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Outdoor Areas – creating a special place for ourselves

Outdoor Areas – creating a special place for ourselves
By Mary Courtney

Our weather in the Sonoma Valley remains mostly moderate throughout the year.  Whether it’s slightly chilly or just cooling down from a warm summer day, the joy of sitting outdoors, around a fire is so compelling to conversation and contemplation.  Who can resist.  If you have some protective covering above you can even sit in the rain while enjoying your fire.

Fire-pits, supplied with natural gas or propane, create a focal point in the patio area and can bring warmth to our cooler evenings.  Decorative crushed glass makes an attractive and decorative surface and can be personalized with different colors and patterns.  As the fire sparks through the glass the reflective quality is enchanting.  The crushed glass is a safe, attractive and more up-to-date solution for the fire bed.  

In one example shown here we used two different shades of blue to create a simple but effective pattern.  You could also take other colors, making a pattern, say a sunburst in golden yellow glass set in a pale blue “sky” or incorporate a feature such as green vines twisting around in a silvery glass.  There are many colors to choose from and once you create the design it stays in place.  You might even try designing your personal monogram in a color with a contrast background.

If you get tired of it and want a change you can always just mix it all up and get a multihued surface.  Since the fire itself comes up through the glass it is dispersed randomly and so any pattern will work.  The more dated and dark look of fake logs or lava rocks have no comparison to the beauty of the glass surface.  If you have an existing fire pit simply change the bed to the crushed glass to give it a more contemporary and beautiful look.

Water features are another way to bring beauty and serenity to your garden.  You could very simply have a basin, something that the birds would enjoy and it would require no plumbing.  Yet it is not a difficult task to install a water line and electrical source for a running fountain.  The many sounds of cascading water draw you to stop and listen, calming your environment and giving a “life” to the patio. Whenever you introduce something that creates movement, a wind chime, a hanging object, small mirrors suspended in the branches, or running water you enhance the experience of being outdoors.

Small birds will be drawn to the water, to drink or to bathe, and the joy of watching them and perhaps learning the different types can add to the richness of your life.  If you have room you could create a small pond with some plantings and perhaps even introduce some fish though this requires some very specific elements yet they are easy enough to learn.

Another way that includes a fire-pit and a water feature has been used very effectively at the Cottage Inn on First Street East.  In their enclosed Moroccan styled atrium the centerpiece is a beautifully designed fountain with a fire-pit raised above keeping both separate yet combined   At night the glass in the fire-pit flashes with the fire and the water is illuminated in the pool below creating a sensuous focal point.  It is mesmerizing.

There is nothing more conducive to pleasant companionship as a relaxing atmosphere created by sitting around a fire.  A glass of one of our fine Sonoma Valley wines will only add to the enjoyment.

Think about your garden areas, what would you like to include, how do you spend your time outdoors, would either a fire pit or a fountain bring joy to your life?   Do you want something that can be enjoyed by a larger group or an intimate spot just for yourself and perhaps another.  Most of us lead very busy lives and making the time and a place for relaxation and reflection will add much to our daily lives.  We need to nurture ourselves.

If you would like any further information or ideas or referrals regarding just about anything, just contact me through my website.  I would be most happy to help.  I do have a referral list for some suppliers in the Sonoma Valley area that have products or services that are useful for decorating your home and gardens.  This I can send to you by email or through the postal service.  Again, just go to my website and contact me with your request.

Mary Courtney
Interior Design
www.marycourtneydesigns.com