Garden Glamour: Designing A Space With A Nostalgic Vibe
Do you feel like you were born at the wrong time? Perhaps you are a gal who wishes she still lived in the swinging sixties or flower power seventies? Personally I love the style of the 1940’s and 50’s…everything about those era’s has a divine gorgeousness to me!
So if this is the case with you too, the chances are, that your home, already has a wonderfully nostalgic vibe to it! but what about your garden? We take a lot of time and make a lot of effort to create homes that reflect our personalities and tastes, but what about our gardens?
If you’re someone who loves the past and is into vintage decor and design, then why not find ways to implement these styles into your garden? Believe it or not, transforming your outdoor space into somewhere that has a nostalgic vibe to it is easier than you would think. To give you some inspiration for creating a garden that’s wonderfully nostalgic, below are some tips and ideas.
Teacup and teapot planters
This is a pretty trend at the moment and it is something that you can make yourself for a few pennies rather than go out and waste money on an already made one!…If you head to your local charity shop or Boot Sale, you should be able to come across some vintage-style teacups and teapots that you can rescue and use as planters….and the fun is in the satisfaction that you have created something for your garden that is unique!
To give your garden a wonderfully nostalgic vibe, using old-fashioned crockery as planters can work well. The prettier the teacups and teapots are, the better. Just make sure that you put them somewhere where they won’t get knocked over and smashed.
Also another alternative is to make a bird feeder…I am sure you have seen these in the shops lately? They retail around £15.00 but so easy to make by sticking the cup on its side to the saucer and then hanging by the handle a piece of chain or string…and voila, you have made your own!
Bunting
One thing that a nostalgic space cannot be without is bunting. A lot of people presume that bunting is an indoor piece of decor, but actually, that’s not the case. Bunting was traditionally an outdoor form of decor and was used to line the streets to celebrate different events, like street parties for instance. Of course, outdoor bunting is normally waterproof, unlike the material bunting that most of us use today. So if you are going to get bunting for your garden, make sure it’s waterproof, otherwise it may not last a shower…and you know what the British weather is like!
Doll up your Decking or Patio
If your garden has decking (or a patio) in it, you can easily doll this up with a few well thought out accessories. First things first, ensure that any pot plants are in pretty planters, these could be old metal planters, an old vintage-style bike that’s been planted up, or even the teacup planters mentioned above. You could also opt to add some decking lights to brighten up your garden and create a cosy atmosphere. Another option is the use of solar fairy lights or LED candles; these can help to create a wonderfully relaxing and tranquil vibe. A great way to style these is to place them in jam jars, creating a warm glow and a wonderfully nostalgic vibe – have a look on Pinterest for inspiration.
Nostalgic seating
Last but not least, don’t forget about your garden’s seating. If you are going to incorporate seating into your garden, which is important if you plan on using the space to socialise with friends and family, opt for nostalgic seating. The best seating designs are ones made of metal and that are designed to mimic the beautiful furniture sets used in the 50s and 60s. So keep an eye out for these…
I bought mine from a number of second hand shops and salvage yards…I just decided to go out one day last year in the Spring and hunted all around my local haunts and managed to come back with this mismatched metal set…! (above)
And there you have it! a simple guide to creating a garden with a wonderfully vintage eclectic vibe…!
All pictures apart from the vintage teacup planters are my own and have been taken in my garden…I hope they have given you plenty of inspiration…
Have fun and come back and let me know what you have created…
So if this is the case with you too, the chances are, that your home, already has a wonderfully nostalgic vibe to it! but what about your garden? We take a lot of time and make a lot of effort to create homes that reflect our personalities and tastes, but what about our gardens?
Summer Garden Party Ideas
Summer is on its way and with it comes a scorching hot sun and an excuse to get outside more. Parties are one of the most enjoyable ways to spend the summer. They can last from morning till night and with the blazing sun and a fresh breeze blowing, there’s nothing more enjoyable than hanging around with your friends and family in the great outdoors.
Throwing a garden party is a great way to bring people together and enjoy the lovely weather that summer offers. However, a simple barbeque party is old, worn out and frankly a little boring. So to give you some fresh ideas, we’ve compiled a list of fantastic ways to spice up your next garden party. With some luck and a bit of planning, you’ll be the talk of the neighbourhood throughout autumn and winter and your guests will be looking forward to your next event.
Hire some entertainment
There are many different types of entertainment that you can hire to make a fun garden party. For starters, you could try and hire a bouncy castle if there are children. It makes a great outdoor activity for the kids to play around with and it doesn’t cost much to hire either.
Hire a Tent
If you’re looking for something more suited to adults, then you can hire an event tipi. These large tent-like structures are perfect to take shelter from the sun and is the perfect idea for a summer garden party. They’re large enough to host dancefloors, dining tables and even cooking equipment. They are rather big however, so make sure you have a large enough garden. If you don’t, consider making your own!…there are lots of ideas on the internet and Pinterest and it would look so cosy and inviting for your guests.
Create a Home Cinema in Your Garden
Alternatively have you ever thought of having a home cinema at your party…it is such a cool idea and a perfect one to keep the kids as well as the adults entertained…all you need is a white sheet or a plain white wall and a projector and your well on the way to creating the perfect garden party cinema…You could also show old slide pictures from your childhood, perfect nostalgia and a totally unique idea that will sure to get your friends talking about the event for many years to come!
Refresh your furniture
If a large garden party with lots of loud music and drinks isn’t your cup of tea, then there are still many ways to host a lovely garden party at home with your friends and family. But you aren’t going to have a successful garden party if your friends and family have to sit on plastic chairs that break easily and eat off a rocking table…(That’s the norm in my house! lol!) So refresh your garden furniture and install some new appliances or devices into your garden to make it more pleasing to you and your guests…
For starters, you could get a nice big garden shade. You need a place for your guests to take shelter from the sun so that they aren’t scorched by it for a long period of time. Next, replace those horrible plastic garden furniture pieces with real garden furniture. Get a nice side table, a garden sofa, some deck chairs and replace your old rusty grill so that you can cook up some wonderful food when your guests arrive.
Style your Garden to Fit the Season
Lastly, you should embrace the summer by styling your garden to fit the season. Get some garden lights so that you can continue enjoying the warm weather even at night, and replace your dead and nasty looking plants and flowers with new ones. You might want to hire a gardener to help you design it. A well-kept lawn and some beautiful flowers will make all the difference and really set the mood for your garden party.
Prepare for Summer With These Fresh Party Ideas
Vintage Caravan Pictures for Inspiration.
Even though I no longer own a Vintage Caravan, I still love to look at them at every opportunity! Pinterest is a good source to find interesting pictures and also typing the subject into Google brings up some pretty amazing pictures too…But just lately, I have been looking at my own! And Boy! Have I taken some! So I thought I would add some here, to give you gals and guys some inspiration if you are starting a caravan project and need some eye candy…some of the pictures I have blogged about and some are new ones…
I miss sitting in my caravan creating artwork and catching the odd afternoon snooze, but I have substituted the caravan now for my garden, I really do love gardening and have bought a whole host of plants to fill it up! You see it is a new garden and needs to get more established, hence me blogging a lot about gardening on here of late! Anyways! Enough of that…Please enjoy the pictures and I hope they give you plenty of Caravan Inspiration.
This is a picture of inside our Vintage Holivan, which is featured above!
This was a photoshoot of Rosie, when she was 18, we were promoting a lot of vintage aprons at the time!
This picture was taken a few years ago when Abacus cards came for afternoon tea, oh and of course to take pictures for Happy Birthday Cards!
This is when I had to say goodbye! We were moving and couldn’t fit Holi in our new back garden!
…And here we have a treat for the eyes!…
This is my dear friend Sue’s caravan, she no longer has hers either and we often meet up and reminisce about them…I was going to add the pictures to my blog ages ago, but then she had to sell it and I never shared it on here…She always says that I was the inspiration behind her little van…but I think she is just being polite *Blush* because her caravan is so pretty!
I hope you liked all the pictures and that you found inspiration in them! …and please do remember that if you are currently in the middle of a vintage caravan make-over, you can share your story with us on here…just email me the pics and details and I will feature you!
All the best and cheerio for now,
Homes That Flourish in The Summer.
The days are getting longer, air is getting warmer and some of us unlucky folk are dealing with all the allergies the bright seasons bring around. But besides that, Summer should be a time that we all look forward to and live to the fullest. Your home can play a huge role in that. Don’t let Summer dominate you by making things too hot and too stuffy. These are the changes you can make that welcome the Summer and invites it to create the happiest home you’ve enjoyed all year.
Don’t swelter
You might very well love the increase in temperatures we’re going to be seeing but that doesn’t mean you want them totally ruling your roost. If you’ve never fully conquered the heat of a Summer house, then tips from places like ‘Here’ might help you see what you’ve been missing. For instance, if it’s getting too hot, it might sound counter-intuitive to shut your curtains during the warmest times of day, but it does stop heat from getting in. If you’re not using them, then turn off the appliances of the home, as well. They all generate heat and it can build to be too much if you’re not careful.
Open the house to the outside
If the home feels too stuffy, then you might want to go in the opposite direction and open it up to the outdoors a little more. For instance, if heavy curtains and creating too much shade across the room, swap them out for lighter window treatments like just blinds. You can go an extra step and open up a room entirely with bifold doors. Suppliers like bifold-hardware.com/products/handles can even help you style the doors to fit the rest of the aesthetic of the home. Perfect for those who like the comforts of home while still enjoying the feel of Summer.
Have a garden worth spending time in
If have a lot of garden space, then now is the time to consider conquering it. It doesn’t take a lot of work to add decking to a spacious garden, for instance. You can even totally DIY it. All in service of creating an outside dining or entertainment area where you can enjoy the peace of the home but without having to shut yourself away from the outdoors. If you prefer a bit more privacy in your garden, consider adding some hedges which serve as great noise insulators as well.
Enjoy those Summer nights
Night-time during the Summer might be even better for you during the day. Don’t go indoors when the sun starts going away. Instead, enjoy the full effect of the night breeze playing against the seasonal heat. Spruce up that relaxation and entertainment area of your garden with decent lighting for a garden that stays warm and comfortably atmospheric no matter what the time. If you love entertaining people in the garden, then you might even want to think about setting up an outdoor cinema….which would be soooo coool!
Get some life in there
Of course, just because the weather’s getting better doesn’t mean that you want to be spending every minute of every day inside. Instead, why not invite the season indoors? Summer is the best time to line your windowsills with colourful houseplants. There are plenty of low-effort ones if you’re the kind of person who might run the risk of forgetting about them and letting them wilt. Houseplants aren’t just pretty, but they’re a great mood booster and they even play a role in keeping the heat from getting too overbearing indoors.
Expect more guests
If you love Summer, one of the reasons might be because it gives you much more opportunity to be social. After all, we don’t tend to invite friends over to the garden as much when it’s all gloomy outside. So, make sure that your home is ready for those guests. Not just regarding your garden, but take the time to spruce up and reorganise your guest room…as a Summer ready home is a lot easier to enjoy when you have someone to show it off too!.
A home really should be designed to fit with the owner’s most favourite time of year. If you love winter, then cosy hygge stylings are going to be right up your street. Whereas if you’re a person who loves nothing more than the sun, the flowers, and the heat of Summer, then the tips above should help you build a home just right for that sunny lifestyle.
Thanks for dropping by…
How to Start your own Vegetable Patch to save You a lot of Money.
Starting your own vegetable patch is a great way to get more out of your garden, and save a lot of money in the process. That £5 tomato plant you bring home can easily provide you with several kilograms over the course of a growing season. Aside from that, the flavour and texture of the veg you’ll grow in your own garden can have a massive edge on anything you’ll buy in the shops. If you’re interested in starting your own vegetable garden from scratch, here’s some handy idea’s to help you set a great foundation to work with.
Have a look at your garden and try to figure out the best possible place for your vegetable patch. If it’s possible, you should start your vegetable garden in a sunny, sheltered place; somewhere you’d want to sunbathe. The majority of the plants you’ll be growing here are going to be annuals. They’ll have a short timespan to work with, and will need to grow pretty quickly. To make sure they perform as best as possible, they need to be getting all the sun they can get, so avoid setting it up near any overhanging trees or sheds that cast a big shadow.
Aside from thinking about the sun, a lot of crops such as cucumbers and tomatoes need a decent amount of shelter from the wind. If they’re constantly being rocked at the roots they won’t grow well, and the leaves may go black with wind burn, or be damaged by some other kind of plant stress. Plan to set up some hurdles or fence panels to protect these plants from any chance of wind damage. Remember that a windbreak can protect a plant up to five times its height, so a two-metre hurdle will be more than enough for most of the crops you’ll be growing.
If you want to get the most use and yield out of your patch as possible, you need to make sure you clear the area of any perennial or annual weeds before you start any actual planting. Unless it’s seaweed for growing vegetables, you shouldn’t let any kind of “weed” get close to your veggie patch! If you want your growing operation to be totally organic, you’ll have to clear the grass away. You can stack the turf you pull up somewhere upside down. This will eventually compost into some gorgeous top soil, which you can use on your beds a few months down the line.
After this, you can carefully dig it over, making sure you’ve got rid of any roots of invasive perennial weeds, for example horsetail. Bindweed, Japanese knotweed, and ground elder can all pose a massive threat to the health of your vegetable patch, and can cause a lot of damage before you catch onto anything visible. When you’re clearing out the space for your vegetable patch, make sure you do a thorough job of clearing away any roots you come across.
Credit: Wikimedia
Once you’ve cleared away all the perennial weeds, you may still have an issue with annuals. If you find that these are a problem to your patch, it’s a good idea to cover the whole patch here in the early spring. This will help to warm the soil up, allowing you to plant or sow a few weeks earlier than you’d be able to if you were to leave the patch exposed to the elements. The best thing for this is a sheet of clear plastic. This will keep the soil warm and dry, and because they let the natural light stream through, they’ll bring any dormant weed seeds into life, giving you a better idea of any work that needs to be done before you’re ready to start growing.
When you take the cover off to actually start planting, you’ll be able to pick or hoe the weeds away, rather than having to spend a long time digging around looking for roots. Another good tip for controlling weeds is using a layer of mulch in order to prevent any weed seeds, like dandelions’, from drifting in and starting to grow in your vegetable patch. Before you lay down those first seedlings, lay two inches of good mulch in between the rows. This will keep the whole vegetable patch relatively weed-free throughout the year.
Once you follow these steps, you’ll have a vegetable patch in perfect health, ready for you to grow all kinds of yummy and nutritious food in.