Spark

Outdoor living is around the corner here in Austin, a mere few weeks away really.

Last week I asked you to dream big about how you want to live in your outdoor spaces. I requested that you burst through those self-inflicted constraints (no time, no money, no ideas, whatever!) and ask yourself “What would be the absolute best?”

Now let’s figure out the Big Ideas that go into making those dream spaces. There are three Big Ideas to keep in mind:

This one is easy: Is it beautiful?

This one is even easier: Is it functional?

This one is a little esoteric but it really adds the special sauce that takes a space (or an object or an outfit) to an elevated place: Does it make me happy? Is it reflective?

An example would be incorporating Aunt Euphegenia’s antique garden bench as a focal point in the garden. So, how do we create spaces that incorporate these Big Ideas? Next week we’ll look at what goes into making outdoor spaces.

See you then!

It is absolutely frigid today in Austin! Yes, I hear you, New York, Boston and Chicago… what does Austin know about frigid, right? Well, um, okay, there isn’t any snow on the ground and spring is a lot closer for us than it is for you. The thing we have in common is this: while [...]

Snuggling up with friends on an outdoor couch with a fire in the firepit (or chimenea if there is a burn ban in effect) is so attractive this time of year. It just makes conversation flow. A Spark client is considering a structure for her firepit/conversation area so I went to one of my favorite [...]

So Christmas is over for 2010 and New Year’s Eve is beckoning. Before all the parties kick in, make a resolution to chip in. If you had a fresh tree this year, please consider recycling your Christmas tree and turning it into a resource. Bonus! Trees collected in many cities are recycled into mulch, which [...]

I buzzed into The Great Outdoors on South Congress in Austin last week to swoop up some plants for winter pots out back (fav find was artichokes – so gorgeous with their outsized silvery blue leaves) and found myself in the midst of some serious Christmas cheer. Loved this green gazing ball ($30), set like [...]

We here at Spark are always discussing fresh ideas for design, color ways, and opportunities to support our clients in making meaningful shifts in their surroundings. At our delicious lunch yesterday (thank you, Blue Star Cafeteria), we talked about the joyful impact of spring flowering bulbs. We love the way they look scattered in drifts [...]

There is no better time to plant in Central Texas than now! Plants will have a long establishment time before getting socked with the searing summer heat. We can work happily in the garden without sweating ourselves to dried husks. And often times, nurseries will reduce the pricing on some stock to move it before [...]

I love a crisp edge in the landscape – I think a slew of garden sins can be forgiven if the edging is thoughtful. If you are willing to invest some time in a do-it-yourself project, artist Catherine Failor has come up with a great way to make your beds sweet at GardenMolds.com. She will [...]