August 2011 – MarvinGardensUSA

Beachy Fairfield Bungalow all Greyed Up

Okay, okay. We know we’ve been writing about our favorite color quite a bit lately but we just can’t help it. We love it and we just keep coming across inspiring designs that employ this fabulously chic shade. While perusing Cococozy this morning, we stumbled upon an absolute pearl of a place right here in Fairfield CT that’s accented sweetly with none other than—you guessed it—grey! The home is a quaint seaside cottage designed by Lynn Morgan and is actually a sprawling 5,000 square feet. Filled with white lacquer beadboard and pale bleached furniture, this shingle-style home is a touch beachy, a touch preppy with a hint of modern rolled in as well.

Take a look at some of the images below by photographer Jeff McNamara.

Marvin Gardens would love to hear from you. What do you think about this charming little place? Is your ideas home a quaint cottage or a spacious mansion?

Rooms Inspired by Coco Chanel

In case you missed it, last week was the 128th birthday of French designer, Coco Chanel and while Coco is first and foremost an icon of fashion who revolutionized the little black dress, she has also left her imprint on the interior design world with her famously chic designs. Her own style was more reserved, she tended to pair simple outfits, such as her trademark black suites with great accessories, like pearls. Whether she was designing for the Paris runway or herself, she always designed with real women in mind and made each outfit comfortable and easy to move in, Coco was once quoted as saying, “luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury.” Her sophisticated style continues to inspire the fashion and interior design world, so we wanted to demonstrate this by showcasing a few interiors that reflect her impeccable style.

Each of these rooms are simple and tailored without any fuss or mess. What do you think of these Chanel inspired interior designs?

Eleven Shades of Brown!

If you’re a regular reader of the Marvin Gardens blog, you’re probably already familiar with the fact that we have a category called, “Eleven Shades of Grey.” Why, you may ask? Well that’s a completely separate story for another time. But one of the main things that prompted the category’s name was the fact that within every color’s index is an expansive catalog of hues or “shades”. Shades of red. Shades of yellow. Shades of grey. Aside from grey – which, as you can tell, we love – there are so many beautiful neutral and earthy colors that are adequately representative of both the garden and the home. Blues and beiges are great examples. Another wonderful example is the color brown, which also seems to be making a strong comeback in the design world.

From Canadian House & Home:

Brown tones are just so darn classic and versatile, and their earthiness brings warmth to a farmhouse or lends a posh feeling to a penthouse. And yes, I know for many of you classic sophisticates, brown has never left.

London Clay (244) from Farrow & Ball is a muddy brown favorite of mine.

Durango (2137-30) from Benjamin Moore is nice, too.

Above is Michael Penney’s fave: Bittersweet Chocolate (2114-10) from Benjamin Moore.

And how about a timeless fabric?

Photo credits via Canadian House & Home:

1. London Clay (244), Farrow & Ball
2. Durango (2137-30), Benjamin Moore
3. Bittersweet Chocolate (2114-10), Benjamin Moore
4. Imperial Trellis II in Java/Cream (174413), Schumacher

The Power of Art

The power of classical art could and should never be underestimated. Take a look at these photos and you’ll know exactly what we mean. We came across these shots by Heather Clawson over at Habitually Chic and we found them to be so inspiring that we just had to share them. They’re of statues in Florence and The Louvre by Christopher Draghi at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and simply bleed beauty. It’s amazing how much detail was put into each and every inch of these sculptures and how much of a story they seem to tell with every finely chiseled bit. Marvin Gardens would like to know, what artistic pieces do you love the most and find to be the most inspiring?

Photo Credit: Photos by Heather Clawson via Habitually Chic

Caring for a Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

One of the most beautiful uses of an indoor plant can be seen in the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. Its gorgeous leaves enliven a room and make it feel fresh. Bringing this bit of vogue into the room doesn’t come without costs however. The tree must be well taken care of to survive indoors, so we thought we’d share with you the best way to care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig tree.

Before watering the tree, make sure that the top soil is dried out. Then, water the tree slowly around the stem and continue around to the outside of the soil. Stop watering once you see water coming into the bottom tray. If you don’t have a tray to judge by, use about 3-4 cups of water in all. Also consider keeping a close eye on the tree – some weeks might require more watering than others. Another way to care for the tree is to give it some fresh air once in a while. Avoid especially hot or cold air, but take advantage of mild breezes.

Taking special care of this extraordinary tree is well worth the effort. It looks fantastic in a variety of interior settings and complements any space well. For more ideas on beautiful plants for your indoors, contact Marvin Gardens.

Photos courtesy of Habitually Chic.

Get on the Ball with a Marvin Gardens Subscription!

Do you like us? Like really, really like us? Well then you should subscribe to our blog if you haven’t done so already! Join the many that already have and opt in to receive our every update in your e-mail inbox! As a subscriber, here’s how it will work: every time we update our blog with a new post, you’ll receive a notification directly in your e-mail with the option to either read the entire post there (great if you’re on the go and just want easy access the blog information) or go to our blog and read that post as well as browse ass Marvin Gardens posts, past and present. It’s as simple as that!

Here’s how to get started:

In the upper right corner of the blog’s homepage is an area that says “Get Posts in E-mail”. Enter your e-mail address in the box right below. One you’ve done so, you’ll receive a verification e-mail asking you to confirm your subscription. After you’ve confirmed, you’re all set and on your way to staying up-to-date on all things Marvin Gardens! So hop to it!

Arrange Containers to Maximize Landscapes

Interested in adding some variety to your landscape this summer? Then consider incorporating an assortment of planters of different shapes and sizes! Whether they’re rustic and weathered or polished and chic, they will add depth and flavor to your garden.

Marvin Gardens has a handful of tips for you from container gardener Steve Silk to get started. Take a look below:

Even unfilled pots can be useful in the garden: Even though it wouldn’t seem like it right off the bat, it can become a fine focal point or seating area.

Use containers as a means of traffic regulation: Nothing slows a group down in their tracks like a narrow passageway. Group some containers together closing up a walkway to naturally slow visitors down.

Use pots to describe garden spaces: Things like hallways, enclosures and corners can all be created by with containers. This gives a unique “space” feel to any garden.

Arrange fragrant container plants to freshen walkways: The fragrance of varieties like pineapple sage, scented geraniums, rosemary, lavender and other herbs are wonderful container species that can be grouped in front of an entrance way for a nice burst of luxurious fragrances.

Contact Marvin Gardens today form more information on our wide variety of unique vintage garden containers!

Photo Credit: Pompeii

Vacation-Proofing Your Garden

You tend to your prized flower beds every single day. You water and fertilize them consistently with care. But even though your precious garden may be getting pampered throughout the year while you’re home, chances are, it’s going to get a little lonely during those days or weeks that you’re away on vacation. Luckily, though, with a little planning, your garden will be just fine while you’re away.

Marvin Gardens has come across a handy preparedness list from ShelterPop for you to follow before you head out on holiday and it’s sure to keep your garden looking lush and healthy while you’re away.

Weed and pull off spent blossoms. This will help guarantee that water is reaching your plants and not being sucked down by the weeds.

Make sure that your flower beds are properly insulated. If you’ve already laid down mulch earlier in the season, just top it off with a fresh layer.

Make sure your garden is watered while you’re away is a must.

Group potted plants together out of direct sunlight and go for self-watering planters.

Contact Marvin Gardens today to for more gardening tips and to learn about our large selection of vintage garden urns and accessories!

Photo Credit: Prairie Rose Garden