Envy Inspo: Outside Edition
The exterior of a home is a whole other extension to the living that happens inside. It gives guests a clue into what to expect from your home, but it comes with it’s own personality and own set of variables. Truthfully, I’ve never lived in a home long enough to make the exterior feel like a representation of us and what to expect inside. The exterior come with so man more variables to consider. What’s your weather like? What elements will it be exposed to? How durable is this item? For landscaping and plant life, it includes sunshine, temperatures, soil acidity/quality, etc. It feels… a tad overwhelming.
sunshine, warm weather & happiness
I also realized, I was taking big box stores at face value. Rather than thinking about what I wanted and what I like, I was caught up in what they offered and what felt like it fit for me. I’ve learned it’s so important to focus on what you like and what you want first, and then find the stores that can fill that need.
Source: Serena and Lily Catalogue
Where I started:
Whenever I’m searching for what I think I want, I start by shooting high. Endless Pinteresting and pinning with abandon. That villa in France? Pinned it. The multi-million dollar home in California wine country? Pinned it too. But I never stop there. I shoot high, but then I always start to analyze and distill it down to tangible elements. This allows me to search for homes that are within my level of living (ahem, not caught up in endless budgets and the charming bespokeness of the ultra elite).
I also take to paper and start to “pin” and rip out pages from magazines. Which has been so freeing and liberating. I recently fell in love with magazines again. Stepping away from screens, ripping out pages, reading articles that have been thoughtfully crafted and curated for enjoyment. The creativity and care that is poured into magazines is really unlike any other. Either each month or once a quarter a whole vision is brought together so carefully and thoughtfully.
This lead to realizing I wanted charm, charm, charm of something that’s been there for a long time. The feeling of whimsy and charm without being over the top, over grown, or over cluttered. I started to see the trend of natural materials like pea gravel, terracotta/clay, weathered woods, wicker, and lots of greenery and white blooms. I wanted a feeling of unfussy and welcoming while still being cozy and put together. Materials that are durable, but also made to look better with time and aging.
Source: Unknown Pinterest
I love the feeling of neutral and natural color palettes that feel full, but also not high maintenance. I loved lavender and little flowers while also paired with bigger blooms like hydrangea and peonies (I mean, who doesn’t love either of those beauties?) It’s inspired me to start collecting clay pots and to think more strategically about our budget and where we should invest in our backyard. What’s the biggest bang for our buck and what key pieces can we get first to start enjoying our space right away, and how can we fill in as we go? Because like all things, true living and feeling good in our homes takes time. Spaces unfold and start to reveal new treasures and lead us to add or change things as we go.
I’ve found myself researching more about southern homes and southern porches. I get it. So much living can happen outdoors and for a majority of the year. I’ve dipped my toe in the pond of painting the ceiling of our porches Haint Blue. I love the idea of adding in privacy, but still allowing for some breeze and sunlight. The feeling of this porch inspires me to go rest and relax for hours.
My Current Inspo Board
Charm. Natural materials and textures. Things to bloom, but to also soften the grass and house and round out the edges. What are your favorite things in your yard? What inspires you outdoors? What feels like home?
Hugs,
Meredith
