sipped his beer.

“Ohmygod, okay, this is happening. It’s happening. Do you need us to drive you? We can drive you and bring your car down later. You have your go bag with you, right, Maude? In the car? Have to remember to get that on the way out…”

I covered my face with my hands, my voice muffled as I spoke. “No. I do not have my go bag. My go bag is sitting in the hallway at home, where I put it so I’d remember to ask Tom to put it in the car when we left. It was in the car, but I decided to reorganize it for the hundredth time yesterday. Hence why it’s sitting. In the hallway. At home.”

Tom gently pulled my hands away from my face and held them in his own, placed a kiss on each palm, then released them. “We’ll figure it out, love. First things first…we need to, as you said previously, bust a move.”

Luke stood, and Simon followed suit. “Simon can use our vehicle to go back to the Atrium and pick up your bag, I’ll drive you in yours and we’ll all meet up at the hospital.”

Just like they’d transitioned to a family vehicle, Tom and I had purchased a Range Rover Sport right after the holidays. I wasn’t a Jeep, but I’d deemed it acceptable, at least in the gunmetal grey body color. What I wasn’t prepared to deem acceptable was someone chauffeuring us in it on our birth pilgrimage…we’d decided that it would only be the two of us in the delivery room, hospital staff being the only exception, and I’d assumed it would be only the two of us on the way there as well. As I pushed down on the table and began to stand with the intention of stating that we’d be fine on our own but I’d really appreciate them picking up the enormous bag of shit I probably didn’t even need and dropping it off at the hospital, my first official contraction hit me like a freight train. I’d read that they were supposed to feel like menstrual cramps, but to me this…this felt more like food poisoning cramps on steroids. Once it passed I realized I had no concept whatsoever of how long it had lasted, or whether or not I’d remained silent. I didn’t recall having spoken, but that didn’t mean I hadn’t uttered some sort of reflexive primal scream. With the pain gone I was able to stand fully erect, and as I glanced to my right toward the bar no one was staring back at me so I figured I was in the clear as far as making a spectacle of myself went. For now, anyway. I turned to Tom, who was now standing as well, his eyes wide. The flash of utter terror I saw in them before he smiled at me changed my stance on being chauffeured.

I nodded. “Luke, that sounds great. Thank you. Simon, you have the key, right?” He nodded in turn. We had a set of keys to their place and they had one for ours, just in case of an accidental loss, lock-out or in the event of an emergency situation. I would have thought the latter wouldn’t be the first time they’d be needed, but hey, the universe is full of surprises, isn’t it? Fucking A it is. The sensation of something crawling down the inside of my left leg diverted my attention downward, scanning the wooden floor and hoping I wouldn’t see any droplets of amniotic fluid. Nope, so far so good…but the chair I’d been sitting on hadn’t been so fortunate. It was shiny, as if it had just been wiped with a wet cloth, which it had been, in a way…but it was a woolen wet cloth, also known as my dress. I grabbed my napkin and dried the wood as best I could, then found myself wondering what the fuck to do with the soiled square of cloth. Putting it back on the table for our waiter to pick up would be super gross, and I’d left my purse in the car. Tom took note of my dilemma and reached out, grabbed the napkin and stuffed it into his front pants pocket. He was wearing a maroon sweater over a white button-down, and in that moment I loved him so fiercely it startled me. A sense of renewed energy and an almost absolute power flowed through me, and I took two steps toward him, then grabbed on to both of his forearms.

“I’m ready. Let’s go have this baby.”

He inclined his head in the affirmative, and I released him, then turned around and began to make my way toward the heavy wooden doors, pushing the one marked ‘exit’ outward. Tom was right behind me, close enough so no one would notice if there happened to be a dark spot on my dress…not that I gave a single fuck. I waddled my ass out into the night and down the sidewalk toward our car, my love in tow and my mind set on one purpose, and one purpose only…finally meeting our son.

#your light in the mist #chapter 50

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dawnjeman · 5 years

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New Year, New Beautiful Homes of Instagram

Hello, my wonderful friends! How are you in 2019? Did anything happen? Did a switch turn on, bringing more Light into your heart during this first week of this New Year? It’s been terribly cold, gloomy and dark out there. The weather is miserable and it’s easy to feel the winter blues insistently knocking on my door, but I am not opening it… instead, I decided to take a small break during the Holidays to do what I love the most in life; which is spending time with my family and work whenever I feel inspired. I took a small break and I am finally feeling like myself again… nothing makes you feel more centered than being able to slow down and hear your own thoughts, and that was exactly what I did.

During this New Year, I certainly hope to continue to listen to what’s inside of my heart and that goes to what I want to share with you here on Home Bunch. I have to be completely honest with you guys. I am tired of cold homes, everything looks the same these days. Although I will always bring the latest trends to my readers, one of my main goals this year is to share homes that feel more like real homes, homes that have character and feel loved, and that starts with this year’s first “Beautiful Homes of Instagram”. Please, get to know Erin from The Heart and Haven. She’s someone that will inspire you to transform your current home into your “home-sweet-home”!

Hi, my name is Erin @theheartandhaven and I’m a home renovator, home décor enthusiast and mother. I have always enjoyed staring at all the pretty things, but I never realized how much joy I would find in creating them until my husband and I bought a 1950s fixer upper about five years ago.

My husband and I are high school sweethearts from the Jersey Shore. We dated long-distance throughout college and upon graduation, we decided to move across the country to start our life together in Los Angeles. I worked in television before deciding to become a stay at home mom when I had my first son. I now have two boys, ages 7 and 4.

After getting married, we purchased a newly-built, builder-grade condo in Los Angeles and while the finishes were not exactly my taste, I was excited to just have a place to call our own and honestly never thought about changing anything. Two years after having my son and really craving some private outdoor space to have him run around, we searched our neighborhood to find a house. We found a corner house only a few blocks away on a beautiful, wide tree-lined street. It was custom built in 1950, and nothing had been updated since then. The house was head- to-toe covered in orange wood (floors, ceilings, walls, you name it!). The bathrooms had parquet linoleum, the staircase had scrolling wrought iron and each room had ceiling fixtures hanging so low that it made the 8 ft. ceilings feel much smaller. Having no reno experience under my belt, I still felt that this 2400 sq. ft. house had potential. Thus began our renovation journey, and we lived through all of it! I don’t think I knew what my style was when we started renovating our home and decisions often had to be made quickly. There are some things I would change, but I have learned so much throughout this process. And five years later, I think I have found my casually modern, beachy-boho style through decorating it , and it has truly become a passion of mine.

New Year, New Beautiful Homes of Instagram

Our kitchen was the last major renovation. After living in what felt like a wooden cave, I wanted our new kitchen to be light and bright. We took down the wall that separated the kitchen from our playroom to open it up. I had always wanted an island but, due to building codes, the island would have been very small. So, I adjusted my vision and was able to have the counter space and seating area by making it into a peninsula instead.

Peninsula measures 6 ft x 4.5 ft. and counters are Salt White Marble.

Paint Color: Valspar Mountain Mist.

Kettle: Crate & Barrel.

“Let’s Stay Home” sign: Here.

Runner & Flooring

This pink kitchen runner is one of the cheeriest pieces of home décor I own. I paired it with the wallpaper to make our kitchen more playful.

Runner: Here.

Flooring: Wickham Hardwood, Maple (color Walnut) – similar here, here & here.

Cabinet Paint Color

Kitchen cabinets are Maple, painted Benjamin Moore White.

Canisters: West Elm.

Backsplash is Daltile Subway Tile, 3×6 in Arctic White – similar here.

Appliances: Thermador Range, GE Café Series Refrigerator.

Marble Clock: Sur la Table.

Cabinet Cup Pulls: Hickory Hardware.

Sink & Faucet

While it might not be the most picturesque faucet, I love how we can turn the faucet on and off without dripping on our marble counters. Definitely a functional win!

Kitchen Faucet: Faucet, Moen Motionsense Chrome.

Kitchen Sink: 33” Farmhouse Fireclay Sink.

Kitchen Towel: Kate Spade.

Lighting & Barstools

When choosing the pendants over our peninsula, I didn’t want to compete with the chandelier in the nook. These cone pendants with their antique brass interior echoed the glam of the chandelier without overwhelming the space.

Barstools: Serena & Lily.

Lighting: Visual Comfort – 15 Inch Wide.

Utensil Holder: West Elm.

Breakfast Nook

I loved the idea of a breakfast nook and wanted to make it feel special, so I went with wallpaper and a statement chandelier. I think the wallpaper adds so much personality to this otherwise all white kitchen. I then paired it with a more rustic feeling table and chairs to contrast the crisp, geometric design.

Table is RH – similar here, here, here, here & here.

Chairs are RH – similar here & here.

Pillows: here, here, here, here, here & here.

Chandelier & Wallpaper

Wallpaper is from Serena & Lily in Denim.

Chandelier is Visual Comfort.

Playroom

After taking down the wall between the kitchen and the playroom, this is now our view. Since this is the room my sons hang out in the most, it had to be functional for them but also flow with our kitchen.

Sofa is from HD Buttercup

Window Treatment throughout home are plantation shutters by American Vision Windows

Paint Color

The barstools had to become part of the design for the playroom because of the open concept, so going slightly more coastal in this room with the oversized beach print and using blue accents in the room helped tie things together.

Paint color is Valspar Mountain Mist.

Inspired by this Look:

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Sofa

Some might think a white sofa and children do not go together. And they would be right! However, I love the crisp look of a white sofa so I chose a slipcover that can be removed and washed.

Sofa is from HD Buttercup.

Ottomans: Etsy.

Artwork: Minted.

Rug: Pottery Barn.

Mudcloth Pillow is by Bryar Wolf – similar here.

Playroom Media Center

Not fancy or even perfectly styled, but that is mom life! This media center holds all the extra toys and books and games.

TV: Samsung.

Gray bins are from IKEA – similar here.

Media Center: Pottery Barn.

Knobs: Restoration Hardware Dillon Knobs.

African Wall Baskets: Etsy.

Desk

Both the desk and window-seat are IKEA hacks. I upgraded the desk by swapping out the hardware and I made the IKEA Kallax bookshelf-turned-window seat feel more custom by adding a bench cushion.

Rattan Mirror: Pottery Barn.

Vintage rug found on Etsy – similar here.

Window

Pillows and bench cushion by Tonic Living – Similar Bench: here (on sale!) & here.

Bins found at Target.

Living Room

Our sectional is actually a recliner and the chaise lifts up for hidden storage. I love how functional it is for our family.

While there is still updating to do to this room, we recently removed the metal stair railings and replaced it with a wooden banister. Painting and staining the banister was a beast! But it was well worth it.

Stair posts are Benjamin Moore Super White and stain was a custom mix.

Artwork on wall by @sarahcnightingale.

Sofa: West Elm.

Paint Color

Wall paint color is Benjamin Moore London Fog.

Rug is discontinued – similar here.

Seagrass lidded basket: here – similar.

Fireplace

Choosing a split-faced stone for the fireplace is still one of my favorite design decisions.

Stone: Wayfair.

Chair: West Elm.

Moroccan Leather Pouf: here.

Fireplace Sconces: Pottery Barn.

Shelves

Believe it or not, farmhouse style was my first love.

Shelves are IKEA and I spray painted the brackets Rustoleum Hammered Copper.

Grid Photo Frame: McGee.

Walnut Frame: McGee.

Brass Bells: McGee.

Rustic Vase: Here.

Artwork on top by @sarahcnightingale.

Others items mix of flea market and HomeGoods finds (including bottom baskets) – similar baskets: here.

Coffee Table

Coffee Table: here.

Coffee Table Decor: Wooden Bowl, similar moss, similar wooden beads & similar vintage bells.

Sofa Pillows: here, here, here & here.

Dining Room

I love earthy elements and this rustic dining table is the perfect combination of form and function. With all of its raw imperfections, the kids can be as rough as they want with it and I don’t mind.

Dining Table & Bench: West Elm.

Rug is vintage – similar here, here, here, here & here.

Wooden Candle holders are locally sourced.

Planter in corner is from HomeGoods – similar here & here.

Good Vibes

There is a casualness about my design style which is probably why I gravitate towards word art. And I love the boldness of this black and white piece.

Artwork by JaxnBlvd.

Stool: Target.

Dining Room Chairs

The white wishbone chairs help to bring a lightness to this space which doesn’t get a lot of natural light and the chairs’ low profile makes this small dining space feel bigger. Paint Color is Benjamin Moore London Fog.

Chairs are by InMod – similar here, here & here.

Lighting: West Elm – similar here.

Mirror: here.

Floor basket: Pier 1.

Kids Corner

This was a fun IKEA hack that I did for my 7 year old’s room. I took the IKEA Kallax shelf unit, chose two different color doors and then spray painted the letters. Wall color is Valspar Ghost Ship.

Pillows by Tonic Living – similar here.

Rug & Seagrass boxes from Homegoods – similar rug & baskets.

Shelf and baskets from IKEA .

Reading Nook

These fern decals make this reading nook a lot of fun for my four-year-old. And while I would have loved a hanging chair, I didn’t think it was practical for my boys so I opted for this caged freestanding chair instead.

Decals by Urban Walls.

Chair: World Market.

Paper Mache Animal Heads: Fox, Rabbit & Deer.

Elephant Side Table: Serena & Lily.

Rug: here – similar.

Prints by Society6.

Guest Bedroom

Adding board and batten was a game changer in this room. It instantly made the guest bedroom feel loftier than its standard 8 ft. ceiling height.

Leather Bed: CB2.

Duvet Cover: here.

Nightstand: West Elm.

Throw: here, here & here.

Rug: here.

Paint Color

Paint color is Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.

Candle Holders: Crate & Barrel.

Pillows: Black & White & Bolster Pillow – similar.

Artwork: here.

Guest Bathroom

This small bathroom was the first major renovation we did when we moved in. There was literally a treasure chest inspired toilet box in here and, much like the rest of the house, tiles and walls were orange-brown. Having no prior design experience, I went with timeless marble and this little bathroom still makes me happy.

Bathroom wall paint is Behr Sterling.

Vanity: Wayfair.

Faucet is Kohler Bancroft.

Mirror: Uttermost.

Hand Towel: McGee.

Wood pot from HomeGoods.

Floor Tile: Wayfair.

Master Bathroom

This is our only bathroom upstairs, so it was important for us to keep a separate tub for our kids. Paint color is Behr Light French Gray.

Paint Cabinet Color: Benjamin Moore Simply White.

Tile is Ceramiche Caesar Porcelain Tile in MORE Manhattan – similar here.

Rug is from HomeGoods – similar here & here.

Vanity: Pottery Barn.

Art Print from Serena & Lily.

Crytal knob by Emtek.

Tub: Wayfair.

Stool: Serena & Lily.

Master Bedroom

I love having a neutral bedroom that I can easily switch up by swapping out pillows and throws.

Bed: Wayfair.

Blue quilt from HomeGoods.

Throw: Etsy – similar here.

Full Length Mirror: here – similar.

Rug: Lulu & Georgia.

Textures

Bench from RJ Imports – similar here.

Duvet Cover: Anthropologie.

Wall Basket: here – similar.

Pillows: Velvet Pillows, Mudcloth Pillows, Lumbar – similar.

Stripe vase from Crate & Barrel.

Faux Stems: Crate & Barrel.

Nightstands from Crate & Barrel discontinued but similar ones here, here, here & here.

Paint Color

Paint color is Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore.

One of my favorite things about this house is the amount of closet space. Our master has a his and hers closet. The smaller one behind that door is the his, of course.

Ladder is from Crate & Barrel.

DIY

The wall art here was an easy DIY. I put mudcloth scraps in black frames to give this corner a boho chic look.

Chair from HD Buttercup – other beautiful chairs: here, here, here & here.

Side table: here.

Bench: here.

Dresser: Pottery Barn.

Desk

Desk from Restoration Hardware – other beautiful desks: here & here.

Chair is from IKEA – similar here.

Pillow: Serena & Lily.

Hanging planter is from Homegoods – similar here.

Baskets: Serena & Lily.

Rug is from Homegoods – similar here, here, here, here & here.

Many thanks to Erin for sharing all of the details above.

Make sure to follow Erin on Instagram to see more of her beautiful home!

Amazing End-of-Season Sales!

Thank you for shopping through Home Bunch. I would be happy to assist you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Feel free to contact me and always make sure to check dimensions before ordering. Happy shopping!

Serena & Lily: Tent Sale Up to 70% off! – Enjoy an Extra 20% OFF. Use Code HOORAY

Wayfair: UP to 75% OFF – Huge Sales on Decor, Furniture & Rugs!!!

Joss & Main: Best Prices of 2018 – Up to 70% Off

Pottery Barn: Buy More, Save More – 20% Off Sidewide + Free shipping: use Code: HELLO19

One Kings Lane: Final Days to Save: Take an Extra 20% Off Markdowns with Code OKL20MORE.

West Elm: Big New Year Sale: 20% Off Your Entire Purchase! Use Code: NEWYEAR

Pier 1: Huge Sales – Up to 60% Off!

Anthropologie: Winter Tag Sale: All sales at an extra 40% Off! Amazing!

Posts of the Week:

2019 New Year Home Tour.

Family-friendly Home Design.

Christmas Inspiration.

Interior Design Ideas.

Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.

Transitional Home Design.

Newlyweds Home Design.

Family Home Renovation with Casual Interiors.

2018 Norton Children’s Hospital Raffle Home.

Beautiful Homes of Instagram: California Beach House.

Neutral Home Interior Ideas.

You can follow my pins here: Pinterest/HomeBunch

See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.

“Dear God,

If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.

Lead me in Light and Love”.

Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

with Love,

Luciane from HomeBunch.com

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thesimplyluxuriouslife · 3 years

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308: 15 Ideas for Welcoming Provence Style into Your Home & Garden

Ten years of visiting, followed by three years of construction and refurbishing, and now Shauna Varvel's family Provençal mas situated just outside of Avignon, France, is an exquisite Provençal destination to see both inside and out.

Feasting first on the thoughtfully designed and decorated property through Instagram beginning in 2018, I continued to follow her as the property named Le Mas des Poiriers as well as serving as a family home for her and her husband, their adult children and the growing grandchildren, is also now available for rent (although, likely for the most elite due to the price point - which it is worth based on the expansive grounds and thoughtful decor).

Featured in Veranda's April 2019 issue, inspiration abounds whether or not we will be able to visit and see with our own eyes, as Varvel's new book Provence Style: Decorating with French Country Flair was just released earlier this month.

With today being the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere, I thought what better way to celebrate the ideal season during which to visit Provence than by dedicating this week's podcast episode entirely to welcoming the Provençal decor and garden ideas into our home and lives wherever we may call home.

Having had the opportunity to receive and read Shauna's book, if you are looking for visual inspiration as well as a historical exploration of the design styles associated with Provence, Provence Style is a book you will appreciate and find incredibly resourceful.

Below I have gathered 15 ideas adding a touch or a wealth of Provençal decor inspiration to our sanctuaries. Let's take a look.

1. Welcome in the natural light in abundance

Open the curtains, pull the shades, if you are in the middle of designing a space or choosing a home or apartment to live in, choose one with oodles of windows and preferrably south-facing (northern hemisphere) or north-facing (Southern Hemisphere) along with east, west and north as well of course. Why? Natural light works magic on the beauty of a space and Provence is all about the sun and the mistral-clear blue skies painted and appreciated by artists.

In other words, treat your windows with curtains or shutters or shades, but never forget to open them when the sun is out.

2. Add earthenware to your decor and dining experiences

"Established in Marseille in the late seventeenth century, the earthenware industry in Provence gave rise to names such as Saint-Jean-du-Désert and Fauchier, known for their exceptional blue and white faience glazes."

From large jugs and handmade pieces of pottery to plates for dining or plates for wall décor, earthenware is quintessential Provence. Begin gathering a collection, use the jugs as vases, use for functional purposes in the kitchen at the dining table, find them at flea markets, brocantes, online or a second-hand stores, and when you do, a touch of Provence will be seen and felt.

3. Mind the door and window hardware, custom millwork details and ironwork

The details matter in any home, and when it comes to Provençal style, swap out the modern for the traditional. From knobs to closures, staircase handrails, and drawer pulls, seemingly small, yet certainly significant.

4. Provide direct and easy access (inviting and encouraging as well) to outdoor spaces, the garden

Provence is about the outdoors, eating seasonally, working with the weather (yes, the mistrals are a real thing and while clearing the sky to keep that pristine blue as well as cooling you down during the summer season, they can be fiercely aggressive in the fall and winter), so provide access to the outdoors with ease. Keep your kitchen garden close to the door closest to the kitchen, create inviting sitting areas outside under the vines and the trees, and perhaps invest in a door or screen door which lets the outdoors in reminding you to step outside and enjoy the warmth.

5. Ah, the traditional hexagonal terracotta flooring tiles

"A distinctively Provençal floor material that is characteristic of most houses in south-west France, known as tomettes de Salernes, these quintessentially local tiles have historically been made in the villages of Salernes from the red, iron-filled clay of that area. During the nineteenth century, terracotta tile production was prolific, with tomettes exported throughout Europe and Africa."

I remember seeing my first terracotta hexagon floor in the vacation rental I enjoyed staying in while traveling in the Luberon. A two story villa in a little hamlet near Gourdes (tour it here), the hexagon tile covered the bathroom floor and dazzled me primarily because of its history and being in the region of France where such tile was originally made. No matter what the color scheme, this style, this color is a neutral, it is timeless, it is classic Provence.

6. Strike a balance

"Carefully judged contrasts between rusticity and gentility, modesty and opulence, the democratic and the aristocratic, are the signature of the contemporary Provençal home."

Here is where time and travel and exploration create the expertise of knowing what that balance is. Knowing how to strike the balance of opulence and rustic is not initially simple to do, but with intention and time, you will find it eventually becomes instinctive. Provençal homes no more adhere to entirely one aesthetic - everything 'country chic' than France is a country of singular flavors. No, no, no. While staying in my first vacation rental in Provence in 2018, this four story home in the medieval Ville of Vaison-la-Romaine included centuries-worn stone steps, iron-railings, classic artwork inspired by the time of the Renaissance as well as simple, floral bed linens, linen curtains and a modern bathroom. Mixing and matching - function and beauty, a touch of the present with fond inclusion of the past.

7. Know the objective of furniture selection and placement

Varvel writes the guiding principle "is to generate an impression of artlessness, though this requires thoughtful consideration of scale, comfort, design detail and choice of upholstery."

Look for vintage furniture, yet reupholster with preferred fabric and restructure the pieces to create the desired comfort. Layers work as well, soft and hard, some, but not too much. Don't clutter, but don't be a minimalist. Creating seating areas to sit, relax and be. Design with the eye of the guests in mind - what will they be drawn to? Let one item sing and the others complement. Include upholstered items in every room, but not every piece need be upholstered.

The foundational design elements hold true, but now you let the other items on today's list guide you to what type of items to include.

8. Plaster-finish for the walls

Provence is quite hot in the summer, but very much a geography which beckons you to be outside nearly the entire year even though they do have all four seasons.

"Plaster-finished walls are a common trait of the mas. When overlaid with lime wash, the lime sinks into the plaster, giving it a luminance and patina distinct from that of a conventionally painted wall."

Varvel goes on to share, she chose a custom mix of lime wash and chose a flat finish to match the tone of the limestone floors in order to create a sense of 'unity and openness'.

9. Restrained elegance

While yes, a rural locale, Provence has a rich and lengthy history stretching back to the Romans who "conquered the Greek colonists who had introduced grapevines and olives and also built the port of Massilia, later known as Marseille. This city would be instrumental in infusing Provençal living with a sense of opulence."

"A culture of contrasts, merging bucolic bliss with bourgeois aspirations; rural tradition with refinement; rustic crafts with luxury."

What does restrained elegance look like in a Provençal mas or home?

opulent chandeliers over a table covered in a linen tablecloth with fresh flowers from the garden lined up in a row down the middle

ornate gold-framed mirrors set in front of a vintage upholstered armchair

carefully laid table settings, silverware, multiple glasses and plates with an open window framed with modern fabric for the curtains which stretch to the floor.

Bare floors of limestone, covered only occasionally with an antique wool rug

10. Sunflowers

Brilliant in late June and through July, the sunflowers as you drive about the countryside in Provence will, if you are like me, successfully tempt you to stop the car and take pictures. Never mind, they are ubiquitous in this region, and likely you will find more around the next bend in the road, but still, their beauty draws a breath of awe each time.

Plant them yourself in your own garden. I planted my first sunflowers last year at Le Papillon and found direct sowing worked best. They don't need much water and by August I had giants standing guard around my property. This year, I direct sowed all of my three different pouches of seeds and even have some self-planting sunflowers along my front path to my porch. My neighbors have been planting sunflower seeds since I moved to the neighborhood, and they sow them well before the last frost. Currently, they have an alley of sunflowers about four feet tall and doing fantastically.

11. Copper

In last Friday's This & That, I shared a link to this article from Homes & Gardens UK containing 30+ ideas for styling your own French country inspired kitchen. One of the many recommendations I have welcomed into my own home is a rack full of copper pans that are actually used, but also provide a stunning rustic, yet sophisticated focal point in the kitchen. (become a TOP Tier subscriber and tour my kitchen here)

The Kitchen Reveal: Before & After and How I Customized My Small Space

12. Baskets

From rustic to new, large, medium or small, in all different styles, baskets about the home are a functional touch that also looks wonderful from a decorating perspective. I recently picked up a few baskets for my home during Rabbit Hill's French Lifestyle online pop-up shop, and highly recommend checking out her monthly offerings. As well, market baskets are wonderful treasures as well as highly functional. I have displayed my own in my mudroom, and wrote a post about how to

Find Your Perfect Provençal (or simply French) Market Tote

The English-Inspired Mudroom: TSLL's Home Tour

13. The love of cloth

Specifically Indiennes, originally imported colorful Indian chintzes which had small repeating motifs of flora and fauna. Serving as bed hanging, bed curtains, drapes and bedspreads as well as clothing, Indiennes is especially well associated with Provence. Other cottons depicting scenes from nature as well as stripes and ginghams have come to epitomize the Provençal decor.

14. Gardens full of herbs for cooking, medicinal purposes and exquisite fragrance for the home

Beginning with lavender as the most immediate herb that comes to mind when Provence is mentioned, did you know it also while scenting the air repeals flies and mosquitos? Yep!

As well as many other herbs, be sure to welcome an abundance of basil as Varvel shares, 'it is also a natural insect repellant and has been an essential in the Provençal kitchen garden for more than a thousand years".

Place in the ground or in pots just outside your kitchen for easy access while you are cooking and welcome oodles of fresh flavors to your meals.

~Have you checked out The Simply Luxurious Kitchen cooking show? Seasonal Fare to Elevate the Everyday Meal. The fourth season will debut on Saturday September 11th, and be sure to catch up on the previous three seasons here, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

~View TSLL's Garden posts here.

15. Create natural shade in the garden and outdoors

"The Provençal garden gives shade, with plantings of plane, chestnut, pines, cypress, evergreen oak, drought-resistant blackberry, and fruit trees, especially olive, fig, apricot, peach and plum."

Varvel shares the many artists who would work en plein air in Provence and which trees appeared in their paintings along with the sunflowers which captured Van Gogh and Cézanne's admiration. Needless to say, Provençal style cannot be what it is without the outdoors or the honoring of the outdoors with the welcoming in of fresh flowers, floral and fauna prints and the opening of windows to let the fresh air dance about the home.

If you have an outdoor living space, no matter how small - balcony, a porch, create a space which beckons you to sit, relax and take many deep breaths of appreciation. In other words, to be present.

10 Life Lessons from Provence: Slow Down and Savor the Everyday

More than anything, to echo what Shauna Varvel's shares in her introduction of her book, the lifestyle of Provence rejuvenates, gently, yet assuredly nudges us to slow down and be present and never rushes us to hurry to the next thing. Taking in the sights, taking in the tastes and savoring the seasonal beauty, Provencal living is peaceful living. The markets run year-round, the attire need only be comfortable as you need your skin to breathe and your body to move as you walk about and around the many medieval towns and villages. Life in Provence is living well and savoring the everyday. When we create a home to encourage us to embody these qualities, no matter where we call home, our lives changes for the better.

~Be sure to check out an interview with the author Shauna Varvel by Jamie Beck who lives in Provence.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CQWYnnIpPuc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

~Learn more about becoming a TOP Tier Subscriber to enjoy unlimited content ad-free.

Petit Plaisir

~The Truffle Hunters

Italian (English subtitles)

In theaters now

Click here to learn more about the film's selection as this week's Petit Plaisir.

https://youtu.be/KFYhrc0AnVw

~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #308

~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio | YouTube | Spotify

Tune in to the latest episode of The Simple Sophisticate podcast

#tsllpodcast thesimplesophisticate

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jeremystrele · 3 years

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17 Affordable Lights That Will Give Your Space A Glow-Up

Interiors

Lauren Li

Lighting is often an afterthought when decorating your own home. We may focus on the sofa, armchair and rug, even artwork as the centrepiece of a space; but however amazing these pieces are, they just don’t look their best without good lighting.

A lighting scheme should be thoughtful and considerate, and take into account the function of a space as well as the other pieces in it. We should consider lighting over the dining table (for gathering) and island bench (task lighting), next to an armchair (reading), in an entry area (where are the keys!?!) and, of course, beside the bed (for relaxing). This may sound overwhelming, but it’s easier than you think. And you definitely don’t need to break the bank in order to get a good atmosphere.

There are two big tips when beginning your research into the great affordable options out there: shed all your assumptions about a brand; and be prepared to scroll. Sometimes fancy brands have surprisingly affordable options, and sometimes ‘daggy’ mass producers whip out some really great designs. Cast your net wide, dig deep into their offering and don’t discount any brand from your search!

Once you find the ideal fitting, here are my tips for achieving the ultimate ambience.

Pendant Lights:

There is such a trend for big, low-hanging pendant lights over a dining table at the moment – so the biggest mistake is fixing it too high. When everyone is seated around the table, the light should hang just above eye level.

If you’re looking for a pendant light over a bench-top, then you want to the light to be directed down to that surface to illuminate whatever you are doing. Look for a shade that pushes the light downwards and covers the globe to avoid glare.

If your budget allows, even consider hanging them in a cluster for extra dramatic effect.

Layers:

It’s transformative to a space when the lighting is layered up. The best combination is a floor lamp next to a central piece of furniture, like a sofa or an armchair, alongside a pendant light over the dining table. Scattering lots of lamps around a room creates pockets of soft glow and cosy ambience, but different fixtures emit a different affect.

Wall sconce: We usually don’t need a wall sconce for task lighting, it’s purely for the vibe, so look for a wall sconce that covers the globe itself. It could be a fabric shade, ceramic, wooden, rattan or frosted glass.

When looking for a floor lamp, consider if it’s to give the room a welcoming atmosphere, or if it’s for reading. This will help you decide if you need a directional light or an overall glow.

If you’re looking for a table lamp, the options are pretty endless, so consider how this can add personality to the room. Can it be sculptural, almost like a functional art piece, or is it purely for task lighting, i.e. reading in bed? How does it look when switched off and on?

Glow:

The most important element in establishing the character of your lighting scheme is choosing the right globe. Even high-end light fittings can be let down by using cool colour temperature bulbs, so make sure you opt for a warm colour temperature wherever possible. (Almost all globes will be labelled as either cool or warm.)

‘Cupola Hanging Black Lamp’ from HK Living. Photo – House of Orange.

‘Cone Lamp Base with Hexagonal Shade‘ from HK Living. Photo – House of Orange.

1. Cupola Hanging Black Lamp from HK Living

In an open plan space, placing a pendant over the dining table instantly creates a cosy zone that invites people to gather around. This black acrylic shade is slick and modern.

RRP $499, available from House of Orange.

2. Cone Lamp Base with Hexagonal Shade from HK Living

With a slightly retro vibe, this lamp and shade will inject any room with a chic, playful personality.

RRP lamp ($279) and shade ($170), available from House of Orange.

Terracotta Pendant Lamp from HK Living. Photo – House of Orange.

Chirezza Ceiling Pendant from Freedom. Photo – Freedom.

Metal Triangle Pendant from HK Living. Photo – House of Orange.

Chiappo Lamp from Freedom. Photo – Freedom.

3. Terracotta Pendant Lamp from HK Living

So if your cupboards are bursting with ceramics, never fear! Now you can also hang more ceramics in the form of a pendant light. Available in a few various styles

RRP $159 , available rom House of Orange

4. Chirezza Ceiling Pendant from Freedom

The warm cosy glow through the fabric shade gives any space a serious dose of hygge. The sculptural form paired with gorgeous texture helps soften a space and create a welcoming atmosphere.

RRP $120, available from Freedom

5. Metal Triangle Pendant from HK Living

A cute characterful cone shaped pendant that creates impact when repeated throughout a space. Seen lighting up the bench-top just where you need some good practical lighting, but also suited as a bedside light or even in the bathroom.

RRP $160 from House of Orange

6. Chiappo Lamp from Freedom

Ticking the boxes for colour and shape, this lamp delivers serious style on a budget.

RRP $150, available from Freedom

A selection of handwoven shades by Lana Launay at Shades Launay. Photo – Natalia Parsonson.

Paper lanterns from Pop + Scott. Photo – Annette O’Brien. Production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

LED Disk Wall Light from Beacon Lighting. Photo – Beacon Lighting.

7. Handmade lampshades by Shades Launay

Sydney-sider Lana Launay handweaves shades from biodegradable materials like bamboo and coffee-stained raffia herself, commissioning local metalworker Maré Marine to make the stainless steel frames.

RRP $200 – $500 (shades) and $400 – $700 (full lamps), available from via DM at Shades Launay

8. Paper Lanterns from Pop + Scott

These paper lanterns in small, medium and large sizes deliver maximum impact for a modest budget. The large volume really can ‘fill’ the space and create a lovely soft glow in a room.

RRP $50-$90 (size dependent), available from Pop + Scott

9. LED Disk Wall Light from Beacon

This wall light is a simple wooden disk that is perfectly versatile for the bedroom, kitchen and basically anywhere inside the home.

RRP $135, available from Beacon Lighting

Eave Dining Column Table Lamp from MENU. Photo – MENU.

Arcade Pendant from Dowel Jones. Photo – Dowel Jones.

10. Eave Dining Column Table Lamp from MENU

This minimalist, dark bronze aluminium table lamp emits a soft and inviting glow in three different intensities. It’s also portable and can be moved around to any spot in the house, which is a big bonus!

RRP $375, available from Surrounding

11. Arcade Pendant from Dowel Jones

With 351 (!) colour combinations to choose from, this pendant light from the Melbourne-based brand is the perfect fit for an overhead fixture above a bench-top or dining table.

RRP $330, available from Dowel Jones

Wonboyn Pendant from Freedom. Photo – Freedom.

Straw Parasol Pendant from Tigmi Trading. Photo – Tigmi Trading.

12. Wonboyn Pendant from Freedom

This rattan pendant looks beautiful when the light is turned off, but when it’s on, it creates a lovely shadowing effect on the ceiling. It creates a lot of impact for a good price.

RRP $320, available from Freedom

13. Straw Parasol Pendant from Tigmi Trading

Adding a handmade element to a space gives instant character. These straw parasol pendants are handmade in Morocco and give a slightly rustic feel to a space, either in a cluster or individually.

RRP $189, available from Tigmi Trading

Shore Floor Lamp from Beacon Lighting. Photo – Beacon Lighting.

Tide Wall Bracket With Natural Shade from Beacon Lighting. Photo – Beacon Lighting.

Daisy Lamp from McMullin & Co.. Photo – McMullin & Co.

Leo Table lamp from McMullin + Co.. Photo – McMullin & Co.

14. Shore Floor Lamp from Beacon Lighting

We currently can’t get enough rattan and this lamp adds a dose of that gorgeous natural texture and creates a lovely warm glowing light.

RRP $329, available from Beacon Lighting

15. Tide Wall Bracket With Natural Shade from Beacon Lighting

This antique-style throws dramatic shadow patterns around the room when lit up, and creates a nice sculptural feature when off! Best of both worlds.

RRP $119, available from Beacon Lighting

16. Daisy Lamp from McMullin & Co.

A perfectly chic lamp with pleated shade to compliment a neutral palette in the lounge room or bedroom.

RRP $349, available from McMullin + Co.

17. Leo Table lamp from McMullin + Co.

This terracotta toned, vintage-style lamp exudes a warm earthy glow for all those hygge feels.

RRP $229, available from McMullin + Co.

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bananaairplane · 3 years

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Lift Ops

I came up to Vermont to run a ski lift. It’s been bliss, and consuming enough that I’ve written bits and pieces here and there but haven’t sat down at put it all together into a post. Some of the same themes are coming back from earlier in the year: the dark majesty of the early morning; rolling through pristine natural beauty in my Camry with dance music blasting. But I’ve procrastinated long enough that, this time, I’m writing mostly from retrospect as opposed to in the moment. It feels like retrospect, at least, because we’ve turned the corner in the season from winter to spring, and suddenly it feels like everything is winding down. We could have as much as a month left, depending on conditions, but I have the feeling of waking up the day after the party.

Seeing as I showed up to work on time and didn’t smoke weed during the day, I was quickly scheduled on the main lift at the center of the mountain. They refer to it as “driving” the lift, even though you’re just standing there by the controls waiting for someone to wipe out. The lifts are regulated by the state of Vermont as motor vehicles, and each one has a special license plate. It’s oddly tiring work, because you have to be paying attention every moment, even as nothing in particular is happening. People wait at the top of the ramp, scramble down to the loading area, and are whisked off through the low-tip zone as the chair ascends and speeds up. Snowboarders wipe out constantly, but when the skiers go down it’s a special kind of mayhem, because they often lose a ski in the process. Sometimes they just lie there on your ramp, helpless. Sitting down on the lift chair poses its own hazards— some people don’t sit in time and fall off the front of the platform; poles slip, skis tangle. Then, as the chair begins to climb, you’ll get a kid suddenly sliding down and off the lift. Or someone will catch their foot and the ski will snap off. To quote a friend, it’s boredom peppered with chaos.

“Driving” the lift, though, feels appropriate, because when you are operating, it’s your lift. Super Bravo is the longest lift at the resort, and it’s a detachable grip quad, meaning it seats four people and the chairs slow down as they ride around the terminal. The drive motor is mounted overhead in a glass structure that looks like a 1985 rendition of a spaceship. It hums loudly enough that someone needs to be pretty close to you to be heard. A thick steel cable runs around like a bicycle chain and the chairs churn through, one after the other. It’s an enormous beast, and you, the op, are its master. You slow and stop it as you see fit. Sometimes, when a pole or ski drops in low tip, you don’t slow it— you simply hop out to grab it and then in one smooth motion pivot around to hand it to the people in the next chair, while leaning out of range of the metal armature of the chair itself as it whisks past. You always have an audience at the bottom of the lift, and they are somewhat apprehensive of the speeding chairs. “Nice!” they exclaim as you recover your position by the controls. You feel smug. Then you remember that 95% of the lift drivers are 19 years old and stoned.

I’m living in employee housing, for the full “lifty” experience. Picture a circa-1825 historic bed and breakfast, and then cross it with a frat house. “Hey Jacky, want to see Chapo shotgun a 16-ounce beer?” Eoin is holding up a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Charlie— Chapo— is standing nearby, his employee ski hat perched jauntily on his head. Jacky and her husband own the bed and breakfast that the resort has leased out as employee housing for the winter. “I’ve already seen it,” she says blandly. When you step into the vestibule of the inn, you are greeted by the overpowering smell of Cannabis.There is a French-country-style bench and a framed poster from a Chagall exhibit, and on the floor underneath are about 15 pairs of snow boots. One morning as I went out a set of jumper cables was lying on the bench. The guys are working on a display shelf of empty liquor bottles in the dining room, and in the big commercial kitchen at any given time during the evening someone is heating up frozen mac and cheese or making a PB&J. A communal collection of spice jars clutters part of the counter; about 60% of it is meat rubs. There are many kinds of hot sauce.

I guess it could be weird to be surrounded by college kids all the time. Doesn’t it feel strange to be hanging out with, essentially, teenage boys? But in my former life as an academic I was also surrounded by college kids all the time. It doesn’t feel unusual. It has all the charms now that it did then, without the responsibility of grading them. There is this irrepressible enthusiasm that you have at 19-22. It’s easy to forget until you see it first hand, and then it’s infectious. One of the lifties tested positive for Covid a couple of weeks ago, and everyone at the inn was locked down for a week. On the first afternoon, when we’d all been sent home early from the mountain, a group of them set to work building a ski jump in the ravine behind the inn. We spent the next day sitting around outside drinking beers as people did backflips. Later, I skied the footpath that winds through some public land in the woods with a couple of the guys. They veered into the steep woods and came flying back out at the bottom, where we all pulled up within a few feet of the river. Another guy showed up on snow shoes, and as we huffed it across the flats back to the inn he gamboled around us wildly in the deep snow. In the evenings, there were acoustic guitars and whisky (strictly for the over-21s, obviously...).

It’s not just me and a dozen kids— Eoin is as old as I am. You can tell we’re older because we both showed up in 20-year old Toyotas, which stick out in a parking lot full of parental discards, showy dude cars, and commuter-student late model Civics. At the mountain, too, there are a number of older lifties— some retired guys and some snowmakers who moved over to the lifts for the end of the season. The snowmakers are rugged and leathery from winter nights spent outdoors, and the retired guys have a bemused air to them. We’re all here for the season pass. The older ones like me usually have some kind of story. It’s like a secret club: the “guests” flow through the lift in their shiny jackets with their clumsy poles, but I’m riding the lift up before opening, the morning shadows picking out the corduroy stripes left by the groomers on the slopes below. Or I’m cruising down from the top shack at the end of the day, after last chair has been called, only a couple of ski patrollers in my wake. The mountain is silent then, and I hear only the hissing of my skis. Outside the boot room I find my people again, in a disorderly throng, waiting to go in and leave their skis and boards. Because of Covid regulations, only 7 people can be in there at a time. One of the kids emerges to ask me for a ride back to the inn. I went out looking for the wilderness and I found this happy tribe.

#lifty #skiing #snowy escape #ski #writing #blog #adventure #travel #travelblog #my writing

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davekendrick · 6 years

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New Post has been published on https://creativegardens123.com/a-patio-cover-will-transform-backyards-into-bonus-living-and-entertaining-space/

A Patio Cover Will Transform Backyards into Bonus Living and Entertaining Space

In Southern California, the easiest way to “add” square footage to a home is to take advantage of outdoor patios as alternative living rooms, dining areas, and even full kitchens. With thought, time and money, you can put together an oasis for al fresco gatherings, with one key assumption: you have a solid patio cover to protect your guests and outdoor furnishing investment from the elements.

We’ve come a long way from the days of small, structurally delicate metal patio covers with ornate posts; today’s homeowners prefer simple architectural lines, large covered areas and options like lights, ceiling fans, heaters, and skylights.

Anthony Massagli, a third-generation owner of California Patio Covers in Rancho Cucamonga, says there’s been one distinct shift in patio cover design the last few years.

“Twelve to 15 years ago, it was about one-third lattice, one-third solid and one-third a combo of the two,” Massagli says. “Now it’s a clear majority of solid covers because people have more things outside they want to protect.”

To get your patio ready to enjoy the warmer months, here are the most popular patio cover materials. Prices for materials and installation range from as low as $10 a square foot for a simple wood structure to more than $50 a square foot for a “smart” louvered aluminum system. Most aluminum and vinyl projects fall in the range of $15 to $35 a square foot.

WOOD

The natural beauty of wood and its variety of colors and textures has made it a go-to choice for patio covers. It can be painted to match your home or left natural to stand out as a feature.

The major downside to wood is the upkeep. When exposed to the elements, it warps, peels and rots, and it must be sanded, repainted and even replaced on a regular basis. There are wood products available that are chemically processed to be more durable, but they could cost more than an aluminum or vinyl patio cover. Also, termite infestation, a common occurrence in Southern California, can wreak havoc on your investment.

ALUMINUM

Aluminum is low maintenance and won’t deteriorate or become infested. The eco-friendly material is resistant to high winds and durable enough to last a lifetime. In recent years, aluminum patio cover products that mimic the look and texture of natural wood have overtaken the market.

“There’s such a huge range of options, from workhorse products you can dress up to the nicest luxury systems,” says Emi Miller, showroom manager at Patio Warehouse in Orange. “It’s all based around your tastes and entertainment needs.”

Since the wildfires that swept through several Southern California neighborhoods, “we notice residents are more interested in aluminum patio covers,” Miller says. “They want something with a decent fire rating, and aluminum is quite fire resistant.”

VINYL

Shiny and smooth vinyl made from PVC plastic is the new kid on the patio cover block. It too won’t warp, chip or rot, and it can be cleaned easily with a blast from the hose. It is durable and won’t conduct heat; in this way, it can help to drive down your indoor cooling costs.

“Our clients love it because it’s maintenance-free,” says Mike Karamanoukian CQ, project designer at GNG Vinyl Fencing and Patio Covers in Los Angeles. “Also, the consistency factor, when they have vinyl fences and gates, makes vinyl attractive as well.”

A disadvantage is that some don’t like the unnatural look of vinyl in their outdoor surroundings. Others are a limited number of colors and the need for aluminum or other inserts in the structure for stability and strength, adding to the cost.

SOMETHING EXTRA

For those seeking the “wow” factor of flexibility and control, Arcadia SoCal offers a 160-degree rotating aluminum louvered system controlled by your smartphone. It can be put on a timer and even has a start-of-the-art “rain sensing” optional feature that closes the louvers automatically to keep furniture (and people) dry.

“A good majority, about 75 percent of our customers, want the rain sensor,” Arcadia SoCal founder and President Jim Dinsmore says.

Relatively new on the market, Arcadia SoCal is a dealer with a showroom in Orange that includes a sales and design team.

“The biggest thing is bringing the indoors out,” Dinsmore says. “You can add about 10 percent of usable living space to your home, have furniture, rugs, televisions, fireplaces out there, and be in that space 365 days a year.”

To view the original web page Click Here

Image(s) Courtesy of ocregister.com

#Patio #Patio Cover #Wood

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livingcorner · 3 years

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Easy Backyard Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

nwbobGetty Images

Let’s face it: We’re all spending way more time at home these days, so it’s more important than ever to make our backyards welcoming and special. And in northern climates, we need to make the most of those precious few warm weather months! Any backyard can be made a little cozier with our best tips and tricks for making your space more beautiful, useful and fun. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money or hire a landscape designer to make over your backyard. With these simple ideas, you can create a restful oasis for you and your entire family (pets included).

You're reading: Easy Backyard Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

There are so many ways to make your backyard a place where you’ll want to spend all your extra time. From porch and patio decorating ideas to DIY fire pits and new ways to display your favorite plants, we’ve got ideas that work for big country backyards or small urban gardens. You’ll fall in love with at least a few of these ideas, so start planning, gather your supplies, roll up your sleeves, and refresh your backyard for a brand, new look this year. These creative ideas will help you make home sweet home even sweeter!

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Update with Pops of Bright Color

Take your backyard from bland to bright! Dress up your deck, patio or balcony with a simple display of colorful pots and birdhouses. Choose vibrantly colored flowers that complement the color of the pots. Use acrylic craft paints or spray paint to make inexpensive clay pots any color you like.

SHOP CLAY POTS

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Upcycle Unique Containers

If your favorite gardening wellies have sprung a leak, don’t toss them! Turn them into cute planters that fit well on the steps to your deck or by a sunny back door. This is also a sweet way to upcycle your child’s old wellies that have been outgrown.

SHOP RAIN BOOTS

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Build a DIY Window Box

Why spend all that money on window boxes when they’re not difficult to make? These pretty boxes offer a simple, elegant look for any style house.

Get the tutorial at Julie Blanner.

SHOP WHITE PAINT

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Install a Fire Pit

Heat things up this summer with a fire pit—either one you DIY or purchase. And don’t forget to stock up on tons of s’mores fixings!

SHOP OUTDOOR FIRE PITS

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Welcome Hummingbirds to Your Garden

We promise: It’s so worth it! These little gems will make you smile as the zoom by and perform amazing aerial acrobatics! They beat their wings 50 times per minute and need to eat every 10 to 15 minutes, so providing them with a feeder helps supplement their diets.

Choose a feeder that’s easy to clean (you’ll need to take it apart and wash it well every few days because dangerous mold and bacteria can grow). Make your own nectar with 1/4 cup plain white sugar and one cup boiling water. There’s no need to add red dye, which can harm the birds. Don’t use honey or any other kinds of sugar, which contain too much iron. Cool the nectar, then fill your feeder, and wait for the show to begin.

SHOP HUMMINGBIRD FEEDERS

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Add Adirondack Chairs

When it comes to lounging around, there’s no better place to do it than in an Adirondack chair. That might be why we instantly equate the timeless accessory with summertime. Fill your patio or backyard up with multiple chairs, add some cozy blankets, and you’ll be crowned the hostess of the year in no time.

Read more: Manure As Fertilizer: How Manure Effects The Soil

SHOP ADIRONDACK CHAIRS

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Recycle Vintage Tins

Trade your go-to terracotta pots and deck your front porch out in a much more original alternative—old potato chip tins. Scour spots like Etsy and eBay to complete your collection, then pot your favorite blooms for the best porch-worthy touch.

SHOP VINTAGE TINS

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Camp Out Under the Stars

This summer just begs for a campout, and why not in your own backyard? It’s inexpensive and easy! Map out a designated corner, roll out your sleeping bags, set the mood with string lights, and gather around the fire pit for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Even the grownups will have fun with this idea!

SHOP SLEEPING BAGS

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Breathe New Life Into Old Pots

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Establish an Outdoor Movie Spot

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Use an Outdoor Rug to Define a Space

To make an outdoor space truly livable, you want to make it feel cozy and inviting. Add an outdoor rug to your deck or patio, a couple of throws, and some throw pillows so it will feel just as comfy as your living room sofa.

Get the tutorial at Julie Blanner.

SHOP OUTDOOR RUGS

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Shake Up the Neighborhood Lemonade Stand

With a DIY lemonade stand this well-decorated, you can safely bet your backyard will be the most popular one on the block. Your kiddos can man this adorable station for years to come.

Get the tutorial at Fantabulosity.

SHOP WOODEN CRATES

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Plant a Thicket of Shrubs

Need some privacy? Plant a thicket of fast-growing shrubs to screen a view or offer privacy to your deck or patio. Instead of planting one type of plant in a row (which leaves a hole if one suddenly dies!), plant different sizes and types of shrubs in a triangular pattern. It looks more natural and provides better overall coverage anyhow.

Get the tutorial.

SHOP FAST-GROWING SHRUBS

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Hold a High Tea Party

Who says dining al fresco has to be all hot dogs and potato salad? Channel your inner royalty and serve a formal tea worthy of the Queen. Bring out the linens and vintage china, because what are you saving it for?

SHOP VINTAGE TEA SETS

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Plant Some Edibles

There’s absolutely no reason you can’t use at least a little of your backyard to plant easy-to-grow edibles such as greens, cherry tomatoes, or climbing beans. Make the most of your space, and enjoy food fresh from your own mini-farm!

Get the tutorial.

SHOP SEEDS

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Add Elegant Seating

No need to splurge on a pricey French-style backyard bench when you can easily craft your own. Scout out two identical chairs (the prettier, the better!) from thrift stores, remove the seats and replace with a handmade rectangular base.

Get the tutorial at An Oregon Cottage.

SHOP WHITE PAINT

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Serve Party Treats in Style

Meet the latest hosting game changer: an outdoor, Murphy-style mini bar. Stock with your go-to food and drink essentials, serve, and then neatly fold everything away once the party’s over.

Read more: Beginners Guide to Companion Planting – Heeman’s

Get the tutorial at Live Laugh Rowe.

SHOP WOOD GLUE

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Make an Outdoor Bed Swing

Has anything ever sounded more divine than an afternoon nap in the beauty of the outdoors? Make this pallet swing bed, and dream on!

Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.

SHOP MATTRESS COVERS

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Build a Backyard Bar

Meet the most organized DIY storage unit ever. With more than enough room for outdoor treats and summer beverages, you have no excuse to not take advantage of your backyard space. It can even double as a potting bench!

Get the tutorial at A Burst of Beautiful.

SHOP WOOD SCREWS

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Update Your Outdoor Lighting

Just like anything else around the house, worn, dated outdoor lights don’t make your yard feel homey. If it’s been a while since you upgraded your outdoor fixtures, it’s probably time for an update!

Get the tutorial at Julie Blanner.

SHOP OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES

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Maintain Some Privacy

An easy DIY privacy wall will make your deck or patio oh-so-cozy and out of the neighbor’s view.

Get the tutorial at Table and Hearth.

SHOP LEVELS

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Repurpose a Stock Tank As a Pool

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Build a Treehouse

For those who would rather enjoy the backyard from a higher altitude, Treehouse Supplies offers easy building plans and materials. Come on, you know you want one!

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Set Up a Potting Station

Two metal trash cans and an old door make an inexpensive but totally functional (and adorable!) potting station.

SHOP RED METAL STOOLS

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Decorate a Chic Shed

You can easily transform a basic backyard shed into a gorgeous space—complete with a barn quilt—in just 48 hours. Start by hanging checkered fabric by installing a rope across the peak of the shed and draping the fabric over using a staple gun to attach fabric to the walls (this shed required about 30 yard of fabric). Then hang an upholstered blue couch to create a unique seating area. And finish the shed by accessorizing with a bar cart, rug, and decorative baskets and plants.

Heartland Estate shed available at heartlandind.com and exclusively at Lowe’s.

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

source https://livingcorner.com.au/easy-backyard-ideas-that-wont-break-the-bank/

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