Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
  • Design Ideas
  • Entertaining
  • Outdoor/Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • C&B Project House
  • Shopping
  • Brand Ambassador
  • Wish List
45K
314K
15K
Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
  • Design Ideas
  • Entertaining
  • Outdoor/Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • C&B Project House
  • Shopping
  • Brand Ambassador
  • Wish List
  • Outdoor/Garden

How to Achieve Gardening Zen

  • October 16, 2012
  • Written by Jickie Torres
  • Photography by Jaimee Itagaki
  • Styled by Hillary Black
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

Carol Harsha, meticulous and thorough by nature, has customized her garden at her current ranch-style house into the ultimate space for outdoor leisure life. By visiting plant shows and public gardens, saving clippings from magazines and other resources, and even pulling off the road to snap a photo of plantings that strike her fancy, Carol has built up a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge regarding all things botanical.

Cottage Garden Decor

This sense of commitment is a common theme for the Harshas and their outdoor environs. The couple was drawn to the property because of the landscaping already in place. “My husband did not want a fixer-upper,” Carol says. The garden had been expertly landscaped and touted large trees and mature plantings. The couple was pleasantly surprised when the previous owners passed along the home’s original landscape blueprints the day they moved in.

“We learned that the original design was by Courtland Paul,” Carol says, referencing the award-winning landscape architect, a pioneer in the field since the late 1950s. “They were for the front, but his influence was clearly visible in the selection and placement of trees, plants and hardscape throughout the property.”

However, many of the plants were now overgrown, not in keeping with the property’s original style or in bad health. Larry was in charge of rigorous overhauls, tearing out the ivy that had taken over the backyard slope and digging out wild palm that had encroached upon the retaining walls. Their new landscape designer, Jill Benshoof, drew up plans for a paved stone eating nook and pond-side sitting area that capitalized on ambling pathways and intimate enclaves.

Today, the Harshas’ garden is a welcoming and peaceful place. In Courtland Paul style, it is naturalistically designed with native plants and eco-friendly considerations. Drip irrigation and condensation strategies ensure the garden requires the least amount of watering; the plants they have chosen yield food for local fauna and can weather droughts common to the Southern California region.

Cottage Garden

 

Cottage Garden

 

Cottage Garden

Cottage Garden

 

Cottage Garden

Japanese-style elements, like the fish pond, orchids and garden adornments, are a nod to Carol’s love of Asian aesthetics and give the space an exotic sophistication. The Harshas are well-traveled and like to incorporate souvenirs of their trips in the garden, such as a garden plaque from Japan and collections from voyages to China, Thailand and the Philippines.

Cottage Garden

Cottage Garden

Cottage Garden

Cottage Garden

It’s no surprise the Harshas entertain often. The many sitting areas and secluded nooks beg for outdoor dinner and cocktail parties. Natural lightweight furniture makes adapting the space for gatherings a breeze. They have a stock of entertaining accoutrements on hand for impromptu brunches or get-togethers: extra tables and chairs, cushions for the brick planters and extra lighting in the form of candles and garden torches. On most days, however, it’s where Carol and Larry enjoy eating their meals al fresco.

Cottage Garden

Cottage Garden

Cottage Garden

The Harshas owe much to a team of landscapers and gardeners-turned-friends who helped with the transformation. Carol’s only regret is that she won’t be able to show the fruits of their labor to the garden’s originator.

“I cried when reading of [Courtland Paul’s] passing in the Los Angeles Times,” she says. “It was my dream to show him how we had honored his original vision as we enlarged the house and developed the landscape that had been lost.”

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • Cottage Garden Decorating Ideas
  • garden
  • Landscape
  • outdoor
Jickie Torres

biographicalinfo

Previous Article
  • Design Ideas

A Space-challenged Home Finds Room for Nostalgia

  • October 10, 2012
  • Written by Marissa Armstrong
  • Photography by Jaimee Itagaki
  • Styled by Jacqueline deMontravel
View Post
Next Article
  • Design Ideas

Creating a Romantic Cottage

  • October 31, 2012
  • Jickie Torres
View Post
You May Also Like
Backyard screening area decorated for fall
View Post
  • Brand Ambassador
  • Outdoor/Garden

Fall Film Festival: Host Your Own Outdoor Movie Night

  • Written, Styled and Photographed by Kara Williams
  • September 23, 2022
A cottage's front entrance and porch area
View Post
  • Outdoor/Garden

A Summer Porch Refresh

  • Article Written by Kelly McMaster
  • Captions Written by Marissa Moldoch
  • Photography by Toni Mogensen
  • July 12, 2022
View Post
  • Featured
  • Lifestyle
  • Outdoor/Garden

A Floating Picnic

  • Styling and Photography by Christine Vogel
  • April 11, 2022
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • Lifestyle
  • Outdoor/Garden

The Bee Camp: Alfresco Afternoons in the Texas Countryside

  • Kelly McMaster
  • March 28, 2022
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • Featured
  • Lifestyle
  • Outdoor/Garden

8 Ways to Add Cottage Charm with Garden Flowers and Fruit

  • Photographed ,styled and written by Claudia Reese
  • March 22, 2022
View Post
  • Outdoor/Garden

Turning Dreams Into Reality

  • Written by Marissa Moldoch
  • Photography and Styling by Wendy Conklin
  • February 15, 2022
View Post
  • Design Ideas
  • DIY
  • Outdoor/Garden

Front Door Refresh with Behr Paint

  • Written and Photographed by Jill Stout
  • January 11, 2022
View Post
  • Entertaining
  • Outdoor/Garden
  • OUTDOORS

Garden Party

  • Written by Sarah Jane Stone
  • Photography by Bret Gum
  • Styling by Sarah Jane Stone
  • May 14, 2021

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive the best of cottage style directly in your inbox!

  • 3 Day Blinds’ 3 Window Styling Upgrades

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive the best of cottage style directly in your inbox!

Cottage style decorating, renovating and entertaining Ideas for indoors and out
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Newsletter
  • Do Not Share My Personal Info
Copyright © 2023 Cottages & Bungalows

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

We use cookies to optimise our website and give you the best experience on our website. ACCEPTREAD MORE
X