at nancy's with country gardens magazine

Great news! Country Gardens Magazine was out today photographing my friend and neighbor Nancy's garden for an upcoming issue. The weather here has been crazy the last few days with Santa Ana wind gusts blowing everything everywhere. 

Luckily, Nancy's garden endured the wind and the weather settled down enough for a great day of shooting. Aren’t these green chairs fabulous?

Nancy's style has a unique East-Coast vibe. A lot of vintage materials went into the construction her potting shed, but she made sure that the design was extremely efficient.

Flower arranging is a favorite hobby of Nancy's, so this space is perfect for storing all the supplies she needs.

A pair of reclaimed french 
doors lead out into the garden.

Nancy created the arrangements 

featured on the patio table.

Isn't Nancy's manicure cute?

The view from the deck of the lower 

seating area and Indian Springs.

The new spa bathroom has a sauna and opens up right to the hot tub and the gorgeous patio area. These great floors look like weathered wood, but it's really tile.

I love the mosaic back splash that makes the sink vanity look reminiscent of an English-style antique washstand.  

Towels are on-hand in this pretty basket as you enter. After your sauna, hang your towel on this fun Pottery Barn anchor hook!

The antique inspired lighting is perfect.

Here the stylist is adding finishing touches 

and holding the color checker.

Making sure they have just the right shot.

The stylists are amazing!

Flowers by Nancy.

ciao! fabiana

a tale of two gardens

Spring has really sprung around here!

I’m not sure if you remember,

 because this was a while ago,

but my neighbor Nancy had her garden

photographed for Country Gardens Magazine…

about four years ago.

Well, it’s finally being featured in this month’s issue! 

Yes, she’s now officially

the queen of the hill, haha!

It’s funny because originally

we thought they were going to highlight her

amazing she shed

but instead they focused their story on

the beautiful sloped hillside in her back yard.

I think the article turned out great,

and I’m sure Nancy’s garden has changed

a lot over the last four years!

Maybe we can share some 

updated photos soon!

Just about a mile down the street from me

is the home of my dear friend Marion

who has her own amazing secret garden that

just keeps evolving as time goes by.

Over the years, her magical garden has

become a little outdoor oasis...

In fact, it’s so fabulous

that it was just one of six gardens to be highlighted

on the Sherman Gardens annual tour a few weeks ago.

Marion’s love of antiques and her

eye for European style really come through

in her garden.

As we sat in her kitchen having coffee,

we had a prime view of the side yard,

its fountain and all the little feathered friends

that make her garden come alive.

Marion favors plants that attract

butterflies and pretty birds.

This is one of the two paintings of the garden

that were created by artists during the tour.

Pretty garden urns planted with succulents.

Life imitates art,

or in this case, vise versa.

Plein air painting in the secret garden.

Marion found these antique gates at

a flea market in Pasadena...

and now they mark the entrance to her

alfresco dining area.

A lovely shady spot.

A peek at the garden tour guide book.

And of course, the ever charming little Dante

enjoys every inch of the secret garden as well!

 ciao! fabiana

nancy's fabulous she shed

Nancy's gorgeous "garden house" was built over two weekends by her skilled nephew, and reminds me of an heirloom quilt because it was lovingly put together with scrap materials and amazing vintage finds. French doors and windows were left over from the remodel of the main house, as were the short lengths of wood flooring and exterior shingles. 

The antique table that sits under the beautifully arched window was given to Nancy by a friend's grandmother. Pretty green trim accents the shed and matches the adirondack chairs of the lower-level garden.

A Pennsylvania bluestone path leads to 

the lower level that 
overlooks the Indian Springs.

A fountain nestled under the plum tree

provides soothing sounds 
during the summer months.

The garden house is perfect for creating 

beautiful floral arrangements 
straight from the garden.

This antique table fits perfectly inside the shed 
and provides a great work space. 

The opposite wall 
contains supplies and 
other gardening needs.

Shelves hold collections 
of vintage pottery, vases and baskets 

The one splurge item is this Cape Cod Lantern

from West Chatham, Massachusetts.  

One of my favorite things about this room 

are the views of Nancy's gorgeous garden.

For more on Nancy's beautiful home 

visit here,  here and here.

ciao! fabiana