First Impressions

We all know the saying about the importance of first impressions. Our homes, like ourselves speaks volumes about who we are.
If you were to pull into my driveway at the moment, you might think I am lazy.......weeds, drooping plants and yes I am a Landscape Designer .................. maybe you might think an overly busy Landscape Designer. Your initial image is lasting.

The presence of a gate, to me, is an enticement, a lovely bit of ornamentation.

And of course the other intent is additionally loud and clear.

But today's post is about the beautiful first impression you can create.
Last February I was in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California for a biz conference. Stolen time was a drive-through this fairy tail community.

Consider the placement............a no-nonsense stride to the front door

Think about the effect. No this is not derelict but a local style of the community adding to it's charm and casual lifestyle

Think of the style and it complementing and enhancing the architectural style of your home. Hints of adobe make this gate and fence appropriate.

 My personal favorite for many reasons;
The overhead arbor makes the gate very important
Love a double gate
The weathered wood blends with the homes colors

 

AND LOOK AT THAT MAILBOX!! 

Live on a busy road? Or in the case of this town.........gawking tourists?

Have something to say? Look closely, inside the gate and arbor

The mystery of what beauty this gate contains

A rustic mix of materials and styles; the gate remains special with stone sentinels supporting it. The wood carries on but in a different pattern.

Not necessarily a means of securing the property but as an element of charm for artistic expression

Love it, but when it speaks to me it says.............."no surface unadorned" and that would be carried forth indoors, no doubt with good taste and a specific theme

This could go two ways, as is in the rustic style of the town, not particularly calling attention to itself. Or a classic white picket gate and fence mirroring the trim and style

SPANISH!   Loud and clear.........vintage sun bleached door with stone and stucco. The home has underlying tones of Tudor but who am I to judge :-)

Pure cottage..............the rounded undulating form of the stone wall, the wood fence capping and arbor perfectly mirror elements of this home

Enticing! Stone and iron............notice the curving path beyond. Curves say to me "slow down and enjoy". Also take note of the stone backdrop which highlights the gate.

SHEER PERFECTION! Don't you agree?
What I see that is so spot on;
-the stone adds weight, all iron would disappear otherwise. It's colorways compliment the roof
-the iron is a taupe/gray that blends. Take particular notice of the subtle arch in the fence, repeating the Tudor timbering on the house
-the separation of the "street garden" and the "interior garden"
-the personalization..........see below

And..........the sense of humor. I want to know these people!

Formal and curvy and subtly French

A nod to it's Spanish Architecture

The same stone as the house is carried forward creating the illusion of a more expansive home. The gate color is repeated on the house trim

"Look" but do not enter................

An artistic whimsical mindset...........a conformist does not reside here.

What about a set of gates for the drive?

This would be my absolute favorite............
-The gates repeat the style and materials

-Maybe they are always left open..........the effect is so good
-The planted drive
-The enticement of the "long view" and what lies beyond

The gates and the fencing need not match

Repetition of the garage door lines...............and........if one material is good (wood), two or three are better (stone and stucco).

  Lastly a moment of shameless self-promotion.
Back in Illinois..............this is one of my landscape clients' home with their free standing gate. Here is what we were attempting to achieve;
-Bring the garden "out" towards the street with repeated architectural elements
-The concrete posts are from my friend and artist Richard Taylor
-The gate is custom made by a local iron worker
-The gates do not function.............purely ornamental
-When the Hydrangea's mature and bloom the gate will stand out with the flora behind it
-WINTER INTEREST..........mandatory in Illinois.

Do you have a gate, want a gate? If you need help in deciding style and color send a photo of the front of your home, we can all learn about the process together.
"He who wants to do good knocks at the gate; he who loves, finds the gate open"
by
Rabindranath Taqure


xo
Debra

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And Thanks for Your Support!

Over the weekend, I posted about the looming fall gardening season and my personal herb gardening journey. To be honest, every time I write something personal -- as in not dealing exclusively with how to grow and use herbs, I feel a little guilty. In some ways, it seems self-indulgent, although I try to write these pieces as well as I can.

That's why it always amazes me that they're the most

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A few of my shopping purchases and Friends Gifts

Whew, where do I start…I might have to do this in two different posts because I really did purchase quite a few items.

Also, if you read Lori’s blog:  http://loritheblackcrow.blogspot.com/2010/08/thymes-remembered.html  you can see our entire day – I forgot my camera and Lori was nice enough to let me take pictures with it and then she posted them…so go take a gander over there and see our day!

But first…we exchanged gifts at her beautiful home – and had a wonderful breakfast that Lori fixed and gave us a chance to get acquainted which really didn’t take any doing – we felt we already knew each other through the boards.

Lori gave me a gorgeous Topiary she made and it’s going in my screen room for the rest of the season – then in my bathroom
 

Here’s Lori (face covered) with the Pineapple Penny Rug table runner (which is terribly creased from being in the gift bag in the hot car for several days)

Now on to the shopping!

Some were for us and some for my business so let’s start with ‘my things’ now remember I just took photos as I unpacked…nothing is in its place – that will come sometime later when I get ready to put out our Fall things and re arrange…Ready!

This was my very first purchase when I went shopping with Lori (the black crow) – It’s really quite large and I thought it would look good on the bench on our front porch and it was only $45.00 and SOLID! It measures 27 inches long and 14 inches high…a big one. (hand made in the USA!)

And this is a table top board I wanted for hot dishes – but for now it has a few of my table items on it – measures approx 15 inches square and was $14.00 (hand made in the USA!)

New bedspread from Family Heirloom Weavers for the guest room

Fabric yardage for curtains for the guest room – matches quite well with the bedspread too

At the Lititz Craft Show a lady was painting ‘children’s items’ and so we bought a little stool for Aidan

Old Tomato Knife

Found this at Maple Croft…made in the USA – all tin and is about 8 inches around
 

Thought this little Americana doll would look good in the guest room – she was $4.00
 

Tin corner wall sconce (a tad dusty don’t ya think…guess it was sitting around for a bit!)
It’s approx 14 inches tall and 8 inches wide
 

Got these at the Craft Show too – and I got a bargain.
There are 3 clusters of Wheat and a large cluster of Sunflowers
The lady said it’s so late you can have them for 50% off….THANK YOU!!!!
Not sure what she meant by ‘late’ cuz it was only 9 a.m. – the show just started  ???

Pillow from Family Heirloom Weavers to go on the guest bed
 

2 Table squares
And a set of pillow shams (which are for the guest bed)

A Pineapple crock from the Clay Craftsman in Littlestown, PA when I was with Lori
It’s probably going to hold some kitchen utensils
 

Old Salt bag I got for $7.00 at an antique shop – maybe will make a pillow, not sure

Wonderful woven rug for the guest bathroom which is still done in a seaside/beach theme…and time for a change but it isn’t going to happen none too soon so got the rug for now.

And a Needlepunch pattern
 

I was going to put the rest in a different post but what the heck…there’s so little left it going on!

More battery candles for my website

Stubby battery candles for my website

Flag runners – I have one hanging by our back door and one on my dining room table
(for the website – 3 of them)

More flags

Santa hats – wish I had purchased more of these…they were only #2.00 each! What was wrong with me!!!!

At the Lititz show I bought this tin dough riser – my 4th in the collection

Some fabric stars I’m going to stitch something on for my website

More Silicone bulbs…never have enough of these…got 12 pkgs.
  

We stopped on Friday at IN GRANDMA’S ATTIC and purchased some Pewter Porringers and some tin containers

 

When with Lori we stopped in Gettysburg at a cute shop called  FIDDLE FADDLE and got this adorable Cutter Quilt for $27.00 which is going to be displayed in the guest room

I had ordered some months ago a cabinet for my bathroom to hold my cosmetics and also a desktop desk and I picked them up from her at the Lititz Craft Show…awesome work…very sturdy.

 

I also want to add that I received a wonderful belated birthday gift from a dear friend ‘Linda Moczan’ from Ellwood City, PA.
She had sent me a birthday card for my birthday on the 10th of July but it never made it for some reason – but it did arrive after we got home from our trip last week…THANK YOU LINDA it will be put to very good use.

So, was that enough photos????  Kind of overload don’t ya think?
Well everything is put away until I get the house in order for Fall then it will all find a home and the other merchandise is going on my website.

Oh I gotta tell you – I had 8 of the Jack-O-Lantern Jar Toppers made, put them on my website this week and within one hour all 8 were sold. Wish I had more!!

P.S. please check out my website for our huge sale that just started yesterday….many of my Fall items are on SALE right now…not sure when it will end but it’s really being taken advantage of – many orders came in just yesterday so I’m going to be busy for awhile.
http://www.kmprimitives.com

Hugs, Karen

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