Garden Ideas at the Southern Living Idea Home
July 19, 2010 by Bonnie Helander
Filed under At Home, Garden Views, Travel
Last week I headed over to historic Senoia, Georgia to visit the Southern Living Idea House – a charming 3.5-story brownstone on the site of the former McKnight Cotton Gin. This is the first time that Southern Living has featured a brownstone property as an idea home. The model is an expanded end unit and exudes the feel of a luxurious old New York neighborhood.
A raised bed made with bricks and filled with colorful plants makes an interesting pocket garden in the courtyard.
Although you can’t take photos inside the home, bring your camera to capture great ideas for your outside space. The property has a lovely courtyard with several small pocket gardens. It also features a porch, outside decks and a rooftop terrace. Behind the row of brownstones is a large pond with fountain. Hooten Land Design is the company that designed the project’s landscaping.
Porch off the main level is filled with cheerful tropical plants and overlooks the courtyard garden.
View of courtyard garden from porch
If you have a small space, you can still enjoy a garden by designing small garden beds massed with plants of various heights, interesting textures and creative color combinations. Containers filled with annuals can be placed wherever you need an extra spot of color. Garden sculptures add interest and focal points. Comfortable outside furniture beckons folks to enjoy the space.
On the lower terrace swing you can relax and still see some of the plantings in the courtyard garden.
The back of brownstone with colorful annuals along the path. Pond is behind the small building.
Annual bed filled with chartreuse sweet potato vine, caladiums, impatiens and sedum
After visiting the idea house, my family stopped by the Founders Restaurant for a wonderful lunch. If you are going to Senoia, you will want to take the time to enjoy this quaint and thriving small town with unusual shops and great restaurants. For more information about the Southern Living Idea House, go to:
http://www.historicsenoia.com/southernliving.html
I am a writer and blogger with a specialty in gardening and a proud graduate of the University Of Georgia. I live in Peachtree City with husband, Dan, and enjoy hiking, gardening, being a member of the Peachtree City Garden Club and rooting for the Georgia Bulldogs!
Great Blog…Great Pics! Makes me want to go again!!!
Hi Kenya: Thanks! You gave me great tips for viewing the home and I think we both love Senoia and want folks to visit the town as well as the idea home.