Thursday, June 3, 2010

My Friend Anne's Gorgeous Porch & Gardens

In our hot and muggy D.C. climate, you really need to have a place to escape the heat and my friend Anne's beautiful screened porch is just such an oasis. Directly off her family room, she's designed the space to accomodate lounging and dining, all with a view out to her gorgeous English inspired garden.
Joni of Cote de Texas recently posted about her love of gray wicker and the gray pieces Anne selected a couple of years ago are stylish and nap worthy!
The whole porch has a light and breezy feel. Beadboard ceilings are painted light blue while the floors are a pretty gray.


A vintage wicker piece full of lovely things to admire ties in with the dark wood occasional table.
A blue painted tag sale find serves as bar table. Love the turned wood handles.



An unexpected surprise - a little hedgehog tucked-in on the stairs leading down to the yard.

Anne designed and created her gardens as a labor of love. A stunning copper armillary is encircled by boxwoods and a low stacked, stone wall. After finding the armillary, a long search culminated in a perfectly scaled column to show it off.
An arbor wrapped in clematis and roses soften the landscape and add a romantic feel. I love the profussion of blooms at varying heights. More is more!




In this view, you can see the porch's three skylights which allow light into the family room and the double ceiling fans. The uncovered side porch accomodates the bbq grill. The porch addition was designed by architect Gretchen Ginnerty, AIA (if you recognize the last name it's because Gretchen is married to my cousin.) Anne is a partner and interior designer with Dwellings by Design, LLC. Two summers ago, I posted about her office here. ***On another note, my comments section has been changed to Open ID. So if you don't have a google account you can still leave a comment.

Hope you have a great weekend. Tomorrow, Dan and I will be celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary. How time flies!

42 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! What a lovely porch and her gardens are amazing. xo

A Gift Wrapped Life said...

Another lovely place to blog! Such a restful spot and perfect for those nights when you can't sleep, you can sneak out and enjoy the quiet. Happy Anniversary, we are celebrating our 35th this weekend and it goes very fast after that 22nd year. Cheers!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a fabulous porch. It looks so inviting. Beautiful. Hugs, Marty

AnneHH said...

Happy Anniversary!! And thank you for taking such beautiful photos of the porch and garden!
I never had a screened porch until we added this one on last summer where our deck had been--and what a wonderful addition it has been. I know my husband and 3 kids would say it is their favorite space in the whole house (even though there is no TV!!).
xo, Anne

Hello Lover... said...

Happy Anniversary!

These are wonderful spaces!

Deserae said...

OMG! What an amazing space.....it really is too nice to call a porch! Love it :o) Happy Anniversary to you and your sweetie too!
~Des

pve design said...

Please tell Anne, I will be right over with a sweet bird-house for her garden to admire from that gorgeous porch. Thanks for sharing!
Happy Anniversary!
pve

Helena - A Diary of Lovely said...

Happy Anniversary!
absolutely gorgeous porch and garden, so relaxing and the house is so pretty too
thanks for sharing

Wendy said...

Dreamy...
and Happy Anniversary!

Pigtown*Design said...

You and Anne are the BEST! Give her my love!

xo

Anonymous said...

Happy Happy Anniversary!

ArchitectDesign™ said...

awww -happy anniversary!
Your friend has such a lovely garden!

Lauren said...

I LOVE Anne's porch!!! She is such a caluculated, patient designer and it is just pure Heaven!! It's one of the most relaxing, special places ever. And I can't get over her yard either.

Have a great weekend Michele!! stay cool!!
xoxo

Lauren said...

And Happy Anniversary!!!
xoxo

Cristin // Simplified Bee said...

lovely porch and happy anniv!!!

xo,
cristin

Tricia said...

It is absolutely dreamy!
Happy Anniversary to you.
T

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary!! Gorgeous porch and garden! I love a porch ---- and don't currently have one. Sipping tea under the awning, swinging on a porch swing ---- my idea of bliss!

Lila said...

I love those wicker chairs and sofa. They DO look good enough to take a nap on but, still so dang stylin!
Lila Ferraro
Queen Bedroom Sets

Lisa Porter said...

Your friend Anne's garden is a true labor of love. Her porch is so cool and relaxing. Her raised beds are bordered with beautiful stacked stone as are my own. I also have a birdhouse supporting a beautiful clematis! Anne is a gardener after my own heart.
Pass along many thank's for inviting us in.
Thank you also for your comment today. I just went back and added a link to your porch post on my porch post so that my readers can enjoy!
Have a great weekend.
Lisa

Lisa Porter said...

Oh I almost forgot....Wishing you a wonderful anniversary weekend.
Congratulations to you & your husband!
Lisa

Acanthus and Acorn said...

It's fabulous and has great southern charm...does Anne need a new friend!?

Happy Anniversary!!!

Willow Decor said...

Happy Anniversary!! How lucky to have a friend like Anne to share such a lovely porch!!
xx-Gina

cotedetexas said...

now we're talking!!! this is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am three shades of green. Beautiful.

Pat said...

A very relaxing place. Wish my deck was a screened porch! Have a great anniversary and many more.

MEADE DESIGN GROUP said...

Love the orange tree in the cage.

Marnie said...

congrats on your anniversary - love the screened-in porch pictures - that is on my "i wish i had list..."

My Dream Canvas said...

Happy Anniversary!! Wow!! Lovely pictures. I am hosting a Giveaway from CSN stores. Do stop by my blog. I would love to see you there! Take care Anu.

nannykim said...

Bautiful and I love that smash of hot mink and bright green at the end!

JudyMac said...

In my next life I will have a screened-in porch!

Karena said...

So cool and inviting!! Happy Anniversary!!

Karena
Art by Karena

Annie Wilcox Designs said...

I love the warm/cool greys on the floor. I can feel the breeze whipping through there as I lounge. You tell and photograph a wonderful story. Here's to many years of happiness in your own story. Happy Anniversary.

Unknown said...

All of it, beautiful! smiles.

Seagrass Interiors said...

What a perfect place to spend an afternoon!

Melissa

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

Charming, Southerners could not survive without the screened in porch. pgt

Unknown said...

Happy Anniversary!
Your friend has amazing style...just love all the details and accessories that make her home so pretty and warm.

alaine@Ă©clectique said...

Happy Anniversary!!

Love wicker; I have my Grandmother's chair right beside me in my sitting room.

Michele, I posted about my desk, similar to your craigslist buy a couple of months ago. Yours is worth much more than the $350 you paid! Here is the link -

http://coccinella-ladybug.blogspot.com/2010/06/desk-that-sailed-twice-to-australia.html

Anonymous said...

LOVE gray wicker! Can't wait to catch up in Chicago!

xo
Eddie + Jaithan

Gwen Driscoll said...

this is just beautiful. hope you have a great week. wish i could sit on that porch for a week.

Tony Destroni said...

hi good day! nice post great for an event .. thanks for the idea. i think that it is also perfect to have a special events on a garden . very impressive! . attraction of the plants and garden accessories such as windspinners and other garden accessories . very nature theme . anyways thank you i hope to read more post from you . my friends gonna love this !

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