Although most of my blog posts are focused on interiors, there are times when I blog about gardens, exterior accents and exterior living spaces in general.   I love a beautiful exterior and garden, but have a ‘black thumb’, so in our house, Scott is in charge of the exterior. 

So, last week when we received an urgent call from one of our favorite clients to ‘decorate’ her front porch and back patio for an event, it didn’t take but a minute for me to ask Scott, Emily and Sarah if they’d like to assist with the project. As you would imagine, they jumped at a chance for a day in the sun (which, unfortunately still means 90 degrees for us here in Texas).

We don’t normally do ‘exterior’ projects beyond working with architects or builders on the material and color selections for homes. However, this client has very similar tastes to my own, making the design inspiration choices very manageable. Once I had the inspiration idea, I sent the team into the field to select the raw materials and manage the installation.

The before of the front entry of the home:

Understanding the style of the homes’ exterior and neutral background provided us a nearly limitless opportunity for pots and plantings. The entry area is very large, so we also decided it needed a bench, some outdoor pillows and a tall tree.

Once the colorful bench was selected we sourced colorful pots to complement the space and provide a subtle yet welcoming way to introduce color onto the mostly neutral backdrop of the home itself.

Seeing the finished space makes you appreciate how a piece of appropriately sized furniture and the proper foliage can transform a space without breaking the budget or forcing too much into an area and presenting a cluttered appearance.

We also assisted sprucing up the back yard outdoor living space to finish the design flow through the entire landscape. Starting at the front door, moving through the home and finishing at the pool is important to tying the entire living and design experience together. The images below will show how a little more complimentary color in planters and foliage can subtly but confidently carry a consistent and holistic design through your entire property!

So, for Scott’s sake (ha-ha), don’t forget to ensure your home incorporates that cohesive flow from your front door to your back patio!  And, a special thank you to Scott, Emily & Sarah for literally digging in and getting their hands dirty on this project! They personally selected and installed the plantings for every pot.  You guys are the best!