Step Inside the Dreamiest Cottage Garden
A California homeowner saw nothing but potential in her home's dry and desolate yard. You have to see the jaw-dropping makeover.
It’s hard to imagine this lush yard was once only a spread of dry dirt. To make the most of the space, homeowner Jen Curtis broke it up into zones—some for living and some for growing. A bed of pea gravel unites it all. “When I was remodeling, California was in the middle of a 10-year drought, so adding a lawn was not smart or kind to the environment. I also wanted a Mediterranean feel, and gravel was the best look for that,” she says.
Take a tour of the yard's "you've got to see it to believe it" transformation. (And, take a tour of Jen's picture-perfect farmhouse-style cottage.)
Before: Backyard
Pergola
When Jen's not hosting dinner parties, the pergola-shaded, 10-foot-long farm table (painted with outdoor paint for durability) becomes additional work space.
Lavender Garden
After harvesting and drying her French Grosso lavender, Jen makes bundles to sell to raise money for the local Humane Society. With the rest, she removes the buds to sew into sachets for gifts.
Watering Area
An old galvanized wash tub keeps cut roses fresh. Some of Jen's favorite rose varieties include muted-colored Cecile Brunner and David Austin garden roses.
Outdoor Living Room
A relaxing sitting area is shaded by mature olive trees Jen purchased from a nearby olive grove that was no longer harvesting. Even though it’s outside, she treated the space with the same design attention as her interiors. “I love using vintage grain sacks to drape over the furniture,” she says.
Potting Table
A long custom potting table offers plenty of room for a collection of French terra-cotta pots.
Outdoor Dining
A bistro table in the garden provides a serene and fragrant spot for a quiet breakfast or catching up on work. “Bees are always buzzing around the lavender and rosemary and roses,” says Jen.
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