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Update | Pemberton Cottage Landscape Project | Paeonia Gardens

It’s time to update you on the little piece of Pemberton paradise recently transformed by my friend Jenn Hembruch of Paeonia Gardens. Remember the befores? Well the afters are just gorgeous. Jenn did a beautiful job of respecting the broader landscape, as well her clients’ desire for a natural design that reflects the heritage and aesthetic of the 100 year old home. I love the mix of materials and the rustic modern details, like the combination of reclaimed barn boards and basalt stones Jenn used to anchor the small seating area above.

The stone retaining wall {above} looks as though it might have been there as long as the house, and Jenn’s choices for plantings reflect an indigenous beauty that is authentic to the area.

Jenn says, “Coastal cottage and native plants were selected in blues, pinks, purples, and whites, with punches of hot oranges for this garden: Lupine, delphiniums, wild geranium, hydrangea, yarrow, bee balm, and shrub roses. New hardscapes were installed to organize spaces within the landscape – a dry stack basalt wall with basalt boulders, a front ‘patio’ space inspired by Pinterest images using beams ripped up from the old barn on site and river rock, as well as a custom built BBQ space filling 2×2′ reclaimed wood ‘squares’ with river rock add to the country cottage vintage feel.”

“Nearby planted Rosemary makes it easy to add fresh herbs to outdoor fare. The front pathway guides you towards the house past the artist’s studio with a generous river rock and basalt slip path, edged with lavender and lavender cotton, spilling off into fresh soft turf, perfect for summer days and barefoot enjoyment. “

I don’t know about you, but I’m truly in love with their dreamy back porch. Can’t you just imagine many an afternoon spent here sipping freshly squeezed lemonade and savouring the spectacular views? Truly refreshing.

This delightfully ordered vegetable garden makes me wish for larger pastures of my own so I could do something similar. How decadent to harvest fresh herbs and vegetables steps from your kitchen? Truly farm to table.

Kudos to Jenn of Paeonia Gardens on doing such a beautiful job of respecting the natural beauty and heritage of this property while updating it and giving it a true sense of design, order and function. You’ve definitely inspired my cottage dreams, my friend!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 17th, 2013|0 Comments

Pemberton Cottage Landscape Design Project | Paeonia Gardens

Sorry for missing a day in our conversation about all things beautiful and inspiring. One word. Migraines. All this fluctuation in barometric pressure has not been gentle with me, but it’s nothing to complain about compared to people in some parts of Toronto who are still dealing with major flooding and power outages! All these dramatic signs of climate change make me want to light some candles at night and save on electricity just to take a bit of load off the grid.

I think the beauty of today’s post should make up for missing out on sharing something with you yesterday. I’m delighted to share another project from Jenn Hembruch of Paeonia Gardens. This one will be a two-parter – the “befores” today and some “afters” next week – but can I just say, this is a dream property?! Oh my goodness. The surrounding vistas are absolutely breathtaking. I cannot wait to see how Jenn will bring this project to life!

The Birken house is a piece of the past. Situated about 20 minutes outside of Pemberton BC {about 3 hours north of Vancouver}, this serene 100 year old home needed a complete landscape renovation. The interior was recently updated by the owners in a style very much in keeping with the home’s heritage and aesthetic, and they decided they were ready to tackle the garden next.

The clients wanted a cottage garden, a new lawn, a wall to help retain some of the grade in the front yard, new fencing, and some really unique “vintage” hard-scape details.

“We were able to embark on the design process with a very clear vision of their goals,” says Jenn, “as they were able to get a feel for how to best utilize every last inch of the property after living there part time for the last few years.”

Birken House sits at the foot of spectacular mountains and is in a bit of a microclimate, with hotter dryer and windier weather conditions then nearby Pemberton. Nestled on the edge of a hundred acres, there are fruiting trees, such as Cherry and Apple, as well as a beautiful marsh in the distant neighboring field.

Can you say s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g? With views like that, you would never need to go on vacation!

To whet your appetite a bit, here are some photos of the process of Jenn’s transformation of this beautiful piece of property.

I truly cannot wait to see what you have done to transform this spectacular little piece of paradise, Jenn!

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 10th, 2013|3 Comments

The Curated Collection | Sara Caracristi

I have a confession to make: I have a rather interesting relationship with figurative paintings. I suppose on a simple level, one would call it a love-hate relationship. I love the power of figurative work to evoke emotion, but I do not love the way that some figurative work forces me to feel a part of a story that doesn’t feel like my own. This seems particularly true for me with most figurative portraits. As a result, I have a lot more abstracts and landscapes in my personal art collection than I do figurative work. In fact, until recently coming across Sara Caracristi through my friends at Art Interiors, Elizabeth Lennie was the only figurative artist who drew me into a story that felt safe enough for me to hang in my own home. I know that probably makes me weird, but I’ve confessed it to you now, so I feel better about it.

In contrast to the figurative portraits that create in me a sense of discomfort, Sara Caracristi’s vantage point on her figurative work is something different altogether. Yes, there is a distinct sense of story and relationship in the characters she paints; and yet, there is an even greater sense that I am the observer. I am free to hover above the story in a way that leaves me feeling safe, amused and still very engaged. I feel more like I am people-watching at the airport, musing on the wanderings of humanity as we buzz about everyday life.

There is a level of detail in Caracristi’s paintings that is deeply personal, and yet her mastery of the aerial vantage point also allows the figures to blur into more abstract blocks of colour to my eye.

For me, this creates a kind of abstraction that is typically quite unexpected in this style of figurative work. And I love it.

I also love the constant sense of motion, that life is always moving, always changing. I feel drawn into that story and made just a little bit more alive from it when I engage with Caracristi’s paintings.

How do you feel about figurative work? Does it draw you into a story; make you feel a part of history? I hope Sara Caracristi’s paintings will inspire you to become a more active observer of detail, perspective and relational interactions, even if it is from a polite distance.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 8th, 2013|0 Comments