giveaway: GORGEOUS coffee table book IN THE GARDEN

Today I am excited to share with you a fabulous new coffee table book and guess what?  I will be giving one away! Instructions to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.

The book is called In the Garden by photographer Stacy Bass, with essays written by Suzanne Gannon.  It is a peaceful visual journey through some of the most beautiful and private gardens in New England.  Stacy has an eye for composition and an ability to make you feel like you are standing in the garden at sunrise. This isn't just a pretty picture book of flowers, this is beauty and inspiration all rolled into one.

image #1

It is made all the more special by the stories of the people who created these gorgeous settings. The thing that strikes me about this book is that I actually sat down to read it. There is a unique story behind each garden and each one is told by Stacy's images with care.  It makes for more than just a pretty coffee table book.

One woman pined away for 7 years for her dream property and finally left an "I would love to buy your house" note for the owner in the mailbox and it worked. Two fashion industry insiders sought a weekend getaway and created such a gorgeous garden it is now on the local garden tour. Each story illustrates the creative process that goes in to not only designing a garden, but having the vision and passion to make it a reality. Stacy captures this passion beautifully. 

One gentleman whose 'hobby' has spanned 13 years has created a rambling classical English garden free of chemicals.  His story includes wine-fueled weeding parties with friends and a treehouse built over a stream.

This book is a visual journey through the hearts of the people who have created beauty around them.

 image #2

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 image #5

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Now, for the fun part!

Do these two simple steps:

1.  go to the canvasstyle facebook page  and 'like' it
2.  PLUS, leave a comment on the canvasstyle facebook page about which image you like the best and why
(be sure to do both 'like' and comment or the entry won't count)

Make sure to leave your contact info (email address preferable) with your comment so we can get in touch with the lucky winner!

My favorite is image #5 for the symmetry, pristine white pool house and the silver balls floating in the pool!

the GIVEAWAY is open from Wed August 1 thru Sunday August 5th.   

We will contact the winner Tuesday August 7th!  

dispatch: Harbour Island day 2

I am always amazed and inspired by my time spent on this magical island.  There is inspiration everywhere you turn.  Here is a little tour of some of my favorite places.  This is a place so full of creativity and spirit and I hope you can see it from these images. This is a little tour part one... so much to share that I feel it has to be done in a couple of posts.

BLUE ROOSTER:

Fresh white paint and colorful clothes are a breath of fresh air when you step inside this boutique.  Filled with fabulous dresses, beach cover ups and accessories it is a great place to find something special.  

The Pink Sands Resort is one of the most enchanting properties on the island.  The lobby bar is stunning.  Lit from within, the giant dripping shells glow in the evening and make for a cozy place for drinks.  The oceanside Blue Bar is a fantastic restaurant with the best seat on the island for dining.  A small bar and delicious food await.  The staff is lovely and we had a fabulous dinner for 16 here. Lots of wine and laughter this night. 

The Princess St. Gallery was such a treat.  We spent quite some time here browsing and admiring the beautiful art, jewelry, linens and accessories.  The owner is charming and friendly and has an amazing eye.

The Rock House is an elegant boutique hotel on the harbour side of town which means you get a beautiful sunset from their dining room.  We had our rehearsal dinner here 7 years ago and each time we come back, the food is phenomenal and the owner and manager greet everyone with genuine smiles and a warm handshake.  The bar and pool area are gorgeous.  One of our favorite places to have a drink.  

I have so much more to share with you from this gorgeous island but the rest will have to wait.  The plane home is awaiting (boo-hoo) and I must run.

Tune in tomorrow for a giveaway!  

And Thursday I will bring you the rest of my Harbour Island favs.

outdoor shower

Continuing with the summer theme, I will share my love of the outdoor shower.  We use ours pretty much every day in the summer.  The kids jump out of the pool, we soap them up, hose them off and voila! Clean kids even before dinner starts. It is fun, it is easy, and once the kids are in bed and twilight arrives yours truly loves a nice long outdoor spritz.  It is a little taste of vacation in your own backyard. 

Here are a few below, from fancy to basic.

this is a pool house in Beverly Hills.  Oh my, I could move in to the pool house thank you

here is the the shower in the pool house...

what a delight this must be after a rough day in the 90210

this one is light and white with clean lines and seamless indoor/outdoor use

This one is interesting, on a second floor outdoor balcony

some bamboo, a shower head and a bench are all you really need

this one is so organic right beside a forest and giant rock

this one ties into the bathroom plumbing on the other side of the wall -
a plumber and a towel is all you need to get started

a former light well in an old San Francisco victorian serves as an outdoor shower
A slice of nature in the city.


I highly recommend the addition of a shower to your outdoor living.
It changes your outlook at the end of a long hot day.
Take a glass of wine outside, have a dip in the pool
and a nice long shower at dusk.
A simple pleasure.


images found:  1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 //  8

get out

So while the 'someday' pool house build goes on the back burner, we are in high gear to clean up the backyard pool area and create a little outdoor zen den.  There are so many ways to do this whether you have actual shelter overhead or not.  A trip to Home Depot and a dash of inspiration and you can transform a corner into a little shady haven. 

I love a chandelier hanging from a tree.  So cozy.  

I also love the sound of crunchy pea meal gravel under foot.  

Create ambiance with some trellis and bougainvillea.

This one creates a little cave of greenery and rocks.

This one is kind of cool in an industrial sort of way.  

I feel like this should be in Austin TX for some reason.  Artful, contemporary and a tad rustic.

While there is no overhead shelter here, I adore the green lush living room.  

It looks so welcoming with the fireplace and cozy seating.  

Here is a more formal version actually attached to a house 

(the beautiful house of designer Suzanne Kasler) and again, the gravel.  

The symmetry and clean lines of this space totally appeal to me. And of course the white.

This is one of my favs from So. Cal.  I love the fresh white paint with contrasting dark wood.  

Very British West Indies don't you think?

This space is about the size of our little project.  Ours is roofed, enclosed and with a ceiling fan to boot.

First up, a coat of white paint.

Well friends, I will post a before and after picture when we get rolling.  

You are invited to join us in our mini cabana for a cocktail the minute it is done. 

images found:  1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 

simple pleasures

have a beautiful weekend

xoox

catherine

image found: here

a little house

As I sit in my little nook looking out over the pool I am planning our imaginary (perhaps real in a year) pool house.  We have the perfect spot for it and I have a million ideas floating around (sorry) in my mind's eye.  Is it an enclosed mini house like this one?  

rather spendy...

I love the all white and graphic green of this one

open air with a bit of prep

cozy and warm

I do love this one...California livin'

The last two images are of the Dunmore on Harbour Island, site of our wedding.  In fact, this is the exact site of our wedding before they built the pool and pool house.  The dance floor and dining tables sat where the pool now sits. There was no pool house,  just lawn... and the little kids were dancing in the grass under the moon.  Our first trip back to the Dunmore since the renovation was last July and we were so excited to see it! We can't wait to go back.  Needless to say this pool house is close to our hearts. 

Right now it is sunny, warm and strangely making me think that summer is right around the corner. Oh wait, I live in Florida... summer starts March 1.  And ends in November.  So you see, a pool pavilion would be well used.  Add a fireplace for December - February and you have a year round retreat right out the back door.  

found: 1 & 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 & 8 via moi