SMALL SPACES: New Impressions from the Balcony Garden

This year the weather is really crazy - very humid but relatively warm - at least most of the time. It's good for the plants because they grow like crazy - not so good for the blooms I must say though. Simply not enough sunshine.

I have grown 3 different Tropaeolum this year and they are forming a real jungle in the meanwhile and the bees and bumblebees love their blooms which is wonderful - even at a height of more than 120 feet!!! I love bumblebees. Here are some vignettes how even a small space can transform into a lovely little garden.

This was the beginning of May:

As you can see I have quite a lot of pots hanging from the ceiling which is doing the trick if you are very constraint with space (even my little Oleander tree is hanging):

 4 weeks later it already looked like this - the Tropaeolum started to climb:

Now this is the view I have when I am sitting on my balcony - the ugly outer world has been shut off completely - at least by sight:

Our pigeons love this jungle - can hide between the leaves and relax there:

My Epiphyllum gave me soom blooms this year again:

Btw - this year I have spent less than a 100 bucks on my balcony garden including all the new pots/containers, potting soil, new herbs and seeds and even my new Oleander tree. (Last one was killed in the awfully cold winter). You see you don't need to spend a whole lot of money to create a little garden in your modest home.
Btw - you don't even need to buy expensive seeds or plants. Some vegetables have lovely blooms and the green leaves are sometimes very interesting, climbers and non-climbers. And if you are lucky you can even harvest the fruit in the end. Last year I even had some beans on the balcony. Unfortunately the rest of the plant was eaten untimely by lice.

I am growing a lot of Anthericum as well which can serve as a filler for empty places, is easy to grow from its own branches and looks wonderful when blooming (the blooms here are from my cactus though).

And this is my balcony as it looks now - wonderfully overgrown:

 (all photos above ©Petra Voegtle)

Here are a few more impressions what you can do with your balcony:

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This is a real surprise for me that you can grow Brugmansia on the balcony:

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Such a balcony garden adds to a romantic feeling - doesn't it - and is full of life instead of grey concrete. The plants create a soothing climate on your balcony, keep off dust and even pollution to some extent. They can serve as a windshield as well as a sunscreen. I could not do without them any more...

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GUEST POST: Ring Mirrors, Coolors Collection, Boca do Lobo...

Athenna Harrison from DeMorais International sent me the following product information. I thought that they have quite a lot of extraordinary and exclusive accessoires which may be of interest for any interior designer/decorator:

Ring Mirrors, Coolors Collection, Boca do Lobo... 

"We represent ten unique brands from overseas and because of that we have a very large range of products to choose from. Below I have listed some of the latest products from three of our most popular brands and you will find links to the high resolution images for these products below.

Ring Mirror  |  Coolors Collection  |  Boca do Lobo
Exploring the main function of a mirror, the richness of Ring lies within it's reflection. The newest piece of Coolors collection, mirrors the passion and mystery of a hidden lineage only to be shown when sight meets it's soul.

Eden Table |  Coolors Collection  |  Boca do Lobo
Eden is inspired by the mystic behind the name. This center table represents a part of the tree of knowledge and the tale of the birth of desire.
This structure is made in Mahogany, fully plated in polished brass with it's top delicately engraved, exposing the heart of a golden tree to the very heart of a home.

Brubeck Suspension  |  Suspension Collection  |  Delightfull
Back to art deco and again with musical inspiration, this time through the dramatic pipe organ. Brubeck is an instant classic sculptural design. An extravagant shape full of refinement and modernity. 100% handmade in brass tubes it's possible to create any shape: round, oval, square or rectangular to perfectly suit your dining table or hotel lobby.

Eternity Chandelier  |  Guilty Pleasures Collection  |  KOKET
The elegant silhouette of this chandelier takes its brilliance from the skillful application of the crystal. The eternal circles are individually wrapped in brass and placed with astonishing attention to detail. The end result is an extraordinary source of light.
KOKET is dedicated to bringing seduction and desire to the world of interior design. Inspired by nature, fashion, and the enticement of love, this collection of lavish furniture takes passion to new levels. This line is designed and manufactured in Portugal by a highly skilled group of artisans, jewelers, and designers.

KOKET brings empowering style and a sense of entitlement, exclusivity and prestige.

Thank you Athenna for making me aware of these beautiful products!!!
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I have added another chandelier from KOKET which is absolutely amazing, featuring slices of agates which reflect the light in a magic light. On their website it says:

"KOKET is devotion to the seduction of the exquisite and to the provocation of love.
Highly influenced by the decorative arts, fashion, flora and fauna, forms and decorative techniques from the glamorous eras reappear in the most sophisticated versions of contemporary trends.KOKET brings empowering style to a highly edited unique collection of furniture, passing on a sense of entitlement, exclusivity and prestige."

To me this chandelier looks like an ancient crown from a fairy land...

Be sure to check out their website or catalogue for more beautiful objects such as this armoire which has been "designed with a profound admiration and influence of the French decorative arts" (from the catalogue of KOKET). One of these things which you do not need necessarily but you could die for...

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An Indoor Pool with the Refulgence of Heaven

When I saw this photo I was absolutely fascinated by the luminance and the colour of this indoor pool. As if heaven had come down to earth. At the same time I thought if someone is using this pool for relaxing with his family or friends why would you want to look at walls which are extremely bare and cold?  The problem could be solved easily...

(original image source: homesolute.com)

Now don't tell me that adding this painting to the wall would not transform the whole interior into an even more breathtaking roomscape:

The original painting has been painted on silk, belongs to the Magic Landscapes Series and depicts a motif from the Hawaiian Islands. The image shows the view from the Northern side of the Haleakala region where the lava fields were running towards the sea. Details of this paintings you can see under this link.

Btw - instead of hanging the original I would hang a fine art reproduction print on heavy canvas in this case because of the humidity.

"Rainbow over Wailua"
(from the Magic Landscapes Series)
silk, 21" x 40"
©Petra Voegtle

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A wonderful Match

Oh my - the time marches fast - especially around this part of the year where I prefer to spend more time outdoors on my balcony etc. than sitting in front of the computer or at the easel. So I have to apologize that I haven't posted for a while.

Checking through my treasury of collected images I found this one of a room vignette where I love 2 things: the colours and the iron work of the 2 tables. It is such a simple setting but it looks so cozy and harmonious. I would love to sit there, read a nice book and listen to some classical music.

(original image source: www.homesolute.com)

Then I thought a painting was missing on the wall to make this harmony really complete. Nautilus is painted on silk and the colours would complement the colours of the wall beautifully.

The silk painting belongs to the Magic Creatures series and is one of my favourite paintings in general. The use of mother-of-pearl pigments together with the silk paints makes this painting really sparkling in light.

"Nautilus"
(from the Magic Creatures Series)
silk, 40" x 13"
©Petra Voegtle

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