Modern porch decor on Tribeza’s Interiors Tour
I’ve been on garden tours, and I’ve been on home architecture tours, but I’d never been on an interiors tour until last Saturday. My friend Cat of The Whimsical Gardener and I toured seven homes on Tribeza’s Interiors Tour, and I swooned over all the bold wallpaper, cozy black bedrooms, and modern lighting.
Being garden geeks, at each house we peeked out the windows at the back yards, hoping to see fabulous gardens to go with the beautiful interiors. While nicely landscaped, not one had a gardener’s garden — and yet there were some wonderful gardeny touches on designer Katie Kime‘s screened porch, like these pastel, geometric hanging pots filled with succulent sprigs.
They look like something Los Angeles garden designer Dustin Gimbel would create from cast concrete.
Kime’s porch also had this: a fabulous, oversized moss mosaic, framed under glass like a work of art. I saw it as a dried-plant alternative to trendy — and high-maintenance — vertical gardens.
A closer look. How would you make this? By gluing mosses and other dried plants to some sort of backer board? What would you use that wouldn’t warp outside or be too heavy?
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Why can I never find fabulous containers like these? Does SC just not sell anything contemporary? I’m seriously lusting over that moss mosaic. My first thought: how could I make this, and what material wouldn’t warp? Hmmm…we need to put our heads together about this, Pam! Thanks for sharing–I needed a burst of inspiration today.
Web shops are your friend, Julie. I have the same complaint about garden decor in Austin, although it’s getting better. But if local shops don’t carry contemporary stuff, the internet does! Try Pot Inc., Potted, Boxhill, and Steel Life. And yes, I’d love to have one of those moss pictures. —Pam
I have a great store in my neck of the woods Julie. Out in the middle of nowhere but he sells everything from contemporary to traditional. You must come visit and we can go shopping!
I want to see it too! —Pam
Maybe it is just my frame… but a shadow box frame, glue gun, and dried/preserved craft moss for making fairy gardens and miniatures (trains, etc.) and you are good to go; if you have an artist’s eye for this stuff. I would maybe even consider painting a frame to match the moss, or room décor, or to make the moss POP. You could even lightly spray paint the moss before gluing in place to get the exact color composition.
You sound ready to make these and market them, Rachelle! Thanks for the ideas. —Pam
I can’t remember what it’s called, but art supply stores have a kind of board that is very light and sturdy. It’s like pressed styrofoam with paper laminated to both sides.
Foamcore, I think?
Sounds like that would work, Ricki. —Pam
I think rickii means foam core.
Also, maybe that board that goes up behind tile on showers, etc.
I do like those hanging pots.
Those pots are fun, aren’t they? They look like they’d be difficult to water though. Luckily, succulents don’t need much. —Pam
Hmmm. I have to admit I like live plants better. But I guess foamcore glued mosses are better than a blank wall. The pots are nice.
I found it quite pretty, Renee, and I like the idea of it being low-maintenance while still green. But I appreciate that we all have different tastes in decor. That’s one of the reasons tours are so fun! 🙂 —Pam
Funny how it’s rare to come across a fabulously decorated home and stunning garden. I guess most people are one or the other. I love the idea of all those hanging pots. Such a fun element for a back deck.
That’s an interesting thought, Karin. I would have expected that those who love decorating inside also love doing so outdoors, but maybe I’m wrong about that. I’ve seen lots of gardens but don’t usually get to see the home interiors. Now I’m curious! —Pam
I’ve done my fair share of home tours in the Atlanta area and more often than not the garden is lack luster compared to the fab interiors. There are probably some gardener’s who do have great interior design acumen but maybe they aren’t so likely to put themselves on a home tour. Just my guess.
Good point, Karin. And as for the interior designers, I’m hoping that it’s just that the money runs out — ha! — not that they’re not interested in a fabulous garden. —Pam
These are fun touches! I love both ideas. Sounds like a good tour.
It was fun, Laurin. This was their 3rd year to have the tour, and I’d say it was a success. —Pam